Making my wagon decisions...

Hello all,

I grew up with seven brothers and sisters, in a household where Dad rolled Caprices, and Mom rolled Caprice wagons. Trips to visit Grammie and Granpop in Allentown was nine of us in the car (we were all two years apart except my youngest sister, who came much later). Summer Vacation in Cape Cod was 11, as Nan and Granddad always came with.

Those Caprices were fine automobiles. When they were used up, you could get Dad's if you were lucky (and doing something productive, like going to school and getting good grades). When Mom's were used up, they were used up. There was one that still had a bit of life left, and I rolled it for a year when I was 16.

I've been out of the wagon (and Caprice) lifestyle for a bit. I've never been totally out, as my youngest brother always has one, and I did roll one for a year about 10 years ago. Recently, I saw an old friend who had a 9C1 Custom Cruiser, flat black paint with the wood grain. It got me to thinking...

I'm playing the car shuffle now anyway. All my whips are bombed out and depleted: the 2000 K2500 (last of the 454s) two broken lifters and a bad tranny, but still earning me money, my 98 540i 6-speed (the only car I've ever loved as much as a Caprice Classic, and I've had a lot of cars), 219,000 miles and it's getting fragile, and my 69 Triumph Spitfire (good car, needs paint and interior, and haven't had time and loot for a car with so little utility).

My brother in law upgraded to a nice Mercedes Wagon, and was kind enough to give me his '87 Custom Cruiser. While doing the shuffle, I started thinking about that fine, fine wagon and went for a look at it. I let it sit too long and the mice got in. It smells really bad in there. I was thinking of bringing her back around, but before I face the horrors of a complete interior strip and reupholster (my tolerance for even a hint of mouse pee smell is less than zero; I'm getting nauseous just thinking about it), I thought I join you all so I could better educate myself on what is out there, what is for sale, what parts I could get, used and new.

My first thoughts were to revisit the earliest wagon I remember well, a clamshell Chevy, '73 or '74. I don't remember what year it was but, I remember the grill and headlights, and that narrows it down. Anyway, that's an old car these days, and might be a lot of work for a daily driver. So, I'm back to the '77 to '90 GM B-Body wagons.

So, that's why I joined, what I currently own, and why I'm here. As to who I am, 42 years old, married, no kids yet, was 20 years working my way through school as a tech, to an engineer, all the way to engineering manager before the windowless offices closed in on me. I'm a corporate refugee now, running my own business repairing boats. Happy, but broke. My interests are spending time with my family, auto racing (sports cars, but my budget for this is all but gone), boating, fishing, and any chance to hop on a dirt bike or snowmobile I rarely miss. I meet with my race team every Monday night to work on cars, and get together with my youngest brother, when ever we can, to do the same.

My name is Mike O'Donnell, and I'm very pleased to meet you.

 

Welcome Mike!

 

Welcome aboard, Mike!

 

Hi Mike and to our little indulgence. That has got to be one of the better intros that I have read, thanks for sharing all that. So are you in the market for a new(old) wagon or are you happy with what you have for the time being? Cause these guys will get on it offering(tempting) you with gems that they find.
Glad you found your way here, and it's nice to meet you too.

 

Thanks All.

Thanks fannie. When registering, I read the bit about 'who is that guy in our garage' and did my level best to respond.

I've got a toe in the market but, I'm not yet committed. Basically, I'm wagon ready, and want to move forward, but am still calculating my budget and narrowing my choices.

I was pretty settled on a box b-body but, last night, chatting via email with my brother Casey (the Caprice driver, who is now on the search for a big caddy) he is encouraging me to set my reservations aside and search out a clamshell. He's too young to remember them and I sent a youtube link that showed the gate. Some of his words: "I never saw the crazy clam shell in action before tonight. I recall you telling me about these in my youth, and me still liking the opens either way tailgate, but now I see the light." "If your going to do it, you have to skip the wagons of my youth and go to the more corpulent wagon with the optional big block."

So, now I'm thinking about a clamshell again. Would need a brown interior and woodgrain, as I've a certain vision...

 

Dang, wish you were up here, I have some boats that need work!

What the heck is a "9C1 Custom Cruiser, flat black paint with the wood grain."?

 

Welcome, Mike. Fantastic intro. So your brother has offered you the 87 Custom Cruiser. What a great wagon that is! I wonder how it would clean up if you pulled the seats and had the carpet and seats steam cleaned. If the rest of the wagon is in good shape, then you have a good driver while you look for the clam shell of your dreams. Those early 70s Caprice wagons are terrific. Keep your eyes out on the classified threads. They do come up for sale fairly regularly. Since you have a pick up with a 454, you are well familiar with the fuel consumption. Good luck with the hunt, and be sure to keep us up to date!

 

Welcome Mike!

 

It isn't anything but my ignorance showing. Somehow I got it in my head that 9C1 was a description for the 91-96 Caprice/Caprice Classic/Impala SS. It isn't, it's the police package. I heard it so often that I got it confused. It seems everyone wanted to claim they had the 9C1. Having owned a '93 Caprice Classic with LTZ package from that era, I'll take an LTZ package over a 9C1 package any day.

Anyway, he had a 91-96 Custom Cruiser (or maybe it was a Roadmaster) with the wood grain trim. He had painted the non-woodgrained areas flat black, added a loud exhaust, and big wheels--he's a hot rodder and that look is popular with the kids. I'm okay with big wheels, (not 20"+ but I think 17" or 18" look just fine, if you want a more modern look).

Whatever on wheel size, it's all subjective. I like to see people make a car their own, even if that means it isn't original. My tastes and others will never be the same; and wouldn't the world be a boring place if they were.

 

The Custom Cruiser's never came with woodie sides in the bubble body style. The Roadie and Caprices did.

 

Thanks.

I've no intention of a big block powered wagon. I love the torque, but if I'm getting 12 miles to the gallon, she'll just sit. It would probably offend many here but, I wouldn't be afraid to drop in a 5.3L LS motor and 4L60e trans. I think you could get over 20 mpg. We only have E85 fuel here, and we're not having great luck getting carbs tuned to run well in all weather. I spoke to a Delphi engineer about it a few years back. He said the fuel is very, very inconsistent, and newer fuel injection systems are varying the mixture and timing all the time to run smoothly. His basic description of the current systems is they play the timing against the knock sensor until they learn the current fuel load's octane, and they continuously vary the mixture from too rich to too lean so that they average at a clean burn.

Frankly, even as an engineer, none of that seems too sexy to me, not to mention the fact that I'm quite capable of navigating a carb and distributor, unlike an electronic motor. But, I need my wife to feel comfortable and confident taking this car, and a few backfires through the carb on a cold day and her confidence will be stolen.

It's Thanksgiving today down here. I see many of you are Canadians. I don't know how significant the holiday is up there (I know it's 4-5 weeks earlier) but, it's a very important family day here. Anyway, I slipped up to the shop this morning to look at the Custom Cruiser again. It's really a nice car.

I made the following observations:
-Paint is shot.
-The woodgrain is bad in some areas.
-There is a small amount of damage to the top of one of the wheel-wells.
-Much of the weather-stripping is shot.
-The plastic guard that slips into the top of the rear bumper has disintegrated.
-Power antenna is shot.
-The interior is in excellent condition, other than mousey and some mildew, but the cloth should clean up. Carpets should clean up. They'll be some permanent stains, but this isn't planned as a show car.
-I recall the motor (307) has some issue, like a significant oil leak or something.

I don't know if the mileage is 100k or 200k, but the wear and tear indicate only 100k.

All in all, this is really a beautiful car. I'm going to make some time to make room in the shop in the next week, get her in, dried out, and pull that interior. I think this car is well worth the effort. I'm already thinking about what color to paint it.

 

Your welcome.

If you decide to clean up your CC start a thread here...

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9

and we'll all follow and critique your work...in a helpful, nonjudgemental way of course.


Thanksgiving is a big family day here too. We actually planned ours that far ahead of yours so we could take advantage of two holidays. Black Friday isn't just about shopping you know!

 

Thanks all. I found some room in the corner of the shop (for now at least). I've got her in and starting to dry out. The car drives so beautifully, what choice do I have but to try to give it a new life?

I've pulled the interior, some of the trim and just enough of the woodgrain to find the technique (heat gun). I've got a few pics and will work out getting them posted in a new thread, as recommended.

Look for me in the cosmetic and restoration sub-forum. My hands are really quite full right now, so, progress will be slow.

Again, thanks for the warm welcome.

Cheers,
Mike O'

 

Slow and steady wins the race. Can't be any slower then mine I'll be looking forward to it.