Caprice engine swap?

Non-repair car talk
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

It's clean enough that I think I could even accept white.
kevm14
Posts: 16018
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

Color comparison

White (classic)
00K0K_a8ESlsp81Z1_600x450.jpg
Black (also classic)
00H0H_knhvwUNsaxm_600x450.jpg
Correction: this may be Adriatic Blue
V__2557.jpg
Light driftwood (I think this is also a Fleetwood color) - it has more silver/gray in it than beige. Nice color.
00E0E_h8NLBr6fos1_600x450.jpg
I think all these colors look good, actually. I like them all for different reasons. So there's at least four colors that are acceptable.

I also think I prefer no vinyl roof. C-pillar/rear roof treatment I think was a factory option. I don't think a full roof covering was factory. And no covering was also factory. I don't mind it on the Fleetwood Brougham, because it doesn't look aftermarket.

Also, the more I look at these Roadmaster sedans, the more I want one. Perfect blend between Caprice and Fleetwood.
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kevm14
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Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

It would be nice to find one with heated seats that actually work but I don't know how realistic that is. Not sure what interior colors were available but I haven't seen that nasty blue my FWB had (or very infrequently).

V08/V92 gets me the 2.93 but also mechanical fan. I don't know if the sedan V92s had FE2 or not. But maybe the point is, it doesn't matter. I think I'd ditch the mechanical fan, and change the rear anyway (and suspension). Then again, there could be a working theory that V08 helps the 4L60-E live longer. However, the limited data I have on this does not support (or disprove) this theory. The fan temps for non-V08 cars are a bit high though, so engine and trans temps should be much lower on average and more consistent over the life for V08 cars, particularly in low speed/high temp conditions. If that were actually true, it would matter, since I think I would plan on running the LT1 powertrain for a while.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

V92 may have also included a bump to FE2 suspension. Between that and the 2.93, I'd imagine the driving difference between that and a base car with FE1 and 2.56 is actually quite noticeable. But again, how much I care depends upon how much of my Caprice I want to part out into the RMS (and when). Picking a car that drives more like what I like from the get-go seems smart, unless that was somehow unavailable. But it seems to be somewhat common.

I don't know what the Limited trim vs regular is yet.

I did find this for a 96. The left price is invoice and the right is retail.
Base Package 1SA

Package includes standard equipment
N/C N/C

Cooling Package
$172 $200

Gran Touring/Trailer Towing Package
$323 $375

Luxury Package
$605 $703

Prestige Package
$1,152 $1,340

Engine, 5.7L 8 Cylinder 260 hp Gas
Std Std

Transmission, 4 Speed Electronically Controlled Automatic OD
Std Std

Brakes, Power Disc/Drum with 4 Wheel ABS
Std Std

A/C Refrigerant, CFC-Free
Std Std

Air Conditioning
Std Std

Cruise/Speed Control
Std Std

Cup Holders
Std Std

Steering Wheel, Tilt
Std Std

Windows, Power
Std Std

Drive, 2 Wheel Rear
Std Std

Differential, Limited Slip

Not available with Base Package 1SA except with Gran Touring/Trailer Towing Package
$86 $100

Air Bag, Driver Side
Std Std

Air Bag, Passenger Side
Std Std

Bumpers, 5 MPH
Std Std

Defroster, Rear
Std Std

Locks, Child Safety
Std Std

Seatbelts, Front Shoulder
Std Std

Seatbelts, Rear Shoulder
Std Std

Seat, Power Driver
Pkg Pkg

Seats, Leather
$667 $775

Radio, AM/FM with Cassette
Std Std

Radio, AM/FM with CD

Includes Automatic Tone Control
$172 $200

Steering, Power
Std Std

Suspension, DynaRide¿ Strut/Coil Spring
Std Std

Tire, Full Spare
$151 $175

Tires, P235/70R15 All-Season SBR WSW
Std Std

Wheels, Custom
$280 $325
Also found these:
http://www.intellichoice.com/1-12-1996- ... kages.html
http://www.intellichoice.com/1-12-1996- ... kages.html

On the base car, a summary:
All have 1SA, which probably defines a bunch of fairly normal stuff but may include standard twilight sentinel and auto climate control and those kinds of 90s luxuries.
V08 cooling was $200
V92 was $375 (and I think they are required together)
Luxury package was $703 and I don't know what this is. Maybe includes heated seats?
Prestige package was $1,340 and I don't know what this is, either.
G80 diff was $100 and probably commonly included with V92 and not on non-V92 cars
Full size spare was optional...
Different wheels (as opposed to those hubcaps)
All the other typical stuff is standard as you'd expect, like A/C, cruise, tilt, power windows, dual airbags, defroster
Power seats were part of a package, probably 1SA which I'd imagine just about all of them have
Leather was $775
CD was $200 extra

Base MSRP was $26,150 plus the options I listed, so the base 96 RMS loaded up was about $30k, or about $45,500 today.

96 RMS Limited:
V08 was $200
V92 was $375
Prestige upgrade was $945 and again, no idea what this was
G80 $100
Full size spare $175
Different wheels $325
Power seats now standard
Leather was $775
CD still $200

Base Limited was $28,080. With all options, it was $31,175 or $47,250 today.

So I will say that finding a nicely optioned RMS in good condition is going to be easier than finding a nice B4U Caprice, especially when you factor in price.
Bob
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Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:36 am

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by Bob »

No mention of prestige here (that I could see anyway).

http://oldcarbrochures.org/NA/Buick/199 ... r-Brochure
kevm14
Posts: 16018
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

Wow, orthopedic seats. They do look comfortable.
kevm14
Posts: 16018
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

Things that are standard on Limited but optional on the base:
Keyless entry
Steering damper (also standard on the wagon)
Programmable door locks w/ memory? I don't even know what that means
6-way head restraints? Not available on base or wagon. No idea what this is, either. Up, down, tilt back and forth and...what is the third axis?
Auto dimming rearview w/ map lights
Lit vanity mirrors
Power seat recline, standard and only available on Limited (ahh, I thought this was Fleetwood-only)
Dual power seats
Front and rear arm rests w/ storage
Side note, Solar-Ray windshield was standard on the wagon, and optional on the sedans
Heated power mirrors
Power antenna (also standard on wagon - actually an option on base sedan!)

In the options it says there is a Luxury Package (SD) and a Prestige Package (SE). Like I summarized in a previous post, you could get Prestige on the base sedan but it is standard on the Limited. Prestige was also available on the wagons. The wagon was also available as a Limited (sheesh). The differences are:
Cornering lamps (yay)
Memory, heated seats
Keyless entry
Trunk pull down (I thought all sedans had this, guess not)
CD player
Leather-wrapped only on Limited wagon??? WTF?

Anyway, Limited seems to basically guarantee all the toys.

Nice find.
kevm14
Posts: 16018
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

Exterior colors

Huh, no DGGM. Yet, DCM! Most of these colors are pretty nice.

Interior colors for leather

Adriatic blue, medium gray, medium beige, dark ruby red

I think my FWB was Adriatic blue interior. And similarly to the FWB, white RMSs seem to have that color on their interior commonly.
kevm14
Posts: 16018
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

SaabKyle's 95 RMS Limited review and test drive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZmTeIKb9x0

This is from 4 years ago.
kevm14
Posts: 16018
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Caprice engine swap?

Post by kevm14 »

Whadayaknow...he had a 2.56 car (electric fans).
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