Are the plastic clips that hold the chrome trim on the back window of the 1983 El Camino available somewhere? I need 18 of them.

Try EC parts, The Elcamino store.

http://www.crestnetsales.com/restore/gmglassclips.htm

I went to crestnetsales and it looks like what I need is there. BUT...I dont know which one it is. There are at least two that look like it. GM 1654047 is the one that looks closest Does that sound right?

Have you looked at the Local Auto Parts Stores? I've had lots of luck finding things like that in O'Rilleys and AutoZone, of course they are packaged in 3 or 4 to a package.

So, I take it Jim you've removed the trim off the back window? Did you get it sealed back up and stop the leak?

KN 1013 78-87 El Camino Rear Window Trim $.75 ea http://www.ecparts.net/clips.htm

Yes, I got it all off. The really good news is that there is NO rust, not even a speck. All the original paint looks like new and I think a very small amount of silicone sealer on the seam should do the trick. The problem was apparently that two of the lower clips had deteriorated and the trim had sprung out allowing leaves and pine needles to collect under the chrome blocking the flow of water out the bottom.

I think I have a source of free clips. A friend of mine is an auto glass repairman and I think he can get them for me for free or almost free.

That is good. When I took mine out I could slide a regular knife blade all the way along the bottom of that back glass between the seal and the glass without any resistance at all it wasn't even attached.

Like you said no rust, that is the best part. Hopefully the floor board is not rusty.

Leaks around the Heater Core are pretty common place for the 5th gens too. That gasket that seals to the firewall the blower box gets old and shrinks then it starts leaking into the floor, along with the Side Glass, there is another source of leaks.

In the 4th generation it's much more pronounced. The seam where the rear quarter meets the filler panel inside the bed going towards the roof, water gets under the chrome trim and there was never sealer there so over time you end up with a leak you can't locate. It seems to be the back window or the Smugglers box but it is actually coming from that seam. It is a chore to seal, if I ever get mine to stop I'll make sure I post that fix.

For now I've made sure I've coated the floor pans where they don't rot out but it plays heck with my carpet. If it's driven during rain it's not all that big of a problem I guess the wind keep most of that away or moves it out of the area pretty fast. Sitting it's leaks!

My floor boards are plastic? isn't this normal on 5th generation?? When the muffler shop was putting in the new exhaust system I was worried it might get too close to the passenger foot well and melt it. He said that stuff could take the heat.

My floor boards are plastic? isn't this normal on 5th generation??
No, your floor pans should be steel, not plastic.

Well, I will have to look closer, but it looked like black plastic. Maybe it was an undercoating I was looking at?

Well, I will have to look closer, but it looked like black plastic. Maybe it was an undercoating I was looking at? It looked like the same stuff the front wheel wells are made out of.

WOW, I am really impressed with the condition of this vehicle. I went out to look at the foot wells and they are indeed metal. They still have the original black paint on them that is unmarked. When I looked at the bottom of the vehicle it was smooth black and considering the 20+ years age of the vehicle I thought it must be plastic since metal would not look like that after 20+ years of use. I guess metal can look like that after 20+ years of use!!

When I bought the truck I assumed the 75,000 miles on the clock was actually 175,000 but now I am beginning to think maybe its real. The PO had replaced the engine 30,000 miles before which would seem to argue for more miles, but maybe something happened to the old engine at 45,000. I cant ask the original owner from whose daughter I bought the truck since he died a while back and that was why the truck was up for sale. She has told me she knows nothing about the truck and doesn't even know why the engine was replaced except that she thought it had been done two years ago. Her husband told me the engine had about 30K on it and it runs like that is true.