In my thread here, I am about to replace most of the rear of my car. http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/bo...questions.html (RR Quarter Questions) I noticed the latch on the rear body panel is different then mine. Its a slam shut style, where I know my 91 started out as a motor, and converted to slam. I am wondering if this 85 model slam latch will work with the asc trunk/striker? Next, the 85 looks like it is able to be wired for a push button trunk. Easy as hooking up a simple switch? Last. I noticed even though my car currently has a slam latch. It still has 3 wires going to it. What are these for?

I think (THINK) that yes the slam shut on the 85 should work... you might have to adjust the striker & latch to get it to line up right...

of coure I also think it is possible to remove the brackets and then weld them on your new rear to work...

yes, all you should have to run is a wire from a momentary switch and then I think all it is is a matter of grounding it past the release IIRC, its been a while...

The three wires... Could be for the interior light, and it might also be for the high mount brake light... take a pic.

John

Got it on the hooking up of switch.

The 3 wires are not for the highmount light, I know that. Now inside light it could be. I dont have the "trunk" light hooked up, so I dunno. I'll put a meter on it tommorow and test that theory out.

Now the latch mounts. The formation of the rear body panel is different between them. Dunno if it would be possible to try that.

I'll take pics of both latch setups and post. Too dark right now.

The older slam latch won't easily bolt to your car. Neither will the later 91-92 style. You'd have to cut out the body mount for the 1982-85 slam latch from a doner car, cut out the mount from your car, then attach the older style slam latch mount to your car. The striker bolt is the same for both versions though. The same instructions would apply for installing a 91-92 style, but you'd also need to swap the striker plate, which is a simple matter of unbolting one from the trunk lid and swapping the other one for it. There was a difference in the hatch surrround trim panels, but yours should be fine for either of the two versions after the swap. Your version has a bigger bulge in it to accomodate the larger pull-down assembly. The 91-92 trim panel won't have the contact pad for the HMSL (high-mount stop light).

It's much easier for me to tell you wnat the wires in question are for if you post their colors.

Lon

The wires from the latch are black, black/orange, and black/yellow.


Also. I plan to replace the whole rear half of the car. Rear body panel, latch, latch mount, fender, fenderwell. If I replace all that off an 85 car, will my convertible "trunk lid" latch down to that 85 style mounting.

ok so i have a power pull down model. it died for the second time in just months. pulled the mechanism up so it will be locked but it bounces around while driving. whats involved in installing a slam latch im tired of this happening! thx

Both of my other Camaros had the pull-down latches die, I think it was the gears. On both, I was able to find an adjustment point where I can close the hatch manually and it won't rattle. Keep playing with where the slide is set, when you find the sweet spot, run a sheet metal screw through the tracks to keep it there.