Black & Tan

Well, I bought Lorne's car. Yes, that one.

I flew down and Lorne met me at the airport. Fortunately he had posted pics of himself in the past, so I had a vague idea what he looked like. Drove about an hour and a half to his place. I know some of you have a bug up your ass about Lorne, but he was a great person to deal with. A true gentleman. He filled up the car for me, and offered to put me up for the night since I had a 13h drive ahead of me. Not just top of the car, but take it from fumes to "holy ****, this gas gauge needs to be recalibrated". I hadn't asked for pics, so I was blown away because the car was even nicer than described. It seems like it belongs in a museum. It's cleaner than my T-type and my fiancée's 08 Sky with 7k miles


That's Lorne, if there was any confusion.

yeah, there's a typo on the billboard.

Probably the 1st time the car had seen rain in a long time. I hope it gets used to it, it's moving to British Columbia.

The drive home was cool. Saw a lot of wildlife: Moose, deer, raccons and a bear. It was interesting to drive a bone stock wagon again. These cars definitely aren't fun to drive stock: mushy suspension makes bad roads a chore, and 2.56 gears make passing "interesting". It was nice to get 400 miles out of a tank while going 80 mph however, though that speed is definitely sketchy on 18 y/o tires. I drove through the worst thunderstorm I've driven through. It always rains on the day I pick up a new car. It's so common that my brother knew I bought the car when the TS passed overhead. I stopped in Quebec City for the night. Got the car inspected the next day. The tech couldn't believe the condition. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't pass because of the tint and unadjusted parking brake but it was in and out in record time.

I showed the car to my fiancée and she loves it. She absolutely hates the DCM woody (it constantly gets stares of abject horror). She said the black & tan is just too nice to be my "winter beater" (that's right, I bought the car to use as a DD when I'm not using the T-type) and that I should probably just hang on to the DCM woody for winter duty Maybe I'll take her up on that, not that there's much of a winter in BC.

The car needed a good wash after driving 13h in the rain. I've never washed the door jambs of a car before, but I guess I have to maintain the previous owners' standard.


goodbye front plate

yes, she is wearing short shorts.




Not really bothered you can see my plates. We're getting new ones soon.





So that's it. Let the modding commence! I can't believe I spent 13h in a bone-stock car.




No, I didn't pay 2k for these.

original 5x5 OZ wheels. 18" x 10" rears and 18" x 8" fronts.

Also in the parts heap that was once my garage:

- 3.73 gears & truetrac posi
- Aluminium driveshaft
- 285/40ZR18 & 245/45ZR18 goodyear F1 tires.
- AS&M shorty equal length headers
- export pipes
- ATR quad exhaust
- Moog 7268 750# front springs
- Moog CC505 rear springs
- Bilstein linear damped shocks
- Beehive valvesprings
- 1.6 rockers
- corvette starter

Slap on a tune, maybe some speed holes, and it should at least be fun to drive. What of the spare parts? horde them to later restore the car to "concours" quality ? Demand their weight in gold, plus shipping ? (neither is necessarily meant to be a jab at the b-body community). F that. I'm giving them away (recipient pre-determined).

Congrats on the SAH-WEEEET ride.

Very nice car, sure you're going to mod it? (OZ wheels look nice though)
Pete

Dammmmmmmmmmmm, nice score

You couldn't find a better car than that wagon, or a better guy to buy it from.

Tom

Thanks for an entertaining post!...[ 2.56 gears make passing "interesting" ] haw haw
Lorne IS a great guy; the internet is just confusing to a guy who lives in a "Northwest Territories" type environment, I guess.
and I feel your pain about getting a vehicle (or anything) that is pristine, knowing that your usage is just going to violate it.

congrats and good luck.

Awesome car from a awesome guy.Damn I love those wheels Jason,how long have you had them?
Surprised you didnt stop on the way home and throw a tune in her!

Nice - Very Nice indeed

I can't wait to see this thing.

Thanks Jason, Glad you had a safe trip.

For those who aren't aware,Jason was only minutes from getting the car from Mike in 2009, I simply beat him to the post.

I had my doubts,but in the end it was just sitting and that's not doing it much good.

I looked at it for at least 2 hours on Monday after 1 final wash.




He didn't post a picture of the cleanest cargo area I have seen,especially this color.



Congrats Jason,pretty impressive that you have such a great career, with the level of responsibility,at such a young age.

Enjoy ithe car to the fullest,Lorne.

Great acquisition Jason. Should be a great DD. Good to see someone else actually use their wagon. I would hope you will make the WagonFest Nationals in Waterloo this year.

Dutch Pete wrote:

Very nice car, sure you're going to mod it?

yes. I can't help myself.

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Great acquisition Jason. Should be a great DD. Good to see someone else actually use their wagon. I would hope you will make the WagonFest Nationals in Waterloo this year.

I can't make it this year again. It falls right during my relocation to BC.

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Great acquisition Jason. Good to see someone else actually use their wagon. .

it's comments like this that offend me,

How many do you think I need?



Shame on me for wanting to preserve one, if not the last black WB4 wagon's in prestine condition.

lornejay1 wrote:

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Great acquisition Jason. Good to see someone else actually use their wagon. .

it's comments like this that offend me,

How many do you think I need?



Shame on me for wanting to preserve one, if not the last black WB4 wagon's in prestine condition.

lorne...if you were gonna sell one...shoulda been the one in the middle.

Congratulations Jason. I bet you could use a car cover huh?

Good luck with keeping it up to the po's standards.

I like you taste in wheels too.

I can't believe you didn't take Lorne up on his offer to stay a night, I hear people are dieing for the chance.


Mike

200OZ wrote:

Congratulations Jason. I bet you could use a car cover huh?

Good luck with keeping it up to the po's standards.

I like you taste in wheels too.

I can't believe you didn't take Lorne up on his offer to stay a night, I hear people are dieing for the chance.


Mike

yeah, he could have prepared you a nice bed with a lid!

a1awind wrote:

yeah, he could have prepared you a nice bed with a lid!

They're really not that comfy....

I have yet to see this wagon. Some day I hope to.

Congratulations on the Sale / Purchase. I am happy to see this wagon go on to another wagon fan.

Cadet57 wrote:

a1awind wrote:

yeah, he could have prepared you a nice bed with a lid!

They're really not that comfy....

I REALLY do not what to know how you know that!!

They aren't. I rode in one in my friend's hearse for giggles once.

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Cadet57 wrote:

a1awind wrote:

yeah, he could have prepared you a nice bed with a lid!

They're really not that comfy....

I REALLY do not what to know how you know that!!

We had a damaged one that had to be shipped back to the company. I was bored and....

Way to go Jason. That is probably one of the best examples of these cars anywhere. Have personally seen it on two occassions and Lorne certainly took great care of it.

Congrats, and think seriously of keeping it as is. This one is certainly worth preserving.

Bill

Definitely going to be a eve catching DD and anything he does to it can easily be switched back
if needed.Definitely is one of a kind!

jasonlachapelle wrote:

Not just top of the car, but take it from fumes to "holy ****, this gas gauge needs to be recalibrated".

It has an aftermarket calibrator on it that needs to be replaced. I put it in when I did the Z cluster. It should still be behind the driver kick panel.

I've never washed the door jambs of a car before, but I guess I have to maintain the previous owners' standard.
You have a Turbo T and now this wagon and you've NEVER washed door jambs before?

So that's it. Let the modding commence! I can't believe I spent 13h in a bone-stock car.
Slap on a tune, maybe some speed holes, and it should at least be fun to drive. What of the spare parts? horde them to later restore the car to "concours" quality ? Demand their weight in gold, plus shipping ? (neither is necessarily meant to be a jab at the b-body community). F that. I'm giving them away (recipient pre-determined).

It has an aftermarket calibrator on it that needs to be replaced. I put it in when I did the Z cluster. It should still be behind the driver kick panel.
You have a Turbo T and now this wagon and you've NEVER washed door jambs before?

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Great acquisition Jason. Should be a great DD. Good to see someone else actually use their wagon. .

Some cars deserve more than daily driver status. This happens to be one of them.

convert2diesel wrote:

Way to go Jason. That is probably one of the best examples of these cars anywhere. Have personally seen it on two occassions and Lorne certainly took great care of it.

A year from now it will be "just another wagon"

Congrats, and think seriously of keeping it as is. This one is certainly worth preserving.
Bill

Agree 100%


Oh well, it's not mine anymore and it will be sad to watch it slowly degrade into just another wagon but it's your car to do with as you choose. Enjoy.

GN1220 wrote:

...
Oh well, it's not mine anymore and it will be sad to watch it slowly degrade into just another wagon but it's your car to do with as you choose. Enjoy.

lol... It's not like he has promised to run it through a daily salt bath until it disintegrates. (still laughing)

and, is the gauge calibrator one of the old "Gas-Rite" units that were sold some ten years ago, with the adjustments for low and high gauge readings? I have one of those in my wagon.

V. nice. Jason you sold me the Yang now you got the Yin. Happy molesting man!

GN1220 wrote:

It has an aftermarket calibrator on it that needs to be replaced. I put it in when I did the Z cluster. It should still be behind the driver kick panel.

Good to know, thanks.

GN1220 wrote:

You have a Turbo T and now this wagon and you've NEVER washed door jambs before?

I wash them, but I've never detailed them, or decorated them like this wagon has.

GN1220 wrote:

Some cars deserve more than daily driver status. This happens to be one of them.

Like Jimbeau said, I won't take it through a salt mist. I'll be able to store it indoors at my new home, and it mostly rains rather than snows in the PNW. I originally bought it to be a DD/"Winter" car, but changed my mind because I didn't realize how nice it was. I'll use the woody during the "winter" and to haul junk around. I'll use the black & tan as a nice day/roadtrip car, but it'll still get drive. A lot.

GN1220 wrote:

convert2diesel wrote:

Way to go Jason. That is probably one of the best examples of these cars anywhere. Have personally seen it on two occassions and Lorne certainly took great care of it.

A year from now it will be "just another wagon"

Congrats, and think seriously of keeping it as is. This one is certainly worth preserving.
Bill

Agree 100%
Oh well, it's not mine anymore and it will be sad to watch it slowly degrade into just another wagon but it's your car to do with as you choose. Enjoy.

Doing a few subtle (reversible, though let's face it, I won't reverse them) mods to it to increase my enjoyment of the car won't take away from the car. Putting some firmer springs, better shocks, lower gearing and OZ wheels doesn't make it any less of an awesome car than a Camaro cluster, gran sport emblems, tint or SS wheels. To me they are necessary upgrades, not unlike a better chip, adjustable FPR and hotwired fuel pump are necessary in a Turbo Regal. I respect people who keep cars as works of art, but it would bring me no joy to do that. It will make me happy do drive it and enjoy it.

Don't worry, I'll take good care of the car.

Congrats on the new wagon....that is a beauty

Chris

Glad you had a change of opinion. I honestly think the mods will make the car much more fun to drive, I actually toyed with the dropped front idea and the OZ wheels should look realy good. The daily/winter driver thing is what was killing me. As you say, any of those mods could be returned to stock later in life. Just hang onto the wheels, they are MINT

Stunning. just wow.

Already know the OZs will look great on a black RMW.200OZ can verify that cant you Mike?

Yup, they do, but Jason already knows that too, he had his OZ's on a black WB4 before I ever did.... I think.

That car is going to some how look even better once your done Jason. I would be afraid to drive it.

Mike

Enjoy, she's a beauty.

jasonlachapelle wrote:

Not really bothered you can see my plates.

Considering that they are visible to anyone on the planet that sees your car....I wouldn't expect you to.

Never understood why some are terrified to show their license plate number.

Congrats on the new wagon, have fun using it as intended

A black WB4,..with OZ wheels,.

really rare,..??


good place for it to live.

Nick

I'll be... Nick's not dead?

jimbeau wrote:

I'll be... Nick's not dead?

you'll be??

soon enough??

Congrats on the purchase, great looking color combo.

phantom 309 wrote:

jimbeau wrote:

I'll be... Nick's not dead?

you'll be??

soon enough??

Hey, I was close to asking Pat who was in line to get his stuff.