The 2nd VinylDavid wagon: 1991 RMW, 82k miles

Well you've seen what happened to my '94.

My cousin was driving along and saw a wagon in a guy;'s driveway with a bunch of other cars. No for sale sign or anything.

He wanted me to go look at it, but I was like...nah. I don't want to, I already got one.

Well, I was in the area with said cousin and decided to go look. Drive up, parked, got out of the car and asked:

"Ever thought about selling the roadmaster?"

The guy, taken aback, said "no, I hadn't considered it, but I would for the right price."

With trepitation I asked "What's your price?"

"$1000"

So I asked what was wrong with it. A/C needs a charge, heater core leaks and has been bypassed, and the driver's side window needs work. The wood faded so he put something on it, and I think it looks really neat.

It has new: shocks, tires, plugs, wires, distributor cap, alternator, battery, lotsa engine sensors, trans fluid, and other things. It didn't need the sensors, but he put them in anyway.

My mechanic checked it over and his words were "This guy took amazing care of his car".

Bought it this morning.

And now, pics!

Love it! The Stainmaster! Oh, wait...

Well, he likes wood! Like his center console mod too....cupholders for all!

Id say you got quite a good deal! Congrats

Chris

That woodgrain looks cool! Looks like it had a re-paint at some point too, no? I'm basing my guess on the fact the the front rubber trim, and the trim around the wood is painted the same white as the car.

You definitely scored. You paid less for a wagon that's in better shape with 100k less miles than I did when I bought mine. And I still got a decent deal.

And if you take up the guy in your town on that offer, you got a new (to you) wagon and a shed's full of parts for the net cost of $500.

You made out like a bandit!!! Congrats!

watch out for honda's,.
It,s definitely not a car i,d buy,. color wood etc,. blue interior,.
but, i must say it does look pretty decent after you sort out the poor varnish job,.

Nick

DEFINITELY keep the rims off the '94. looks sweet! i think the wood grain trim should be painted a darker colour to match the new wood paneling color.

Nice score!!! wow a 91 with under 100K. Didn't think I'd ever see one of those again.....

WOW!! Nice score is right. I like what the wood trim looks like in the pictures. Is it just as nice in person, or are the blemishes to noticable? I'm digging the blue interior too. It's way clean inside and out. Not to mention the windows are already tinted.

Hey what are the toggle switches for?

That's pretty cool! Looks like a clean one and you can't beat the price. The wood is FUNNY too! Neat!

love it! if you decide to sell, let me know!

The switch on the left controls the fan...not sure what the one on the right does. When the freon went out the previous owner made a dedicated fan control switch. Still figuring out how it all interacts.

Can't beat that deal with a stick!

I have one JUST like that!

Congrats on the "same but better" upgrade.

Switch the rims. The buick rims look like cheap hubcaps.

You look like cheap hubcaps.

Man a weekend's worth of work will do wonders on that car.

Go get you a big roll of Husky painters plastic to mask the car from overspray, satin black spray paint, bumper black paint, and some color for the trim around the wood. Also some blue painters tape, a pair of scissors, and some fine sandpaper or 3M pads, and go to town.

Paint the front bumper black where it should be, also the roof rack behind the Vista sunroof would look better in black satin than white. The black there makes the entire car look much lower and also ties in better with the Vista glass.

Next tape off and paint the trim around the wood. I'd find a dark satin-finish color for that trim, would look good next to the wood. While at it, paint the trim on the tail gate above the license plate where the window release button is the same color. Will look tons better than the white there.

Finally stop by a parts store and get a roll of chrome plastic trim for the upper front bumper. https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t1401-cheap-upper-bumper-chrome-trim-fix

Next, if you can, peel off that black bumper edge trim someone stuck on the rear bumper. Use a hair dryer to heat it up and pull slowly and it should come right off.

The wheels are your call. I happen to like the factory wheels, but I also like the mags on your wrecked car, and putting those on the '91 would totally change the look, which may be what you want to do.

Seriously with a weekend's worth of elbow grease and a very small layout of cash you can have that car looking fantastic. Wish you were closer, I love a project like this!!

-Mike

and to think we paid 2500 for ours with almost 140xxx miles

I dunno, Mike M. I like the white out treatment for the roof and trim. Looks good. Definitely would get those edge guard things off if possible, though. Those look old peopley.

Stingroo wrote:

I dunno, Mike M. I like the white out treatment for the roof and trim. Looks good. Definitely would get those edge guard things off if possible, though. Those look old peopley.

I kinda like the white out...I can't decide which I would want. The car looks unique as it is, the white paint job on the luggage rack was done by hand, albeit well. if I end up scrapping the other wagon (I hope not!), I'll probably paint it black to match the black luggage carrier holders I'll be putting in.

I know the edge guards look old-peopley, but they just might come in handy here...the parking lot in my apartment is very small and there are a few scrapes in that area on my '94 that weren't there when I got it....

cadillac kevin wrote:

Switch the rims. The buick rims look like cheap hubcaps.

Maybe. I'd have to have everything re calibrated (different outside diameter) and I've ad a couple encounters with speed bumps on the '94 as it is.

Also, I am toying with the idea of a rear end swap if I scrap the '94...it;s got the 2.93 posi rear end that would be nice to have on the '91...how hard is that to do?

Paint the edge guards white, if you plan on keeping them, maybe?

Dave,. fix the wagon the way you want it,.

Nick

I wish my interiors were as clean as that. I have a 94K OCC and it looks like it is 10 years older than yours.

The difference in the gearing for the two rears does not warrant swapping them. They weigh about 110-150# and are a bear to move. You should hold out for a GU5 (3.23) The LO3 will feel a lot better. If you go to a 3.23 you will only have to put a green driven gear (42 teeth) in the VSS to get a correct speedometer reading.

The front window switch may just be the paddle. They can be replaced without buying a whole switch panel. You can also pry off and replace the top of the switch if the pivots are broken.

How does the bottom look?

the roof rack is white from the factory. all TBI Buicks were body color on the rack with the stainless cross bar. Ribs on the roof were black though (go figure).

Haven't checked out the bottom yet...my mechanic didn't mention any issues so I assume it is clean.

I am keeping the current rims on the car...my best friend since first grade is giving me $1200 for the '94 as it sits...

This is different looking, but I kind of like it with the original rims anyway. And so glad to hear your 94 isn't getting trashed.

Question: is there only supposed to be one bar, or am I missing one?

I am very very glad my friend is getting the '94...he has the space to keep it if it needs restoration and access to other cars (his father is a car dealer) if he doesn't wanna use the '94 as a daily driver.

Plus I get first right of refusal if he sells it eventually

There is only one crossbar on a 91-93. The back edge of the vista window trim has a lip on it to rest the front of the load.

vinyldavid wrote:

90% sold to my best friend since first grade for $1000...

vinyldavid wrote:

.my best friend since first grade is giving me $1200 for the '94 as it sits...

sure glad you hung in there for the other 10%,.
your buddy hasn't learn't much from his dad the car dealer,.

Nick

Actually, his dad the car dealer and my friend came over Friday morning and looked at the car. His dad asked me why I hadn't sold it yet (I never put it on CL), took it for a test drive, then told my friend "For $1200 you can't go wrong".

So yeah. I'm saying I'm 90% sure because I don't have the money in my hand, my friend is getting the money from his credit union Monday.

Well, I looked it over closer today. Found some small things I want to fix, and one slightly concerning issue.

1) it took a few seconds to start. At least 3. Once it caught it was great and settled right down. It's only been driven 200 miles in the last year so who knows how old the gas is. I'll dump a can of sea foam in there and fill up the tank when I get plates on it and see how things go, but it is slightly concerning.

2) the rear window release button does not work, nor does the dash mounted one. Turning the key works, however.

3) It's a keyless entry car, but it's been disconnected, I see where the wire is (the owner told me this), but when connected and used, the burglar alarm goes off. How can I prevent this? I like keyless entry.

4) The turn signal doesn't return when the wheel comes back to center.

5) There's a light mounted right above the steering column. Picture tomorrow. No clue what it could be for.

That's all I've found.

Check the electrical contacts on the glass.

Turn signal cam needs replacing. You have to remove your steering wheel and such to get to it. Rather annoying.

Light could be for an aftermarket alarm, which could be why keyless entry was deactivated.

The rear glass has a relay in the convenience center. There is also an interlock with the tansmission position switch. The transmission interlock switch provides the ground for the soleniod in the convenience center when you are in park or neutral. The key is purely mechanical, so, unless the rods are bent, or loose it will work.

My OCC always takes a few seconds to start. It may not be unusual. Just put some gas in it, and drive it. Save the money for the seafoam, and put gas in the tank.

Plus, remember he's going from LT1 to TBI.

Yup sounds like an aftermarket alarm was in it - Look under the dash close to the fuse box, and check for added relays, and a alarm control box - thats prob why you have issues with

2) the rear window release button does not work, nor does the dash mounted one. Turning the key works, however.

3) It's a keyless entry car, but it's been disconnected, I see where the wire is (the owner told me this), but when connected and used, the burglar alarm goes off. How can I prevent this? I like keyless entry.

5) There's a light mounted right above the steering column. Picture tomorrow. No clue what it could be for.

As for the turn signal - the signal return spring,and or the cam is prob broke. wont say easy fix but it is a simple one. Parts are usually available in the help section of many parts stores

It's annoying, but it's doable.

Stingroo wrote:

It's annoying, but it's doable.

Motormite (HELP) #49300 It runs around 10.00

Turn signal cams wear over time from normal operation. They can eventually crack and break if not replaced. When broken, signal will not return to natural position. Dorman signal cams are direct replacements for easy installation on most applications.

Notice they say on most and actually not which ones its easy on -

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Motormite-Turn-Signal-Cam/1981-Cadillac-Deville/_/N-ilhxjZ9cik1?itemIdentifier=426071_97191_15907_

don't waste your money on seafoam for year old gas. I've never had a problem with gas because its sat for a while (caddy has had the same gas in it for 15 months and lesabre gets driven 200 or so miles a year).
as others have said, turn signal is the cam or return spring. its not that hard, just time consuming. if its like the older steering columns, you will have to pull the wheel.