I only buy the finest winter beaters.

[Yeti]

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5625/20781832222_ac3a8bb8c4_b.jpg

Bam! $2200 for 4500lbs. of LT1-powered Buick magnificence!

- 1994 Buick Roadmaster sedan
- 83k miles
- Many old-man bumps on the body
- V92 towing package with G80 posi! No one-wheeled burnouts for me!
- Sweet grandpa GPS (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/720/20603270538_0a72aaf516_b.jpg)

Of course, nothing I buy is perfect.

The AC is non-op due to a lack of refrigerant. But it isn't totally flat, in fact there's more 134a than I expected in there. Both service caps are missing, which isn't good. I've got a 30lb. tank of 134 so I'll charge that up. I also ordered some new service caps.

The rear tires are newer, but the fronts are old. I ordered some cheap Kumhos.

The blower motor either has something caught in it's wheel or a bad mount, because it vibrates on high speed. I'll look into that. Probably.

The power antenna is dead, so I'm going to stick a cheap $10 parts store non-power replacement in there.

I'll feel better if I change the battery before winter.

Otherwise, everything else seems to work. It runs and drives great. This feels like a car that should have a bumper sticker or two, so I ordered a couple of mid-90s appropriate ones from ebay. Pic of that when they're here :D

[Random]

BOB GORE for PRESIDENT

[thesameguy]

I like everything that's going on here. Everything.

[Yeti]

The blower motor...vibrates on high speed.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/722/20786138222_a1ef3c0df1_b.jpg

http://manilovefilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/nicolas-cage.jpg

[speedpimp]

I hate whirly gigs.

[speedpimp]

Nice car.

[George]

You, Sir, are my hero, and I mean that sincerely. Best of luck with that awesome machine!

[KillerB]

My Roadmaster wagon was an excellent winter beater. Good choice.

[Freude am Fahren]

Please get some curb feelers for that beast!

[Yeti]

To avoid curbing the wheels when I go to early-bird dinners at Denny's? :D

[speedpimp]

Blue Plate Special.

[Yeti]

Blue hair special.

[Random]

"People with Small Children" time, too. ;)

[Yeti]

Dug through every box, tray, and pocket in the car to see if the previous owners left anything.

Found $1.10 in change and some pretty good blues tapes:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5656/20854837295_3b619862ed_b.jpg

[Yeti]

2 front tires today.

Turns out this car's handling isn't quite as dip and walllow-y as I thought. It just had broken swaybar links :lol:

$8 and that's sorted. I didn't even have to lift the car or remove the wheels. Much better handling and no more funny sounds from the front.

[thesameguy]

I am intrigued at the fact this car is an R134a system. I was under the impression GM didn't phase that in until '95 and '96. I have a friend who needs a cheap car but it needs to have AC as he health is somewhat fragile right now, so we kinda have to rule out anything with R12 that would be a pain ($$$) to service or retrofit. Adding a couple more years from the '90s could really help her bottom line.

[Yeti]

GM switched the B-bodies over when they switched to the LT1 engine, it seems. 94 is the first year for 134a in these cars.

[thesameguy]

That is pretty cool, and makes me want to press harder for something like this.

I keep having to have the conversation about fuel economy - she would rather have a $4000 Honda than a $2000 Buick and $2000 in gas, which is a great environmental statement but not a good financial decision. She doesn't have the cashflow to be defending mother nature right now.

[Yeti]

A little googling makes me think that GM made the switch to R134a corporate-wide for '94.

That opens up some options. A '95 LeSabre is hella plush, will have hella cold AC (when it's got refrigerant in it at least), and will get 30+ mpg at cruise on the highway.

Plus, work on the 3.8 is simple (BTDT 3-4 times now), parts are still dirty-dirt cheap and on the shelves of every Advanced O'NAPA Zone nation wide, and lots of low-miles grandma-driven examples are out there.

[thesameguy]

I worry a little about 20 year old 4T60s, but the 3800 is definitely a fine motor. If I could find a verifiable grandma 3800/4T60 though that would be great. She doesn't mind the scars of drive-by-braille so long as it's reasonably presentable. After a long time in recovery, she is getting back to teaching... can't have a real POS sitting in the teacher's parking lot. ;)

[CudaMan]

I thought '94 was the year of R134a across the industry, at least in the US. My '94 Z had it. Mom's '95 Camry uses it.

That color suits the Roadmaster. :up:

[Yeti]

I ran out of work early today, so I went home from HVAC job to...do car HVAC!

Charged it up, put on the new caps, and now the car's a meat locker inside. I hit most of the fittings with predator blood and nothing bubbled, so if it leaks it's either at a coil or at the (formerly) missing service caps.

[Yeti]

All 90s, all the time

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5814/20927375472_4eabc236c1_b.jpg

[thesameguy]

A+

[novicius]

:lol: :up:

[Godson]

Ace

[speedpimp]

Throw a set of truck nuts on it.

[tigeraid]

Shit! I missed a Roadmaster thread. You will enjoy the fuck out of that LT1, sir. My '94 wagon ruled and I miss it dearly.

[Yeti]

Suffered my first failure of Roadmasterdom!

Lost my turn signals on the way home from school. Hazards worked though. Crawled under the dash, put the hazard relay in the turn signal plug hole, finished the drive home wondering what I would do if I suddenly needed my hazard flashers.

Since this is a 90s GM product, I predict that none of the parts stores I go to will have the part in stock, and I'll have to order it from obscurecarpartsatobsceneprices.net and delivery will take 2 weeks.

Oh wait, none of that will happen, because 90s GM product. Suck it, Volvo owners! :finger:

[thesameguy]

That scenario is really hard to beat, though I will say it sure seems that stuff started to come to an end around Y2K as GM got more and more computerized. End of an era...

[Yeti]

lol, the relay was less than $2. AMERICA!

[thesameguy]

Sometimes I wish I'd gone into manufacturing so I could really understand exactly how anything can be $2.

I recall doing a tuneup on a friend's '90-something Lumina. Front brakes, water pump, alternator, belt drive - basic stuff. Total bill at Autozone was about $100. I nearly returned everything so I could re-buy it and experience that feeling one more time.

I didn't, but it's possible that's what lead me to buying the Fiero.

[Kchrpm]

I always just assumed it was because the materials were cheap and the processes were minimal, simple, and produced large quantities at once. I'm picturing a machine where a crap ton of plastic is poured/placed in, and 15-30 seconds later dozens/hundreds/thousands of finished $2 products come out ready for packaging.

[thesameguy]

I think I can wrap my head around something like army men, but a relay consists of several components, some of which like a coil are reasonably complex. Someone did some design on a product and some testing. You build a bunch of components, a circuit board, a machine solders it all together, another machine makes a plastic cover and then another machine covers it up. Someone designs a box, the first component gets put in that box. It's transported thousands of miles. Someone updates a catalog. Someone receives the box, inventories the box, and then ships the box somewhere else where yet another person receives it, inventories it, shelves it. Then someone else gets that box and gives it to a customer. For $2!

Sure, the actual money is made on volume, but what's the actual margin between the cost and the sale? It's insane!

[Godson]

Not really. You make x amount of part, break even point is 500k$. Once you hit that number, you drop price and sell cheap to offload

[novicius]

Enter the SN95... ;)

[thesameguy]

Not really. You make x amount of part, break even point is 500k$. Once you hit that number, you drop price and sell cheap to offload

Except nothing about part for 199x GM being sold in 2016 is excess inventory from the original run. That stuff is all no-name new construction, probably being made right this second.

[thesameguy]

Enter the SN95... ;)

Ford: Never leave a parts bin full.

[Godson]

Except nothing about part for 199x GM being sold in 2016 is excess inventory from the original run. That stuff is all no-name new construction, probably being made right this second.

I didn't mean from 1999. I meant from the point of the parts on the shelf are likely the sum of parts lying around for a while, and just now being assembled. Or even reboxed OEM that was a large lot purchase, and this is the going price. Not everything that is brand new in box is circa 2016, or even circa 2006

[Yeti]

Sometimes I wish I'd gone into manufacturing so I could really understand exactly how anything can be $2.

I recall doing a tuneup on a friend's '90-something Lumina. Front brakes, water pump, alternator, belt drive - basic stuff. Total bill at Autozone was about $100. I nearly returned everything so I could re-buy it and experience that feeling one more time.

I didn't, but it's possible that's what lead me to buying the Fiero.

I remember when I bought my first domestic (the prosthetic limb beige metallic Bonneville SSE) and I needed something, I'd call a parts store and they'd be like 'yeah, we've got 3 in stock, cost is $15' and I'd go '...you mean, I can come in right now and pick it up?' Years of Nissans/Datsuns/Volvos/Toyotas had trained me to expect waiting for parts.

[Yeti]

Good news - It got pretty warm today so I could test out the car's AC, and the leak fixes/shot of 134a from last summer. AC is still cold and holding a charge! Yay!

Bad news - The exhaust leak up by the transmission has gotten worse and has gone from 'slight grumble' to 'loud flatulence'. I've got to change the oil in my sister's Honda Civic this weekend, might as well do the same to the Buford and see where the exhaust leak(s) is/are.

[Yeti]

It turned out my noisy exhaust leak was coming from both sides of my dual exhaust. The flanges that hold the intermediate pipes to the cats were failing so the pipes were slipping out.

I must be getting lazy in my old age, because I decided to pay a local shop $120 for some welding/bolting/tightening action on my exhaust, and an oil change, instead of spending $50 on slip flanges and new bolts for the exhaust, and probably $30 on oil and a filter.

Totally worth it.

[novicius]

Exactly. :up:

[21Kid]

That's one major drawback(?) I've found to living in Chicago. There is no room to do any of your own auto work. Garages are a rare thing in the city. We're lucky to even have off-street parking. But, I still can't wash my car or change the oil there. :(

[Yeti]

Felt like there was some trans slip coming home from work last night :\

Fluid isn't burnt and is at the correct level.

I guess this car couldn't be a free lunch forever.

Now the question is if this gets worse, do I buy a new FiST or a used Camaro?

[Random]

FiST, duh. ;)

edit: looking like there won't be an '18 FiST in the US, FWIW (or any Fiestas). Get 'em while they're hot! ;)

[speedpimp]

Get FiSTed, Bruh.

[Yeti]

It's 100% dongs that the only game in town if you want a smaller pickup truck with 4x4 and a manual transmission is a Tacoma.

[Godson]

.... Colorado?

[TheBenior]

AFAIK, if we're talking new, only the base model 4x2 2.5 I-4 Colorado has a manual transmission option.

I just assumed new since used Tacomas go for stupid money.

[Yeti]

Admittedly I probably won't even buy something new. I'd rather not do anything that could mess with my credit score when I'm this close to buying a house.

[21Kid]

Yup... My score dropped 30 points because I have a new car loan. :smh:

[Godson]

Fuck FICO

[Yeti]

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/ford-wd/6229988422.html

Mmmm....beefy.

[21Kid]

It's a scam! :lol:

[Yeti]

That or a flip.

[Godson]

Proceed about right

[thesameguy]

But $6k? IDK.

[Yeti]

https://racine.craigslist.org/cto/d/ford-xlt-supercab/6232269936.html

It's like 1989 threw up all over it :lol:

[Yeti]

Lower oil cooler line is leaking.

Rear end is either swaying or attempting to steer the car at highway speeds.

I have to crank on the engine a bit to start it. I thought maybe a failing FPR but I think it's the Opti-Spark :|

One of the rear tires is leaky.

It's still getting me to work every day :lol:

My neighbor has a clean 00's Saab for $2500. I think it's a 9-3?

[thesameguy]

My neighbor has a clean 00's Saab for $2500. I think it's a 9-3?

I'd probably fix the boat, but assuming you don't have any high expectations a modern-ish Saab can be serviceable. That isn't to say they can't be nice, but that's a commitment even I'm not sure is worthwhile. ;) Get a Tech 2 or be sad.

[Yeti]

I'm on the prowl for an inexpensive pickup or Suburban. I figure that'll be a useful thing to have when I've got home improvements to make.

[thesameguy]

That's a good call - I'd probably lean pickup simply to allow for tall or dirty things. The F150 was a godsend the year I had it between lumber and dump runs. When I off the Viggen I'm seriously thinking about another pickup-for-a-year to handle house shit in '18. If it has to be one truck, I'd choose Suburban every single time, but without that restriction well, you know, both.

[Yeti]

My grandma was talking t me about buying her '01 (or maybe '02?) Silverado 1500 Z71, but first she needs to buy a place where she doesn't need the truck anymore, so who knows how long that'll take.

I'd like to own it though. It's just about the cleanest GMT800 in existence.

[Yeti]

Good thing summers almost out.

AC compressor clutch let go today. Lol owned.

[thesameguy]

AC? We don't need no steenkin AC.

[Yeti]

I stopped and looked at a '97 Toyota 4Runner I saw on the side of the road yesterday.

Body looked decent, and it was a 4cyl/5speed 4x4, which was cool.

Until I pushed on the bottom of the frame rail on the driver's side and my whole hand broke through it :lol: Wisconsin!

I quickly vacated the area.

[thesameguy]

Maybe you found one of the not so rare ultralight versions with the paper mache structural members?

[TheBenior]

It was so successful that Toyota later used it for Tacoma frame rails.

[thesameguy]

Back in my day, Japanese cars were made of sturdy tin, none of this fancy paper mache crap.

[Godson]

Iirc, Toyota had a buy back on those vehicles. You might contact a dealer to find out. Might be a decent perk for you if the buyback is still available.

[JoeW]

I have a '96 4Runner 6cyl I might be interested in selling in the next month or so.

[Yeti]

5speed?

I was going to look at a RAV4 today but the guy who owned the garage where the vehicle was stored (the owner lives in an apt. complex in Milwaukee and had to store it elsewhere) was MIA so the car was locked away :lol:

[JoeW]

Automatic. 2wd. I've had it since 2001 and it has just under 200k.