The Camaro Club (UK)

And I've got a bit of a laundry list of things to cracking with.
Ever since I've had her, there's bit of a creak and groan on (and near) full lock, the brakes squeal and there's a knock coming from the pass. side rear whenever I go over a bump.

Here's what my friendly mechanic noted down for me:

No rear fog. (so what? mine went through the MOT without one)
High line brake light inoperable. (probably a bulb/connection)
Head lights starting to corrode. (yeah that'll be a 25 year old car then, replace if you're really fussy)
Driver side rear light cluster cracked. (Ok Replace)
Signs of brake fluid leaking from master cylinder. (really? what signs? check level then drive and recheck see if it is actually using any, might be spilt fluid, is the pedal firm or does it sink under heavy pressure?)
Signs of oil leaking from power steering hose. (again a slight misting is no issue you need to know how much)
Slight oil leak around filler cap. (more likely spilt oil residue)
Slight oil leak around PCV seal. (so?)
Slight oil leak from offside rear shock. (replace, cheap and easy)
Near side front sill under floor corroded. (again how bad, surface rust or in need of welding)
Off side front sill under floor crushed by improper jacking. (so? how badly, and what would you do about it anyway)
Slight exhaust blow by front pipe entering the cat. (strip and reaseal)
Both sides - track rod ends need replacing. (quick simple cheap job, but get tracking done afterwards)
Radiator under support dented. (so?)
Battery tray starting to corrode. (clean and repaint)
Oil leak from oil pressure switch. (remove switch apply ptfe to thread refit)
Sweating oil from transmission sump pan. (sweating? really? leaking more like, anhoo, change sump gasket/pan and filter oil when you in there, cheap easy and quick)
Transmission oil cooler lines corroded. ( remove, clean and repaint)
Section of front to rear metal brake line fitted with incorrect copper pipe. (copper pipe is better than steel/doesn't rust)
Brake fluid 3% needs renewing. (3% eh? change fluid)


So, I'm thinking I'll be renewing the braking system, doing all the track rod ends and steering links, and while I'm there maybe now's the time for a stainless system?

Sounds a bit drastic for what is a day/day and a half work at most should be sortable for 3-400 inc parts at most garages...

bear in mind he hasn't found what you asked him to find i.e. the source of the knocking or creaking.. often the trailing arm bushes go on these, the brakes probe just want a strip and clean, only replace pads/discs if unduly worn

Any advice on good suppliers would be really useful!

[Sounds a bit drastic for what is a day/day and a half work at most should be sortable for 3-400 inc parts at most garages...

bear in mind he hasn't found what you asked him to find i.e. the source of the knocking or creaking.. often the trailing arm bushes go on these, the brakes probe just want a strip and clean, only replace pads/discs if unduly worn


depends what you want from the car if you want a show car then do all he says, if you just want a usable car then most of what he's saying seems mainly tosh..

If it's a pre 91 Iroc you can bin the cats anyway and just fit some straight pipe for better noise and mpg!

As a mechanic/car restorer I reckon it's should be about how you want the car to be, don't do everything on that list just because he says so!

Drop me a email or PM im sure I can help with alot of it or advise on best places to get bits.

Why did you have the tyres taken off? were they knackered? just swapping the wheels side to side would have put them round the right way? almost certainly how they got the wrong way round to start with!

Just like to be sure that people know what they are being asked to pay for, many garages don't like to put any effort in and prefer to replace wholseale than repair/refurbish a component, they are often allergic to proper fabrication/welding so quote big for easy jobs that dont really need doing because the customer gets worried that their car is 'dodgy' when it just needs a few running repairs like most 25 year old cars need from time to time!

I'm not saying they're dishonest or trying to get one over on you, just saying don't give them carte blanche to do every daft little job that doesn't really need doing and cost you a fortune