Caprice engine swap?

[kevm14]

I agree the 1SG is getting pretty rare. I looked on cars.com for literally months until I found the 08 with 38k for $18k. Searched the entire country. I filtered on V8, AWD and 2008 and 2009 for years. The list started at about 2000 cars down to literally like 15 cars. Then only some of those were 1SG. I wanted the 08 or 09 because in another post I started about this same subject, someone, maybe 1badsts stated those were the only two years that had EVERYTHING. Rainsense went away in 2010, V8 gone in 2011 and a few other features I can't think of now. I just did a quick search and am finding some that were $21k at the time and are now listed for $18k. One is in MA if you are close. I drove it and the steering was a little loose. But it is a 1SG with blind spot and lane departure monitors.

Wow, they had that blind spot and lane change shit even in 08 and 09. I had no idea they did that so early. I don't care about that stuff and can't afford one of those anyway.

[kevm14]

Ah. I may have a solution. I can pay for a compnine.com membership during my search and just run VIN after VIN.

https://www.compnine.com/signup.php

Options include:
$5 for 5 VINs. I am going to run way more VINs than that. So that's out.
$10/mo for 30 VINs/mo. This might work.
$15/mo for 50 VINs/mo and "complete vehicle rarity report." I might need that.

Anyway, I think this is something I will have to do and as long as I have the VIN, I can answer all of my option/RPO code questions with no drama, hunting for buttons in pictures, or any of that nonsense.

[kevm14]

I think I am much more likely to get a deal on a 1SG unicorn from a private seller. I am not really talking about private sales being a better deal in and of themselves, but I think dealers actually do run the VIN themselves to auto populate the options and help price the car properly. In other words, a real 1SG at a dealer is probably out of my price range. But a private seller is much less likely to understand that they have something rare.

Problem is, I am much less likely to get a VIN from the ad from a private seller without asking them first. So yeah this is annoying.

It may also be that I either can't find one or can't afford one either way. In which case I may have to ask myself how much I really want the car anyway (or not).

[kevm14]

I missed this the first time around.

And there's a V-8 all-wheel-drive STS, with a mandatory heavy options load ($62,765) whose driveline is yanked intact from the SRX.

I should run VINs and see what the lay of the land is. I wouldn't expect all AWDs to be 1SG but maybe 1SF.

Problem is, I don't want the extra weight or complexity that AWD brings. I know the early SRXs were prone to transfer case chain stretch and slippage (happened to my brother in law's 04). I'd have to do some reading and see how that applies to the STS, but I'd assume it's the same exact part.

[kevm14]

Problem is, I don't want the extra weight or complexity that AWD brings. I know the early SRXs were prone to transfer case chain stretch and slippage (happened to my brother in law's 04). I'd have to do some reading and see how that applies to the STS, but I'd assume it's the same exact part.

Good info.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... chain.html

I got the information from Borg Warner. I was correct SRX had 4476 until '06. The STS had the 4479. BOTH 4476 and 4479 take the HV-095 chain. The only models that requires a different chain are the 06-08 STS and SRX's with the 6-speed transmissions 6l50 and 6l80. They require the HV-097

Amazingly, it looks like all STSs got the updated transfer case, which if I understand correctly, is not prone to the issue. This is interesting. I will do some quick reading and see how common it is on STSs. If they still have an issue, then none of what I found is specifically good news.

[kevm14]

Random fact. The AWD has a different floor pan with an intrusion in the pass side foot well (center area) which is where the transfer case is. Our SRX has this. It makes for a smaller foot well basically. Another reason to get RWD.

[kevm14]

I missed this the first time around.

And there's a V-8 all-wheel-drive STS, with a mandatory heavy options load ($62,765) whose driveline is yanked intact from the SRX.

I should run VINs and see what the lay of the land is. I wouldn't expect all AWDs to be 1SG but maybe 1SF.

Problem is, I don't want the extra weight or complexity that AWD brings. I know the early SRXs were prone to transfer case chain stretch and slippage (happened to my brother in law's 04). I'd have to do some reading and see how that applies to the STS, but I'd assume it's the same exact part.

Oooh.

Somebody gave you bad info. I believe all AWD cars in 2005 were V8 1SG cars, and they all came with staggered 18" tires.

Man. That would make it REALLY easy. I have already found a bunch of AWD 2005s in my price range really.

[kevm14]

One thing I am reading, which obviously also applies to the SRX, is that the transfer case is an open diff. No locking, no viscous coupling. So it requires the ABS/TC system to intervene to route power to the end without slip. I noticed this in the SRX and it manifested as needing to press the throttle some to actually make the system work. Which is fine and actually intuitive (as opposed to cars with TC so aggressive if you slip and keep your foot in it, you go nowhere).

[bill25]

How about ventilated seats (part of the $8695 1SG package), which turn out to be the coolest feature since air conditioning?

Ok I may see some validity to this 1SG thing now... I wouldn't mind ventilated seats.

I don't necessarily mind AWD but it does look like Cadillac marketed the 1SG with AWD and that makes sense since the AWD was the "premium" drivetrain. This all makes sense as to why most black STSs are AWD and more expensive.

What is your take on this conundrum for you not wanting AWD but wanting 1SG? Seems like that will be the most common pairing.

[kevm14]

According to my 2005 ordering guide, the ventilated front seats were available in equipment groups on the 1SF and 1SG. C/D said they were standard on the 1SG but this makes it look like they were part of a group for both trim levels. So if this is correct, if the car you are looking at says ventilated seats, that must mean it is a 1SF or 1SG.

There could be a situation where the AWD 1SG is both easier to find and even cheaper than a RWD 1SG. In that case, I'd have a harder time turning the AWD down. Reasons not to get AWD:
- Adds weight (I forget the exact number but it is probably between 100 and 200 lbs). At 4,1xx with RWD, these cars need no additional weight.
- Most of the weight is on the front end
- Passenger foot well area reduction
- Overall degradation to vehicle performance except in very slippery conditions accelerating quickly
- Additional complexity does not increase reliability
- Makes everything in that area harder to work on because there's even more stuff jammed in there. These cars are not a pleasure to work on and AWD just adds to the pain depending on where you are working.