I have an '84 Z28 which a couple years ago spun a rod bearing. This last June, me and a couple of friends pulled the engine and transmission out.

Before moving forward on repairing the engine, I want to restore the now empty engine compartment. Unfortunately, for most of the Camaro's life, it was a daily driver in northern Ohio.

I am in need of replacing the sheet metal that makes up the driver side strut tower. I found one vendor in California that supposedly can get it, but it's well over $300+frieght shipping (my replacement floor pans did not cost that much).

I want to know if anyone knows a place I can get this from. The only place I found the lists this item calls it a "Strut Apron". It's the piece of metal the window wiper fluid bottle is attached to.

I have catalogs for Classic Industries and NextGen parts and neither of them list this in their catalog.

Thanks!!

 

you have any pictures of this piece?

if its what i'm thinking and that the strut tower is completely rusted out, then you might want to consider a new chassis. i'm normally all for fixing whatever i can, but if thats rusted out that bad what else is totally gone? and how much will all that effect the integrity of the car?

but then again it could be not near as bad as what i'm thinking, i'd really need to see pictures to know for sure.

 

I don't have a pic of my Camaro's engine bay at the moment, but I have attached a pic of the break down of the area (and circled the piece I need).

We have already changed the floor pans on my Z28 a few years back (after that, it was no longer driven during the winter). After doing that job, we saw most the metal on the Camaro is good, but this one strut tower just needs replaced (would be easier and cleaner then patching) and after the floor pans, the strut tower looks like a walk in the park.

The Camaro in question is the same one in my sig (which that pic was taken about 6-12 months before it spun a rod bearing).

 

I'd buy a spot weld drill bit and go to the junkyard and get one off a car. I rarely see that part rusted out even on some of the beat up old F-bodies at a yard.

 

I'd rather install a brand new clean piece of metal. I'm not confident enough in pulling one off a vehicle for re-use....

 

The part # you need is 10092051, which has been discontinued from GM. I ran it on a locator, and Performance Pont Olds GMC in Wooster, OH is showing it. Phone # 330-264-1113. Be prepared to pay over $300 for this part. I would recommend the cordless sawzall and a trip to the junkyard also. Cut off more than you need and have whoever is doing the work trim it down.

 

If I was you, I'd throw that car away and get another.

THat's one of the thickest, heaviest pieces of metal on the whole chassis. It's about impossible for the rest of the car to be a good resto candidate, if that big thing is that severely wasted. If the cancer has managed to eat through that, there'll be ALOT of other things on the car that will be ALOT worse. You'll probably end up spending more on pieces to patch that up than you would to just buy a whole cancer-free car and be done with it.

Sad but true.

 

I have the same problem and am trying to find a solution also.That is one of the heaviest pieces sheet metal wise as he said but some parts of it are also very thin sheet metal.Like the areas where they bolt the washer tank to.Water gets in there and sits on where those screws go through for the washer tank and rusts it out.That part of that piece is very thin sheet metal.

 

tagta1 - That location you label as "thin" is the part that is a problem on my Camaro. For the most part the body itself is exceptable as a restore, but that one location is my problem.

I figure while the engine is out, let's do this right and fix it before it gets worse.....

So many people don't share my view about this. If I end up buying a new body or Camaro, it just puts me too deep money wise for what I want.... Especially since I am already working with what I wanted (and used to enjoy driving). Unless a better opprotunity presents itself, my game plan is to continue working on this one.

BTW - I called the place in Wooster Ohio. They have the piece. But I have to save a bit of coin to reach $328 (unless a less expensive option for it new comes by). At least Wooster I can pick up the part in the S10....

 

I agree with you...if you have already done the floors and the hard work and since you have the engine out anyway why give up now...I took a quick look on mine and as you said if the engine is out it looks pretty straight forward.Lots of spot weld drilling,but that's about it.

 

I suppose it can be done right with getting a junkyard part and welding it on to replace the rusted piece. But to me that wouldn't look right and is a hack job to do to such an important part as a strut tower brace.As you may have implied,I'd get an all new inner fender.

 

I have an '89 camaro and I just pulled out my engine and tranny too...planning to do an engine swap. I have the same problem expect mine actually rusted right through. There is a crack about 6 inches long. Pissed me off so much cuz it happened while towing the car to my house from the shop a few months ago. I heard that this is a huge and very common problem with third gens, especially in snow infested cities. A lot of people say they dont winter drive their cars but they drive it out the second the snow melts off the streets. The problem is that the salt sticks to ground for a while. Anyways just wanted to say that you should stick to your plan man....you seem to be halfway anyways and its the logical thing to do. Goodluck with your project.

 

My step brother was checking with a contact he has at a local body shop. The guy knows the problem and even he recommended pulling it off another Camaro from a yard. Perhaps that might be the route I take...

Hopefully through out this year I can get this phase of my project completed....

 

maniac

I have a friend whos parting out a 100% rust free 1989 V-8 camaro, he's just going to cut it up after the nice parts are gone, I can get you and metal you need just pay shipping

 

Jproz1167,

You have my attention. When I looked into buying the tower I needed new (from a dealer in California), I believe they wanted $70 something to frieght ship the part (understood, given size and weight). But the entire cost was nuts.

With your offer, I'm interested. I'm actually wondering if you might be able to get me both towers (and not just the one). I'm thinking while I'm messing with this, to replace both (instead of cleaning the one up and putting in a small patch, just replace from the same donor car).

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think there is an issue with year difference. Is it possible to get any pics? And is the vehicle a Z28/RS/Berlinetta?

Let me know what we need to do to get this rolling.... We can discuss it more later.

Thanks, I appreciate this offer!!!

 

theres no differences in any body peices, except 91-92 i've heard, the other years its all the same