Did lots of Camaros come with the panel that goes over the storage comparment or was this uncommon? Thanks

 

They were pretty common, however there were two types:

The not so rare, cloth type one. I don't know the material, but it feels like cloth or polyester or something.

Then they had the vinyl/pleather ones. Those ones were more rare than the "cloth" ones.

EDIT: wait, I reread your post and I don't think you are talking about the privacy shade. If you are talking about the cargo cover that was carpeted, yes it was uncommon, but not really rare. Somebody can correct me, but I thought they only came on BOSE equipped cars, not sure on that one though.

 

i got that cover, the one that covers up the little well at the tail end of the hatch, and im for dang sure i dont have the bose speakers

 

Most of them were not for the bose cars. However I have seen more on Camaros than Firebirds. I think it was an option on any of the Camaro line, I have an SC with it, and I have 1 or 2 other panels I have snagged from junkyard cars. As I think about it, I do not remember seeing any Firebirds with the option. not saying they do not exist.

The BOSE units did use the panel however and the panel will be there if you have BOSE. the panel holds the rearmost pair of speekers for BOSE systems. (again, Bose was a Camaro only option)

Its kind of a neat option IMHO, but its kind of inconvenient in some ways because storing things in the back is a slightly more of a hassle. I like the shade better, just because its more convenient.

John

 

I found a rear panel at a wrecking yard,it was in a 85 trans am.
Of course it wont fit my Camaro,it hits the back panel,The trans am did not have the pull down motor for the hatch like my camaro so it has a thinner back panel.
badbob

 

Actually in 1987 the hatch pulldown was standard, and all of them after 1987 should work properly, the only year that may not is the 91 & 92 when they changed the rear hatch release pulldown unit, it was much smaller and I am not sure if they changed the rear trim piece.

ALSO apparently those cars that were equiped with the rear windshield wiper might have the larger bump as they needed the extra contacts like on the 87-90 cars...

John

 

I have the vinyl/pleather roll up privacy shade and I have a question if anyone knows. My shade will not rool up unless I do it manualy. I took it off and one of the end plastic caps is broken where it mounts to the gear I guess is what I call it. Has anyone been able to either repair this, taken it apart, or is it what it is?
Thanks

 

This is the part being asked about. Obviously, the woofers are not OEM. Yes, it was an option on non-Bose equipped cars. Although it 's not very common, I would not go as far as to say it's "rare".

 

My 83 is equipped with this option. While not exactly a "rare" option it was only installed in a small percentage of cars each year it was available. Example in 1983 it was installed in only 7% (6.7 exact) of all Camaros produced that year.

It is actually RPO Code B48 Deluxe Luggage Compartment Trim.
Cost 164.00 and was a factory only installed option.

Production Numbers by Year (Camaro) unfortunately I don't have these numbers for the Firebirds

1982 - 23,641
1983 - 22,992
1984 - 38,827
1985 - 18,418
1986 - 29,738
1987 - 25,943
1988 - 16,185
1989 - 23,150
1990 - n/a
1991 - n/a
1992 - n/a

I have pictures of them bone stock open and closed if you want them

 

My 84 Firebird had the cover. Non-Bose, non motorized pull down. It was one of the few options it had.

 

On a totally related but unrelated note: Could you get both the shade and the compartment cover on ONE car?

I have never seen that,

I wonder if thats why they droped the cover after 1989, they just went to the pull shade.

John

 

hey duke if you take apart the shade roller you should be able to rewind the spring that makes it retract. If you take it apart you should be able to figure it out. Can't remember exactly how it goes but it was pretty simple. Fixed it in like ten minutes.

 

The spring will only retract if you have the ends pushed in IIRC.

JOhn

 

My 83 Trans Am had both the shade and hardcover.

 

To me it seems the roller is a complete assembly like a solid state piece of electronics equipment. I epoxyed the piece that was broken but it still will not retract on its own.

 

Thanks again John,
But it doesn't seem to want to retract on its own. I fixed the broken end it and installed it and I still had to roll it up manually?

 

That looks cool,
There is one of those in my local yard but the carpet is tan and no keys or else I would have grabbed it.

 

In my 88 Sport Coupe I have both the roll up shade and locking hard hatch cover.I bought the car from the original owner who had ordered the car from the dealer.I also have the dealer invoice for the car with both items on there so I know that they are original.It really does seem kinda strange to have both of these options as they serve mostly the same purpose

 

you know what i think my 82 trans am has a carpeted panel
its dark blue interior
if it does then its stashed somewhere because i have the rear carpet and stuff out of the car currently, along with console and some other parts of the car, stashed away

never seen a shade in one of these cars i dont believe

anyone got a pic ?

hmm

 

THats good (interesting) but good to know that you could indeed get both.

John

 

Duke maybe my 90 was different but the ends would come off and then you could rewind the spring that is inside the tube and press the ends back on. Like i said it could be different on newer models.

 

I think All I did was wrap it up while it was off, then when I put it on the car it would retract, because the ends were pushed in.

Its been a while but IIRC thats how I fixed one of mine.

John

 

Thanks for all the help guys, I have taken it off wound it up and it still will not retract. Also the ends wont come off unless I break them and epoxy them back together. I have one last question, can someone post a pic of the rear cargo panel where the shade clips into. The one I have looks like there was a new panel put in and the holes were just cut out. Have a great new year.

 

Another question about the carpeted cover. Does anyone know if my car was not equiped with one and I snag one from the JY, will I be able to install it in car car no problem? I mean will it just bolt up or will I have to modify, weld, drill to get the hinges to attach? One more thing, it is in a Bird and I have an Iroc but I am pretty sure the trunk size is the same. Thanks

 

If it was originally equipped it should just bolt right up

 

If your car didn't originally have the "storage well cover" you'll need to remove the brackets from the donor car and weld/screw them onto your car. There are a set of brackets with studs on the floor pan that the hinge attaches to and there is another set of brackets on the tail panel for the lock striker. You'll also need to swap the rear plastic trim piece as those are different.