GM B-Body Station Wagons 1977-1990

What memories do you have regarding GM's various incarnations of the "B-body" line of station wagons from the 1977-90 period?

BUICK
Estate Wagon (renamed LeSabre Estate in 1980)
Estate Wagon Limited (renamed Electra Estate in 1980)
(MY1990 would see a revert back to the simple Estate name)
Engines:
Buick 350 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1980)
Oldsmobile 307 V-8 4-bbl (1981-1990)
Oldsmobile 350 V-8 diesel (1980-1985)
Oldsmobile 403 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1979)
Pontiac 301 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1981)

CHEVROLET
Caprice Classic Estate (1977-1990)
Caprice Estate (1986-1990)
Impala Estate (1977-1985)
Engines:
Chevrolet 267 V-8 2-bbl (1980-1982)
Chevrolet 305 V-8 2-bbl (1977-1979)
Chevrolet 305 V-8 4-bbl (1980-1986)
Chevrolet 350 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1979)
Oldsmobile 307 V-8 4-bbl (1986-1990)
Oldsmobile 350 V-8 diesel (1980-1985)

OLDSMOBILE
Custom Cruiser
Engines:
Oldsmobile 307 V-8 4-bbl (1980-1990)
Oldsmobile 350 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1980)
Oldsmobile 350 V-8 diesel (1978-1985)
Oldsmobile 403 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1979)

PONTIAC
Catalina Safari (1977-1981)
Grand Safari (1977-1978)
Bonneville Safari (1979-1981)
Parisienne Safari (1983-1986)
Safari (1987-1989)
Engines:
Buick 350 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1980)
Chevrolet 305 V-8 4-bbl (1983-1986)
Oldsmobile 307 V-8 4-bbl (1981, 1986-1990)
Oldsmobile 350 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1980; California only)
Oldsmobile 350 V-8 diesel (1980-1981, 1983-1985)
Pontiac 301 V-8 4-bbl (1977-1981)

~Ben

 

What do you need to know?

Marshall

 

Marshall,

What do you think of how they handled, cargo room, etc.? We already know the diesel's problems, though (especially those models built prior to MY1981 or September 1, 1980).

~Ben

 

Our 1983 Custom Cruiser was reliable and nice for trips. Still have the 307/OD drivetrain from it (SOLD the car, don't worry)
1983 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Custom Cruiser by FordTorino73, on Flickr

 

I learned to drive in my dad's 1983 Caprice Estate. I of course didn't have much of a reference point as for handling, but I do recall preferring it over my mom's 1982 Cavalier sedan. The wagon was grayish tan with the wood grain, dark brown cloth interior with the third row, inflatable air shocks, power everything (including the antenna), AM/FM/cassette, rear window defogger, etc. It also had the sporty looking gauge cluster that included the fuel economy gauge. Loved that car...would love to find one like it.

 

I have ho idea how the late 1980s Chevy Caprice Estate (With a trailer hitch, three seats and roof-rack) was for the driver (My Dad.) But he did need to get a new transmission shortly after he bought it, and he got it when it was fairly new if not brand-new.

 

Minor adjustment needed in the 'Pontiac' section. My '81 Bonneville Safari came with the Olds 307 (4-barrel). This seems to be the first year for that engine with Pontiac - probably most of the other box wagons as well.

It should also be noted that on all the various makes, some engine/transmissions were not available in certain states, particularly California, due to their more stringent emission control requirements. Usual the brochure for a particular line gives the details on this and what is substituted, if anything.

 

Also for the Pontiac's engineoptions, Pontiac 350's wereavailable in 1977, and Pontiac 400 4bbl's were available in 1977 & 1978. 48 states. Olds 403 V-8's wereavailable in California and High altidude counties in 77 & 78, and all states in 79.
And I beleive the standard engine in 80 and 81 may have been the Pontiac 265 V-8. But not positive on the last point. I know it was available in the Catalina and Bonnevilles.

 

Does anyone have the production numbers for the 77-90 Boxies?

 

Drove a mid 80's Custom Cruiser for work in the mid 90's and didn't have any complaints about it. Comfy, reliable, but wouldn't have tried slalom racing in it.

My driver's ed car was a 77 Impala sedan and I had been driving my mom's 68 Polara wagon for a while. Instructor turned very pale around a curve at 35mph due to the Impala feeling like it would overturn but that same curve never gave the Polara a hint of that feeling until over 45 mph.

 

They are the perfect every day drivers for me, but I prefer the 77-79models for larger engine selection. They are large enough formost hauling jobs, the suspension is basicly the same as the 73-77 Mid Size cars (A-Bodies) Upgrade parts are available for them. If you upgrade the Shocks, and Sway bars, & add a good set of tires the handling will suprize you!!!! That being said the rear sway bar options are pretty thin, aftermarket Addco bars for around $300 or if you get lucky you can find a 26mm bar from a 80's Buick wagon with a tow package.
The Brakes are decent, and I prefer the 2 way tail gates and roll downback windows they have comparedto the 91-96 round wagons. But the round wagons have better engines from the Factory. And the later cars with the OD transmissions willget better MPG.
And I just plain like the looks betterthan the 91-96 versions, and the earlier Clamshell cars have alot of nice features, but forme they are just 2 big to driveevery day in my lowly opinion.

 

I enjoyed my 1990 Custom Cruiser with 307. Only real sticking point was the 200-4R transmission wasn't exactly up to the task of hauling much or taking any kind of abuse. Rest of the car wasn't a terrible GM build of the era compared to most of what the General was building, it was actually pretty decent plastic and trim\paint-wise and holding its own after 12-13 years of abuse by a construction company and then a junkie and her drug buddies. It was gutless when I got it because the C4 system needed some sorting out in the carburetor department. The guy who figured out the problem with it said someone had tried to modify the metering setup for it and botched the job. Once that was fixed it ran great. 3 rows of seats, full power everything. Should never have gotten rid of it...

 

My brother had both an 86 Pontiac Parisienne, 305/200R4, and an 86 Mercury Colony Park, 351W/AOD/Trailer Tow III. Of the 2, the Mercury was way better on fuel, much easier to get parts for, and much more durable. The Mercury was finally scrapped when the body mounts broke after an accidental off roading incident, at 850,000 kms, or about 550,000 miles. The drive train was completely original except for fluids. The Pontiac was scrapped when the floor fell out, at 500,000 kms, or about 310,000 miles. Both the transmission and rear axle had been rebuilt. It took 3 months to find the used axles for the rear assembly as the originals were scored. He could find axles shafts 1/4 inch too long or 1/4 inch too short, but none to fit the wagon.