Hi longroofers

Hello forum-goers:

New guy here. Interested in amassing information, buying a late wagon and potentially building a project car for a series of articles for one of the magazines/sites I write for.

At first, I was only thinking Caprice wagon, but the more I dig, the more I think I should also consider a Roadmaster wagon, too.

Anyway, a little about me. I'm an automotive journalist that covers every part of that world from regular road test/evaluations/critiques of new cars to motorsports to emerging technology (like autonomous driving and battery electric cars) and more but I hate to bore people. I started in the hobby with sports cars and road racing, learned what I know about chassis dynamics from that, then got into American musclecars and drag racing. So, I'm not a one-channel, one-track guy who identifies only with one brand or one segment of the hobby.

Also, just to address one thing right away, I will not use this as a platform to promote my work. I have a few journalist friends who've done that and gotten some virtual rotten fruit thrown at them for it and I don't like messes....

I live in Phoenix with my family and spend what little spare time I have playing guitar with a few different friends and bands, mostly in the classic R&B, rock, funk and jazz genres.

Glad to be here and learn all I can about the late B body longroof creature in order to obtain, work and hopefully journalize on one.

Cheers!

Welcome aboard! I for one applaud you for picking one up. Depending on how you want to go about the project I would offer this advice:

If you plan on using a 90s LT1 engine, buy a 94-96 wagon. Only engine offered those 3 years. If you plan on a swap (like an LS or other based engine, I'd say buy a 91-93 TBI engine car.

Why? An LS Swap will be the same amount of work in either and the TBI cars are generally less expensive to purchase (especially the 305 powered ones) so they are better candidates. Additionally if you go that route, consider a 91-92 Olds Custom Cruiser. Personally, I think they were the best looking of the three and wish they would have stuck around until the LT1 came along.

There is a sticky with production numbers so you can get an idea of how many of each were built each year. I spent a few months gathering that data and as you will read in the thread, it's the best guess as to how many were really built.

Look forward to getting to know you better, and one word of caution. THey are like potato chips, it's hard to have just one....lol

Welcome! If you are going to build a wagon I second finding a 91-92 Olds Custom Cruiser. I think they hard the cleanest styling inside and out. I love the gauges and the trim...all they lacked was a MOTOR. This was my '92, and it was about the strongest TBI car you could get, with the 350 and towing package. It wasn't a dog by any stretch, but my LT1-powered '96 Roadmaster Wagon would run off and leave it for dead.



If you can find a clean Roadmaster at a reasonable price, you'll love it. I plan to keep my 96 forever.


Good Luck!

-Texas Mike

Welcome!  

If you are just wanting a wagon to cruise in and enjoy...I would recommend the TBI Roadmaster Wagon or Old Custom Cruiser. The interiors are much better built (door panels / dash) than the 94-96 LT1 Roadmasters but you do lack some of the speed and power the LT1 wagons have. The Olds shares the same door panel design with the Caprice and Impala SS...so that lets you obtain repro parts and goodies down the line.  

I own a 95 Roadmaster currently, but still miss my 91 Olds. It was one of my favorite wagons. I put cloth Bonneville seats in it and it was sooo nice. My wife and I drove it on several long trips throughout the country.  

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This is my current Roadmaster (which the woody ones are fun since you can easily change the look buy changing the "sticker") with the latest wood.  

Indeed, and thanks.

Sprocket wrote:

Welcome aboard!  I for one applaud you for picking one up.  Depending on how you want to go about the project I would offer this advice:

If you plan on using a 90s LT1 engine, buy a 94-96 wagon.  Only engine offered those 3 years.  If you plan on a swap (like an LS or other based engine, I'd say buy a 91-93 TBI engine car.  

Why? An LS Swap will be the same amount of work in either and the TBI cars are generally less expensive to purchase (especially the 305 powered ones) so they are better candidates.   Additionally if you go that route, consider a 91-92 Olds Custom Cruiser.   Personally, I think they were the best looking of the three and wish they would have stuck around until the LT1 came along.

There is a sticky with production numbers so you can get an idea of how many of each were built each year.  I spent a few months gathering that data and as you will read in the thread, it's the best guess as to how many were really built.

Look forward to getting to know you better, and one word of caution.   THey are like potato chips, it's hard to have just one....lol

Great info; thanks!

81X11 wrote:

Welcome!   If you are going to build a wagon I second finding a 91-92 Olds Custom Cruiser.   I think they hard the cleanest styling inside and out.   I love the gauges and the trim...all they lacked was a MOTOR.   This was my '92, and it was about the strongest TBI car you could get, with the 350 and towing package.   It wasn't a dog by any stretch, but my LT1-powered '96 Roadmaster Wagon would run off and leave it for dead.



If you can find a clean Roadmaster at a reasonable price, you'll love it.   I plan to keep my 96 forever.

 
Good Luck!

-Texas Mike

I wasn't aware of the interior quality thing. That's interesting. Though, from an aftermarket perspective, the market favors Chevy for nearly everything and as a potential magazine project car, I have to weigh that part of it. But were there no chance of that, I'd likely do a Roadmaster or OCC.

Thanks!

brokecello wrote:

Welcome!  

If you are just wanting a wagon to cruise in and enjoy...I would recommend the TBI Roadmaster Wagon or Old Custom Cruiser. The interiors are much better built (door panels / dash) than the 94-96 LT1 Roadmasters but you do lack some of the speed and power the LT1 wagons have.  The Olds shares the same door panel design with the Caprice and Impala SS...so that lets you obtain repro parts and goodies down the line.   

I own a 95 Roadmaster currently, but still miss my 91 Olds. It was one of my favorite wagons. I put cloth Bonneville seats in it and it was sooo nice. My wife and I drove it on several long trips throughout the country.  

" />" />


This is my current Roadmaster (which the woody ones are fun since you can easily change the look buy changing the "sticker") with the latest wood.  

You know, I am wondering about new alternatives to the basically-unobtainable T84 EU-market headlight assemblies. I've driven enough of these cars to know the stock headlights are lacking.

revlimitbounce wrote:

You know, I am wondering about new alternatives to the basically-unobtainable T84 EU-market headlight assemblies. I've driven enough of these cars to know the stock headlights are lacking.

For a long while, I was running a smoked version of THIS headlight.  I also had a set of High/Low HID headlights as well (and took the time to aim them correctly).  It provided ample light for my needs...and I have a lot of dark 2 lane roads when I am.  My friend runs the exact headlights linked above with stock bulbs and says they are still a great improvement over the stock lenses.  I would not run normal bulbs in the smoked lens FYI.

I do run the T84s now (with the higher watt H4 bulbs), but mainly did that for looks and to cross off a "bucket list" item. The light output is more "normal" looking with this combo, but I honestly could see just as well with the other lenses and HIDs.    

Welcome! I would have to agree that the OCC looks the best, and it has the vista roof. They are getting hard to find though.

Thanks for this, brokecello. Where did you find the T84s? Have you had them for a long time?

Welcome. Interested in seeing any articles you may come up with.

Should be a lot of interest in swapping a TBI car to an LS based engine if you decide to go that route.

revlimitbounce wrote:

Thanks for this, brokecello. Where did you find the T84s? Have you had them for a long time?

I bought them from a member on this Forum actually (Summer '17 I believe). They are still out there, you just have to ask around or wait out the OG crowd that decides to liquidate their stash (which is how I obtained mine).


Chris

By the way, brokecello -- what's the deal with that shortened rear bumper? Is there a part out there in the universe, or was that custom made?

Thanks!

I switched my headlights to the silverstone ultras. Not very ultra in the wagon, but a big improvement from stock, actually functional. Would love to read about some of the LED conversion comparisons.

revlimitbounce wrote:

By the way, brokecello -- what's the deal with that shortened rear bumper? Is there a part out there in the universe, or was that custom made?

Thanks!

That is a roll pan. Not sure where folks get them from these days.