Caprice engine swap?

[kevm14]

Here's a scenario that I could envision:

A cheap STS V8 (even if AWD) as a daily/winter car. And a (still relatively cheap, but clean) B-body that I can preserve by NOT driving in the winter ever again. This one would be the Caprice replacement. An STS is not a Caprice replacement. I'm just devising a way to work an STS into my driveway.

Problem is, this is now 5 cars.

[kevm14]

Alternate: put the STS money into a 1/2 ton 4WD Ranger replacement which could retain all Ranger duties, and be less sucky for daily/winter use.

Con: no STS (never driven one, and, hey, 3 Cadillacs!)

[Adam]

Alternate: put the STS money into a 1/2 ton 4WD Ranger replacement which could retain all Ranger duties, and be less sucky for daily/winter use.

Con: no STS (never driven one, and, hey, 3 Cadillacs!)

How about this?
http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/5347386453.html

[bill25]

I need that. To plow my driveway. And to look awesome doing anything else.

[bill25]

If you like cars, I am not sure you want to daily a 1/2 ton truck. The Ranger is fun because it is kind of a joke and interesting to see what it can do. It is also very car like since it is so small. Daily driving a 1/2 ton is time that you could be driving a fun car. I think out of all the vehicles, you need the least justification to have a truck that you don't daily drive must use often for stuff.

Maybe if you have a swapped B-Body and a sweet STS, you don't need the CTS-V. Which would actually pay for almost all of this if you sold it.

Kevin's potential lineup:
STS, swapped B-body, Ranger, SRX. 4 cars.

[kevm14]

How about this?
http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/5347386453.html

Yeah it would be awesome to have to lift my garbage cans up over my head each weekend.

[kevm14]

If you like cars, I am not sure you want to daily a 1/2 ton truck. The Ranger is fun because it is kind of a joke and interesting to see what it can do. It is also very car like since it is so small. Daily driving a 1/2 ton is time that you could be driving a fun car. I think out of all the vehicles, you need the least justification to have a truck that you don't daily drive must use often for stuff.

It's true, I like cars. But the Ranger's limited capability as a winter vehicle, and limited appeal as a daily driver in any season, kind of forces me to get another winter vehicle, since both the CTS-V and future clean B-body are not winter vehicles.

A 1/2 ton 4WD V8 truck, especially a GMT-800, is actually quite pleasant to drive. So it's really the opposite of the penalty box the Ranger is. I do find the Ranger somewhat novel, and also find its price to utility ratio to be quite low. If I want more utility, I have to pay more money. That might be worth it because going to 5 vehicles may be a step too far. But more because with the five vehicles, I'd really only have two that would be suitable in the winter (STS and SRX). Seems kind of wasteful in New England.

Maybe if you have a swapped B-Body and a sweet STS, you don't need the CTS-V. Which would actually pay for almost all of this if you sold it.

Kevin's potential lineup:
STS, swapped B-body, Ranger, SRX. 4 cars.

Sure, but the STS doesn't replace the performance of the CTS-V. The STS-V might. But I like small blocks. Your suggested lineup includes one small block. Mine includes three (B-body swapped or not, CTS-V and 1/2 ton 4WD V8 truck), plus the SRX. And with a swapped B-body + CTS-V, I'd have two high performance small blocks to further distinguish them.

I think what could be on the table is to decide what the future holds for my CTS-V. Do I just continue as I have? Sell now? Or get a little more into mods, like a cam, Magnacharger or other. Here's a prospective list of things I could do that would elevate the car's performance level:
- Cam
- Headers (would have to figure out what to do with the cats)
- Together I could do an easy 500 fwhp and hopefully something 400 rwhp or higher
- LS7/LS9 clutch with light weight flywheel. The car desperately needs the light flywheel as it has bugged me since day 1.
- Could do some rear chassis stiffening, new axles and such to keep the differential alive. Probably worth doing.

Having this, and a swapped B-Body, would really scratch the performance itch. The B-body provides the hotrod/old school experience, and the unique turbo power delivery and having actually done an LS swap. The CTS-V provides a more modern take on performance, naturally aspirated, with proper handling in a smaller/lighter package. The CTS-V would also be the lone 6-speed manual trans in the fleet. I can see a swapped B-body converting to 4L80-E.

Adding a 1/2 ton 4WD V8 truck to this as the utility/winter vehicle seems totally reasonable to me.

Fair to ask - what does all this cost and what could I do for similar money that might satisfy equally? Hard to answer.

[bill25]

I was looking as an upgrade to your fleet without adding. The STS is an upgrade to your Caprice(Yes it is, in every possible way). and the swapped B-Body better be an upgrade to the CTS-V... If you do it right. Yes, that is a challenge.

If you sell the CTS-V you get 13K (arguably, sure). You sell the Caprice for $500.

Now you have 5K for a good STS and 8K for a B-Body swap. Any money left over goes towards a full sized truck, that you don't need immediately so you can save while the Ranger takes care of business in the mean time.

[kevm14]

I hear you but read the end of my last post again as far as what a swapped B-body and CTS-V both do for me. They are not the same thing. And an STS is neither a CTS-V or B-body.

It is not all about 1/4 mile time.

[kevm14]

From an enthusiast standpoint, the STS can be only two things to me:
1) A cheap (but awesome) beater type vehicle (no long term ownership or mods planned)
2) Maximum strength STS-V

The STS (non-V) is like the SRX. Drives nice but not where I will be putting my enthusiast energy and time. No modding. No paying extra for a nice one, keeping it long term, and all that. Only with the STS-V would I do that.