March 2015 Wagon of the month

Thanks for inviting me to share my wagon and story. It started in 2011 when I bought a orphaned '83 Caprice wagon as a project (which I still have) for $500. Life, jobs, obligations got in the way as it does for most so it is a ongoing project. I have a small block with vortec heads, small cam and goodies to make a hot rod wagon. The more I learned about whale wagons on another forum and lurked here a few times, the more I liked them and thought it would make a good DD and different since I only see a handful around here. I started looking half heartedly and hoped one would pop up for sale within a hour or so of home. After only finding a high mileage wrecked one in need of lots of work I expanded my search to a 400 mile radius. I found a 1992 Roadmaster in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with 74,000 miles for $1,750. I posted it on the other wagon forum thinking it was a good deal and hoped someone would get it. I watched it for a week or so and happen to sell my boat I had so I figure might as well take some of the money and buy a wagon and I would inquire about this one.



I e-mailed the seller with my number and after about 3 days he called me. I told him I had to drive 300 miles so I was asking a few questions as to not waste either of our time and told him what I needed to be able to register car in Louisiana. I asked if I should bring a trailer if the car has been sitting or tires were bad I could just trailer it back instead of putting it on the Interstate for a 300 mile 75 mph trip. He assured me it was driven often and no worries so we made a plan for me to go on Saturday. Friday he tells me he has a local buyer and would probably sell to him. So I started searching Friday night for another one. Saturday he calls and says guy backed out so I tell him I would come Sunday but asked if he would give me a chance to look at it and not call me 2 hours into my trip to say a local buyer is coming. I told him once I look I will either leave with it or he wouldn't hear or see me again. He agreed then called me a hour later to say he wanted to know if he could have my address to search for me, he was getting scared. I spent all day Saturday giving him info on me until I finally lost it and told him good luck with the sale but I had enough. He finally realized the wagon market is small and he hasn't sold it local so he finally agreed to sell it to me. It was dirty and only driven 5,000 miles in 4 years. His aunt gave him the car and I have a receipt for $3,100 worth of work from 2010 and all records from before. Car was well taken car of mechanically by his elderly aunt and he just didn't like it only driving it when he had to.




The passenger fender and dog leg are the only body damage on it and I hate to start messing with it because it still looks nice for a 23 year old wagon.

Good cleaning and a coolant temp sensor is what it took to get it in shape to be my DD. I bought this wagon a year ago this month. I put a set of Impala SS wheels with some new 225/55R17 on them for about 2 months and then I stole my 17" and 18" I had for my Caprice project and put on it.
Again thanks for letting me share and here are some interior pictures and some current pictures of her.

Wow nice wagon. Wheel and car colour look as a very good match.
Pete

Great looking ride,1tireman.

Great story and a good score on the wagon. Hard pressed to find anything that old with low miles and good service history. Makes all the hassles you went through worth it.

Happen to have pics of your 83 project? It's funny, I bought my 89 Buick that same year for the same price.

I have really neglected my project wagon. I have to get back on it. I just started a new job 4 months ago and have really just got back to fooling in the garage. Not to be a complainer but the last 2 years I stayed at a job I hated and just took all my energy. My Caprice has a little rust in it but is still pretty decent. Motor is in garage needing just a few things to finish it up but here are some pictures of it:






This is what it looks like cleaned up and the hood on it:

Two awesome wagons here, thanks for your story and great luck with your projects!

How can you not like that wagon; love the color, the cloth interior and the low mileage.

If your schedule permits, come on over to the WF in FL at the end of the month.  You'll have a good time.

thanks for your story.

Tom

Your boxy looks good. Jealous that you have two good looking wagons.

Nice looking boxy, I agree

Great story but you have more patience than I do.The hassles were definitely worth it because you have a good looking LOW mileage wagon,well 2 wagons.Nice looking wheel combinations too,looks good with everything!

Thanks for the nice comments. It kills me to see my box wagon sitting, every year I say this is the year I get it running. So fingers crossed this year!
I wish I could make it to Wagonfest one year, sounds like a great time but I just started a new job in November so no vacation time. I also bought the Roadmaster with the plans of my dad and I doing Hot Rod Power Tour but that's not going to happen either since new job. If one day ever catches up with me I'm in trouble!

Nice stiry and yes, two nice wagons you have there. Don't worry, I have a wagon that has been sitting on the side of my house for 4 years now.....I keep saying I'll get to it, spent over double the purchase price in parts/upgrades that are all sitting in the garage.....

Sprocket wrote:

Nice stiry and yes, two nice wagons you have there.  Don't worry, I have a wagon that has been sitting on the side of my house for 4 years now.....I keep saying I'll get to it, spent over double the purchase price in parts/upgrades that are all sitting in the garage.....

Glad to know Im not the only one guilty of that sin.

makes tree of us.....

Glad to hear we are all in the same boat!
I cost myself money doing my motor for my boxy by being cheap. I was going to use a motor I pulled out of a '66 C10 I had. I bought it thinking it was a 350 according to previous owner. I drove truck about 3 years then the rear main started leaking so I pulled it for a 350 I got from a friend in a trade and put in truck. I decided to put other motor in my boxy but I was putting a small can in it since I had a good intake and distributor. Well then I figured a set of vortec heads. So I buy a used for $150 and I would have a good little motor. Pulled the original heads and cylinders had a groove so no big deal, then I realize it is a .030 over 307. I decide cut my losses and use the original 305 just fix blown head gasket, reseal and roll...pull heads and see big domed .060 over pistons in it, scrap that idea. Next I bought a freshly bored .020 350 block from a friend for $200 along with the intake for my newly acquired vortec heads. I decide since engine block is fresh put new rods and some flat top pistons and no reason to not freshen the heads,so I was working at a dealership and had a older guy that was a engine builder in '70's and 80's that told me he would lap in valves and change the guides and seals and put my motor together if I bought new bearings and all. So 3 engines later and $2600 poorer I almost have my motor ready. For a few hundred more I could have bought a crate motor like I did for the '55 Bel Air my dad and I own. It was $3100 shipped, made 423 HP @ crank and had a 2 year warranty. We have run that motor for 10 years now with no major issues. Oh well, I know better next time but everything that looked like it may be questionable I replaced while we were in there and should get a solid 300 to 320 HP out of it.

LOL, nice story and seems we are all the same....

Well I haven't touched my engine, but bought a T-56 6 speed to swap in, amassed about 70% of the parts for the swap and then bought a 90%+ swap that has a known good tranny, bonneville seats, a police car disc rear (that is all rust and the rotors and all are crap now,etc etc etc....

At the end of it though, I'll still have an extra 6spd (that may or may not need a rebuild) to play with.