96 Caprice Wagon

I think the time has come to let the Caprice go. Too many projects and not enough time/money as things usually go.

The pictures are a bit large so I'll just link them here and you can click away at your leisure. I also have high resolution pics if you want them.

https://2img.net/h/i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/dbeasst/96caprice/96caprice10.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/dbeasst/96caprice/96caprice11.jpg

The whole ablum of pics:
https://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/dbeasst/96caprice/

This car was bought a couple (or a few I don't remember) years ago by me from our very own Bewber. When I bought it, there was right side impact damage which can be seen in some of the pictures above. All of this damage has been repaired and you cannot tell that it was wrecked. Title is NOT a salvage title.

It was a Michigan car and as such as some rust issues. Northern folks will likely not think it's bad, where Southern folks will likely run screaming so be warned. I've tried to show the worst spots in the pics, I can take any additional pictures as requested.

In a nutshell -
Good - VERY clean interior showing low wear for the age and mileage. Not perfect but very nice. Straight body (now) with only a couple minor dings. Engine runs smooth and has good power. Many replaced parts both body and mechanical.

Bad - Trans puked 3rd and 4th gears. Car moves easily under it's own power in 1, 2 and R. A/C will not hold a charge longer than a month-ish but will work well when charged. There is a noise from the engine which I believe to be the compressor but I'm not certain of that.

Mileage is about 145K. Car is currently registered and tagged with a valid VA inspection sticker (through July)

I'd like to get $2,000 for it as is, am open to offers and can include some parts depending on what is negotiated.

IM or email me with any questions.

Don't forget the new Waterpump, PS Pump and newish Opti!

Good luck with the sale Mike!

hmmmmm

It's my cars twin (almost)!

Sooooo tempting!

I saw the quarter and spare tire well pics, is that as bad as they are? It looks like a bit of bondo/tigerhair and that'll be it. Hows the frame and tank straps?

I really like the white over red and the interior looks really nice too. You sure did some nice work on the passenger side too!

81X11 wrote:

I really like the white over red and the interior looks really nice too. You sure did some nice work on the passenger side too!

Maybe that car has the seatbelt you're looking for. Since that'd probably be a parts car in TX

Yep, it's a 96. Buy paying $2K for some red plastic belt buckle covers is out of my budget......

I sent the pics to my buddy Ben in New Jersey and he loves the car but the transmission and questionable engine noise have him scared.. Booo.

81X11 wrote:

Yep, it's a 96. Buy paying $2K for some red plastic belt buckle covers is out of my budget......

Heh, just bustin your chops. Too nice a car to cut up.

Man the interior is nice on that wagon. Really loaded out, the door pull straps, nice car.

Someone save it!

Dude, someone named MIKE - DID SAVE IT! IIRC, Joel (Sherlock9c1) has a rebuilt trans he's been trying to sell on the cheap, and I can't imagine the motor is anything serious. Even if it is, a good running LT1 can also be found on the cheap.

I drove this car 8 hours each way to a wagonfest 08 just before getting Tboned, and even after that, Pat drove it from Flint, MI to Mike's house in Virginia without any drama. I feel like crap that there now seems to be some mechanical issues, but in the grand scheme of the car being only ONE of 485 EVER built, it's absolutely worth any little bit more love it'd take for it to be back in it's glory.

If I had the 2k, I'd buy it back in a heartbeep.

Anybody want to buy a Cavalier Wagon for $2k?

One of 485...other than how nicely it's optioned, what makes it so rare. Just curious.

Mike its rare because it IS a 96 Caprice wagon.GM knew that 96 was going to the last year of our great and beautiful wagons.Since they made more money on the Buick Roadmaster than the Caprice,all but 485 of the last wagons produced were Roadys.Sorry if this sounds a little
crazy as its been a long painful night.
Take Care All
Jim Gordon

So there were only 485 Caprice wagons made in 96? Wow! Didn't know that.

Yup, it's a bit on the rare side. Added to the fact that many wagons are beat to crap, I'd guess there are WAY less than that still alive. With the damage it had, if it weren't rare it would have been a parts car.

Don't feel bad John, old cars have problems, it wasn't your fault!

Frame is very solid with some scale. Tank straps are decent for the car. I'll try to get a pic of the underside and post. Floors are good. D pillars could use some work (have bubbles) but no holes.

Here's the metal that's been replaced: Right side fender, wheel well, frt and rr doors, hood. Quarter was straightened in the repair and the dogleg was replaced from a donor panel.

I don't THINK the engine noise is in the engine but I haven't had time to start really troubleshooting. It's not the water pump, power steering pump or opti as all were replaced. I swapped the alternator too to be sure and that's not it. I think it's the compressor for the a/c as the sound changes when the compressor engages. Again I'm NOT certain of that though.

EDIT: I forgot. The left fender is showing some bubbling at the point where it bolts to the bumper cover. It's a common rust spot in northern cars. Oh, and new starter as of about a month ago.

I've heard there were 485 and I've heard there were 486, either way you look at it - Mike is right. At this point, it's one of MAYBE a handfull.

There's a lot less than 485 left out there now.

For the public record, I stopped building 4L60Es back in 2010. I do have lots of good used parts still kicking around because I don't have time to sell them on ebay/Craigslist. About the only thing I do now is try not to break mine since I can't find much time to even work on my own cars.

Okay I snapped a few pics of the right quarter and tank straps. Click the album link in the first post. Pics 14, 15, 16 the last ones uploaded. They show it a bit better.

If there's any serious interest, contact me, IM or email, let's talk.

I've heard the engine (and worked on it...) I really think its a bad compressor pulley. I think you should post up a video of it running Mike. You make it sound like it really has engine trouble....

Okay, FINALLY got the chance to do a couple videos so you can hear the engine.

Here is the engine, accessory belt on and you can more or less hear the noise.
https://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/dbeasst/96caprice/?action=view¤t=noisyengine.mp4

I took the belt off and ran the engine, noise gone!
https://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/dbeasst/96caprice/?action=view¤t=quietengine.mp4
The power steering pump has been replaced and I swapped the alternator to eliminate that as a cause. So it's either the tensioner pulley (doesn't sound like it) or the a/c compressor.

Oh, and bump! Make me an offer if you're interested.

sounds like the clutch on the a/c ,. the black wagon sounds the same,.

phantom 309 wrote:

sounds like the clutch on the a/c ,. the black wagon sounds the same,.

+2, a/c clutch, and my black wagon sounded like that before I put the a/c delete pulley on.
Nice wagon, Mike

Another Mike

Thanks Nick and Mike. I've heard a bad belt tensioner before and it doesn't sound like that. So I figured it was the a/c.

Now someone buy the darned thing.

Okay, to sweeten the offer, I have a trans from a 94 RMW I can throw in. It's not KNOWN good but believed good. I do know the car (before it was stripped) would move in 1, 2 and R, the seller stated trans was good but I didn't get the opportunity to confirm.

Sold! Car went to a local club member in MD.

Good! I glad it found a home with someone that will care for it. Good deal!

Congrats I know you needed it gone and in a good home.

I think it'll be well cared for, which makes me happy. And now I have some money to get a couple things done on other projects, LOL.

What projects Mike?Do these projects maybe involve wagons maybe???????Care to elaborate?
Just Goofing Around
Jim Gordon

Of course they involve wagons! Nothing exciting though. New batteries, radiators, lovely maintenance stuff.

Hell thats exciting to me!Like what kind of batteries like Optima or Diehard Platinum?Glad your
wagon went to a member who will take good care of it.
Jim Gordon