General 96 Roadmaster thread

[kevm14]

Here are all the parameters, constants and tables to adjust. Looks mostly like OBD-I except for the misfire detection and cat efficiency stuff.

Nothing jumps out that would control the laggy downshifts in the Buick calibration.

[kevm14]

This thread is not going very well.

http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/ ... thing.html

I had one guy point me to a new shift solenoid which I don't think is the issue. Another guy recommended a manual valve body or a T56. Sigh.

Oh, and I got a weird PM. Check it out:

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Ella

Looks like a simple code reader, not even able to view data streams.

Maybe I can talk him into sending me a nice Tech 2 clone instead...

[kevm14]

Sigh. Now I am being directed to convert back to an OBD-I PCM (the '8051) and use some up to date hacks/tools which are much better than the 11 year old software I'd be getting for $400. Oh, also these tools are way cheaper, too.

http://fbodytech.com/eehack-2/eehack-features/

I just wanted to tweak a few things...not make a whole project out of it. Also I have no idea how I'd pass an OBD-II plug-in test with an OBD-I PCM.

[kevm14]

To be clear, the tuning tools available for the 94-95 are now free. Except for the cable, which I own. That is...frustrating. Stupid OBD-II.

I decided to e-mail Mike O'D...

[Bob]

I decided to e-mail Mike O'D...

What ever happened to him?

[kevm14]

I am going to find out. Outlook pulled our last thread as I was writing to him. 5 years ago. He was traveling back from Japan at that time.

[Adam]

To be clear, the tuning tools available for the 94-95 are now free. Except for the cable, which I own.

Go on....

[Bob]

Need a parts car? https://columbia.craigslist.org/cto/d/1 ... 20408.html

This could be a good swap candidate.

[kevm14]

I will put my list of Caprice parts to harvest in this thread.

Here's a short list of things the Roadmaster could use:
- Idler arm and center link
- Rear axle (and rear discs?)
- Electric fans?
- SS wheels/tires

That's about it for things it could use that really jump to mind.

As for a more comprehensive list of things I should save because I might use them on the car at a later date:
- Front control arms, though the bushings are tired (again). The ball joints are still good.
- Front and rear springs
- Tie rods
- Steering box
- Steering shaft
- Front brakes (rotors, calipers, pads)
- Driveshaft
- Bulbs
- Windshield washer fluid tank
- Exhaust manifolds and cats? Maybe the intermediate pipes and mufflers and maybe the tail pipes. Over the axle are getting crusty again.
- Speakers
- Subwoofer and amp
- Battery
- Power lock solenoids
- Front window glass?
- Master cylinder and proportioning valve
- Front air dam stuff (assuming it is compatible with the bespoke front clip on the RMS)

Stuff to save and maybe sell because it is not compatible with the Roadmaster:
- Gauge cluster
- Stereo head unit
- Air intake (mainly the Cadillac top hat part which may be hard to find these days)
- Those giant battery cables...maybe try to repurpose them to the Roadmaster

I will grow this list if more things come up.

[kevm14]

I am still leaning toward modification of the Roadmaster with Caprice parts and just driving it occasionally during non-winter months. I still have no plan to rip out the drivetrain and sell it, for example. I don't think anything I am planning would be a waste of time (something I'd have to either reverse or throw away if I switched to an LS engine/trans combo), with exception of:
- Any real engine mods (tuning, 1.6 rockers...air intake is minor and easy)

That's about it. Everything else could probably be reused or adapted to an LS setup. Which means the only real downside to proceeding this way is I burn the clock and add mileage to an engine/trans that are worth something. But how much value am I leaving on the table if I drive the car 3k a year for a couple years? Not enough to care about.

And to be honest, it will be therapeutic to operate this way, to move on from the Caprice. In other words, the more I think about getting rid of the Caprice, the more I want to drive (and work on to an extent) the Roadmaster.