GM V6 Rear Wheel drive wagon info?

I'm sure you guys could give me a lesson on GM wagons of I guess around 1985? I think some in that era were V6 rear wheel drive and smaller then the B body Caprice and RoadMaster variety..

I'd like a Chevy V6 rear wheel drive small wagon for my LT1 V8 engine and 4l60e trans. Doing the transplant is not an issue neither is the fuel injection wiring and PCM programming.

Just need to know what to look for and what to stay away from?

 

G-bodies, [Malibu, LeMans. etc.] are full-frame and plentiful.
Aftermarket parts available, too!!

 

Nice! Thats what I'm looking for. Probably an easy swap for bucket seats and center console as well?

Anything newer?

 

Definitely easy to swap in buckets & consoles as those can be had right out of their G-body, 2-dr. cousins (Monte Carlo, Cutlass, Regal, Grand Prix). G-bodies were made up to the 1988 model year.

 

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/2907656446.html - Malibu

http://corvallis.craigslist.org/cto/2915486308.html - Malibu

http://greatfalls.craigslist.org/cto/2846147130.html - Cutlass....diesel too, ha!

 

What they said. 78-88 G body.

 

1984 the full frame G body RWD wagon was gone, all were V6 and some inline 4 bangers. All were FWD, as far as I know all the 4 banger FWD's started in 81-82(?) but were caviliars, Phoncho 2000's etc but 83 was the last tear of GM mid size full frame wagons, and yes the V6 was a option.


1983 Buick...


The replacement, 1984 FWD Buick...
.


JMT's sweet 83 Bonneville



Replacement 1983 FWD pontiac 6000 wagon...



My 83 Olds Cutlass Cruiser When I got it...


1984 replacement FWD Ciera


1983 Malibu wagon


It's replacement, 1984 FWD Celebrity


For the swap your wanting, you need 83 or older unless wour gona go full size.

As for interiour swaps in the G Bodies....

JMT's 83 Bonneville interiour swap, using all GM parts from a Grand Prix......


my 83 Crewzer, dual 6 way power leathr seats and console from a Crystler Concord...

 

That's to bad the wagon ended 84, cuts back a few years, would really like another wagon to transplant this wagon LT1.

Have thought about the S10 or blazer but still love wagons, just have to find one well cared for...

Some pictures from above remind me of my first tow car, Vista Cruiser almost identical to 70's show was a freinds parents that got a new car when it needed brakes and had a 455... $200 in 1979...

Picutre of buckets and center console is a want in a wagon!

Picture of dogs in wagon, want wagon for my dog. He usually rides in back of a our sweet 2wd 1990 Suburban we have, pretty big wagon, love this truck!

Fuel milage of this LT1 is really fantastic considering it's in a huge B body wagon and highway is actually incredibal. So putting it in half the car would be great milage and even faster!

 

The well cared for are still out there, just seems they are fewer and farther between. Prices IMO have gone up also in general. Erea also has alot to do with the real price.

I think your motor swap would be awesome in a G body, I don't think I've seen that convertion ever.

Interiours and bucket/console swaps and mods.....

Just my 2 bits, but you have to be carefull. Are you destroying or improving? We have seen many a nice interiour converted to bucket seats and it just did'nt work (Ebay sales and Graigslist)

Customizing interiours, (and I'm not implying you don't know) can go bad so fast. My silver 82, the bucket seat swap and other custom work that happened..... well unless I find even a 4 door with a red interiour, it's destroyed and is a parts car.

Pics from seller, as he began his bucket seat console swap....

Look at the dash, door panels, etc...the front bench was the only bad.



I don't know the why's or what his buckets came out of but was told they were not going to fit so the bench went back in. This was the only ugly in the interiour


Then, the rest. It's a touchy subject as I bout this wagon from a younger guy at work, I tryed giving him my 2 bits when he asked and I'm sure his intentions were good but.....

Mega glued on fuzzy with bad vynl paint job..... over what was a flawless dash....



More fuzzy perma glued and plack paint....



Sorry if I'm rambeling on but, just keep interiour mods in good taste.

 

Yeah you can surely mess up a good car... but I've done so much differant stuff over the years I'd be careful to get correct parts before color, then have them recovered to match interior.

But that's far off at this point. Need to find a nice wagon to start, since there's no salt up here and lots of garages for winter finding clean old cars is not to bad...

 

Here's some B-body wagons if you want to keep what you know!

http://eastoregon.craigslist.org/cto/2863167696.html - 96 Roady Wagon

http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/2922713663.html - 94 Roady that needs a trans.....which you have!

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/2912297800.html - low mile wood-delete 95 Roady

http://medford.craigslist.org/cto/2920405350.html - Super low-mile 96 Caprice. Not a wagon but under 40K miles

 

Actually there's a guy here in town with a white woody Chevy that needs a motor, if he doesn't buy mine I may buy his?

Still like to have an LT1 G body...

 

After you mind the right wagon, probably one of the easiest ways to get the LT1 in it is to find a mid 90's F-body (Camaro/Firebird) that has a bad body. you can swap in the drivetrain, and also other things like steering rack, wheels and tires, seats, etc.........

 

Well looks like the LT1 to G body swap is off for now...

I went and looked at the 1995 Chevy Caprice White Woody Wagon with blown LT1 engine and bought it! So I'll have my White woody wagon back but a Chevy instead of a Buick and a left over LT1 4l60E trans with harness and PCM and everything I need for a swap down the road to a G body. Wife really likes the G body wagon so looks like it'll be her car project.

When I get my motor in the Chevy wagon I'll be parting out the Buick Roadmaster...

 

Good - have fun!!