Cadet57, Febuary LROM

So it looks like I'm the LROM this month. Hope you enjoy my little story.

So my B-body story isnt very long but here goes.

It started a few years ago when I first began my car hunt at 16 or so, I mentioned how I always liked the 91-96 Caprices and tried to get one as my first car, but my mother (bless her) decided at 16, a new driver plus a RWD car in winter would probably mean a trip to the body shop-for both myself and the car. So we settled on a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am GT. Had 120k on the clock when I got it but ran like a champ. Never had to replace a thing on that car. Loved it so much. It lasted two years until two days before Christmas of 2005 when I hit a car when I lost control coming down an off ramp.

Right after the holidays I needed to find another car because between my senior year of HS and working two jobs my parents couldn’t drive me around every day, plus, that’s just not cool. So I started to browse Autotrader and the local classifieds when I found a Chevy Lumina. Looked like a decent car. Went out to look at it, but it was a junk heap so I passed, but I liked the car, it was pretty powerful-had the same 3100 as my Grand (sl)Am, and it was comfortable so we kept looking at Luminas. We finally found one down in CT. Picked it up and brought it home:


Besides my B-body, I think my Lumina, by far is my favorite car. It wasn’t overly exciting, I mean, it’s a Lumina. But I have a lot of great memories in and of that car. Took my friends and I on some great adventures. Not to mention it was a tank. It was T-boned once by an SUV whose driver had a hard time comprehending “left lane must turn left” and still kept on trucking. In 135k on the clock, the only thing I ever put into that car was a $25 water pump. Everything else was regular maintenance. Such a great car. The only reason I got rid of it was when I was 19 I got a full time, well paying job and was foolish enough to say I wanted a “newer” car.

So That brings me to my VW. Traded the Lumina in on my 2003 VW Jetta with a 1.8 Turbo engine. From the time I laid a strip of rubber coming out of 2nd on the test drive, I knew I liked it. And while overall my VW has been a great car it hasn’t been as troublefree as my Lumina I’ve had to put some work into it, thankfully all of it except the last job was under warranty. But like my two cars before it, it has some great stories to tell (if you ever meet my friends, ask them about the sunroof ) and is still a blast to drive and will be sad to see it finally go.


Now to the real reason for this story. My B-body. As I said, I’ve always liked the 91-96’s. But I never got to own one until recently. Well, as fate would have it I got my chance last October. On my way to work one morning a garage had a ‘92 Roadmaster wagon for sale on its lot. Said $500 as is. Intrigued I told my younger brother who said that would be a bitchin first car. So he convinced my folks to let him buy it and I would register it until he turned 16. So we bought it. This was before I knew all the little things to go bad on a wagon. The quarters were shot, the tailgate was rusting on the inside, and what finally killed it was one morning backing into the driveway, a gas tank strap rusted off and pulled a piece of the frame with it. We quickly sold it for what we paid for it to a guy who was going to part it- who actually sold it to another guy and it amazingly, its still on the road. I wonder whether the new owner knows its story. I was sad to see that car go. Minus the really bad rust, the interior was mint had a brand new set of white walls on unscratched alloys, car was never smoked in, carpets weren't stained. Everything was perfect. If I knew about the wagon community I'd probably have parted the car as the interior was so perfect.

Only picture I could find of the roadie:


Once we got rid of the wagon, I knew I wanted another. I loved my wagon, it was comfy, huge and practical. So i started hunting out a new wagon. After a couple months I finally found one down in Newington, CT. It was a one owner, 1993 Caprice Classic. 124k on the clock. Very well optioned. Only reason they sold it was they had no use for it anymore as it was just an older retied couple who had two other cars and the wagon just sat in the garage. Imagine that, the 17 year old wagon gets the garage and their Audi sat outside, ha! After meeting the couple and going over the car, I knew this was the one for me. The frame was solid, quarters were soft, but fixable. Not to mention the cars 17 year service history. Evey oil change, brake job and everything in between. This car has been great to me, hasn’t needed much. So far I’ve only replaced the coolant temp sensor/sender, the intake manifold gaskets, and the diff gasket. Originally I diddnt want to mod it at all and keep it bone stock, but that changed the day I got a set of N97’s of a member of Badass. I've done a few things already. I've blacked out the pillars, installed a Riv console (aka the media center), 9C1 vinyl buckets, and polished the trim. I've also deleted the wood as i've started using the wagon at work. Come spring I plan to weld in new quarters and have the car repainted.
Oh, and some gratuiotus B-Body shots:
The first day I saw it:

With its N97’s

Billy Mac helping save my quarter:

The Riv Console before I installed the iPod dock and CB. It has a solid oak insert with 2 12v outlets where the PRNDL was

Its first WagonFest:

Post Wood Delete and with rattlecan GM white on there to get me thru winter:

-Cadet (Justin)

Good story! I like the console, and the hubcaps in the last pic, always thought those were smooth.

You sure don't see the Chevy's as much!

Like the Jetta too, but you know that. I miss my brother's 98 Jetta VR6. Zoommm

Awesome man! I can't wait to start tearing into mine for mods... Soon. Soon.

81X11 wrote:

Good story! I like the console,

Thanks! It's really grown on me. I'm happy with how it came out. Come spring I'm going to redo it a bit. That said, the other day a Hyundai Santa Fe came in to work and its console looks like it'll fit in the wagons, I may try that too.

81X11 wrote:

and the hubcaps in the last pic, always thought those were smooth.

So did the person who stole one off my car yesterday. And I know it didn't fall off as it was on when I got to work but when I left for lunch it was gone. Bastards.

81X11 wrote:

You sure don't see the Chevy's as much!

You really don't, there are maybe 8-9 wagons near me, 2 OCC's, 1 94 Caprice and the rest are Roadies.

81X11 wrote:

Like the Jetta too, but you know that. I miss my brother's 98 Jetta VR6. Zoommm

When I finally get enough room to stockpile cars, I wanna get a MKIII GTi and restore it, would be fun. I love VW's.

Stingroo wrote:

Awesome man! I can't wait to start tearing into mine for mods... Soon. Soon.

Thanks! After modding yours, you need to get up to NY for Fest

I'm working on it! I'm shooting for WF '11. But that depends really. YOU should come to Daytona. Swap meet!

Nice write up and nice to see how wagons span several generations. It's good to see 20 somethings into wagons as the Detroit media had already planned their decline by the time you guys were in diapers.

THose console pics are motivating me, lol. I gotta get more time in and under on my cars...

Stingroo wrote:

I'm working on it! I'm shooting for WF '11. But that depends really. YOU should come to Daytona. Swap meet!

If my spring break is as fruitful as I'm hoping, I might be. Details to come

DUDE! That'll be awesome. Details RIGHT NOW.


And yeah Sprocket - we're the odd ones of our generation. But that's okay - it's more fun this way.

Great story, thanks for sharing!

As to your wheel covers. I bought a 'knockoff' set on epay for a reasonable price. Then had Adam Haack make me a set of Bowtie stickers for them. Not OE but they look pretty decent.

DBeaSSt wrote:

Great story, thanks for sharing!

As to your wheel covers. I bought a 'knockoff' set on epay for a reasonable price. Then had Adam Haack make me a set of Bowtie stickers for them. Not OE but they look pretty decent.

I though you were all Buicks and Oldsmobiles in the wagon dept....did I miss one behind the barn????

Nice writeup, and it is very refreshing to see the interest in these wagons by the younger generation. Keep it up.

Nice story and I didn't know you modded your wagon that much! Coming along nicely!

You should share the sunroof story...I am very curious now...Lol

Good write-up!! Seriously though, a Lumina???

Good story. My son had a VR-6 Jetta with a 5-speed. It was a nice car. Unfortunately, a few drinks and poor judgement on his part ended that car.

Jon

great write up.i look forward to each months wagon of the month story to see how every wagon lover gets their start. I have at least 6 or 7 of the cop style hubcaps if anyone is interested in buying them. they are in great shape i liked the look on my caprice wagon till i put a set of truck rallye wheeels with 9c1 caps and trim rings on it. I painted a set tan and put them on the white woody RMW with buick emblems from Adam Hack you would not believe the compliments i get.

brokecello wrote:

Nice story and I didn't know you modded your wagon that much! Coming along nicely!

Thanks! Most of the mods happened after WF hence the surprise . Come spring after paint and body work, I am done. Need $$ for my next one

brokecello wrote:

You should share the sunroof story...I am very curious now...Lol

Let me see how I can put it. Umm. Well, I and a lady friend learned that the Germans did not have much else in mind when the designed that front seat. But the sunroof makes a good hand hold.

nice write up and nice wagon.
Pete

Thanks for the write up. Cannot wait until WF11

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Thanks for the write up. Cannot wait until WF11

Thanks Tim. Me neither, I had a blast last year.

SShiftn6 wrote:

Good write-up!! Seriously though, a Lumina???

Yes lol. I loved my Lumina. I still miss it too

Good stuff. I never knew you deleted the wood,looks good.

Is there a lot of interest in those N-97 truck rally wheels?A guy locally had 2 sets of 15x8s,rings and center caps for $150 a set which I think is too
high.They look like brand new in the pics,still silver,rings and caps shiny.I dont know if he still has them but I can try to find the old ad if anybodies
interested.
Take Care
Jim Gordon

N97's are the 9C1 wheels. I also really do love the 15x8 rally wheels. I had a set locally that I almost grabbed, but the guy flaked on me.

Nice write up. Good job with the wood delete.

Flasheroo wrote:

Is there a lot of interest in those N-97 truck rally wheels?A guy locally had 2 sets of 15x8s,rings and center caps for $150 a set which I think is too
high.They look like brand new in the pics,still silver,rings and caps shiny.I dont know if he still has them but I can try to find the old ad if anybodies
interested.
Take Care
Jim Gordon

That's WAY too much. They are very common, at least down here. Pick-N-Pull considers them bare steel wheels, so $10 each. Even at the local Mom and Pop yards they go for about $25 each with caps attached. I put a set on my 78 Silverado "Brownie"....which I miss. Be careful when looking though, these came in 15x7 and 15x8. The 15x7's tend to be on old vans, while the 15x8's were pickup wheels.

Idk, I paid $225 for a full set of N97's with trim rings, ok tires and clean caps. And I'm happy with that. Decent N97's or truck caps are hard to come by up here imo.

The set I almost picked up would have been $125.


They're more expensive everywhere but Texas apparently.

Stingroo wrote:

The set I almost picked up would have been $125.


They're more expensive everywhere but Texas apparently.

Caps and wheels? Thats a pretty good deal.

Caps wheels and rings. The big 2" rings too.

But he flaked, so now I rock the smoothies (which I loooooove )