Hello, 96 Roadblaster wqgon, New Hampshire, all the usual suspects

Hello,

I guess it is time to get some advice and comments from fellow sufferers of GM quality and general pain and suffering with my 96 Roadblaster wagon. I bought it new because I knew it was the last of them in June 1996, and it has had occasional use, sometimes daily driver use, and now has 135,000 miles on it.

I have usually had a GM wagon in the stable, starting with "hand me downs," the first one a 1957 Chevy Bel Air with the 283 engine (the same engine I still have in my 1959 Chris Craft ski boat). Then a 1960 Nomad (red interior I think it had), then a 63 wagon, and then a 66 wagon, all Chevy "hand me downs."

Then I had the chance to drive military vehicles in Vietnam, including a 3/4 ton (think Dodge Power Wagon) and a Jeep, made I think by Ford. But back then, any transportation you had available was great! But then in the seventies I got a series of 911 Porsches, and a "Jeep Commando' to plow snow with and use in the winter. It had that GM V6 which never did idle well, (GM even bought it back from Jeep later and started using it again).

I think the first new wagon I bought was a 78 Olds custom cruiser wagon, and then an early eighties Olds with the 350 diesel. Big Mistake! It couldn't get out of its own way (and that was the least of its problems!) Then a later 1980's Custom Cruiser with the 305 engine I think, and then a 91 underpowered Roadmaster, and finally the 96 Roadblaster with LT 1, and I can't keep a right rear tire from wearing out on it. Yes, I'm still being a bad boy and squealing the tires on it at age 66. I still love that wagon!

A brief look at the topics in the forum reveal at first glance most of the usual suspects. It has had 3 starters (all made in Japan), two new fuel pumps (and you know what a job that is), an alternator, a used Caddy radiator, flapping trim molding pieces constantly being "re-glued", peeling pieces of flapping woodgrain shreds on all the top moldings, cracked mirror casings and side mirrors, and just last month, I had the transmission rebuilt for $1600 after it died in place. And both front door pulls and other door trim pulled off and are carried around in the third seat out of sight, to get fixed probably this Winter. I also managed to run a stop sign when the steel brake fluid lines failed and I had a hard time stopping. No fluid, but no accident. But I have AAA road service and make money every year! But I also have other newer vehicles to drive.

But most of the time, it runs great, and "goes like hell" every time I get in it. Not too shabby for a 4900 Lb vehicle! And there are generations of people now who have never seen those "old"GM wagons (or Ford Country Squires). And yes, I even carry the occasional 4x8 sheet of plywood that fits in with the seats down. Bright whitewalls and clean glass can still make it turn heads. And these days, it really is a dinosaur, kind of like me.

So I have and will be having more "issues" and will value the advice from others on this board who are probably far more knowledgeable than I am about the details and possibilities to keep it running. My wife won't drive it now, unless forced to, because she doesn't think it is dependable. But she had it when it was new. "Why don't you get rid of that car??" Because it suits me and I like it!

So right now the automatic antenna won't go up or down, so it can't go through the car wash and I have to do the whitewalls myself. I was just quoted around $150 for a new one installed. Seems outrageous to me. The fuse is out of the air suspension because the pump would not shut off, the front end is "squishy" at best, even though there is a sign on the dash that says "gran touring suspension." Right. A 911 it is not. But if your idea of touring is a boulevard cruiser, it's great for that!

The shocks are all original, believe it or not, but also feel like it. The air suspension is probably a "black hole" to try to fix, and I am sure there must be plenty of advice on the boards about other solutions for that. The dual exhaust system is also still original, but the check engine light has been on for years, and somehow they have "found a way' to get it to pass once a year with an new EGR or similar inexpensive fix. But new cats MAY be an issue, as well as an exhaust system someday. Can I make that LT 1 sound like it does when it was used in the Corvettes?

Enough for one day. I look forward to some helpful discussions in the future.

Well there's one of your suspension problem right there. 135k mile original shocks? I just did the shocks on my car at 118k and they were original too. It made a massive difference in the handling. Now I can scoff at dips in the road rather than bounce over them like I'm on a water bed.

There's a member here who will send you a working power antenna mast to you for a set fee plus your old one, and I've heard it's definitely a doable job on your own.

Get a factory service manual for the car from eBay, you'll be digging through it and learning lots. When I joined this forum, I knew practically nothing about fixing my own car (just the basics - and I mean the VERY basics), and now I'm learning how to tear into it slowly but surely as time, budget, and college allows.


Let's see some pics, and welcome to the forums! You can definitely make that LT1 roar. We promise.

Glad you finally made it here Bob and where should we start?Sounds like you have a lot to contribute and so do some of the more expierienced members so welcome to the madhouse.Ray you scoff at everything that gets in your way kid.
Jim

Of course, Jim.

There are things to run over and park on!

Hey Bob! Glad you found us! That's quite a history of longroofs (and whale tails) you've got there!!!

Whereabouts in NH are you? You should hook up with our local club, too. www.badassofne.net We get together pretty often for cookouts and mod days and races and such.

Anyway, good to have you! I'm in Nashua if you ever need a hand or want to say hello.

Bob,
Welcome to the Forum. pull up a seat, and belly up to the bar.
Great group we have here

They better serve cider at this bar or I'll be upset....

Hey Robert,did you get my PM?
Jim

Hi Bob Sr.

Welcome! You will find a bunch of great helpful guys here. All the problems you have had, we have had them. I just had a transmission problem also. That was painful.

I think my first wagon was a 57 Chev. 210, 6 cyl and plain. I also had a 57 Nomad, project car. I'm glad it's someone else's project now. In the early 60's, I had a 63 Ford Country Squire, 390, 3 spd on the column with manual overdrive. That was a great car.

Where you have the 1959 Chris Craft, I'm guessing you live in the lakes region someplace. There are several wagon owners spread out in NH.

See you around.

Tom C.

Thanks, guys. Looking forward to some discussions in the future.
Bill, I am also in Nashua. (Winters in Nashua, Summers in Newbury). Small world... Light blue woodgrain wagon, mostly stock.
Will be in touch.

Hey Bob,

"Fellow sufferers of GM quality and general pain and suffering"

Lots of suffering around here, I have GM stigmata.

Welcome aboard. The only suffering I've ever had was when I bought Ford products
although my buddy has a T-bird super coupe with over 300K on it....

Welcome aboard. If you want to hear LT1 exhaust sounds, head over here Exhaust clip thread

Great to have you aboard Bob. If you search on this forum, there is solutions for all of your issues that you mentioned. Welcome!

BTW.......If Crovo is close to you I am sure he can be a huge reference for you as well. Just be careful that he does not sell you car on you. He is good at that.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

Welcome. I also have a '96 that I bought about a year and a half ago. It had 73K when I got it, and has 105K now. It's been very reliable (knock on fake wood), but the previous owner had let it go somewhat, plus it had most of the issues you've mentioned.

This forum has been a HUGE help in fixing my car up. By far the best place to go for these vehicles, and there is a great bunch of folks on here.

Here's some stuff to start with:

-Black Side Trim: Forget glue, it never lasts. Go get some grey 3M mounting tape, sold at most parts stores. It really works well and held up to the near 6-months of 100-degree heat we had here this past summer.

-The shocks on my car were shot when I got it. Replacing them made an amazing change to how the car handled and rode. However now I'd do it differently. I installed Monroe Severe Service shocks up front, and after using them for a while, in my opinion they are too stiff and harsh. I plan on replacing them with some normal good quality gas shocks soon. Everyone raves about KYB's, so I may go that route.

In the rear my air shocks were leaking too, so I replaced them with coil-over Gabriel Load Handlers. These are fine, until I really load the rear down or tow my boat or BBQ trailer. When I do that, the rear squats too low. I'm planning to get some new varible-rate springs in the back soon. If I was starting fresh I'd just get the variable-rate springs and some KYB's in the back to match the front.

As for some of the other issues on yours, see the thread links below:

Woodgrain outline trim:
https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t2087-recovering-woodgrain-on-trim-pieces?highlight=trim
https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t1395-my-96-roadmaster-gran-sport-wagon-enjoy

Bumper Trim:
https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t1401-cheap-upper-bumper-chrome-trim-fix?highlight=trim

Antenna:
https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t1602-anyone-have-a-power-antennathat-works?highlight=antenna
https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t1770-i-have-a-working-power-antenna?highlight=antenna

Door panel-Interior Plastic:
https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t3813-maroon-interior-paint-dye?highlight=interior+paint

Glad you found us, post some pics if you can.

Oh and there are quite a few discussion threads on those GM Diesel engines too. It's a fun topic for us that didn't own them...but remember them.

Take care!

-Mike

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for all your welcomes and specific links and details on various issues. Even exhaust sounds! I appreciate all the links and good advice. In less than 24 hours I have weeks of work to review all these issues.

Tom C my Roadblaster is the same color as yours, but you have all the trim on, and nicer rims! I have OE aluminum ones with plastic "buick" labeled centers. (Awful things. They warp, and I have one tire which has a slow leak they can't find. Probably the $%#@ rim!) Back in the day, I used to put inner tubes inside the "tubeless tires" on the 911, as you could literally pull them off the 14 " aluminum rims the 1970 911E had.

Mike, I will have a look at all your links for some information on these common problems.
Would like to get that antenna replaced (again!). Shocks are also needed, and now I have some great advice and places to look so I get it right the first time.

350 diesels. On the Olds 4 door sedan I had I replaced it with a gas 350 in the mid 1980's. End of 350 diesel problem! I had 3 of them I bought as company cars with that 350 diesel. (One Custom cruiser, and one cutlass cruiser.) What a mistake! That 350 diesel is what drove MANY of the Caddy owners to Lincoln Town Cars, and Cadillac never really recovered.

Remember when we all believed that Cadillac really WAS the "Standard of the WORLD?" You couldn't tell anyone in the "greatest generation"who had one in the 1950's or sixties or seventies that it wasn't! I have lots of Cadillac stories from that era, as well as some Lasalle 2 and 4 door convertible stories. Now THERE was a car!

I'll have to work on some photos. Thanks again.

Bob Sr

Welcome aboard the wagon train

As you have already noticed, there are a LOT of both knowledgeable and enthusiastic members here. The general "personality" of the forum is to help, and we do this freely.

Enjoy the information and ask whatever you wish, chances are someone here had "been there, done that"