Alright Oppo, thank you for talking me down from the rusty E28

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish) 04/22/2019 at 15:16 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

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Now let’s hear your thoughts on this bad boy.

So the Volvo will not be on the road in time for any road trips, or at all this year. The Subaru is too uncomfortable for long drives, and the Raider is too unreliable. So here I am, looking at a cheap Roadmaster. If not this, what would you all choose for a cheap road trip vehicle? 

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Discerning > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:27

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These have too many things I dislike: TBI, drum brakes, 10 bolt rear.

E ven if it had an LT1, I would still be super meh about it.

Cou ld be fun if you swapped in a 12 bolt with discs, and either a good fuel system or an interesting engine.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:28

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135k isnt exactly low miles NVM very low. Can we get some more photos from the seller?

gmctavish needs more space > Discerning 04/22/2019 at 15:29

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It doesn’t need to be fun, just comfy, decent on gas on the highway, and reliable. What’s wrong with the 10 bolt rear? Honest question, I don’t have much GM knowledge.  

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:29

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The Subaru is too uncomfortable for long drives

You need to drive my ST.

gmctavish needs more space > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 04/22/2019 at 15:30

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Hah, yeah  I’ve sat in a ST, I don’t want to be in one of those seats for very long at all.

Discerning > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:30

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N othing I guess if you aren’t making over 300whp. I hear or see 10 bolt and I flash back to the days of the LS1 f bodies completely trashing them with only bolt ons.

The TBI 5.0 (assuming that's what this has) isn't great on gas, but it is pretty stout.

gmctavish needs more space > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 04/22/2019 at 15:31

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Yeah I asked for more pictures, but keep in mind that’s kms, not miles 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Discerning 04/22/2019 at 15:32

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To be fair, a running car for $660 US is cheap. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:34

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Everybody knows the park avenue is THE Buick to get.

gmctavish needs more space > Discerning 04/22/2019 at 15:35

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That’s good then.  I might be reading Wikipedia wrong, but I think it should have the L05 5.7, just not the LT1.

gmctavish needs more space > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/22/2019 at 15:36

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I’ve been keeping an eye out for decent cheap versions of those as well, but I do have a strong rwd bias 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:37

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Manual swap it, lower it, put in a limited slip rear, some old tires on the back, then do burnout and donuts everywhere   and call it the “Roastmaster”

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:38

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84k miles is low i guess considering the age of the vehicle. It looks good to me.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/22/2019 at 15:39

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Park Ave ULTRA is the Buick to get*

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 04/22/2019 at 15:40

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Discerning > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:41

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You’re right. 1992 would be the L05 5.7 with TBI (all L05's had TBI of course)

The L05 heads are pretty efficient but the TBI is not. TBI isn’t carb bad, but it still has many of the cons you get from what is basically an electric carb.

gmctavish needs more space > Discerning 04/22/2019 at 15:44

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Oh, damn. So the LT1 is the one to get power and efficiency wise. Also good to know

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 04/22/2019 at 15:45

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Basically.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 04/22/2019 at 15:46

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I'm amazed at how much more civilized the FoST got with the refresh.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 04/22/2019 at 15:46

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I would rock that boat!

Discerning > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:52

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Yeah. The L05 is just a small block Chevy but with slightly more efficient swirl port heads and TBI fuel injection.

LT1 means better fuel economy and power, but at a price. Heads are unique to the LT1 family and the optispark likes to go out.

L05 = 180hp and 15/23 eco

LT1 = 260hp and 17/25 eco

The transmission has a stupid tall overdrive and the LT1 can take better advantage of it.

So if you’re ok with replacing the optipark, the LT1 is the better engine.

But if you plan on tweaking it and dumping a lot of money in it, the L05 is just an SBC and there are countless performance parts for it.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 15:57

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But FWD luxaries.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 16:12

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Can’t really go wrong at that price.

Super comfortable, super cheap to fix if something breaks, respectable on fuel.

Tapas > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 16:32

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One of my best friends had one.

Comfortable. Large. Leans and rolls gently. I loved it!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 16:41

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I recommend a Honda Fit... in purple...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 04/22/2019 at 16:47

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The Electra Park Avenue Ultra is the Buick to get!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Electra#1985%E2%80%931990

gmctavish needs more space > Discerning 04/22/2019 at 16:48

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That’s a hell of a power difference....but right, I forgot about optispark. I’ll have to look into that as well

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 04/22/2019 at 16:50

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gmctavish needs more space > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 04/22/2019 at 16:51

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Now that’s what I’m talking about for a drive to Saskatoon 

gmctavish needs more space > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 04/22/2019 at 16:52

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I know those are good cars, but I’m a sucker for torque 

Discerning > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 17:01

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What you need to do is get the L05, pull it, and replace it with an LQ4 backed by a 4l80e from a HD truck. Heck, you could take the 14 bolt from the truck too . Then throw lots of boost at it and troll everyone at the strip.

I kid, but that would actually be a pretty stout combo. The drivetrain and powertrain would be bullet proof, the frame is strong, and I would bet it would hook up ok with the coil sprung solid axle.

Hmmmmm

Shift24 > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 17:09

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Make it a manual

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Discerning 04/22/2019 at 17:27

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I read that as you hate simple/reliable.

TBI is great for a cruiser, it’s simple and reliable.

Drums in the rear are the same deal.

The 10-bolt is perfectly reliable behind any of the engines offered in these.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 04/22/2019 at 17:29

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135k is extremely low on a 1992. That’s less than 5k miles a year?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 04/22/2019 at 17:46

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Aah yes, when you put it that way....my bad on that

Discerning > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 04/22/2019 at 20:12

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T hey are all fine but none of them are good at all for power. My mind went to power but they’re fine for simple transportation I guess .

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 04/22/2019 at 20:28

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Not really, given that it’s probably seen the death of all of it’s prior owners.

ranwhenparked > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 21:37

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I drove a cousin of that car through most of college and for awhile after (1996 Fleetwood), I can vouch for it being the single best car I have ever owned all-round. Total magic carpet ride, makes Ford’s Panther cars feel like ox carts in comparison, comfortable seats, meat locker air conditioning, loads of room to stretch out, pinky touch power steering.

However, I will say that durability is not a strong suit. In my 4 years of ownership, during which time I took it from ca. 80,000 miles to 140,000, I rebuilt the transmission, replaced the solenoids on the rebuilt transmission, replaced the radiator twice, replaced the corroded exhaust brackets, replaced all 4 power window motors, the turn signal regulator, and had to have the digital dash sent away for reconditioning at one of the declining number of shops that do them. The rear air suspension also failed, and the engine was burning and leaking so much that it didn’t really need oil changes by the end.

My dad had a fleet of Caprices during the ‘90s, and if they got 50 ,000 miles out of a transmission, they were doing good. Their mechanic always kept several new or refurbished ones in stock and got really fast at swapping them out. Of course, those cars were beat on pretty bad, but still. 

gmctavish needs more space > ranwhenparked 04/22/2019 at 23:23

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That’s....yikes. I know the 4L60Es are known for being garbage, but that’s pretty frightening. I’ll take to this guy about how this one’s been, but that’s a lot of stuff to have dealt with. I hope the simpler Roadmaster would have a few less issues at least

ranwhenparked > gmctavish needs more space 04/22/2019 at 23:33

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Well, they were police cars, but still.

A few years after they started switching to Crown Victorias, they got rid of their fixed age/mileage replacement intervals because they just would go on and on without needing anything. They actually still have a few in regular use.

gmctavish needs more space > ranwhenparked 04/22/2019 at 23:51

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Ohh, okay yeah that makes a difference.

That’s pretty impressive about the crown vics. It might be smarter to get one of those or another panther, but the ride of the b-body is very tempting...also the cheapness 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Discerning 04/23/2019 at 07:06

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I gathered he was looking for a comfy/reliable cruiser. These cars are excellent for that.

The TBI is only 180 HP sure, but they have 280 ft-lbs of twist to get that boat moving, and they do it quite effectively.

Discerning > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 04/23/2019 at 08:44

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True. The L05 is a reliable torquey engine. It can even make good power with the right intake manifold, cam, and exhaust.

It’s just worth considering because I think a lot of people don’t realize how little hp the TBI engines had. Based on OP’s replies, it seems that was the case.

Fr a cruiser, it’s a fine setup. Plus it’s just an SBC with an electric carb basically so you can make all the power you want if you’re willing to spend the money. You can even have decent output on a budget if you’re smart about it.

If I planned on spending money on the engine, I would go the L05 route probably.