96 Buick Roadmaster Wagon questions

So here it goes, I'm still excited over this one.

A few months ago, I had driven a older couple from Chicago's O"hare airport to their home. I unloaded the luggage in to the garage. I see out of the corner of my eye a really clean Buick Roadmaster. Just sitting there, next to a mid 00s Benz and a PT Cruiser drop top.

The man looked at me funny, asked "everything ok?" So I told him I'm into wagons and that the 80s and 90s Buicks where always something I wanted. Told him since my dad used to lease them with his work, they always used Buick Centurys but I pushed my dad for the wagons. Then added "the same year the Roadmaster was dropped, my dad died later that year" He was very kind, did not get all weird.

So I told him "if you ever want to sell it"......gave him my name and number. A few days ago, he called on the wagon. I rememberd him well, so we made a time to meet up. Went to his home, talked to him for a bit. Then I drove the car.

Its a '96 Roadmaster Estate, Collectors Ed. ( I think they all are that year ), they are the original owners, maintaned at a local GM dealer, 130k, never been smoked in, dose smell like wet dog (they have two Golden Retrivers), over all its in solid shape.

I drove the car for about 25 min. I tested everything I could, brakes, trans, acceleration, a/c, windows, all that. There was no smoke, no knocks, no burps, no farts, NOTHING. Everything works.

So I come back. Hell, I just graduated college last year, I have hardly anything to my name. I had no idea what this guy wanted but I figured I would look anyway. I asked what did he want for it. He replyed "What do you think its worth?"

"In all honesty, I collect 70s Fords. 90s Buicks are lost on me, I want to do some backround checks on this model"

He gets quiet, looks around. "How bout this, I just give it to you? You seem to really love the car. And I want it to go that will enjoy it."

My jaw hit the floor, I have NEVER been speechless. All I could belt out was "where are the cameras?" He replys "there are no cameras (laughing) me and my wife talked about this, we feel you should have it" All I could do then was just give him a hug. I mean, in this day and age, WHO gives cars away? Let a lone to really a stranger?

SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOO, I take delivery of the wagon when he gets his new wagon, a Volvo XC70. I used to work on them, AWESOME car.

Now here is my question. Since I am more of a Ford guy, i have never had a 80s or 90s GM product. What are the quirks, issues, traits, problems that I should be looking into?

Can anyone give me brake down numbers on these wagons? Special things I should look for (rare items)? ANY information would be helpful. I would like to make sure I am taking care of this underestimated Roadmaster the right way.

I have about three weeks till hes handing me the keys for the gentle giant, and its gona be a LONG three weeks!

 

First, congrats, you are a lucky man!

Having a 92 Roadie with the non LT1 350, I have not one issue with my car other then the delay wipers tend to act up from time to time, they always work on low or high, just the delay acts up.

Be prepaired to take off easy on the gas or have funds set aside for new rear tires! On my non LT1 it will smoke them from a dead stop well over 50 feet posi then hit 2nd gear and spin another 20-30 and hook up. Wet roads, forget it, you will be all over the road.

I just sealed a deal on a 93 Roadie Estate wagon not 15 minutes ago. This one is not as nice as my 92, but it is solid and runs like a champ,. No leaks, noises or anything. It needs hubcaps for now(just plain black steelies), eventually will pull the repulsive white walls off it and put on some aluminums and white lettered tires.

But for $770 and it comes with like new studded snows, I can't complain at all!
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/1395265004.html

 

There's some info here on the GM B-bodies, but for really detailed help, you should go to the Impala SS forum, wagon section......

http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=21

In fact, you should really join up there and tell this story to them............
Good bunch of guys over there, including some from here, like The Stickman........

 

wow you lucky guy!!!!!!

 

Wow. Score.

 

Wow,that's awesome. My dad did something similar a few years back. He had a 1973 Dodge Polara 4 door that he got from his mom. He had the 318 rebuilt, interior redone, and new vinyl top but it had some dash electrical gremlins that were driving him nuts. At the shop he used there was a guy who detailed the customers cars and always told my dad how much he like his car. Well my dad had enough and told the guy if he paid the latest $200 repair bill he could have the car. That was over 10 years ago and I still hear sightings from friends in the area.

 

Quirks in your Roadie? YOU!!! Looks good on you! Now you have to smoothtalk your Ford to not get upset.

 

Congrats,

The only quirk I know of with these cars, I call it a quirk since I don't know why these things are connected, is that if your third brake light does not work neither does the cruise control. I don't use cruise but I played with it a couple of times & it kept turning off. I forget where I read about the third brake light but I will look in the service manual in case I read it there. I have not fixed the brake light yet to see if it is true or not, a new bulb did not do it.

 

The Cruise usually depends on the brake switch circuit, but you could probably bypass it. No lights probably tells the onboard feedback that there's an error, so the system blocks the Cruise, for added safety. I'm guessing, but that's the logic for post 1980 Fords.

 

hmmmm i dont know anyone on the forum with a 96 roadie wagon.

 

I'm gonna have to watch the streets in my town for old farts in RMW's.......and make friends.

 

youre getting a wagon with big harry balls!

is it a limited or a "custom"? they didnt use the term custom in 1996 but us roadie nuts call them that. does it have leather or cloth? when you get it i'll help you find out more about it, weather it has posi and other option codes.
if you have the 2:56 gears expect 18-22mpg with 2:93 19-25mpg 2:93 is usually tow package which also gives it air shocks and a mechanical fan

check for rust inside the rear wheel wells and the pass side rear brake line.
other than that look at the affore mentioned impala ss forums for tech help. or ask me and ill help if i can.
blackfoot's cars are TBI which, as far as engine goes, only share displacement and block. the LT-1s While very powerful from the factory are also a pain to work on sometimes. (for instance: the distributor...aka the "opti" on the LT1 is on the front of the block under the water pump and harmonic balancer. changing cap and rotor requires removing both!)
the lt1 was GMs first non-conventional V8, it had reverse cooling, and an optical distributor. unfortunatly The tbi cars are cheaper and easier to modify.

congrats again on the FREE buggy i paid 6 grand for mineso id say ya got a deal.

 

hmm 10 minutes from my house....when ya comming to get it? we can meet up for dinner.

 

I'm not sure where the spid card is on the wagons, but here is a list of codes;
http://www.capriceclassic.com/spids.html

If you take the vin to a dealer they can give you the RPO specific to that vehicle.

 

its inside the door jamb of the tailgate