Second Gen Olds Custom Cruiser, new user, long time fan of station wagons

Well, I know this forum is primarily the 3rd generation B body wagons, but, I figure 2nd generation is close enough, right? I've been a member over at the Station Wagon Forums for a while now, so I thought I'd pop in here, too.

My wagon is a '86 Olds Custom Cruiser, been in the family since 1994-ish, been mine since May of 2012. My other wagon is a 1989 Custom Cruiser, which has been wrecked, not sure how, but it's totaled, it's a parts car which will be donating it's engine and transmission to my car until I can afford to swap in a 350 crate. The 307 in it now is a 1985 block, non roller lifters, but my father used the heads off the '86 not knowing they where swirl port heads. It was rebuilt shortly after the transmission sometime in the mid 90's, both have about 130k miles on 'em, and the transmission decided to stop living. I believe the cars a whole has about 420,000 miles on it, because it had 290,000 when the last engine and transmission swap happened.

My car hasn't had much done too it, except be used heavily as a truck over the years, my plans for it are to restore it, and add a few performance oriented bits like Hotchkis sway bars, Hotchkis tuned Bilstein shocks and a few other things. I live in the Blue Ridge mountains, so I'm more worried about taking out the spooky loose steering than going fast in a straight line. Sure this car will still be used an abused, but not as a truck as much.

So, hello all.

Welcome aboard! We have a growing community of boxies on here lately so you are in good company. While the two generations of wagons certainly look alot different with different drive lines, they share the same floor pans and quite a bit of other parts, so they are more related than one would think.

And to think my DD 91 ONLY has 252K on it.

Welcome! Boxies are always welcome here.

Good to see some more VA members too.

Welcome to the madness DR,wow thats another virginian joining us in less than a week.Rode my CBX years ago on the blue ridge and rarely in my car but its a great beautiful drive in or on anything.The leaves should be beautiful pretty soon what with the seasons changing.

Thanks for the welcome, I've got some photo's of my wagon on my cardomain page if you want to check it out. You can also hear the old tank with a few video's I've got of the exhaust if you would like too. Would link, but evidently I can't for seven days.

Welcome!

We have an eye for and appreciate boxy wagons. As you will find out and guys have mentioned, there are quite a few boxy members.

Tom

We even have a special section for past generation "old timers" here as well. Check out the Boxie section.

https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/f13-boxies-and-related-issues

That's good to know, Lake.

Also, love the Family Truckster avatar, Fox. She's a beaut, Clark!

Welcome! I lived in The Star City for a stretch in 98-99 and LOVED it!

I don't know if any of the places are still there, but 15 years later I'd still love another pizza from Chico and Billy's - and the wood-fired pizza at Corned Beef and Company was incredible too.

I got to be friends with the guy who's family has owned the Texas Tavern downtown since they started it.

What a GREAT city! I'd have stayed there forever AND EVER, but had to (ok, chose to) move back home to get married.