Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Can you give me the digest version on Roadmaster wagons? 1 2

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  July 28, 2011 4:42 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  '92 Battlewagon on CL for a good price, I'm gonna give the guy a call and hopefully check it out tonight. I was hoping to get the quick download of info on these cars.

  This is what I've found so far... Front suspension uses coil springs (who'd've guessed?)

  Rear suspension is a live axle attached with a 4-link(?) setup. (I'm guessing it's a 10-bolt diff that's shared with the Camaro).

  All '92s used the L05 Gen I 350. (That makes ??? power).

  Swaybars seem to be a prerequisite mod.

  So... hit me with what you've got, anything particular expensive/annoying issues to look for, and maybe I'll regale you with a story and pictures in the morning, hahaha.

  Thanks!

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  July 28, 2011 4:46 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

  impalassforum.com has a wagon section, worth checking out.

  Dunno what a "good price" is but I'd own another.

  I had a 93 Caprice with the 305 and a really ratty 92 Roadmaster with a 350, the 350 is the way to go, decent power fun(ish) to drive.

  Coils front and rear, Vogtland springs give it a mild drop but improve the ride (in a sporting way) Some small helper bags in the rear springs get back the cargo capacity if you need it.

  They rust in the rear fenders, especially the spare tire well, oddly enough in the rear window pillars at the far back. If its not rusty its a HUGE plus.

  Never did any swaybar upgrades on mine, it had a stock front bar (maybe a rear too, I do not remember)

  Transmissions are the only weak link, usually go out sometime between 100 and 125k. Standard 4L60E, rebuilds seem to start around $1000, there's a guy down in NC doing stage 1-4 builds staring around $1400, the stage 1 fixes everything that is wrong from the factory and beefs it up fine for street use.

  Everything else is simple to work on and parts are plentiful.

  OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

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  July 28, 2011 4:55 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  Is the front a Mcpherson or SLA or some third option?

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  July 28, 2011 5:08 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

  ReverendDexter wrote: Is the front a Mcpherson or SLA or some third option?

  Unless I've completely forgotten its just plain old spring and shock. Spring sits in the LCA and an upper pocket on the frame, shock runs up the center of it. Its basically a truck chassis.

  OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

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  July 28, 2011 6:03 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

  The front end is upper/lower A arms. Coil springs all the way around. Some of them had air assist on the rear. I paid $1200 for mine six months ago. Not sure exactly what rear end is in is, but it shares the lug bolt pattern with the trucks, not the Camaro. Front shocks help a lot. I haven't gotten into the rest of the suspension yet, but it's on the list.

  Parts are dirt cheap like most full sized GMs. The only rust to be found on mine was in the spare tire well. It's already been cleaned and painted.

  Just as an FYI, stripping the vinyl is a royal pain. The vinyl on mine was pretty beat up. Use a heat gun and get it HOT HOT HOT. Acetone will remove the adhesive left behind. Not quickly, not easily, but better than anything else I have tried.

  They drive like a tank, ride like your couch and will scoot pretty good if you stick your foot in the fuel tank. Set the cruise a 80 and mine still gets 18-19 MPG. Mine's a keeper. It will eventually replace my E150 for tow duties.

  "That dog is about as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrel of oatmeal..." -Foghorn Leghorn

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  July 28, 2011 6:05 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

  GM used essentially the same chassis and suspension for their full size cars from 1977 through 1993.

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  July 28, 2011 6:23 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  stuart in mn wrote: GM used essentially the same chassis and suspension for their full size cars from 1977 through 1993.

  Why fix what isn't borked. Those cars were not designed to handle, just to waft you down the road in comfort

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  July 28, 2011 6:31 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  Well, as long as it handles better than my Bronco...

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  July 28, 2011 6:41 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  Hrmmm... the guy seems to be under the impression it's a 5.0, not a 5.7.

  What I read on wikipedia was that all '92 and '93 Roadmasters had 350s in 'em and the B-body then went to the LT1 in '94.

  What's more likely - that this guy doesn't know he has a 350, or that Wikipedia is wrong about the 305?

  How could I tell the difference?

  And if it is a 305, what are the difficulties involved in an LT1 or LSx swap?

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  July 28, 2011 6:50 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

  Im fairly certain all the Roadmonsters got the 350, only caprices got the 305. You can check the numbers on the body tag in the back hatch area and get the engine code.

  LT1 should be a direct swap, they were used in the 94+ B bodies. You'd need the ECU and fun stuff to go with it of course.

  The car isnt terrible with the 305 though. But Im willing to bet its a 350.

  OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

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  July 28, 2011 8:11 p.m. Timeormoney Reader

  Confirm its a 350, negotiate based on his assumption it is a 305. I smell a big win here.

  Today I had some friends help me change my oil, now my car is covered in hello kitty stickers. I'm 37

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  July 28, 2011 9:30 p.m. novaderrik Dork

  mad_machine wrote:

  stuart in mn wrote: GM used essentially the same chassis and suspension for their full size cars from 1977 through 1993.

  Why fix what isn't borked. Those cars were not designed to handle, just to waft you down the road in comfort

  it's also pretty much the same chassis as the 73-77 A bodies (Chevelles and what not).

  there really isn't much to know about these cars- they have A arm fron suspension with coil springs, 4 link rear suspension with coil springs. they have a solid steel body bolted to a full perimeter frame.

  the lower end models up to '89 had a 7.5" rear axle with the 5X4.75 bolt pattern with 11" front brakes with 9.5" rear drums, any car that got a 350 got the 8.5" rear axle and the bigger 5X5 bolt pattern and bigger 12" disc brakes in front and 11" drums in the back. every wagon had a 350 and HD suspension parts. every 90 and later B body had the bigger wheel bolt pattern and HD brakes, with the 350 powered cars getting 11.8" rear disc brakes.

  the 90-93 cars with the TBI motors will get really good gas mileage for a 4200+ pound car- like mid to high 20's good. they also run forever and had the best crash safety ratings on the road when they were new.

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  July 28, 2011 10:39 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  Well, that was all for naught.

  Got lined up to look at the car after some stuff I was doing this evening. Tried to call the guy when I was done, got a "this person hasn't set up their voice mail..." message. Drive up to about where the car was, finally get ahold of the guy, and he tells me he just sold it.

  SONUVA!!!

  Thanks for all the info, though.

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  July 28, 2011 11:15 p.m. mtn SuperDork

  Even with the Roadmasters, they didn't get the 350 until 1994. At that point, they were standard on the Roadmasters (and possibly all wagons) and the Caprices had the option of the 305 on the sedan.

  EDIT: I might be mistaken. Now that I think about it, the wagons had whatever their other 350 was before the LT1 in 1994.

  Anytime somebody tells you that vodka mixes well with anything, slide them a jar of mayonnaise and tell them to practice what they preach.

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  July 29, 2011 8:48 a.m. JThw8 SuperDork

  mtn wrote: EDIT: I might be mistaken. Now that I think about it, the wagons had whatever their other 350 was before the LT1 in 1994.

  Yes that is correct, after 94 it was the LT1 but pre-94 you could still get a TBI injected 350.

  OTTER: "I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part." BLUTO: "We're just the guys to do it."

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  July 29, 2011 9:00 a.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

  Funny story, my '77 Impala Wagon's frame was repaired by a welder who also repaired Navy Ships. Imagine a GM frame boxed with 1/2 steel plate. Somewhere, that frame is still in good shape.

  "Don't Sweat the Petty Things." Yes, and Don't Pet the Sweaty Things.

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  July 29, 2011 10:36 a.m. GregW New Reader

  We had a 95 Roadmaster Wagon until the frame dissolved in the NH salt. I really miss that big beast. If I ever move to New Mexico I will get a rust free example and keep it forever.

  High point of driving the thing was passing a greybeard in a Porsch convertable on a back road. He looked very surprised.

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  July 29, 2011 10:39 a.m. GregW New Reader

  If you do manage to get one of these things have the entire underside de rusted and undercoated.

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  July 29, 2011 10:48 a.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  <=== lives in california.

  What's rust?

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  July 30, 2011 12:32 a.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  So... I found another one on CL today.... and I bought it!

  '93 Roadmaster wagon, $900, body's obviously taken a hit and been pulled (not real well), tree-fitty wit TBI.

  Floatiest car I've driven in a long time, but definitely doesn't drive it's size.

  Radios gone, and the climate control system apparently keeps blowing fuses, so I got to ride home with hot air coming out of the vents and no way to control it other than rolling a window down.

  Has the puke seats!

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  July 30, 2011 5:29 a.m. 11110000 Reader

  In reply to ReverendDexter:

  Rust is a car disease. Believed to have originated in Italy, at a FIAT factory, it spread throughout Europe and eventually the New World. It is particularly virulent in the northeastern region of the U.S. Symptoms include flaky skin, open sores and brittleness of the chassis.

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  July 30, 2011 6:08 a.m. novaderrik Dork

  11110000 wrote: In reply to ReverendDexter: Rust is a car disease. Believed to have originated in Italy, at a FIAT factory, it spread throughout Europe and eventually the New World. It is particularly virulent in the northeastern region of the U.S. Symptoms include flaky skin, open sores and brittleness of the chassis.

  come to MN if you want to see what real rust is.. our rust is a native species that didn't come over from Europe.

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  July 30, 2011 6:56 a.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

  In reply to ReverendDexter:

  Congrats on the purchase. I'm kind of partial to mine.

  Shocks help the float some. Not much, but some.

  Good luck with the climate control. It looks to be fairly complicated.

  "That dog is about as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrel of oatmeal..." -Foghorn Leghorn

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  July 30, 2011 6:59 a.m. Ian F SuperDork

  Congrats! Sounds like a good find. A friend has a Caprice wagon with a 305. For some reason he usually uses his Exploder to tow his classic Mini as he doesn't have the brake set up in the Chevy. I keep telling him the wagon is so much cooler.

  As much as I lust after one of these, when the time comes I'll probably end up with another van instead.

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  July 30, 2011 8:03 a.m. pres589 Dork

  Tire Rack shows Bilstein HD's for your car for $83/ea fronts, $58/ea rears. They're only showing 3 fronts in stock. I would think that would be a great first step in removing some highway float. I'm sure Addco sells swaybars if you're interested. There's also Impala SS parts, but I don't know how they compare to stock Roadmaster Wagon bits.

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