Interior PARTS 1980 CAMARO Z28

[maldo]

Hi guys new here... Just took over my Dad's 1980 z/28.
The car has been sitting for about 7 years and the interior is done for. All the panels have turned to dust or are very brittle carpet (which was replaced some years ago is bad etc

I have been searching through some of the “Year One” catalogs and damm they are down right out of their minds with some of the prices they charge for parts (I know the parts are nice and good quality but just to pricy for stock parts if I have to pay those prices I would rather have someone do a custom interior )

I have been to the junk yard but most of the f bodys in there have been used up ….. Any cheaper or better alternative to getting this interior up to par…also post some pictures


Also i want to upgrade the instrument cluster with modern gauges (do you guys have pictures on how you did it? )

[70bird]

I would check some 2nd gen. specific sites such as NastyZ28 or Trans Am country etc. and search the for sale forums. Tons of stuff there.
I have seen a couple of cars with vinyl or leather stretched over the plastic panels, and it looks good. Might also be spendy unless you can do the work yourself.
Mark

[maldo]

I would check some 2nd gen. specific sites such as NastyZ28 or Trans Am country etc. and search the for sale forums. Tons of stuff there.
I have seen a couple of cars with vinyl or leather stretched over the plastic panels, and it looks good. Might also be spendy unless you can do the work yourself.
Mark

Yes I was thinking the same thing but some of the panels are to far gone to do anything with (they just crumble in your hand).

[dstryr]

post up on nastyz28 .com in the swap meet section...you'd be surprised on the stuff people still have. hit up junk yards and recondition the pieces with some sem paint and clear.

[maldo]

post up on nastyz28 .com in the swap meet section...you'd be surprised on the stuff people still have. hit up junk yards and recondition the pieces with some sem paint and clear.

Yes I am sure if I look hard enough I can find pieces here and there but most times you buy something used (problem with that most of the time the clips are broken or missing all the small stuff and i find myself spending some much time tracking down the small stuff.
I kinda looking for a one stop shopping for new pieces or reproduction stuff at a reasonable price. I just cant see spending $350.00 on one panel (This is what i see from places like year one etc). Is there anyway around buying used parts ..

[70bird]

Yeah, the "new" stuff is spendy, but whatcha' gonna do?

Are you refering to door panels at $350.00 ea.? That's about right for the pre-assembled ones. I wouldn't expect to find any nice used ones either, but you never know what could turn up. I found these at Ecklers:

http://www.ecklerscamaro.com/find.as...D+Door&level=1

Look to be a bit less, but are standard not deluxe.

For the rear and sail panels you may have better luck finding decent used, but again if you want perfect, it will probably end up being new and $$$$

[redfire69]

Welcome to the hobby!! It can be pricey.... I would also suggest shopping around for prices on each item. Some suppliers charge more than others. YO is usually the most (no offense to YO, I should own stock as much as I use them). Price at others like classicindustries.com, paddockparts.com, npdlink.com, ecklerscamaro.com. I have used all with pretty good luck.

As far as used, you may have some luck at swap meets etc as some guys are still gutting camaros/firebirds and selling off interiors. Most parts are the same from 78-81. The vinyl dyes work pretty good at reconditioning hard parts, so don't let a color change stop you from buying sail/kick panels, etc.

Good luck!

Ron

[maldo]

Thank you guys I am not really new to the hobby (have had many cars over the years just have not restored a car from long term exposure. to tell you the truth if not for the sentimental value and for the fact this is a numbers matching z/28 that is completely stock … (My dad bought this car new in 1980 and I was there as a kid when he picked it up from the lot this is also one of the reasons this car is dear to me)

He as also collected a ton of parts that were never installed over the years (example: complete Vette Brakes front and rear suspension, complete disc brake rear from a T/A, New GM short block…700r4 tranny etc.

I love the body style of these years but if not for the Sentimental value. I would have bought a newer Camaro drop in a killer motor combo instead of trying to update a 26 year old Camaro.

I just have a hard time swallowing the cost to restore these cars for just stock parts that are nothing special and looking for any cheap or cheaper way of getting what I want to update the interior. (I can understand if I was buy a killer billet part etc but damm they want a ton of money for cheap abs plastic parts…. I am surprised the Chinese have not started making these parts for cheaper (LOL) like I see in the engine parts these days

I come from a generation who plugs in a lab top to tune their car and very comfortable with technology and demand form and function (I have owned many cars including 450+ supercharged 6 speed camaro that can do 11’s and the ac still works and can drive it 1500 miles with out a problem and starts in the winter and knows what it take to build something like this but when I start doing the numbers just to bring a car 26 year old car back (I mean the basic stuff interior body and paint and that before all the go fast parts can be installed damm at this point I really have to think about this project at this point I am not sure if it is worth it …. I mean at my age time is money and parts are just to out of control maybe that why I see so many half ass cars old cars out there because its just easyer to buy a new car and throw a bunch of go fast parts at it..

Know I can see why older cars that are in good shape go for so much on ebay etc.

[redfire69]

Hi Maldo,

Yeah I understand your thoughts given there are alot of 4th gen cars out their with better technology available. I restored my 80 TA stock, but now I've been bitten by the PT bug. Not everyone likes these disco era cars, but I think they will be recognized very soon...

You might want to check out some of the interior updating that YO did to their Bandit TA as many of those parts are available and will fit an 80 Camaro. Another nice example is Dale JRs modded 2nd gen.

Ron

[70bird]

c.

I love the body style of these years but if not for the Sentimental value. I would have bought a newer Camaro drop in a killer motor combo instead of trying to update a 26 year old Camaro.

"damm at this point I really have to think about this project at this point I am not sure if it is worth it …. I mean at my age time is money and parts are just to out of control maybe that why I see so many half ass cars old cars out there because its just easyer to buy a new car and throw a bunch of go fast parts at it."

On the upside,with recent increases in value for 2nd gens, I wouldn't be too quick to discount the value of your Z28. Now that prices for 1st gens are through the roof, people are looking for alternatives. I predict higher demand for these cars as the years move on.
Plus, it sounds like this one is a keeper for you and your family.In that case, fix her up and enjoy it!

The only downside to potential value is the year. Not due to styling, but emissions testing. I am not familiar with NY regs, but I can tell you here in CA, we have bi-annual inspections for 1976 and newer. This seriously limits legal mods for performance. That's why I chose an early 2nd gen. (plus I like them better)

Oh, and the same regs apply to late models, and parts are still expensive. Plus, you already own the Z.
JMHO

[maldo]

On the upside,with recent increases in value for 2nd gens, I wouldn't be too quick to discount the value of your Z28. Now that prices for 1st gens are through the roof, people are looking for alternatives. I predict higher demand for these cars as the years move on.
Plus, it sounds like this one is a keeper for you and your family.In that case, fix her up and enjoy it!

The only downside to potential value is the year. Not due to styling, but emissions testing. I am not familiar with NY regs, but I can tell you here in CA, we have bi-annual inspections for 1976 and newer. This seriously limits legal mods for performance. That's why I chose an early 2nd gen. (plus I like them better)

Oh, and the same regs apply to late models, and parts are still expensive. Plus, you already own the Z.
JMHO

Yes i do own the car and i dont have to worry about emission here (anyway i can do just about anything to the car all i need is $70 bucks to get the sticker plus i can get classic plates for the car which would lower an ins problems lol anyway i am still up in the air about the car its been sitting all these years (btw it still runs and starts up without a problem) i will try to post some pictures of the car and its problems and maybe so of you can help with suggestions of what to do first ... becasue i want a fire breathing small block under the hood but i am not sure if i have the time or money to bring it where i want it to be,,, but who knows i might get off my ass and do somthing about it just hate to see the car go to complete waste ... dad has two other cars (68 and 80 vette to worry about so the camaro has been on the back burner for years