Bonneville Speedster Wannabe LROM for October

Well I've been caught. I begged off having the Wagon of the Month, and it finally caught up with me.

In the beginning, my first wagon was an ex state lottery Ford Fairmont. I enjoyed the utility of it, but was encouraged to buy a new mid sized sedan for my job as a real estate agent (image is everything). I always liked to haul stuff in it, so I was a little reluctant to part with it. After selling it and getting the sedan, I went for a long time without a wagon. In '08 I bought a white 92 OCC with 74K on the clock. I bought it to transport a model train layout to the local contest more than anything else. For the longest time it was the bane of my existence. It had more issues than you could see from a exterior inspection. In fact, it had a lot of issues that were not visible with an indepth inspection. It now has about 98K on the clock. I learned a lot about the cars with it, and did not know there was a forum for any type of B-bodies at the time. I fixed all of my issues except for the fuel issues and fluid leaks with junk yard parts. I also missed a lot of good parts before I knew how hard they were to find. It was a year or so later, when I bought the 91 OCC that I found out about the ISSF. The seller was a member of the ISSF. By that time I had already fixed most of the issues on the 92, which has been given the dubious nickname of the White Elephant. This is because the amount of money I have in it is way more than it is worth, so I can not sell it. When the ISSF crashed, and the longroof forum came into existence, I joined to avoid having a single source for information.

After I bought the 91, I was going to sell the 92, but I found it was nice to have a backup car, so I kept both of them. These are old, and sometimes are down for extended periods for various reasons. With all the repairs I have done, there aren't many bolts I have not turned on these cars. I have also been a frequent visitor to the junk yards for parts (you already knew this). Since I was going to the yards for hard to find parts, I thought it might be nice to provide some of these parts to others as well. I currently have a garage full of parts, most of which are rare, especially plastic interior parts.

My major issue with the White Elephant was the was poor idle, and stalling, especially when I was at speed the engine would just quit. After replacing all of the sensors, the TBI, and a tuneup, I finally determined it was in gas delivery. Since you can not check the fuel pressure (I have a remedy now), I had to guess. The remedy is fuel lines from a 91-92 Fleetwood with the LO3/5, or a 93 Fleetwood.  They all have fuel lines with Schrader valve ports to hook up the pressure gauge. Well, the problem turned out to be the hose between the pump and the output tube in the tank. It had cracked, and the fuel supply was intermittent because the tube would close when the pump slowed, and open when it sped up. It drove me nuts for about 3 months before I figured it out. Trouble shooting was impossible without the fuel pressure gauge, even after I got the FSM on ebay. I have also done some stupid things, one was to trap a hot wire under the passenger's side grab handle in the cargo bay. It did not manifest itself for about 3 months, and I forgot I had even removed the grab handle. I spent about a week and totally dismantled the dash to the firewall looking for the short (I missed the connector for the rear harness). After I got the 91, the 92 went in for an engine upgrade to an LO5. I hired someone to change the engine, and ended up having to complete it myself when he disappeared. It is now reliable, and has a lot more power. There are still some little quirks, but it is drivable, and I would take it anywhere without worrying that it would break down on me.

When I first got the 91 OCC, someone tells me that I should name it the Starship, so I took them up on it. I bought it already hotrodded, but the real truth about the hotrodding was not so much hot rod, and a little bit show. I was told it had an LO5, and when I finally got tired of the oil leaks, and decided to put another engine in it, I found it still had an LO3. Before I changed engines, by chance I bought a complete “kit” to get some more power out of an LO5, not intending to use it, but resell it. When I decided to change engines, and still had the kit, I decided to use it. The cam that came with it was just a little nasty, and I got another one from the junkyard, then spent 2 months chasing parts daily to complete the job (worked for 15 minutes, chased parts for the rest of the day, That means it took me about 15 hours to do the job). I got it back on the road on December 31, 2012. Of course there was an issue with the trans, and I had to have it rebuilt. The builder did a custom job, and it chirps the passenger's side (I think my posi is toast) every time it shifts to second unless I ease out of the throttle a little as it shifts. It has been putting a little more wear on the rear tire, so I have to be careful with it.

The 91 had some issues. I was not told that it had a flat and driver's side suspension arms were heavily damaged. The were replaced, and the car is still straight, but it sagged on the driver's side in the front. After fooling around with attempts at getting it level for a year or so, I finally decided that the spring in the front corner needed to be replaced. I also inadvertently found that the passenger's side axle nut was loose, and the bearing had welded itself to the axle. At this point, I pretty much rebuilt the front including new springs and spindles. When I was reassembling it, I started to attach the sway bar, and noticed that one side did not fit on the link when the other side was seated. I eyeballed the sway bar, and sure enough it was bent (probably during the flat/suspension arm episode). I left it jacked up at my dad's house over night, because it got too dark to work, and all the junk yards were closed. I went to the yard in the morning, and picked up a sway bar, then at lunch on the way home I got a call from some idiot cop whining about my car being an attractive nusance (hazard), and that a neighbor of my dad had complained about it. The stupid cop was trying to find a way to ticket me, even after I told him I was on my way home with a part that was not available after dark the night before. When I got back to my dad's I installed the part in about 15 minutes. I had it on the ground about 5 minutes after that. For What it is worth, do not run 15 inch rims with 2 inch drop spindles. The shock will contact the ground before the rim does if you have a flat. My driver's side wheelhouse still has some small scars along the bottom edge from the flat issue.

Recaro bucket seats were an early mod to the Starship, and that was followed by a console, and after market steering wheel with a quick release. I found a carpet in a 35K Roadmaster, that was actually ruby red, but it is close enough that you would not notice it, unless I told you about it (so now you know). As most of the 91-93s, the interior has some “fixes”. I reglued the woodgrain on the dash, and have heat welded some of the connection points as well. I probably have some of the nicest interior panels in existence as well as some spare front door panels. I can also repair the lower panel parts if they crack.

Being a little anal about things I have found “like new” front window run channels so there is no gap at the bottom of the front triangle. The front window side reveals look like new as well. They are really hard to find in good condition. I decided to remove the hood ornament,  picked up a hood, and had the hole welded shut. I filled it and sanded it to shape, and now have a smooth hood like an Impala. A couple of years ago I decided that a blacked out grille would look good, so at the Daytona Wagon Fest, I painted it in the parking lot with the security guard looking on suspiciously. It dried over night and I installed it in the morning.

Recently I had someone weld the holes from the roof center rails shut...that was the beginning of a real headache. First the gate glass exploded while the welder took a short break to answer his cell phone. There was a 15 foot circle of glass around the car, because it was up when it went bang. The welder/grinder did not put any protection over the glass, and it got spatter on. All of the side and rear windows except the passenger's side front and the windshield (the front windshield has a chip repair, so I did not care about it, but that is one they missed). I now know how to replace the urethaned in windows.  I had a glass installer show me how to remove the glass, and the installation is pretty much straight forward. The real job in replacing the rear glass is that you have to remove about half of the interior to get to it.

With the lower mileage LO5 in the 91, I have a lot more power, and one of these days I will get the quirks fixed. I just installed a cold air intake, about a week ago. It includes a heat shield, and I moved the evap canister under the wheelhouse on the driver's side, so there is lots of room for the air cleaner. I had to gut the Caddy hat, because it would not fit over the TBI. It was a PITA and took about a day to get the parts out, and secure the remaining interior duct.

One of these days I will figure out where my cabin water leak is. I have been fighting with it since I got the car. This is the year to fix it.

The best mod I have done this far is the fender skirts. They were in the process for about a year, and I finally got a set made in the spring of '13. I am relatively happy with them, but have a deal worked out to have a set of second generation molds made with a 3D printer. I will be putting them on here and ebay once I get the molds made.

It is fun helping others with these cars. I have been tearing mine apart for long enough that I can do most anything to them. I had an interesting episode at the junk yard the other day. A couple of guys were pulling the fan controller for an RMW, and were worried that it might not work...I told them about an RMS sitting close by having the same part. One guy went to get it out, and I mentioned what size socket he would need, because it is different from the older wagon. He was amazed that someone would know that they were different. The guys running the junk yard are not always right either. Another group wanted to know if the same wagon rear would fit their Caprice...I would not, but there was one on a 95 Caprice that would. The guys at the yard told them it would not. I knew it would fit, so I told them to go ahead and pick it. I assured them that I have “some” experience with B-bodies. I even showed them how to tell what ratio they have by looking on the SPID.

I do have to sell some of my stash of parts. It has taken over my life. I have a garage full, and  a sunporch, plus bins of parts everywhere. I could organize it a little better, but I usually can go grab all of the parts I want just from memory. I seem to buy 2 parts for every one I sell, or a big one for every small one I sell.

It is great to have a bunch of great people who enjoy fiddling around with the same toys that I do. Even if the toys are a little frustrating at times. Without the collective knowledge of this group, there would be a lot fewer wagons running around. They become somewhat of an obsession, and I know if I were to sell mine, I would have to compensate for the utility of them. They are like a luxury car, hotrod, and work truck all in one. If you can do your own work they are cheap to keep as well. It is also nice to have people all over the US, who are willing to help each other out if they have problems when in the area. I do not know too many other groups who are so good to each other.

I am going to attempt to put pics up, and if they do not appear, I will hit up someone for assistance. I am not well versed in posting from photobucket...well it looks like I got the pics up. It was not all that hard. I do not have any pics of the White Elephant. Maybe I will take a couple and post them.

Good read! You're right that these old whales are like luxury cars, hot rods and work trucks. Cheap, fun, comfy and versatile!

Now for those pics... 

The latest mod.

Here is a look at the Caddy shift lever and custom wood knob. I found a nice brake pedal with chrome trim.

Here is the view with the old shift lever and the MOMO wheel.

Pics of the current configuration.



View from the rear.

Recaro buckets before the console.

A couple of pics of the White Elephant.

interior with Nardi wheel, and olds horn button.

great read. I really like that rear carpet. And thanks for the parts too. I still have to install my caddy hat sometime too.

scoffman wrote:

great read. I really like that rear carpet. And thanks for the parts too. I still have to install my caddy hat sometime too.

The pipe is 20 inches long. If you cut it to that length, and put the 45 "street" degree elbow on it, the filter will fit perfectly into the space where the canister is now, when you tilt it down. You can use the canister bracket from a 94-96 to mount the canister below the wheelhouse. The wires will fit through a hole in the wheelhouse, hook up to the solenoid, and you can put some fuel hose on the hard lines to extend them to the canister by going under the edge of the wheelhouse. Use some wire loom to protect the parts from sharp edges.

Quote: I do have to sell some of my stash of parts. It has taken over my life. I have a garage full, and a sunporch, plus bins of parts everywhere. I could organize it a little better, but I usually can go grab all of the parts I want just from memory. I seem to buy 2 parts for every one I sell, or a big one for every small one I sell.

Story of my life since August 2007 when I got my first one......

Thanks for sharing, nice pics, need pics of the white car. Love the Fender skirts with the moons.

Good story, and nice job on the skirts Fred.

Fred-

Those skirts or off the hook! Great story.

White Elephant pics added.

I had a little incident with the Starship...Rear hubcap popped off, and took the DS fender skirt with it. Before I could grab them, someone ran over both parts. Fortunately I have extra hubcaps, and the mold to make a new skirt. I've been working on it over the weekend, and am ready to paint it. If anyone is interested in a pair of skirts, I will lay up a set for $275 shipped.

ooo, I like that steering wheel in the White car.

Congrats Fred . The wagons look nice .

I got the new skirt on the car, and refitted the passenger's side. I now have more tire clearance. I repainted the passenger's side, and the color matches better.

The fuel pump appears to be acting up, and I just filled the car with gas. I am considering a Delphi pump, anyone have a opinion on them? I have a new Bosch pump laying around, but am afraid to put it in the car, because of my past experience with them. Advanced has a 30% sale this weekend, and the price is right. They do not have AC Delco, which is what I have in the car now.

ever think about just having a pickup in the tank,. and a frame mounted pump for easy access?

I thought about it, but am on too tight of a budget to make major modifications. That is a major modification in my opinion.

Good story Fred....thank you for sharing! Also glad you got the skirt fixed too. I've only seen your white wagon in person, but I hope to see this one someday! (hopefully in FL this spring)

Chris