CHEVROLET CAMARO 1982 Repair Guide

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 371
6. Place a 1/8 in. (3mm) bead of RTV sealan
t all around the rocker arm
sealing surface or use a cork style gasket. (When going around the
attaching bolt holes, always flow t he RTV on the inboard side of the
holes).
7. Install cover and torque bolts to 8 ft. lbs. (10 Nm).
8. Finish installation by reversing removal procedure.
5.0L AND 5.7L ENGINES

Fig. 3: Valve cover removal for the 1982-86 V8

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 372

Fig. 4: Valve cover bolt removal for 1987-92 V8

Fig. 5: Valve cover removal for 1987-92 V8

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 373

Fig. 6: Removing the valve cover gasket
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the air cleaner, if necessary.
3. To remove the right side valv e cover, perform the following:
a. Through 1988: Disconnect the EG R solenoid transfer tube from
the plenum. Remove the coil and mounting bracket from the
cylinder head. Remove the plenum, runners and throttle body
assembly on tuned port injected models. Remove the valve cover
retainers and nuts. Remove the valve cover.
b. 1989-1992 vehicles: Remove the EGR pipe assembly, if
necessary. Unplug the electrical connections and wiring
harnesses as necessary. Label and disconnect the spark plug
wires from the distributor. Remo ve the crankcase vent hoses and
valves. Remove the coil. Remove the AIR control valve, check
valve, pipes and hoses. Remove t he valve cover bolts and remove
the cover.
4. To remove the left side valve cover, perform the following:
a. Through 1988: Remove the air management hose, if equipped.
Remove the plenum and throttle body assembly on tuned port
injected models. Remove the air conditioning bracket. Remove the
valve cover reinforcements and nuts. Remove the valve cover.
b. 1989-1992 vehicles: Unplug the electrical connections and the
wiring harnesses, as necessary . Remove the alternator and
disconnect the crankcase hoses and the PCV valve. Remove the
valve cover bolts and remove the valve cover.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 374
5. If cover adheres to cylinder head,
shear off by bumping end of rocker
arm cover with palm of hand or rubber mallet. If cover still will not come
loose, CAREFULLY pry until loose. DO NOT DISTORT THE SEALING
FLANGE.
To install: 6. Clean the sealing surface of cyli nder head and intake manifold of all old
RTV or gasket. Make sure no oil or ol d gasket is present when applying
new RTV or gasket.
7. Place a
1/8 in. (3mm) bead of RTV sealan t all around the rocker arm
sealing surface or use a cork style gasket. (When going around the
attaching bolt holes, always flow t he RTV on the inboard side of the
holes).
8. Install cover and torque bolts to 8 ft. lbs. (11 Nm).
9. Finish installation by reversing removal procedure.
PUSHROD SIDE COVER
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
2.5L ENGINE 1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Mark and remove the distributor assembly.
3. Remove the ignition coil and bracket.
4. Remove the side cover retaining nuts and remove the cover.
To install: 5. Clean the cover sealing surfaces of all RTV or gasket material.
6. Place a
1/16 in. (5mm) bead of RTV sealan t all around the rocker arm
sealing surface or use a cork style gasket. (When going around the
attaching bolt holes, always flow t he RTV on the inboard side of the
holes).
7. Install cover and torque bolts to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).
8. Finish installation by reversing removal procedure.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 375
ROCKER ARMS
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Fig. 1: Common rocker arm components

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 376

Fig. 2: 2.5L rocker arm components

Fig. 3: Remove the rocker arm retaining nut

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Fig. 4: Then remove the rocker arm pivot
Be sure to keep all the components in t he exact order of removal so they may
be installed in there original location; adjust the valve lash after replacing the
rocker arms. Coat the replacement ro cker arm and ball with engine oil before
installation.
Rocker arms studs that have damaged thr eads or are loose in the cylinder
heads may be replaced by reaming the bore and installing oversize studs.
Oversizes available are 0.003 in. (0. 076mm) and 0.013 in (0.33mm). The bore
may also be tapped and screw-in studs installed. Several aftermarket
companies produce complete rocker arm st ud kits with installation tools.
The 2.5L engine use bolts instead of studs, 2.8L and 3.1L engines use threaded
studs, the 3.4L, 5.0L and 5.7L engines use press fit studs.
EXCEPT 2.5L ENGINES 1. Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable.
2. Remove the rocker arm cover as outlined in this section
3. Remove the rocker arm nuts, balls and rocker arms. Place components
in a rack so they can be reinstalled in the same location.
To install: 4. Coat the bearings surf aces with a thin coating of Molykote® or its
equivalent.
5. Install the pushrods and make sure the rod is in the lifter seat.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 378
6. Install the rocker arm, balls and
nut. Tighten the nut until all lash is
eliminated.
7. The engine must be on the No. 1 fi ring position before proceeding. This
may be determined by placing your fi ngers on the No. 1 rocker arms as
the mark crankshaft damper is rotat ed towards the "0" on the timing tab.
If the arms did not move, it is in the No. 1 firing position. If they did move,
turn the crankshaft one full revoluti on to reach the No. 1 position.
Remember, the mark on the crankshaft balancer must be aligned with
the "0" on the timing tab.
8. Adjust the valves as follows:
V6 ENGINES
With the engine on the number 1 firing pos ition, exhaust valves 1, 2 and 3 and
intake valves 1, 5 and 6
may be adjusted. Back out t he adjusting nut until lash is felt at the pushrod.
Tighten the adjusting nut unt il all lash is removed, then tighten the nut an
additional 1
1/2 turns to center the lifter plun ger. Turn the engine one revolution
until the "0" timing mark is once again al igned. Exhaust valves 4, 5 and 6 and
intake valves 2, 3 and 4 may be adjusted.
V8 ENGINES
With the engine on the number 1 firing posit ion, exhaust valves 1, 3, 4 and 8,
intake valves 1, 2, 5 and 7 may be adj usted. Back out the adjusting nut until
lash is felt at the pushrod. Tighten the adjusting nut until all lash is removed,
then tighten an additional 1 turn to center the lifter plunger. Turn the engine one
revolution until the 0 timing mark is once again aligned. Exhaust valves 2, 5, 6
and 7, intake valves 3, 4, 6 and 8 may be adjusted.
9. Install the rocker arm cover.
2.5L ENGINE 1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the valve cover.
3. Remove the rocker arm bolt, ball and rocker arm.
4. Remove the pushrods, if necessary . Place components in a rack so they
can be reinstalled in the same location.
To install: 5. Coat the bearings surf aces with a thin coating of Molykote® or its
equivalent.
6. Install the pushrod, if removed, through the cylinder head and into the
lifter seat.
7. Install the rocker arm, ball and bol t. Torque to 22 ft lbs. (30 Nm).
8. Install the valve cover.

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 379
THERMOSTAT
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
CAUTION
- When draining the coolant, keep in mind that cats and dogs are
attracted by the ethylene gl ycol antifreeze, and are quite likely to drink any that
is left in an uncovered container or in puddles on the ground. This will prove
fatal in sufficient quantity. Always drai n the coolant into a sealable container.
Coolant should be reused unless it is contaminated or several years old.

Fig. 1: Removing the thermostat housing bolts

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 380

Fig. 2: Removing the thermostat housing

Fig. 3: Removing the thermostat
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove any components necessary to gain access to the thermostat.
3. Drain the cooling system to below the level of the thermostat.