April 2026 :

Now that I have collected some parts and pieces.. It’s time to get to work !

First thing on the agenda. And because need to still drive the car. The plan will be to work with what I have that’s not currently on the car..For now it’s.. The trunk lids.  Today I gave them a bath so I could look them over carefully, decisions need to be made.  The blue one is the original trunk lid, and was changed out most likely because it has a welded up place where the latch mounts. Kinda messy too. But it has the six luggage rails that are proper for the year. Also the centre brake light is dented down.. Again I see why it was changed. The black lid has the proper latch mount. But only has holes for four luggage rails.  New holes are easy to do. Welding up four old holes is easy too. Also I would want to paint both sides, inside and outer. I’m leaning toward the black one.. Because to repair the blue lid I would have to weld the latch mount from the black lid into the blue one.. And that position needs to be accurate ,so not ideal for me.

But I could do that.  After all one of them (if not used ) is scrap. Here’s photos of top and bottoms.  All stripped down.

Yup sounds like a plan..   Here’s a video I made while working on these lids…

So I have a few things I can do before Starting the work on the car once it’s in the shop. And that’s coming soon I hope.  But meanwhile I have two sets of the centre taillights..  And they are slightly different.  Below is what is currently on the car..  I like these.. they are the real 1988 taillights.

I know these work … I saw them on when we were moving the car before I bought it.  Below are the ones that came with the blue lid.. but are likely from the lid that’s currently on the car.. It’s complicated !

And of coarse those are 1993 taillights like the lid..  More reflector… less backup lights.  In very good condition.  They are all interchangeable. Therefore I will use the ones I like.. Once again decisions will be made on condition and originality considered.

Here’s something else…  I was digging through my stash and found this keyless locking kit I had bought years ago.. For what I don’t remember.  But this would be ideal for the Cavalier.

Ideal ! Because the fob has a “open trunk” button as well as the door locks.  Perfect the Cavalier has a electric “pop the trunk” button… Right now the car has what’s left of a remote start system and I presume an alarm too. No fobs for that !  And that system will be wired into the door locking and the “flash the park lights” wires. I’ll be having fun with that..

Paint Code:

Wow I found the RPO code decal in the trunk !   And now I have the paint code…..clear as day.

WA 9346.. is the colour. “Bright Blue Metallic”   I’m not worried about the silver for the bottom..  So long as it’s close.. I’m re painting all of that.