Howdy from Central Florida

Hello all. I've been lurking for some time so I thought that I should introduce myself. I live in Central Florida (Clermont, just outside of Orlando) and I am originally from Flint, Michigan (aka Buick City). The first car that I ever rode in was a Buick wagon (Dad's '72 Skylark) and my first car was a '77 LeSabre coupe. Buick is in my blood.

I don't yet have a wagon (just a wanna 'B') but I'm shopping and I hope to be the owner of a Roadmaster wagon in the next few weeks. I've done a lot of reading here and I'd like to thank you all for your shared wisdom (and the occasional and enjoyable what not to do).

Also, I'm Brian.

Welcome Brian,nice entrance,you will fit in here nicely.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMTHwjy6Z8

Hey! Two of my best friends live in Clermont. If you ever see an '87 Cadillac Hearse at Publix - I know that dude. lol


Welcome to the boards! Man we really need a Florida meet.

Welcome Brian

WELCOME Brian!

You have your eye on a particular wagon now, or do you expect to find one in the next few weeks?

Welcome to the group Brian and best of luck on your search.Got any idea of what year and brand wagon you want?
Whichever you decide on there is someone here who can help you make the right decision.
Take Care
Jim Gordon

Welcome aboard Brian. searchtempest.com is your friend If you find one in S. FL and need someone to take a look at for ya....... I'm assuming you want a Roadmaster, but if you are interested in an Olds, I have one for sale right now check out the Cars for sale secton for my thread. They are priced to move.

Welcome! Good luck on your search and please post pics when you find one.

Welcome!, I'm in Tampa and there are sever a other guys here in Floriduh.

lornejay1 wrote:

Welcome Brian,nice entrance,you will fit in here nicely.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMTHwjy6Z8

Awesome video! Thank you. When I had my LeSabre, I couldn't afford the gas to get it going fast enough to jump like that.

Welcome to the group and look forward to seeing pics of your new wagon....when you find it!

-Mike

Stingroo wrote:

Hey! Two of my best friends live in Clermont. If you ever see an '87 Cadillac Hearse at Publix - I know that dude. lol


Welcome to the boards! Man we really need a Florida meet.

I've not yet seen the hearse but I am dying to. [/CRICKETS]

Are you up at UNF? I work at UCF and visited up there this past fall.

Brian

Welcome to the NUT HOUSE!!

Krzdimond wrote:

WELCOME Brian!

You have your eye on a particular wagon now, or do you expect to find one in the next few weeks?

Thank you, I'm looking at a 95 wagon that's been up for sale for quite a while. It's at about 144k miles, has leather, trailering package and power rear vent windows (just kidding). It's in pretty good order with no rust. The owner added their own horn button on the dash a honking hitch and modified the rear suspension. It was a bit molested during the 'reconditioning' process - the left front fender molding is attached with gray goo that won't live long here, the woodgrain moldings were painted flat black (??) and there are some bad touch ups on the C/D pillar and rear fascia needs a respray.

When I drove it, the powertrain was strong with smooth shifts. The turn signal switch was binding and felt that it was going to break off (been there, done that). It wondered fairly aggressively to the right and the brakes were soft. Overall, nothing that I can't handle.

The one unknown for me, is the rear suspension. I didn't hear the level compressor run. Looking at the rear of the car, there is a schrader valve to the left of the hitch (photo below). Based on my very limited knowledge, this is for air shocks. Is it likely that they eliminated the auto level and went manual? Is this a big deal?

It's been up for sale at least since September. It started at $3995. It dropped to $2995 in December. It's on a little lot placed on consignment. Finding the "right" or "fair" price is difficult with numbers coming back between $900 and $4000. I'm thinking under $2500 would be right - but I welcome your suggestions.

Brian, your pictures are not showing. Also, every time I open this thread, rumble-seats.com demands a password.

Otherwise, Welcome!

Anywhere from $2500-4000 is average for a very good car. Above that you can get a great car, just kkep your eyes peeled. Deals can be found for below $2500, but generally cars there have a ton of miles or have been abused...or very used.

I saw the car you described in that Craigslist add. My 2-cents, you can find a better, lower mileage car for that price if you look around, or a car in similar condition for less money. Florida is one of my favorite shopping grounds for these, due to the larger retired population these seem to pop up on Craigslist a lot as the current owner base....pardon me...but dies off. l; )

As for the rear air shocks, a lot of people go manual when replacing them. The factory setup can be made to work, but in many cases it's just bypassed. Some go with airbags, I went with coil-over gas shocks, but I think the best option would be to install variable-rate springs and good gas shocks, like Monroe Severe Service or KYB units. My car was fine with the stock springs and coil-over shocks...until I used it to tow, and it squats too much. There are variable-rate springs in my future.

If you've read the site one of the most common issues is the molding around the woodgrain peels. You can polish it to a chrome look, paint it, texture it to look like wood, or try to re-cover it. It's all been done if you look around. I stripped, sanded, and re-painted mine in a satin tan color. Think it matches the wood well, but I like the chrome look too. That one you found with the trim painted black looks a little odd..

Oh and in your searches if you find proof of the transmission being rebuilt ot the OptiSpark being replaced already, those are bonuses in my book.

-Mike

My mistake - should be all fixed up now. I just threw the pictures up onto one of my parked domains.

81X11 wrote:

http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/2098804096.html

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/2162229964.html

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/ctd/2158524564.html

Thank you for the links. I hadn't thought to check out East. I am going to check out the Villages, a mega retirement community North of my place.

figue an LT1 (94-96)car puts about an 800+ dollar premium on any wagon as alot of wagons are bought and the LT1 ripped out for something else.

that said I got both my LT1 cars for under 1500 but the first one 94 RMW w/135K cost me over 900 to get it on the road (windshield, opti, R&R under the hood) but at 191K I'd drive her to Cali tomorrow.

the other one needs a front end, brakes, and thanks to me a new windshield and currently won't start (dead battery)

No, I'm at Jacksonville University (they gave me more money than UNF LOL).

Me thinks your college is dependent on who is willing to pay more money to get rid of you and big darn wagon!
Just Kidding
Jim Gordon

Well the school is paying for it anyway. LOL And I got the wagon while I was at school. :p

After lurking for a very long time, I bought a 1996 Roadmaster Wagon over the weekend. It's a two owner high mileage (211k), low dollar ($1,100) project/second car for me. It's a Limited with V92 trailering package (no hitch ever), V08 heavy duty cooling and Positraction rear axle with 2.93 ratio.

There is no rust and it's not used up as you'd expect it to be. It's mostly complete and largely unmolested though someone snagged the PA3 wheels and hood ornament. It runs well though the front end porpoises and applying the brakes is more like suggesting that I'd like to please slow down. I'll work on that this weekend as well putting together my punch list and general clean up.

I'd guess that it was well cared for most of its life but let go as the years and miles piled on and it has sat for a while.

I'll follow up soon with more "before" photos.

Hey Brian. Nice score. If you are interested in a set of factory Alloys for it, I have a set of 4 with caps. I'll take $75 for the set of 4 for a forum member. The tires are no good on them. I'm just down the road in West Palm Area.

Thank you, Sprocket. I may take you take you up on your offer if I exterminate the porpoise from the front end without breaking the bank.

Dont you dare harm any porpoises or dolphins for that matter! 
I,am such a dummy.

bdubsee wrote:

Thank you, Sprocket. I may take you take you up on your offer if I exterminate the porpoise from the front end without breaking the bank.

I have the same problem with the front end. 2 shocks won't break the bank. Monroe severe service will tighten it right up! I love them nice and firm but don't beat you up.

I actually had already ordered the KYB KG4515s. They were $34.98 each with two day delivery using my Amazon Prime account. Installed them yesterday while I was doing the front brakes. They made a HUGE difference but there are more troubles under the front end. I am going to order the ball joints and control arm bushings from RockAuto. Looks like the outer tie-rod ends are shot, too.

Fun discovery, the nuts and bolts holding the tie-rod adjuster tube were loose. All four of them. Not finger tight. Rolling around in there loose. Scary.