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Messages - GMAD_Van Nuys

#1
Maintenance / Re: Dot 5 brake fluid
Today at 01:15:32 PM
Dot 3 brake fluid is poly glycol-ether based.
#2
I found an article on a 1968 Camaro that was built at the Van Nuys Plant, which is claimed to have been built on the first day of production:

https://www.hagerty.com/marketplace/auction/1968-chevrolet-camaro/ce7b5efa-49ca-46e0-9e27-1c8637f747cc

While I wasn't at the Van Nuys Plant when this Camaro was built, I did see the first 1982 third generation F-car come off the line at Van Nuys, which was a white Camaro with a V-6 engine.  There wasn't anyone gathered around this first car produced.  One of my friend's from plant engineering told me the first vehicles assembled were carefully built as we started using robots in the body shop.
#3
John Hinckley's article on "Building the Small-Block V8 at Flint Engine" detailed the stamping of the engine suffix and date on a completed engine:

https://www.camaros.org/flintV8.shtml

Maximum production at Flint on two shifts could produce 5000 engines per day and the operator assigned to stamp the engines could have up to "46 different gang-stamps."  The operator had less than a minute to stamp the engine.  While I never visited the Flint facility, I was always amazed how proficiently workers at the Van Nuys Plant assembled Camaros and Firebirds. 
#4
The assembly plants were still paying outside suppliers by check when I worked at Van Nuys.  When Corporate sent out an advisory that fraudulent invoices were being sent out to various locations, I asked about an invoice we had recently received from Checker Motors.  I was surprised when I was told that they are one of our best suppliers.
#5
Decoding/Numbers / Re: Help locating paperwork
April 26, 2026, 12:35:16 PM
Sources of documentation for a specific vehicle:

https://www.camaros.org/geninfo.shtml#MyCarHistory
#6
In 1976, Checker Motors began manufacturing parts for GM.  I remember seeing open rail cars delivering sub-frames to the Van Nuys Plant.  Hemmings had an article about parts that Checkers were making for GM:

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/how-checker-remained-in-business-after-the-end-of-taxi-production-building-everything-including-the-kitchen-sink/
#8
Maintenance / Re: Dot 5 brake fluid
April 20, 2026, 07:53:52 PM
I just flushed the brake fluid on 2 vintage cars and also used DOT 3.
#9
I would have thought that your Camaro originated from the Van Nuys Plant as the shipping costs were probably lower than sending it from the Norwood Plant.  I remember when we built 3rd generation Camaros that were to be sold in Japan.
#10
Maintenance / Re: Dot 5 brake fluid
April 20, 2026, 12:36:59 PM
The 2025 Corvette uses DOT 4 brake fluid:

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/chevrolet/na/us/english/index/vehicles/2020/performance/corvette-experience/02-pdf/02-pdf/2025_Corvette_Track_Guide_Final.pdf

While DOT 5.1 brake fluid was developed so it could be used in vehicles with ABS, it would take a lot of effort to remove all the DOT 3 or 4 fluid from the system to avoid contamination.  If you had problems that resulted in using DOT 5.1, I doubt that the manufacturer would reimburse you to repair your brake system. 
#11
General Discussion / Re: 1978 Pontiac Firebird
April 18, 2026, 07:26:34 PM
I found that the 1998 Z28 would get about 20 mpg on my daily commute to work.  However, on surface streets, the mileage dropped to about 12 mpg, which was the estimated mpg listed on the "fuel economy rating" sticker from the 1979 Trans Am that GM pasted next to the vehicle invoice.
#12
General Discussion / Re: 1978 Pontiac Firebird
April 17, 2026, 11:28:25 AM
I drove my 1979 Trans Am for about a month to work while waiting for my 1998 Z28 to be delivered to Cormier Chevrolet in Long Beach.  The Pontiac 400 has a 800 cfm Quadrajet carburetor and got 8 mpg driving mostly on the freeway.  I had to fill the 21 gallon tank every four days and could see the gauge go down as I went down the 405 freeway early in the morning in the slow lane!

#13
Originality / Re: Muncie transmission bolt length
April 16, 2026, 06:49:26 PM
Joe - I used to put the transmission on my Craftsman crawler, roll it under the car on ramps, and use a scissor jack to raise the transmission.  I just flushed the brake fluid on my 1979 Trans Am and 1970 BOSS 302 and used my Craftsman hydraulic jack to get under the cars.  I'm a few years older than you and know that things used to be a lot easier when we were young.  I used to pull the engine & transmission out of my 1966 Mustang by myself, rebuild everything, and then put it back in.  When you had only one car and little money, this is what you had to do.  No way I could do such work today! - Mark
#14
Originality / Re: Muncie transmission bolt length
April 16, 2026, 05:51:21 PM
I used to put studs on the bell housing to make it easier to install the transmission.  Even using an alignment tool to center the clutch assembly, sometimes the spline on the transmission would hang-up.  Other times, the transmission would just slide in.
#15
General Discussion / Re: 1978 Pontiac Firebird
April 16, 2026, 05:40:59 PM
Nice 1978 Esprit Red Bird!  I see that it still has its original pellet catalytic convertor.  I had to replace the one on my 1979 Trans Am with a two-way convertor in 1999 as the smog technical said it probably wouldn't pass the next time.  I spent a lot of time preparing the Trans Am as I had to smog it earlier this year and even replaced the brake booster filter, which I bought on eBay as no one locally had it in stock.  Tough checking all the vacuum hoses and plugging the vacuum advance on the distributor to check the timing at idle (18 degrees) when the engine is hot as you have to careful not to get burned.  I have all the original documents, warranty repairs, and service invoices from the previous two owners.