Well, the tranny on the copcar is crapping out on me. I think it's the TC. Icky.

Guess I'm in the tow vehicle market a few months earlier than expected.

 

Just curious - what are the symptoms?

 

When pulling to a stop at a light, the car idles a bit high, then clunks hard (hard enough to shake car) and the idle returns to normal. And the upshifts are slowly getting longer - which is probably unrelated, but still a bad thing.

 

You know you want a Lightning.

 

I'll guess the tranny is a 4L60E.....


BTW slowSER, nice 16" TA wheels.

 

hi bone!

i'll guess that it is a 700R4 auto tranny.

any other guesses??

 

Almost. It's a 700R4, which is the early, non-computerized version of the 4L60E.

Since I only have one more tow this year, I'll probably just drive it until it really pukes out its guts. And probably replace it with a '96 Caprice wagon (260hp LT1 = ).

 

I tried that trick once. Only my 700r4 puked it guts out in the paddock at VIR

Joel


[Modified by JoelG, 2:26 PM 10/17/2002]

 

Luckily, my last tow is to Summit Point (70 miles from home). If I break down, it'll be AAA to the rescue. 100 miles free towing 0wnz.

 

Buick Roadmaster. LT1, big woody panels, glass roof. I want one. So do you.

 

Definitely wood panels.

 

They're not TA wheels ... they are Formula wheels.

 

Caprices 0wn
http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/v...r_id=112622861

 

 

[peerpressure]CrackMonkey needs wood! CrackMonkey needs wood! CrackMonkey needs wood! CrackMonkey needs wood! CrackMonkey needs wood! [/peerpressure]

 

Yes !! I thought I was the only one with this secret fetish !

 

whatever, I've got a set of BOTH plus the wirelace WS6's.

 

[attempts to hijack thread]

Those ARE "WS6" wheels -- they have WS6 on the center caps (I think all 3rd gen Formulas were WS6's, but I'm not sure -- still new to this F Body stuff). Are the "wirelace" wheels like the one in this pic: http://www.geocities.com/turbov6neil/GN16sLeftside.jpg ?

I just have the stock rimZ on my Formula. I do have some 3-piece 16X8 Monocoque wheels (15 lbs each!) waiting in the wings.

[/attempts to hijack thread]

 

Naaaa, my brother came home fantasizing about an LT1 Roadmaster after he worked on one (he's a mechanic). "Karen, did you know that those big *** Buick stationwagons had the LT1??????" I know he's thinking "Impala SS wagon..."

Karen
autocrossing station wagons is just wrong
oh, wait.... i autocrossed a wagon at the prosolo finale

 

[QUOTEI know he's thinking "Impala SS wagon..."[/QUOTE]

The wagons won't take the SS rear end (which has discs instead of drums).
The SS front springs work fine. The rears actually RAISE the wagon (but still reduce it's tow capacity because they are softer) - fortunately the HD truck springs from the mid 70s work well - lower the car a bit and are stiffer than stoc so tow capacity shouldn't be hurt too badly. The 17x8 wheels fit nicely, though the speedo needs recalibrated for the different total diameter if using SS sized tires.

Aesthitically, the big diff is the rear wheel area - the wagons retained the semi-covered wheel look, while the SS got normal outer fenders. The grill and badging is easy to change. The dash from the Z28 F-Body is a bolt in and looks way better than the silly digital crap in the Caprice. The seats from the Bonneville bolt in, are close enough in color, and provide way more support.

With headers, 2.5" duals w/ X-pipe, some intake work, and 3.73 gears the car can run mid-14s in the 1320. Add some ported aluminum heads, a cam, and a chip and the 4200lb behemoth can see low 14s.

And best of all, old fleet Caprice wagons sell for about $5000. And if you're real lucky, it'll have a new trans or less than 80k miles.

Can't ya just tell I love these cars?