service CHEVROLET CAMARO 1974 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A WORD TO CAMARO OWNERS ...
This manual has been prepared to acquaint you with the' operation and maintenance of your 1974 Camaro, and to
provide important safety information. It is supplemented by three convenient folders which provide additional infor­
mation on vehicle maintenance, emission control, and warranties. We urge you to read these publications carefully
and follow the recommendations to help assure the most enjoyable and troublefree operation of your vehicle.
When it comes to service, remember that your Chevrolet dealer knows your vehicle best and is interested in your
complete satisfaction. Return to him for Guardian Maintenance Service and any other assistance you may require.
To assist dealers in handling your needs, Chevrolet maintains a number of Zone Offices throughout the country.
Should you have a problem that cannot be handled through normal channels, follow the procedure presented in Sec­
tion 7 of this manual under the heading, "Owner Assistance".
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing a Chevrolet product-and assure you of our con­
tinuing interest in your motoring pleasure and satisfaction.
FOR CONTINUING SATISFACTION, KEEP YOUR
GM CAR ALL GM. GENERAL MOTORS PARTS ARE
IDENTIFIED BY ONE OF THESE TRADEMARKS:
CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1974 CAMARO
OWNER'S
MANUAL
This manual should be considered a permanent part of the vehicle,
and must remain with the vehicle
at time of resale.
CHEVROLET MOTOR
DIVISION
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION DETROIT. MICHIGAN 48202
All information. illustrations and specifications con­tained in this manual are based on the latest product information available at the time of publication. The right is reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
For vehicles
sold in Canada, substitute the name
General Motors of Canada Limited, wherever the name
Chevrolet Motor Division appears in this manual.
ST 309-74
©GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION 1974
Table of Contents
Section
Reprinted with Permission of
General Motors Corporation
1 Before Driving Your Camaro ................................ .
Page
3
2 Starting and Operating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13
Steering Column Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14
Starting Engine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15
Floor Controls.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21
Instrument Panel ......................................... , 23
Other Controls and Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35
3 I n Case of Emergency.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36
4 Appearance Care ............................................. 41
5 Service and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 46
6 Minor Trouble Shooting. . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. .. 66
7 Specifications. Owner Assistance. Service Manuals. Index. Gas
Station Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 70
Applicable to CALIFORNIA Sales Only This vehicle as delivered by GM Chevrolet Division is equipped with a bumper energy
absorption system meeting California S.B.42 (1971) as set forth in Sec. 34715 Vehicle Code.
1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine • A comfort clip is provided for
those who
find the shou1der belt
tension a source of discomfort.
If the shoulder belt tension be­
comes uncomfortable,
puB down
on the shoulder belt (not
more
than one inch) to provide the
minimum amount of slack neces­
sary to relieve tension. Then push
the comfort clip snuggly against
the guide loop.
CAUTION: Ex­
cessive slack could result in in­
creased personal injury due to
reduced restraint system effec­
tiveness.
• To unfasten belts, depress push
button in center of buckle.
• When no longer in use, front
seat lap-shoulder belts can be
stowed
by allowing them to re­
wind into their retractors. The
comfort" clip can be adjusted
when removing belts, so shoul­
der belt slack will be fully taken
up by retractor.
NOTE: Take care not to let the
"lap" (portion of the belt) twist
while it
is being rewound into the
retractor. The bulk of the twisted
belt may cause the retractor to jam
so it will not rewind further while
at the same time the retractor's
locking mechanism prevents the
8
belt from being withdrawn. If a
belt should become jammed, you
may be able to release it by work­
ing the belt in and out until the belt
rewinds far enough to unlock.
If lap
belt (portion) remains jammed,
or other parts of the restraint sys­
tem do not operate properly take
the vehicle
to your dealer for
service.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Break-in Schedule
In addition to the new car
break-in instructions in this man­
ual, it
is recommended that your
new Camaro be operated for
500
miles before trailer towing. If it is
necessary to tow during this period,
avoid speeds over
50 MPH and full throttle
starts. The same precau­
tions should be observed whenever
a new engine, transmission
or axle
is installed in your car.
Operation in Foreign Countries
Your Camaro is designed to op­
erate on fuel of approximately
91
research octane number or higher,
sold in the United States and Can­
ada.
If you plan to operate your
Camaro outside the continental
limits of the United States
or Can­
ada, there
is a possibility that the
best fuels available in some coun­
tries are so low in anti-knock
quality that excessive knocking
and serious engine damage may
. result from their use. To obtain
information on the quality of fuels available
in the countries in which
you plan to travel , write to Chevro­
let Motor Division, Service Depart­
ment, Detroit, Michigan
48202,
(or in Canada write to General
Motors of Canada Limited,
Owner
Relations Department , Oshawa,
Ontario),
giving:
• The vehicle identification num­
ber ( on plate on instrument
panel ahead of the steering
wheel and visible through the
windshield , or from registration
slip or title).
• The country or countries in
12
which you plan to travel.
It
is recommended that you not
operate your Camaro in any coun­
try not having fuels meeting the
requirements of
your Camaro
engine. Engine modifications are
not available to compensate for
low anti-knock quality fuels. Op­
eration of your car under condi­
tions of continuous
or excessive
knocking constitutes misuse of the
engine and may cause engine dam­
age for which the Chevrolet Divi­
sion
is not responsible under the
terms
of the Chevrolet New
Vehicle Warranty.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine FLOOR CONTROLS
Braking System
The service brake system is de­
signed for braking performance
under a wide range of driving con­
ditions even when the vehicle
is
loaded to its full rated vehicle load.
Power Brakes
• On cars with power brakes if
power assist to the brakes
is in­
terrupted due to a stalled engine
or some malfunction, two or
more brake applications nor­
mally can be made using reserve
power.
• If the brake pedal is held down,
the system
is designed to bring
the car to a full stop on reserve
power. However, the reserve
power
is partially depleted each
time the brake pedal is applied
and released. Do not pump
brakes when brake power assist
has been interrupted.
• When reserve power is ex­
hausted, the vehicle can still be
stopped by applying greater
force to the pedal.
Parking Brake
• To set parking brake, fully de­
press foot pedal at far left side.
• For maximum holding power,
depress regular brake pedal with
the other foot at the same time.
• To release parking brake, pull
"BRAKE RELEASE" lever on
lower left instrument panel.
• As a reminder, the brake system
warning light
is designed to glow
whenever the parking brake con-
21
trol is not fully released, and the
ignition
is on.
• Never drive car with parking
brake set
as this may overheat or
otherwise damage rear brakes.
NOTE: "Riding the brake" by rest­
ing your foot on the brake pedal
when not intending to brake can
cause abnormally high brake tem­
peratures, excessive lining wear
and possible damage to the brakes.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Generator Indicator Light
The red light will go on when
the ignition key
is in the "on" posi ­
tion, but before the engine
is
started. After the engine starts, the
light should
go out and remain out.
If the light remains on when engine
is running, have your Authorized
Chevrolet Dealer locate and correct
the trouble
as soon as possible.
Engine Temperature
Indicator Light
This indicator light is provided
in the instrument cluster to quickly
warn of an overheated engine. With
the ignition switch in the START
position, the red
TEMP indicator
will light to let you know that it
is
operating properly.
When the engine
is started, the
red light will go out immediately.
It will light up at no other time
unless for some reason the engine
reaches a dangerously high oper­
ating temperature.
If the light comes on
during extreme driving condi­
tions, such as an extended idle, turn
off the air conditioner (if used) and
run the engine slightly faster than
idle speed with the transmission in
neutral gear.
If the light does not
go off within a short period of time
(1-2 minutes), then turn the engine
off until the cause of the overheat­
ing
is corrected. Glance at the in­
strument cluster frequently
as you
drive to see
if this light is on.
Brake System Warning
Light
The service brake system is de­
signed so that half of the brake
system will provide some braking
action in the event of a hydraulic
leak in the other half of the sys­
tem .
If the warning light labeled
"BRAKE, " located at lower left of
instrument cluster (speedometer
face), glows continuously when the
ignition
is on and after the brakes
have been firmly applied it may in-
25
dicate that there is a malfunction
in one half of the brake hydraulic
system .
On cars equipped with
front drum brakes, the light will
go out when foot is removed from
brake pedal.
• As a check on bulb condition
the light should glow with the
parking brake applied and the
ignition on. (Light
is also a
reminder to release parking
brake).
• The light should glow during
engine starting to verify that the
bulb
is operating properly.
• Have system repaired if light
does not come on during check.
• This warning light is not a sub­
stitute for the visual check of
brake fluid level required as part
of normal maintenance.
If the light glows red:
• The parking brake control is not
fully released or,
• The service brake system is par­
tially inoperative.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Clock
Reset the clock, if your car is so
equipped, by pulling
out the knob
and turning
the hands clockwise if
slow, counterclockwise if fast. This
will,
if the clock error is five min­
utes
or more, automatically com­
pensate for time gain
or lag. Sev­
eral resettings, several days apart,
may be needed to properly adjust
the clock mechanism. Have your
clock cleaned
and oiled by a com­
petent clock serviceman at least
every two years.
Cigarette Lighter
The accessory cigarette lighter is
located on the instrument panel
face.
To operate, push it in. When
it becomes heated,
it automatically
pops
out ready for use.
Windshield Wiper
and Washer
The windshield wiping system
operates
at two speeds and is de­
signed to wipe clear designated areas
of the
windshield under most
inclement weather conditions.
The
windshield wipers work electrically
and are not affected by engine op­
eration.
Push the control lever to the
right to
start the electric windshield
wiper .
The two-speed electric wiper
has both a
"low" and a "high" speed
po sition.
Pressing the control will send a
measured amount of water
or other
cleaning agent onto the windshield
and will also cause the wiper lever
to move, thus starting the wiper .
motor. The wiper will then con­
tinue to operate until manually
turned off at the wiper lever.-
Fill the washer
jar only % full
during the winter to allow for ex­
pansion if the temperature should
fall low enough to freeze the so­
lution.
• Check washer fluid level regu­
larly-do it frequently when the
weather is bad.
28
• Use fluid such as GM
OPTIKLEEN to preventfreez­
ingdamage, and to provide bet­
ter cleaning.
• Do not use radiator anti-freeze in
windshield washer; it could
cause paint damage.
• In cold weather, warm the wind­
shield with defrosters before us­
ing
washer-to help prevent ic­
ing that may seriously obscure
vision.
Ventilation System
Your Camaro incorporates a
ventilation system
that provides
ventilation comfort, made possible
by the addition of air vent provi­
sions in the rear body lock pillar.
Another feature of the system
is
continuous low-speed operation of
the air conditioner blower, result­
ing in an uninterrupted supply
of
outside air flow into the car when-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
The time or mileage intervals on
the following pages are intended
as
a guide for establishing regular
maintenance and lubrication
periods for your car. Sustained
heavy duty or high speed operations
or operation under adverse condi­
tions may necessitate more frequent
servicing. To determine specific
recommendations for conditions
under which you use your car, con-
Fuel
Requirements
. Your Camaro is designed to op­
erate on unleaded
or low lead fuels
of at least
91 Research Octane.
These fuels will minimize spark
plug fouling and emission control suIt
your Authorized Chevrolet
Dealer.
Maintenance Schedule
For owner convenience, a sep­
arate maintenance folder has been
provided with your car which con­
tains a complete schedule and
brief explanation of the safety,
emission control, lubrication and
system
deterioration. Fuels with
Regular grade octane quality
should be used only when needed
to eliminate
knock-a metallic rap­
ping noise generated during the
combustion process. The engine
does not require
Premium fuel.
Therefore, its use would be an un­
necessary additional expense.
If
knocking persists, consult your
46
general maintenance it requires.
The maintenance folder informa­
tion
is supplemented by this sec­
tion of the
Owner's Manual, as
well as the separate emission con­
trol systems folder also furnished
with your car. Read all three pub­
lications for a full understanding
of vehicle maintenance require­
ments.
authorized Chevrolet dealer.
In
any case, continuous or excessive
knocking may result in engine
damage and constitutes misuse of
the engine for which Chevrolet
Motor Division
is not responsible
under the terms of the New Vehicle
Warranty.
If the service station gas pump
has a symbol similar to the samples

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine first, check lubricant level and add
lubricant, if necessary, to
fill to
level of filler plug hole.
Use SAE
80
or SAE 90 GL-S Gear Lubri­
cant.
(For vehicles normally 0per­
ated in Canada use SAE 80 GL-S
Gear Lubricant.)
Positraction -Drain and refill
after the first
12,000 miles then
maintain same
as standard axle but
use only the special positraction
lubricanf
available from your
Chevrolet Dealer.
Manual Transmissions
3-Speed and 4-Speed -Every
6,000 miles or 4 months-Check
at operating temperature and
fill
as necessary to level of filler plug
hole with
SAE 80 or SAE 90 GL­
S Gear Lubricant.
(For vehicles
normally operated in Canada use
SAE 80 GL-S Gear Lubricant.)
If temperatures of below 32°F.
are expected, use SAE 80 GL-S Gear
Lubricant only.
Clutch Cross-Shaft -Every
36,000 miles or sooner if neces­
sary -Remove the plug, install a
lubrication fitting and lubricate
with water resistant
EP Chassis
Lubricant which meets GM
Speci­
fication 6031 M.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Recommendations
Use only automatic transmis­
sion fluids identified with the
mark
DEXRON@ II or DEX­
RON®. These fluids have been spe­
cially formulated and tested for use
in your automatic transmission,
and are available from your Chev­
rolet dealer or local service station.
Check the fluid level at each
engine oil change period. To make
an accurate fluid level check:
Check the fluid level at each en­
gine oil change period.
To make an
accurate fluid level check:
50
1. Drive car several miles, making
frequent starts and stops, to
bring transmission up to normal
operating temperature (approxi­
mately
180-190° F.).
2. Park car on a level surface.
3. Place selector level in "Park"
and leave engine running.
4. Remove dipstick and wipe clean.
S . Reinsert dipstick until
cap seats.
6. Remove dipstick and note read­
ing.
If fluid level is at or below the
ADD mark, add sufficient fluid to
raise the level to the
FULL mark.
One pint raises the level from ADD
to FULL.
Do not overfill.
Under normal driving condi­
tions, the transmission fluid should
be changed every 24,000 miles. If
your car is driven extensively in
heavy city traffic during hot weather,
or
is used to pull a trailer , change
fluid every
12,000 miles. Likewise,
operators of cars in commercial use

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine (such as taxicab, limousine or pa­
trol car service) where the engine
idles for long periods, should
change fluid every
12,000 miles.
Changing Fluid-For Turbo Hy­
dra-Matic
350, remove fluid from
the transmission sump and add ap­
proximately 2.5 quarts
U.S. Mea­
sure
(2.0 quarts Imperial Mea­
sure). Operate transmission
through all shift ranges and re­
check fluid level as described
above.
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400-Lubri­
cation of your Turbo Hydra-matic
400 will, except for fluid capacity
and filter change listed below, fol­
low previously stated automatic
transmission recommendations.
After checking transmission fluid
level it
is important that the dip­
stick be pushed all the way into
the filler tube.
Every 24,000 miles -After re- moving
fluid from the transmission
sump, approximately
7V2 pints
U.S. measure (6 pints Imperial
measure) of fresh fluid will be re­
quired to return level to proper
mark on the dipstick.
Every 24,000 miles the transmis­
sion sump filter should be re­
placed.
Transmission Shift and Back­
drive Linkage (Manual and
Automatic) -
Every 6,000 miles
or 4 months lubricate shift link­
age and on manual transmission
floor controls lever contacting
faces with water resistant
EP chas­
sis lubricant which meets GM
Specification 6031M.
Transmission Shift Linkage
(Manual and Automatic)
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
lubriCate shift linkage and on man­
ual transmission floor controls
lever contacting faces with water
51
resistant EP chassis lubricant
which meets GM Specification
6031M.
Chassis
Front Suspension
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
-Lubricate 4 fittings with water
resistant
EP Chassis Lubricant
which meets GM Specification
6031M.
Ball jOints should not be lu­
bricated unless their tempera­
ture
is 10°F. or higher. During
colder weather, they should be
allowed to warm up as neces­
sary before
lubricaJion.
Steering Linkage
Every 6,000 miles or 4 months
-Lubricate 7 fittings, one at each
end of each tie rod, one at each
end of relay rod, and one at idler
lever with water resistant
EP Chas­
sis Lubricant which meets GM
Specification
6031 M.