Interior and Electronics:
Originally our Caviler came with Black carpeting, headliner and door panels. The seats were black
vinyl borders with tan tweed inserts. It had a Delco AM/FM Stereo Cassette player with built in 6
band equalizer. It also has a rear window defogger / de-icer and a cargo cover for the back that pulls
out to completely cover up the storage area behind the seats. I suppose the most noticeable, for me
anyway, piece of the interior was and still is the Electronic Instrument Cluster. There were 6X9
speakers in the back and 4” speakers in the dash up front, all Delco nothing really fancy but it did
have some really good sound in spite of the inexpensive equipment being used.
Now it is in need of new seat covers, new floor mats, carpeting is still in good condition, and a headliner. I had got
the windows tinted not long after we purchased the car and now, after all these years, 18 to be exact, the tint
needs to be removed and redone. There are tears in some places and the biggest portion of the back window has
bubbled up and looks crappy. I'll probably end up replacing most of the door locks on the outside because time has
taken its toll on those also.
Originally our Caviler came with Black carpeting, headliner and door panels. The seats were black
vinyl borders with tan tweed inserts. It had a Delco AM/FM Stereo Cassette player with built in 6
band equalizer. It also has a rear window defogger / de-icer and a cargo cover for the back that pulls
out to completely cover up the storage area behind the seats. I suppose the most noticeable, for me
anyway, piece of the interior was and still is the Electronic Instrument Cluster. There were 6X9
speakers in the back and 4” speakers in the dash up front, all Delco nothing really fancy but it did
have some really good sound in spite of the inexpensive equipment being used.
Now it is in need of new seat covers, new floor mats, carpeting is still in good condition, and a headliner. I had got
the windows tinted not long after we purchased the car and now, after all these years, 18 to be exact, the tint
needs to be removed and redone. There are tears in some places and the biggest portion of the back window has
bubbled up and looks crappy. I'll probably end up replacing most of the door locks on the outside because time has
taken its toll on those also.
| The Instrument Cluster Diagram for the '86 Z24 Click to enlarge |
For now the electric windows still function as they should. As stated before, I have to put in a new stereo and some new speakers. I think I will only need to replace the
front speakers. I looked at the rear speakers and they looked really good and are Kenwood so, they will probably be alright for now I haven’t looked at the front ones so
I am hoping that they are also in as good of a condition as the rear speakers.
I noticed while cleaning up the car, after I got it back, that the tail lights have some broken pieces on them. These lights have really big lenses and are held in place with
some large plastic nuts that thread onto the four or so long screws that is affixed to the lenses and goes through the body into the back of the interior. It’s all hidden
from sight by the plastic wrap in the cargo or storage area, the hatch area. Some of the long screws are broken off the housings with the plastic nuts still on them. So
sometime in the distant future I’ll need to replace the two taillight housings. I’d be willing to bet that they are probably going to cost me a c-note each.
The dash face is trimmed in Gray metallic plastic and tan. The dash its self is a charcoal gray color and from the heat there are some little cracks in the dash. So far they
are small enough to not be real noticeable blemishes. Then again it is not going to be any type of a show car so to me at this point in time I can live with these tiny little
issues.
front speakers. I looked at the rear speakers and they looked really good and are Kenwood so, they will probably be alright for now I haven’t looked at the front ones so
I am hoping that they are also in as good of a condition as the rear speakers.
I noticed while cleaning up the car, after I got it back, that the tail lights have some broken pieces on them. These lights have really big lenses and are held in place with
some large plastic nuts that thread onto the four or so long screws that is affixed to the lenses and goes through the body into the back of the interior. It’s all hidden
from sight by the plastic wrap in the cargo or storage area, the hatch area. Some of the long screws are broken off the housings with the plastic nuts still on them. So
sometime in the distant future I’ll need to replace the two taillight housings. I’d be willing to bet that they are probably going to cost me a c-note each.
The dash face is trimmed in Gray metallic plastic and tan. The dash its self is a charcoal gray color and from the heat there are some little cracks in the dash. So far they
are small enough to not be real noticeable blemishes. Then again it is not going to be any type of a show car so to me at this point in time I can live with these tiny little
issues.
Where to Start?!?
So many things and so little cash! Well I know what my priorities are and once I get the car running again I’ll want to get it inspected. I can’t do that unless the
electronic gage cluster is actually working. So that is the first order of business and where it will all start with the interior stuff. I found a place called Southern
Electronics that will repair or replace the dash for $235.00 and I have to ship the instrument cluster to them. They will pay for shipping back to me. According to the
person I spoke with they are well familiar with the issues of this dash and can repair it and warrant it for one year. When I had the car the first time the biggest problem
I had was that instrument cluster. I had it repaired at least three times and each time GM charged me $500.00 to do the repairs. So, while I don’t actually look forward
to having those issues again I do want the have the car running and in at least original condition.
electronic gage cluster is actually working. So that is the first order of business and where it will all start with the interior stuff. I found a place called Southern
Electronics that will repair or replace the dash for $235.00 and I have to ship the instrument cluster to them. They will pay for shipping back to me. According to the
person I spoke with they are well familiar with the issues of this dash and can repair it and warrant it for one year. When I had the car the first time the biggest problem
I had was that instrument cluster. I had it repaired at least three times and each time GM charged me $500.00 to do the repairs. So, while I don’t actually look forward
to having those issues again I do want the have the car running and in at least original condition.
Selecting The Stereo:
What I normally look for in a Stereo system is some that will 1.) Play my music, 2.)
Has good full bodied sound and finally, 3.) It has to be moderately inexpensive! I
know that sometimes one doesn't always imply the other, in electronics and stereo
equipment specifically. Cost doesn't always dictate greatness or losers. I don't have
to have a Stereo with a million watts of power and huge thumping base woofers to
enjoy music. Matter of fact in my books that crap is not enjoyment anyway. Its ultra
ridiculous and way, way over the top and uncomfortable to listen to. In this case
50Watts is fine and probably more than enough. I ask for clarity not high DB.
So looking around I knew I'd need a 1.5 Din stereo to plug the hole in the dash where
the old delco once was without having to add something one way or another.
Someone already had done some wire bypassing and wired in a stereo that was not
factory. I don't know just yet how well of a job they did. I do know that some power
wires and speaker stuff was left in the hatch.
What I normally look for in a Stereo system is some that will 1.) Play my music, 2.)
Has good full bodied sound and finally, 3.) It has to be moderately inexpensive! I
know that sometimes one doesn't always imply the other, in electronics and stereo
equipment specifically. Cost doesn't always dictate greatness or losers. I don't have
to have a Stereo with a million watts of power and huge thumping base woofers to
enjoy music. Matter of fact in my books that crap is not enjoyment anyway. Its ultra
ridiculous and way, way over the top and uncomfortable to listen to. In this case
50Watts is fine and probably more than enough. I ask for clarity not high DB.
So looking around I knew I'd need a 1.5 Din stereo to plug the hole in the dash where
the old delco once was without having to add something one way or another.
Someone already had done some wire bypassing and wired in a stereo that was not
factory. I don't know just yet how well of a job they did. I do know that some power
wires and speaker stuff was left in the hatch.
Pyle - PLCDCS200
- Includes anti-theft flip-down face panel, remote control and CD-RW
compatibility - Multicolored spectrum display
- 200-Watt peak power (50W x 4)
- Radio features PL tuning and 30-station memory (18 FM, 12 AM).
- Full-logic auto-reverse cassette player.
- CD player: 8X oversampling; 3-beam laser; 1-bit D/A converter; anti-
skip mechanism. Plus: DP control. - Aluminum gray color.
- ISO 1.5 DIN chassis
Speaker are pretty important to the quality and clarity of the sound you hear coming out of
your box and I know that. So I look for a good set that will fit and match, front to back as far
as quality and sound capability. I had a 91 Caprice Classic that had a Bose Stereo in from
Factory that was a really good system. The sound front to back was matched and the music
was quietly loud and clear. But then the Stereo in the 98 Lumina we have is a good sounding
stereo and it's 100% Delco stereo factory stuff. Sure there are better sounding units out there
but a well matched up system is a good sounding system, generally speaking. I am not looking
for overdrive, like I said.
your box and I know that. So I look for a good set that will fit and match, front to back as far
as quality and sound capability. I had a 91 Caprice Classic that had a Bose Stereo in from
Factory that was a really good system. The sound front to back was matched and the music
was quietly loud and clear. But then the Stereo in the 98 Lumina we have is a good sounding
stereo and it's 100% Delco stereo factory stuff. Sure there are better sounding units out there
but a well matched up system is a good sounding system, generally speaking. I am not looking
for overdrive, like I said.
For me it boils down to "Cheapness" not "Greatness" I am too cheap! I want to spend my hard earned bucks on the power plant and drive train. I've said it before I
sometimes don't even bother turning on the stereo when I am driving. I want solitude or I want to just hear the car sometimes and stereo is too busy sometimes. Radio
is fine because it gets boring always listening to CDs or always listening to the radio so you mix it up. I picked the Kenwood Stereo Speakers for my car and they fit
well with my criteria, "cost" and "Quality!" Kenwood makes a very good middle of the line set up but they are not Bose, Rockford Fosgate, or Alpine as far as sound
and anyway I am not adding any amps to boost any signals just what it puts out.
sometimes don't even bother turning on the stereo when I am driving. I want solitude or I want to just hear the car sometimes and stereo is too busy sometimes. Radio
is fine because it gets boring always listening to CDs or always listening to the radio so you mix it up. I picked the Kenwood Stereo Speakers for my car and they fit
well with my criteria, "cost" and "Quality!" Kenwood makes a very good middle of the line set up but they are not Bose, Rockford Fosgate, or Alpine as far as sound
and anyway I am not adding any amps to boost any signals just what it puts out.
| Seats and the Rest! |
The front seats really need some serious work done to them. I'm contemplating getting them recovered professionally instead of buying some cheap covers and putting
those on them. I'm also going to have to uninstall an alarm system that had been put in it. Really this little car needs a face lift. The black trim is coming off in spots and
the paint job is in need of a repaint. Window film on all the windows needs to be replaced and I am betting that the third brake light on the back glass is not going to be
easy to make that work. So a lot of attention needs to be taken to make it look good as it did once before. I've also noticed that the front window and the tires and the
exhaust system all needs to be worked on and have parts replaced. I'll get it back to standards and in good working order. It is October and I am prepairing to remove
the dash and find a box for it. I have to ship it away to have it fixed. I'll be sending it to
those on them. I'm also going to have to uninstall an alarm system that had been put in it. Really this little car needs a face lift. The black trim is coming off in spots and
the paint job is in need of a repaint. Window film on all the windows needs to be replaced and I am betting that the third brake light on the back glass is not going to be
easy to make that work. So a lot of attention needs to be taken to make it look good as it did once before. I've also noticed that the front window and the tires and the
exhaust system all needs to be worked on and have parts replaced. I'll get it back to standards and in good working order. It is October and I am prepairing to remove
the dash and find a box for it. I have to ship it away to have it fixed. I'll be sending it to
| Back to Top |
| Last revised: Monday, November 29, 2004 5:29 PM Copyright © 1998-2003, V. R. Engstrom, All Rights Reserved |
| The Interior and Electronics |
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| Most of the Delco Stereo systems installed in the GM cars are the 1.5 Din or to put it another way they are as big as 1 and a half normal sized Stereos. |
