Shoestring Budget '83 Caprice Wagon

I'd love to see some pics too. I learned how to drive in my dad's '83 Caprice Estate wagon. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

Motor finally out

Everything went well this morning, my dad and best friend Dean help get the motor out this morning now soon as I can get my parts for other motor it's ready to go.Shooting for a couple weeks depending on work.

 

New Gauges

Finished up radio bezel with my new gauges where previous owner chopped up bezel.Still looking for one.I would like to have a uncut one to put back in it but if not I can live with the gauges there.

 

Nice to have a fork lift sitting around for engine pulls! I still like that car and know you stole it.
I don't remember, Tman....why are you switching engines again? The one in there (and now NOT in there ) looks modded up pretty good.
The gauges look great. Glad you are keeping us updated.

 

They had water in the oil (blown headgasket) and it was full, 5 gallons of anti-freeze oil mix so since I had a motor sitting here I figure I will use it. The fork-lift my dad bought at a auction a few years back knowing my dad he got it cheap and it comes in very handy. I have a motor hoist but my dad likes his forklift better!


Well since Dean helped me get my motor out I am going to help him work on his boat now, looks like him and I will both get some progress on our projects.Got a bolt broke off in head of a small outboard.Should be fun!

 

May Get Lucky

I don't know about the tranny but my fingers crossed and when I pulled motor looks to me like a new tourque converter maybe tranny and all was rebuilt would be nice

 

That would be a bonus when it comes to the trans. Glad to see your plugging along at the wagon!

 

I was thinking the same thing...nice to see the progression on your wagon

 

The motor that was in it was stock with chrome valve covers and a performer Q-Jet intake 305.I have never been a fan of chevy 305's.Everyone I ever had (2) I had problems with. The motor I have is a '82 350 from a HD truck so it has the steel crank.It is bored .030 and I have also decided instead of the cam I was going to run with .220 dur and .465 lift to go with a .212 dur and .420 lift (more of a RV cam grind).My original plan was to build it into a 13 sec. wagon. Now I want a 80 mph all day cruiser capable of 15 or 16's ( 3 sec better than stock).

 

Sounds like a great swap.
Will you detail the engine bay, clean it up a bit?

 

The fender wells were painted by previous owner and looks like good quality paint so I am going to try to clean them and rattle can cross member and few small parts.I am going to try and eliminate some of the excess wiring It has a lot of extra wires for that year :confused: or atleast tuck them into a wire loom to hide but I am putting the air condition back in it since it seems to have still worked and that big compresser kinda hides alot. I have painted my brackets and everything already. Someone did a lot of work on this car and it needs some body work but it looks to have belong to a wagon enthusiast at one time and some how let it slip away because as I stated before I bought it for 11.5 cents a pound as scrap with a title because they were gonna crush it.

 

This is a chronological depiction that is more than interesting to all old car enthusiasts, Tman. Seriously, it is. From the day you spotted this nice wagon in the crusher line until today's updates the story just gets better and better. You have a dedication melded with desire and ability that, I have no doubt, will put that car on the road again in style. I am delighted and appreciative that you chose to share the important history of this wagon with us with good explanation and pictures. Keep up the good work and reporting....if for no other reason than to show the lack of regard that our society has for the value of anything old and the lack of selectivity in the sentencing of perfectly good vehicles to death by the crusher for a few paltry dollars. Kudos to you, Tman.

 

I am glad to have found such nice people to share these stories with.When I joined this forum I never expected anything more than a avenue to get info for my benefit but now I feel like I have made a bunch of new friends I have never met face to face.I feel like not only can I get much needed info I can also get advice and opinions from all of y'all.

Everyone here has made me feel welcome so be sure to pat yourselves on the back for a job well done

 

Ditto from me also

 

Nothin' like a low budget restore. You get to know every piece and when need be, you can redo it again! Love the ingenuity! Good work.