Cascade Crew

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

So I decided to take the door panels off of this GTA that I have sitting here and put them in my Camaro. Seems simple enough. Wound up cutting rivets to change the pieces that the armrest screws to and off both cars and bolting them into my Camaro doors. Also while I'm there I steal the door lock cylinders and fix an issue that I haven't had keys to both doors, now it locks. Of corse the passanger side won't unlock now so I change the latch while there, now I have cool door panels and locking doors with keys. The door panels look great, except it made some of the other crappy interior look even crappier. So last Sunday Jenn helps me and pulls all the black plastics out of the GTA and puts them in my car(she is the greatest wife ever). Now that all looks great.

Then I remember that my hatch pull down has been getting slower and slower so I swap it with the one out of the GTA. It has an electric release that my car didn't originally come with so I bought a keyless entry so I could pop the hatch from outside the car. Realised that using this nice keyless system for only the hatch was lame so I pulled the electric locks and lock relay out of the GTA and get that all wired into my Camaro. Then had to get the horn working, install a handfull of relays and about 10 miles of wire spliced into almost every circut in the car and presto, now it looks nice inside and is easy to lock and unlock.

So in short, a GTA is an excellent parts car, if it was offered by GM, it's there for the taking. Laughing

I'll try and get pics after I clean up the mess in the car. Definately one of the best mods I have ever done to it.

chevymad · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

WTG Rod! You'll turn that camaro into a pontiac yet! Laughing

Keyless entry was one of the best things i've done to the formula as well. Much nicer just pressing the button and gettin in or out.

GREG DAVIDSON · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject:

i'd love to do that to my bird but im afraid of the miles of wire , me and wiring dont get along , sounds cool though cant wait to see the pics Rock on!

Richster · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:45 am Post subject: Nice!

Hey Rod, Rich here i have to take the pannels off of my 83 TA to get to the window motors, any tricky stuff that you can point out?? I am going to dig in this week, just never had the faith, i have always gone to the dealer to get stuff done Embarassed

But since meeting this crew, that has changed! Very Happy

I would definaltely appreciate any insider tips!
Thanks
Rich

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:08 am Post subject:

I did a window motor in a camaro for a friend. OMG, that sucked.

Would be much easier if that wind-up spring didnt fall off.

Jenn · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:15 am Post subject:

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

Got some pics, now I think I might need some carpet and better front and rear seats that match. Laughing

iansane · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

I love those panels. They look good!

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject:

Must.....Cover.... Seats.....Black......

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

cameron7710 · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:17 am Post subject:

I'm in agreement.

Door pannels look good Rod.

Are the GTA seats gone? If not what do you think of using those?

izcain · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:36 am Post subject:

window motors sucked although I have replaced tons of them since they are not that great for long lasting. Be very carful of the large spring in there! I almost took my fingers off and walked away with a pretty good gash on the top of my fingers instead! Evil or Very Mad

Richster · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: Thanks

Thanks for the tip on the curved pry bar type tool! this spring that wants to eat fingers...what's that all about?
sounds like some kind of animal just waiting for me to take the panels off and rip my fingers off! i am hopping that it is just some crap on the contacts...i do appreciate your honesty!
Alright i am open to any more tips or horror stories...nothing like a solid education, and your panels look great!
Rich

Al Hasse · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:

That spring is part of the window regulator. It's like an extremely oversized watch spring. You should be OK if you remove the regulator and motor as a unit. There is a spot in the door panel that you can stick a screwdriver or something similar to keep the spring from uncoiling when you remove the motor. You'll need a good sized drift pin to tap out the rivets and a drill to remove the remaining portion. If you replace the rivets, they're huge - 1/4" and take a BIG rivet gun. There are some though that replace the rivets with nuts and bolts.

izcain · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

I learned the hard way but now if I remember right you dont even have to take that spring apart I marked the holes in the panel and drilled a couple of tiny pilot holes then reached into where the motor is mounted and was able to drill out the rivets and remove the motor.

iansane · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject:

Richster · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:45 am Post subject:

Anybody see the doctor!! this is almost surgery...but with tools! come on dirty connections!!!