Newbie buying a 90's Roadmaster ?

if i were made of money....and im not....
id upgrade to an LS2 and 6 speed out of a silverado. A lot cheaper than the LS2 from a GTO or Trans Am. maybe not the HP of those two but that can be fixed probably for less than the price difference! best to maybe buy a rolled silverado 2500 or trailblazer ss. (even thought the latter was auto only

 

Yeah, A1...that's why I stopped short on the LT1. By the time I got what I wanted out of it I could have spent a little more and upgraded to the LS.

 

Thats impossible. The a/c compressor runs off the serpentine belt. The only other belt is for the mech. fan on a tow pack car. You also can't "short belt" these. You either have to replace the compressor or there is a pulley made that bolts in it's place to delete the compressor. It's just as much work so I doubt he did that. I would check further into that. I've been there - the compressor locked up on one of the 94's and the only way to drive it was to remove the serpentine belt which meant no alt or power steering.

Jon

 

Which MODS make sense ?

Hi Guys,


Glad to see that you're all modifying your rides.


Here are a few things I've read here and there, and I'd like your opinion about them. I won't be doing any of this right away, but it would be cool to know what's a smart useful and cost effective mod and which one's are mostly feel good performance upgrades.


This is really a bulk list given that I don't know these cars yet. So some are probably bogus and don't apply and others may be stupidly expensive, figures. So shoot away and let me know which MUST be done, what other ones would be nice and present "Bang for the Buck" benefits, and those which some enthusiasts might do but aren't for the faint of heart nor those with a thin wallet.


It already has the V92 trailering package and Positraction limited slip differential and heavy duty condenser, alternator and radiator, engine oil cooler and 2.93 gears, so I'd be looking at which of the following to do and in what order:


- Electric Fan Conversion Kit to 86 "hurricane" mechanical fan?

- '96 police 5/8" ball joints?

- HD F&R anti-sway bars?

- 3.42 gears?

- Silverado deep transmission pan?

- police power steering cooler?

- Summit or Afterburner headers?

- cold air intake?

- L98 EFI system?

- cheap PCM and custom PROM work?

- swap in a L98 TPI?

- 40 degrees cruise timing and 32-34 at WOT?

- BBC oil pump upgrade (10 vane vs 6)?

- delete plug to remove TBI silencer?

- swap in Impala steering box?

- dual magnaflows?

- MSD plug wires and a MSD blaster coil?

- Impala SS A pillar gauges?

- linearize fuel gauge with a variable resistor?

- GM Performance cross drilled and slotted brake rotors?

- stainless steel brake hoses?

- GM846 cam, ported heads and 1.6" roller rockers?

- throttle body spacer?



Thanks for your short list of MUST DO mods and others not included.


Vic

 

Bad A/C a problem in Florida

Hi Jon,


Thanks for explaining this to me. So he parked it because he didn't want to have to replace the compressor and it was making noise. He took off the belt and found out he didn't have hydraulics for the power steering or a working alternator. So it won't have the belt on it when I arrive and I'll have to put on the belt to take it for inspection, with a noisy a/c compressor bearing whining for 5 miles. At least the kids will find it amusing.


The seller dropped his asking price of his own accord to compensate for the bad compressor. I wonder what to get, he said he'd go with new but there are cheap ones from junkyards. I did that for my van and it spun but was dead. So I'd rather not chance it. Any decent remanufactured cheap ones out there? I'd take it elsewhere than the dealership to do the work. Only I know the dealer won't be too sloppy at finding faults, as they want to charge even for unnecessary repairs, and I need a dark picture before buying.


If with new A/C it runs good, it's a keeper.


Thx!


Vic

 

- Electric Fan Conversion Kit to 86 "hurricane" mechanical fan? Yes, Innovative Wiring: Primary fan harness http://www.innovativewiring.com/ChevyProductPage2/ChevyCarsPage2/ChevyImpalaPage.htm

- '96 police 5/8" ball joints? Nah... you planing on jumping curbs?

- HD F&R anti-sway bars? Yes, Impala SS front bar, F-body ft. bar, or aftermarket. Rear bar is different on a wagon than sedan, so Addco rear bar, or Metco lower control arms to install a sedan bar, and likely your favorite... a rear bar from a Ford Panther.

- 3.42 gears? These wagons could use taller gears.

- Silverado deep transmission pan? Sure, couldn't hurt.

- police power steering cooler? Only if you are auto crossing.

- Summit or Afterburner headers? Not necessary, but cool. IMO

- cold air intake? Yes, cleans up the engine compartment if you get rid of the intake silencers.

- L98 EFI system? No, that would be a down grade.

- cheap PCM and custom PROM work? Yes, will need to do that for the gear
swap.

- swap in a L98 TPI?...No, that would be a down grade.

- 40 degrees cruise timing and 32-34 at WOT? ???..... PCM flash.

- BBC oil pump upgrade (10 vane vs 6)? ???..... I don't know about that.

- delete plug to remove TBI silencer? You have a LT1, not a TBI

- swap in Impala steering box? Sure, it would be more fun to drive.

- dual magnaflows? Exhaust is purely personal taste, or sound. I'd go Frankenstein, piece it together.

- MSD plug wires and a MSD blaster coil? No, AC Delco

- Impala SS A pillar gauges? If you want some gauges.

- linearize fuel gauge with a variable resistor? English?

- GM Performance cross drilled and slotted brake rotors? Not for a daily driver IMO.

- stainless steel brake hoses? Eventually.

- GM846 cam, ported heads and 1.6" roller rockers? Are you going to race this thing? Bang for your buck, LS motor swap?

- throttle body spacer? No, that is TBI stuff, unless it has NOS nozzles!

Now my list IMO:
1. Tune up and needed maintinence

2. Wheels and tires

3. At least a rear sway bar.

4. Shocks: Bilstiens or Monroe SS. Air lift bags to take the place of the rear air shocks.

5. Home Depot intake plumbing ($20.00) or K&N CAI ($250.00).

6. Floor shifter, totally changes the personality of the car.

Get going, you have a lot to do before WF'10!

Mike

 

If taking it to a dealer, GM has a lifetime warranty (or at least they did) on a lot of the AC Delco components they install. Check and see if the ac compressor is one of those components. I believe it is a nation wide warranty on just the part, check into that. Might be worth it to pay dealer prices?

Mike

 

AC Compressor Parts

As a note on the compressor, you can buy new bearings for the compressor. They cost about $30 for the AC Compressor Pulley Bearing. A new/remanufactured compressor is $350 or so. These are CAD prices.

 

200OZ...I'm familiar with Gary's wires but....what's this 86 Hurricane stuff? Is this a fan kit that I am unaware of?? I was just going to install electric fans from a non tow car.

 

I'm not sure, did the wagons get the same bigger brakes as the 9C1s?

The dual fans from a '96 would drop in there, but many prefer the heavier-duty clutch-type.

 

Well....now you confused me too, Andy?

 

With what, the brake thing?
i know that the 9c1 got larger calipers and thicker pads (and rotors too I think).

 

No...the fan thing....please see my post above addressed to 200OZ.

 

SilverFox,

86= Remove, and Get rid of.

Hurricane fan= Noisy belt driven tow pack mechanical fan.

Vic was the originator of the term "Electric fan conversion kit to 86 the hurricane mechanical fan". He was asking if he should remove the mech. fan and replace it with a non-tow pack duel electric fan set up.

It took me a second to see what he was saying too.

Good answer?

- linearize fuel gauge with a variable resistor? English?
There is a guy that sells a kit with a variable resistor for the guage. It allows you to correct the slightly wonky readings on the stock one.
Oh, I see. Thanks for the English Andy.

Vic, If the gauge works wonky and bothers you, than go right ahead, but seems like a waste of time to me, IMO.

Happy Independence Day fellow wagon kooks!

Mike

 

Thanks, 200....I get it now. Yeah...good answer. I thought maybe there was a kit to replace the mechanical fan that I didn't know about. I'm getting a set of electrical fans off a 96 Imp so I wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything. Thanks again and a happy 4th to you too.