Caprice engine swap?

[Bob]

I have been monitoring this one for a while. The price has been dropping steadily, but is probably still above your target. http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5502590905.html

[kevm14]

For that kind of money I would want the M-Parallel wheels anyway.

Runs/Drives incredible

Or, incredible that it runs and drives?

Discuss.

[Bob]

What's that you say about M-Parallel wheels? The same seller also has this: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5502590997.html

[Bob]

http://columbia.craigslist.org/cto/5480465887.html No Engine? LS-swap time? Body and interior look to be in good shape.

[kevm14]

What's that you say about M-Parallel wheels? The same seller also has this: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5502590997.html

Cool. I think I like black better.

I'm thinking this purchase would have to come after I do the driveway. I may be able to do that this spring.

[Bob]

Serious price drop here: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/5519775575.html I think at one point this guy wanted over $4k for the same car.

[kevm14]

That is sweet. You should drive that and tell me how it is.

[kevm14]

Interesting LS swap donor: L33.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvQ_blmZBEo

Aluminum high output 5.3 which is rare...but flat top pistons like the 4.8L and a little more compression and cam. May be perfect.

98 C5 corvette, stock 6spd, 2002 Z06 ecu 3bar SD hptuners
80lb injectors, 400lph fuel pump, GT45-80mm VSracing turbo, turbo kit built by dave fry @ round 2 motorsports, stock L33 longblock with studs and tick performance cam/valvesprings tuned by denmah.

10psi - 570whp
17psi 708whp strait pump gas

Over 700!

And bonus LS swap video (get ready to drool): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2L8-EAw2dA

5.3/80e/ ljms st2 turbo cam, 8.8 rear, full exhaust, 651whp on pumpgas thru the auto running high on injector we quit for the night

17 psi! 651 rwhp on pump gas and full exhaust with only a cam and valve springs! Then again, look at the tires - this thing would be out of control on 6 psi.

[kevm14]

From Sloppy himself:

basically the ls1 and the ls6 have skinny rods and weak sleeves and around 650ish to the tire they become unreliable, in my opinion.

Which is fine, because they are still expensive anyway.

[kevm14]

Here's an unlikely Caprice replacement/daily type car: 2006 to 2009 Impala SS. The Impala is a little bigger than the rest of the W-body lineup. Dynamics are terrible but that's not what kind of car it is. It is fast, sounds good, big (ish), cheap and fun. Not totally off target here.

http://providence.craigslist.org/ctd/5574499082.html

Black interior actually doesn't look terrible. Amazing.

C/D Road Test: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/200 ... -road-test

14.2 @ 101 is definitely enough to be fun in a commuter.

I think this comment his the nail right on the head:

Everybody said this car is what was so wrong with GM in the past.

Inexpensive materials, two hands on the wheel handling, huge torque and good horsepower for the weight of the car.

It reminds me of a time when cars and American life was cheap, fun and fast.

I've owned Audis, BMW's, a Mitsu EVO, SVT Mustangs, but this car is more real fun than all of them combined.

It's almost free. Used. . . I paid less for a perfect conditioned 2008 than I did on the down payment of the Audi. With magnaflows, a tune, new intake and headers, it draws heads ever time you pull into a parking space.

It's trunk has the utility of any new SUV and if I was in the body disposal business, I could throw 4 fat guys in the trunk without lowering the pass through seats. I would imagine they sold a lot of these in New Jersey.

When I rumble up to a stop, someone usually walks up and says "wow, that car is sick" and that's living on the westside of L.A. where NOBODY drives anything made in North America, except SUVs.

The best part is it's stealth to the ticket happy California police. Twice I've passed cops on the 10 going about 90 and both times they passed me back lights flashing to chase down a BWM or Audi with flat paint and black wheels.

I've been waved at by so many cops I believe they think it must be some kind of undercover police vehicle, or maybe because it's black.

This machine takes me back to my past where cars didn't have to be computerized Danish modern, leather contoured works of computer controlled art. It's just a car, with a few knobs, buttons, a steering wheel and the ability to smoke the tires like John Force.

Granted it smokes the fronts, but I like that as I can see the results come through the air conditioning vents.

Living in the new Normal where everyone is so P.C. and the 25 year old Trophy generation I employ think their being punished by only being able to afford a 328 3 series instead of an M5, this car makes me smile every time I remote start it.

And don't kid yourself. Every time the 25 year olds drive it, they say, wow this thing is really fun.

Having driven the Grand Prix GXP with this engine, I really enjoyed it. With a tune and some bolt-ons I am sure it would be really awesome for what it is.

Price wise, you can get into a high mile one for $5k but more typical prices are like $6,200 to $8,000. As 10 year old or less used car go, especially with this kind of speed, the price is certainly affordable.