did you check the tail pipes?...... i just bought a 82 t top for a restore project and my tail pipes are held in place by bailing wire .... lmao

 

firebirds? i love everything about them

mine? i hate everything about it, probably because i am not happy till everything is perfect, and mine is far from that.

 

305/700r
t top headliner, door panels, non posi, squeaks rattles, heavy doors, no glove box, cup holders, hood cable stop opening right, exhaust system.

 

ride height
door weight
no cup holder & glove box
shifts of a/t
my personal paint lacks shine
also does any one have a problem with, as you turn wheel all the way to either side. that the wheel will hit the inner wheel wel.


i love payin 900 bucks for it though, so its gunan be a fixer upper. and i got a long way

 

as noted in a thread of mine a while back, I HATE how Camaro fender flares don't match front to back. It's a small thing but it causes acute pain in my soul.

Also the window motors move like an asthmatic turtles f*ck.

 

I noticed this when doing the body work on my car, annoyed me to no end but I don't really notice it now that its painted.

to everyone who mentioned cupholders... heres what I did

I have a thread in the fabrication board if your interested...

 

the fact that the car looks fast and powerful.. but its not. damn hondas could kick my cars a$$.

 

Thigns I don't like about my thirdgen:
Seat belts don't like retracting
The doors are abnoxiously loud when closed
It seems like GM cursed these cars with poor build *sports car?* (305, no posi, 85 mph speedo?)

Other than this, love the car. Too many +'s to mention...

 

Road noise. Especially now that the Walmart Special tires are starting to wear and they make it ten times worse. Hate to replace near new tires but I can't take it much longer.

 

about the v-6 cars being able to stand in the engine bay,
i have a b-body with a v-6 in it
anyway, the water pump went bad and at one point, i was standing on the sway bar in the engine compartment, with a 3/8 drive and a can of shellac putting the new pump in.


my dad was like, WTF...






anyway, i hate every little rattle my car makes.
other than that, i dont miss cup holders.
thats what women are for. lol.
jk to all the ladies out there. sorta
faded rear seats from the big *** glass.
flexy body.


and i LOVE MY 350.

 

Something I forgot to add... I don't know if it was just my car or what, but the clutch fan was so loud you couldn't hear the exhaust at ALL.

 

my electric fan is that way.
from the front of the car with the hood closed its all a whir.
got a nice rumble out back though

 

When I get my car around 2500+ RPM all you can hear is the fan... You can't even talk to someone without ending up having to yell at them haha. I took it out and opt'ed for a Hayden electric fan.

 

I dislike the weight of everything. The doors are heavy, the hatch is heavy, the hood is heavy..... The car is just heavy lol

 

Definitly the wide turning radius. This sucks azz. Otherwise the only other complain I have is no cup holders.

 

Headliner sag
Disc Brakes not optional on all models
Limited Slip not optional on all models
Bad lighting on the HVAC controls
Bad lighting on the automatic shifter
Horrible paint defects
Unavailability of stock stripes
14" Wheels PERIOD!!!
Dash pad and upper door plastic trim prone to cracking
Pull down hatch motor not too reliable

 

I hate that too! I thought I was the only one cuz i've never heard of it from anyone else...

 

You know's funny about the weight of a thirdgen? It's actually lighter than a 4th gen

 

On a side note... Things I like about my thirdgen? 4th gen interior, a glovebox, leather seats, working A/C, electric seats, 5 drink holders, and modded lt1 t56.

 

things i have hated since owning my car... its a 91 which i got in 93.


the single exhaust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


driveshaft vibs. chased them for years.


the paint just peeled off the car a few years after i got it.



as for glove box, never missed it. and cup holders, yes it sucks not to have them, but the ones in the doors of some firebirds are some of the simplest best ones i've ever used in any car.


i also have an 02 camaro and the cup holder in the way of the shifter is stupid and the little swing out one rattles when its being used. so i don't. i'd love to have those 3gen firebird cup holders in my 4th gen.



i'm sure i just screwed up, since now the price of used cupholders will go nuts lol.

 

Well, by glovebox, I mean the glovebox on my 4th gen dash lol, and multiple cup holders on the 4th gen center console to boot. Gota love the 98 and up shiz

 

i never use the golve box in my 02 for anything. i maybe opened it like 5 times since i got it new. and all the cup holders are in weird places. 2 for the back seat people? wtf is that about. no one fits back there lol.


i think the firebird door cupholders are way better than anything in my 4th gen. but the 4th gen dash and havc stuff is an upgrade for sure.

 

First of all, I own two 3rd gen camaros: a '91 hard top, and a '91 convertible. Both are 305cid with 700R4 autos (and they are both completely stock).

Both are immaculately taken care of, and I love them both, but here are the things I don't like:

On both cars:
- poor durability of factory paint job (specifically clear coat)
- no cup holder
- location of the cigarette lighter
- yellow letters on levers and switches has worn off almost completely
- cracked dash
- driver's seat wear and tear at the leftmost seam
- easy-to-break console armrest
- unattractive console with torx-head screws and deep accent lines that fill with dust
- difficult to clean plastic slider wipe for automatic shifter in console bezel
- floor mat slides forward all the time
- passenger side catalytic converter hump
- no true dual exhaust
- heavy doors / door sag
- hood gets stuck closed, and needs a thump from my fist to open
- hood shocks go bad - won't hold hood up
- difficult to change spark plugs
- location of rear distributor is too far back
- absolute pain to replace heater core since dash has to be completely disassembled (8-10hrs)
- slow power windows
- sticky power locks
- both doors rattle, and need a lot of work to disassemble and repair to restore original quietness
- arm rests on doors seem to come apart due to age/heat
- fan on/off sensor malfunctions (I wired to always-on for extra cooling, but now it's loud)
- under dash kick panels are too low
- no factory strut tower support for body twist/responsiveness when cornering
- lower air dam and catalytic converter hits every speed bump
- crappy factory radio
- no room under the hood
- Plastic reservoirs on the sides of the aluminum rad cracks with heat/age
- loss of electronic speedometer pulses somehow...Affects speedometer gauge and cruise control
- floating gas gauge
- underpowered drivetrain
- wipers are too slow and seem to "drag" on the windshield
- wipers push water into the open driver's side window (if open)
- expensive to buy good condition used parts

Specifically on Hard Top:
- 3rd brake light is completely in the way of the rear view mirror

Specifically on the Convertible:
- poor weather stripping is leaky when it rains and a pain at car washes
- crappy acrylic rear window scratches too easily and is hard to see through
- extremely hard to find replacement parts
- poor interior lighting
- lack of a power rag top (all manual)
- if you think the coupe or T-top versions rattle, you haven't driven a convertible... Extremely rough ride.
- wind noise is very annoying at high speed compared with the coupe

Things I love:
- Comfortable bucket seats
- Easy to fix most common problems
- Same parts as similar years Safari and Astro vans (alternators, radiators, blower fans, wiring harness connectors, AC compressor, etc) can be bought for cheap
- well taken care of cars still turn heads and get lots of compliments

I LOVE THESE CARS and it's no wonder I am still driving them since 1994 (coupe) and 2006 (convertible)

I know I listed a lot of complaints, but I have more complaints about my 2009 Pontiac G5, and I just got the car...

 

About the heater core... I dont recal it taking more than 20 minutes to change. Where 8-10 hours came from is beyond me. Take the passenger under dash panel off, then with some extentions and a couple u joints you can get to all the screws to remove the heater core housing, after that the heater core just comes out once u take the hoses off the other end. All in all took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.

 

I'm don't know which year of camaro you have (and I mean no disrespect) but I really doubt on a 1991 camaro that the heater core can be changed in under 4 hours.

When I contacted a GM repair shop directly, they quoted me $800 CDN parts and labour (approx 6hrs) to do the job, so there's no way it is a 20 minute job. Post #107 and Post #393 also state that they removed the whole dash and that it was a "12 hour" ordeal to do the same job...I haven't heard of anyone replacing the heater core in 30 minutes...

Seriously, I temporarily lowered the steering column so I could remove the complete dash, including the dash pad, instrument gauge cluster, under dash kick panels, console, radio, heater controls, ECM, etc before I could finally pull back the heater core housing far enough to get the heater core pipes to withdraw far enough through the firewall to come out.

As for the extra time, when my heater core sprung a leak, it was hot and under pressure so it sprayed the entire inside of the air exchange housing with antifreeze, as well as leaked antifreeze into my passenger side floor pan and other carpet so I spent a long time to clean each and every component and shampoo the carpets. While I had everything apart, I also cleaned all the dust and re-assembled everything carefully. No extra pieces, no missing tools...lol

 

I did my heater core in less than 2 hours, in my driveway.

 

Haha, yes, I did mine in 30 minutes. They SAY you have to take the dash out. Eff what they say, with u joints and extensions and the right socket, you can remove the under dash panel and get to the heater core housing screws and heater core without an issue. Did I mention that's how long it took my the FIRST time I ever even touched a heater core on one of these cars? Mines a 92.

 

But on a side note... now that I have my 4th gen dash, and a glovebox. It will take me 5 or so minutes to change my heater core if it craps out again. I just take the glovebox out and the heater core housing is RIGHT there. It's awesome

 

heater core on a 90 formula took me about 2 hours too. the hardest part for me was hooking up the hoses under the hood since someone before me had removed everything. I thought it was going to be a much harder job, but when I was done I was like, now why did I wait so long to do that. haha the one on my 91 z28 hasn't gone out yet, which is weird because the rad has needed to be replaced from running it for years on straight water and just being so rusty it wouldn't cool anymore.

 

The only major thing I dislike about my third gen, any third gen for that matter, is the lack of respect they get and the way people treat them. Almost any random person has one rotting away in their backyard. I went to check out a 92 25th anniverary Camaro back before I bought my Trans Am and on the way there, no 100ft from the people's house, there was an abandoned, destroyed convertible Camaro with a busted winshield and a tree through the top and weeds growing 'inside' the car. I was disgusted. Further down the road from these two, there was a red rs without a rear axle just sitting there (not on jacks) in someone's driveway... so yeah, I hate how people treat these cars. I would adopt every one of them if I could.

 

Man reading every single post makes me feel bad about my car now

Things i dont like.
1. having to open the door and lay down under the dash to get to the fuses.
2. heavy doors. dont mind but the sound of closing them.
3. the stock head lights went about only 20 feet in front of you an 40 feet with high beams.
4. Bad lighting on the HVAC controls.
5. why so many damn screws, even the cargo area has screws!
6. Hatch motor. had to replace once took a long times to keep those white plastic things from fallin off tryign to assemble it.
7. I personaly hate the hatch its self. i dont mind it from the inside. but looking at it from the side it looks dumb unless you got tint.
8. The ride. Love it on the high way, hate it in town.
9. speakers. front 3x6 dont seem loud enough. Rear 6x9 are loud but barely notice cause they face eachother in the back.
10. driver seat motor broke so i cant move back and im 6'2'' an the seat is in the middle!! i have to basically lay down.
11. GAS HOG!
12. Crappy door panel fabric.
13. 700r4 or w.e the transmisson is called sucks with a high power motor
14. Why bother making rear seats for this car?
15. ALMOST Impossible to have s<x in the car. lol
16. Break lag.
17. Cheap flakey clear coat. (people peel off my clear coat!) < BEFORE NEW PAINT JOB
18. My Gf hates my car cause its to loud inside. That personally hurts
19. Interior is so Boxy!
20. damn passenger floor pan. going from deep to high level.
21. Passenger rug, it always seems to fold up

Things i changed.
1. Brand new headliner
2. New Halogen headlights
3. 4th Gen Console swap (CUP HOLDERS!!!) and so much better looking
4. Brand new paintjob.
5. New Exhaust.
6. ENGINE SWAP.

 

I only hate the interior mostly, Things like the center console a useless ashtray useless back seat unless your 5 years old or younger.Low as hell power for a car of its weight.Dash vents that move with even bump you hit in the road.The steering i mean the fox body mustang had a rack and pinion why couldn't the f body.Even the pinto had a rack and pinion and it was a cheap car in its day.

 

I agree with the heavy doors, not the heavy car though - they are lighter than 2nd and 4th gens.
What's with the cup holder complaints - mine came with two cup holders but it is a loaded 90 GTA though.
I can't really complain about the interior - the layout is perfect, seats are power and leather - what more could you want. Heated I suppose? I don't understand the draw of heated seats, if anything I would want air conditioned seats but then I don't live or drive in 40 below weather.
I have the dual cats but it goes into a single exhaust - that blows!
All the electronics work so no complaints there.
I don't like having an airbag - especially the first generation bags that killed so many.
No real rattle issues - even with T Tops - just lucky I guess.
Mine has B and M shifter which is awesome so I can't comment on the stcok one. Hydraulic clutch works okay.
No paint or rust issues.
Car is slower than I would like - but that is the case with every car I have ever owned.

 

My main bitch is the huge torq arm that's in the way for a decent exhaust system, or these things are a bitch to jack up and get the car to be level on 4 stands. or the rear kicks out whenever the pavement's wet.

 

Some of my complaints are based more on my car than the car series in general.

- No airbags (every time I punch the gas to show off, the voice in the back of my mind reminds me that the speed I'm building "could" end up in my face when I hit the steering wheel as I crash, lol)

- No cup holders

- My lack of posi LSD (I punch it and only the back right wheel spins, seems kinda lame to me, but that'll be fixed soon enough)

- The tiny back seats. I love my car but I also like to carry friends from time to time and they CONSTANTLY complain about how little room there is back there.

- The carbed engine. I've always been a fan of FI but lately I've been getting used to the carb, (don't mistake "getting used to" for "liking")

That's most of what I can think of right now. Nothing that will ever make me consider selling the car.

 

Wow man! If I didnt know any better I'd think you didnt like these cars, haha. Also, tell your woman that the noise means its badass! Not like those sissy ricers that just whine.

 

No no lol i love my car. just after reading what every1 said i started feeling down about it lol. But really i love my car. and that whole no air bag thing. i completly forgot about that wow... lol

 

Thats a funny question since their is lots said already. The worst for me is the slow as s lo3, & the lack of 5 speeds. What where they thinking? Stupid as s sports cars with auto trans? I just HATE auto's in sports cars. Someone needs to be smacked. Also gm is not making so much any more. must be the stupid showing. Stopped making the camaro? Why? Stupid.

 

i love my car and im happy theres only a few things i dont like.

no cup holders, hatch/hood supports failing, leaky t-top, shitty headliner(bought a new one). otherwise i love it. especially the power that mine has.

 

things i hate about my 3rd gen....hmmmm

--feel of "cockpit"...(will be doing a 4th gen interior swap soon)
--no good manual trans from factory...minus firehawk
--TPI....nough said
--10 bolt rear end
--700r4
--hearing mull*t jokes everywhere
--crap rear end gear ratios


firebird only quirks:
--engine intake options



good things i like:
--looks...91 trans am hartop WS6.......love it
--crosslace rims
--aero wing
--FACTORY CUP HOLDERS
--pull down hatch that works
--cool tail lights
--did i mention hardtop?
-- ws6 handling
--good brakes
--massive torque....(until 5000rpm lol)


all in all im making my car the way it should have been built lol.....
world product heads
HSR
cam
327...yes you heard me right muahaha
3300 stall(until tko 600 swap)
3.23 gear for now

 

i love my 3rd gen, some things **** me off.

underpowerd 145 horse (stock carbed trans am in 82)
shity dash pads that crack
rattles with every bump
consel cover curls on the ends (replaced with clear coated oak) looks good.

i find it hard to find year spacific parts for mine.

 

I think I share the sentiments of most everyone with the underpowered feel of GenIII cars (except Firehawk). Although, I like the torque feeling of the TPI 350s. Cupholders is definately something that would be nice. GM also was too scared the F-Body would be too close performance wise to the Vette so they wouldn't offer a manual tranny with the TPI 350 cars...stupid! I'm not a big fan of early GenIII interior, but it got better as the years went on. I also hate hearing about Knight Rider since I have a Firebird. Yes, growing up I enjoyed the show...but it gets a little old. Other than those...I can't really think of anything else.

As far as things I like...exterior styling and WS6 suspension and handling are my two big favorites. Despite many of teh flaws that we as owners find in them, they have a lot of potential for improvement and as is evident on here there are several creative folks that have gone to great lengths to improve their GenIIIs in both styling and performance.

 

What don't I like? Just that usual stuff. The rattles, the rust, the poor paint, the brakes that don't work as well as my 1981 Olds'.

 

Wow, i thought this was only me. That is probably one of the few things that disgust me about my car.

Anyone know any fixes?

 

even if you're buying from a 'second-owner', the first owner never kept the maintenance up anyway.

the SSA. a complete waste.

even putting a V6 in an F-body! heck, a friggin 4 banger!!!

carbeurators.

hood/hatch struts that go bad and you dont even have a hood propper.

lifting up the hood and one strut goes up before the other, plus they are slow to expand and leave it uneven.

when your hood gets jammed and wont pop no matter how many times you pull the lever or bang on it.

over-priced knight rider conversion parts, WHY

 

as much as things suck about our cars...i found out how much i love working on my 3rd gen.

buddy had alternator go out on his FORD svt contour with duratec 2.5 v6, doesnt sound like hard thing to change right?

my god!...few cases of beer....a weekend... and basically tearing the whole passenger side drivetrain out to get to the alternator*&*&%^&^$&^%&^%^%34769!

WTF! i will never...ever ever....own or drive a ford after that...jeez and to think my dad works for ford and whole driveway is chevy...hmm wonder why?

 

CHECK THIS OUT!!!


My biggest thing is not having cup holders...BUT...i found a cool tech article on this site on HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN CUP HOLDERS!!!!! And it looks like stock cup holders!!! Go to the main page, on the left hand side click on the Technical Articles link, then scroll down to "Beautification"...the article is called "CAMARO CUP HOLDERS 101" its like the 10th one down in that section.

If you dislike not having them, and want to build your own by replacing the ash tray and keeping it looking stock and clean..you should check it out!! I myself dont use my ash tray and am thinking about making this modification to mine. Hope this helps some of you guys like your Third Gen a bit more!! Here is a pic to give everyone an idea

 

forgot to mention..lol..i myself wont be sticking the camaro emblem on the cup holder...i mean...its kinda cool i guess...but not my style...either way...lol..im excited to have come across this article.

 

Will that get in the way of the radio?

 

its 1/4 is slow 0-60 is good tho