58mark

iTrader: (3)

please answer a couple of basic hatch questions..

first...do all 86-92 thirdgens have electric pulldown motors? I had an 85 sportcoupe, and never had a days problem with the old fashion hatch, but ever flippin 88-92 camaro I've looked at buying has problems with that dang blasted motor.

Second, is it possible to retrofit an 89 with a motor to the old fashion manual hatch? What parts do I need to get to do the retrofit?

The car I'm looking at buying this week has a hatch that wont latch at all, and I need to know what I'm in for before I buy it.

thanks for the replies

Drew

iTrader: (58)

If you have a 82-85 with good weatherstripping, the hatch usually won't latch on the first try. You can feel the air pressure pushing back on the hatch when you try to close it. The hatch pull down is an elegant solution. Just fix the pulldown. There aren't that many parts involved and as long as you don't slam the hatch like a dumbass they don't break.

Otherwise at the very least you'll have to find the junkyard parts and bolt them in. You can probably search and find someone who's done it before.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

I'm looking at the 89 with the problem. From what I've seen of the motorized system, i'd rather not deal with it at all.

Does every later model 3rd gen have that motor, or was it an option?

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

Good answers!I sometimes have problems but I don't open my hatch too often.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

It was a standard feature. Obviously GM didn't add complexity and expense just for bragging rights. The only negative is it's fragile nature.

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

You can either cut out and weld in the bracket for the manual style, or you can get a reinforced piece to replace the housing that usually breaks. There's a link with info as well, I don't have it off hand though.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

well crud. I was hoping it was an option, and the old style could go in as a simple bolt in

thanks for the information

Diggler86

you can drill thru the rails of the pulldown unit, to make it permanent. the only trick is drilling in the exactly right place.

kevmann

Thats what I did. I just drilled holes in the sides and put in screws to make it permanent. It works great and fits tightly. I know some would frown on this but I chose to do it until I get the $ to fix it right. It keeps the exhaust from coming in.

Kevin

58mark

iTrader: (3)

If I understand you correctly, what you are saying is it IS possible to convert a broken motorized system to an old style manual pulldow, by just drilling a couple of holes?

HOT DA**!

OK, please explain how you can tell where to drill the holes. I certainly don't want to guess

camaronewbie

When I did mine, I took the interior plastics out, loosened the 4 bolts that attach the motorized system to the car, and I removed the motor part. At this stage, make sure the adjusting rubbers on each corner are screwed in as far as they will go. Then, I shut it gently, and with a partner outside with the key, I crawled inside into the back. I lined everything up so that the hatch was closed tight, but the 4 bolts that hold the assembly were at the very top of the holes. I marked both pieces of the slide, then took it all out and drilled a hole in each slide, and stuck two bolts in, reattached to the car with the 4 bolts this time with the motor assembly at the very bottom of the holes, unscrewed the adjusting rubbers almost all the way out and tested. I was slightly off (not tight enough - it squeaked when I hit bumps), so I took it apart again and drilled two new holes with the slides just ever so slightly more offset, refit and retested, and success! Put nuts on the bolts for the holes I drilled, and was done.

BUT - on my 1992 I just got a working motor assembly, and I love it - well worth it to have the working motor - you just have to very gently close the hatch just enough to let the motor catch and start. I'd much rather have a working hatch motor - even if it cost me $150 to have it (which it didn't - I'm exagerating) - I'd still do it motorized!

58mark

iTrader: (3)

It might be nice to have a working system, I'll jsut ahve to see if I can find a good motor.

Are the ones on ebay crap, or are they all about the same? I wonder if napa carries them? I can't find them at autozone

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

I would take a look at it before buying anything. I recall being able to remove the motor and checking it separately from the pull down unit. Also it's common for the housing to break so you need to determine which parts you'll need.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

Thanks. I don't even have the car yet. I'm hoping to get it today, but the hatch is the most pressing (known) issue with it, so I'm trying to plan ahead

you're right, I'll take it apart and see where I stand. I saw that really greta tech article on repairing them, so I'll put it to good use

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

Oh yeah, this one? >>>Link

58mark

iTrader: (3)

that's the one!!

kevmann

^ Thats the right way. I dont recommend doing it the way I did which is similar to what camaronewbie did. It works fine but I think the motor is best and nicer. Top Down Solutions has every part for those. Be ready to lay down some cash though.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

yeah, i'm just going to have to see what all is messed up.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

The world would be a wonderful place if everyone took the time to do a job right.

kevmann

Very true. The only thing I would add to that is "took the time and had the money to do a job right"

Kevin

58mark

iTrader: (3)

good news and bad news. It's really obvious that the gear nut is bad (it's broken in two) but the entire assembly is just hanging back there without the attaching screws. I dont even think the pin is there. Looks like I'm going to have to try to find a junk yard that has one assembled, and either pull that one, or at least pull some parts off o it to get this one to work.

If I can find one all together, I'm tempted to grab it, even if I don't know if it works or not. At least it won't be already taken apart

HCR13

iTrader: (5)

when I first got my Trans Am I kept trying to make it work but just got fed up everytime I had to pull out the sub box with the heavy speakers in it, so I just bolted it in place just like a few others. That way I don't have to be "gentle" when closing my big, bad, crazy hatch. Way to go GM for making plastic gears to hold down a glass hatch...

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

FYI: Those are the two most common parts to break, but you still may be able to find what you need there.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

After seeing the carnage in the trunk, I'm so tempted to just rig it in place...

guys, please check out this thread and help i you can
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...-identify.html

HCR13

iTrader: (5)

I plan on fixing mine eventually when I "run out of things to fix" on the front section of the car. I guess you can say I'm working my way backwards!

CRCustoms

I did the weld trick because the wiring was all kinds of mest up ( previous owner's home speaker job). Without any type of diagram or other car to understand how it was intended to work, I gave in to the easy way... altho it wasnt that easy.

im hoping this will keep the exhaust fumes out of the car, and my a/c in.

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

my last one was destroyed by the previous owner. so bad that there was what looked like an entire roll of duct tape and a broomstick holding everything together. don't ask me how it worked, cause it didn't (for long). nothing quite like hitting a bump and then getting a big draft behind you. The one I have now appears to be in good shape, but I would not hesitate to grab my repair stuff from Lon @ TDS.

CRCustoms

its way quieter and i can breath easy. glad i did it.