I'm trying to understand the "trailer towing option" I have a 96 with this package. . . not that I'll be towing anyghing. But is there a advantage/disadvantage with this package. Doee the car ride any better ? ? or is it more firmer? ? Axle Ratio (V4P Trailer Towing Option): 3.42:1 ? ? ?
TRAILER TOWING PACKAGE ($215.00)

Goodyear Eagle GA P235/70R15 * Heavy-Duty Cooling System * Rear Axle, 3.42:1 Ratio * Ride Handling Suspension System (FE2) * Trailer Wiring Harness
What does this mean to me ? Seems from what I can understand, the suspension is "heavy duty". and it has a belt driven fan attached to the engine unlike most LT1 with electric fans. and opinions ? ?
Thanks - Hap

It just means you have the goodies to tow with. You actually have a well sought-after car, since they are kinda rare. Basically it's got stiffer suspension, I think, so the ride may be a littler stiffer. And I believe there's a tranny cooler, too.

The benefits:
1) You have a firmer stock suspension, the FE2 vs. the marshmallow FE1. This means better handling AND a more stable ride that most find more appropriate--it's still very soft--than a typical non-tow car. It's what most wish they had in the first place. Still not sport, but better for the car's mass and dynamics.

2) You have a considerably lower 3:42 rear end, which makes the car much more responsive both from a start and around town. Hurts gas mileage a bit, but the extra responsiveness usually more than makes up for that.

3) The mechanical fan system is generally higher capacity in terms of cooling, versus the standard double electrics. It's not by much, but it's still a small positive difference.

4) It has unique tuning, as far as shifting and more. Basically, the stock shifts are, again, more responsive to fit the lower rear gears, and set up firmer. It's a sharper program to start with than, again, the more marshmallow (in more ways than one) non-tow cars.

The tow package cars are just more responsive and more controlled, as they're set up for heavier duty use--that extra bit of difference then only helps out daily driving that much more, if you don't tow, etc.

At the same time, the most significant factor of a tow package Fleetwood...it's rated to tow 7,000 lbs, MORE than/equal to even a lot of larger, more powerful SUV's, and the greatest for any of the B/D body cars. Essentially all because of the heftier suspension and Fleetwood-specific 3:42 rear gears.

That's WHY most of us think it is better...and wish our cars were so equipped, especially for it only being a couple hundred dollars when new:thumbsup:

Welcome to the V4P Club! There is only 1 or 2 more V4P owners who have been on here that I am aware of. Mine is a 94 V4P.

Approaching 239K miles on stock trans. Talk about a boon for longer trans life. Still, keep the fluid and filter changed, and I personally recommend PCM tuning to further enhance the trans life :)

But rumors are the V4P FW's will beat a Impala SS down the quarter mile. In reality, expect a low 15 sec car in good tune, high 14's tuned. I just raced a Silverado SS pickup (that is a LQ9 LS Gen III V8 in there with 4.10 gears) and to 105, we were dead even, and I dont' have my 3.42's in there at the moment. I have 3.08's, so yeah, she's quick for a heavy momma....

I love the mech fan cooling system except to work on it, that sucks then. Else temps are very solid and stable, getting over 212F is RARE, if ever, in any temps outside.

Congrats!!

My 95 is a V4P:duck:

I forget who else here has a V4P, there is someone else too. All V4P owners, please put V4P in your car list under your screen name, then we know who has one... I think it is the #1 best $$ you could have ever got on a new one.

I forget who else here has a V4P, there is someone else too. All V4P owners, please put V4P in your car list under your screen name, then we know who has one... I think it is the #1 best $$ you could have ever got on a new one.

I agree. It was a dirt cheap option, but the suspension upgrade, lower rear gears, modified programming, and better cooling not only made the car a tow monster...but a much more pleasing daily driver, for most. At least if you like more responsive and less excess softness.

My ultimate would have been if mine was a Brougham with the vinyl delete & V4P tow car. I've seen a few, but they're few and far between.

You can add one more to the club. I just bought a 93 FWB two weeks ago and have been lurking and learning a lot - waiting until it's nice outside again to give it a nice wash and wax and take pictures before introducing myself.

Didn't realize how rare the V4P package was, and that the FE2 only came with the V4P. The 93 came with a 3.73 axle - with the L05, holy cow this thing moves! Needless to say I'm very happy to have come across the car - I wasn't even looking to buy a Cadillac in particular and I came upon a very nice 93 FWB for a very good price sitting at a car dealer, loaded with all these surprising goodies. And my wife likes the car too!

I dare say I have a towing packege too but dunno for sure . I have every option listed for towing package as well .
BTW, welcome to the forums jey

I checked by opening the trunk and looking at all the RPO codes, and V4P was among those listed.

You can add one more to the club. I just bought a 93 FWB two weeks ago and have been lurking and learning a lot - waiting until it's nice outside again to give it a nice wash and wax and take pictures before introducing myself.

Didn't realize how rare the V4P package was, and that the FE2 only came with the V4P. The 93 came with a 3.73 axle - with the L05, holy cow this thing moves! Needless to say I'm very happy to have come across the car - I wasn't even looking to buy a Cadillac in particular and I came upon a very nice 93 FWB for a very good price sitting at a car dealer, loaded with all these surprising goodies. And my wife likes the car too!

Yes! '94-96 LT1 cars with the Tow Package are rare enough, but the '93s with the L05 and the 3:73 rear...cool:thumbsup: I've seen about 3 of these in the past 5 or so years.

I dare say I have a towing packege too but dunno for sure . I have every option listed for towing package as well .
BTW, welcome to the forums jey

Not unless your car actually lists V4P on the list, it doesn't--and if the sticker isn't there, the other easy way to tell is a big curved mechanical fan shroud that sticks up in the front of the engine compartment.

Well, gee, I was thinking about selling it . . . . but after listening to everyone here . . . . if I did sell it, I wouldn't tell you (laugh). . I appreciate the insight you have given me, the care is "a keep". I had a 94 Brougham, that gave me a smoother ride, less firm. My wife just loved it, hardly felt the imperfections in the road . . . . more "glide/cushion ride". But it seems with the "96" car we feel more road imperfection. I have a 2000 DTS with the 17 inch tires which I'm considering selling because it does not ride like the 94 Brougham, very tight and firm, feel every pot hole (large or small) in the road, when compared to the 94 Brougham. When we bought the 96 Fleetwood, we where trying to regain the soft ride from the 94 Brougham. It soes not seem to be there.

Including, some other things the seller put the following items on the car, so, it should ride great
NEW IDLER ARM,
NEW FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS & LINK PINS,
NEW REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS (REAR BRAKES ALMOST NEW),
NEW REAR SPRINGS

Thanks again - hap

It should still ride fantastic...just without extra float, bob, or waddle down the road.

My father's '92 Roadmaster is a Tow spec car with the firmer FE2, and it not only smothers bumpers the same as or better than our 2 soft Broughams, but feels more controlled while doing it.

Of course, if it still isn't to your liking, it wouldn't be hard at all to find another "regular" Fleetwood, and sell the tow package car.

The problem could be with the tires - there are some out there that transmit a ton of road surface through the car.

My personal opinion is the stock cam is too small for the 3.42's (94-96) or 3.73's (in 93). It works, but isn't what it should be, it runs out of the powerband too quickly in my opinion.

The Z28/TA/Vette cam I think would have been much better suited for it. I guess GM didn't wanna re-emissions certify the iron head/vette cam/B/D combo. It would for SURE have cast too much light away from the NorthStar....

The problem could be with the tires - there are some out there that transmit a ton of road surface through the car.

Also very true, and makes a big difference, as with any car.

Maybe that was the reason the tow package cars got the Eagle GA's instead of the Michelins. Firm ride would theoretically be more noisy, so a softer sidewall tire, which is very common with Goodyear (one reason I avoid them) tires.

Any opinions on good riding tires for this car ? ? I'm sure there are more than one choice, I'm open for suggestion. Currently on the fronts are Michelin XW4 P235/70/15 . and the rears are Definity EX600 P235/70/15

I look for as stiff sidewall as I can find, so you probably don't want my opinion! I just hate the thin soft gooshy sidewalls on Goodyears, dangerous if you ask me....

I checked out the badges to make sure and no VP4 was there .Still, no complaint . For the tires go to www.tirerack.com and place your vehicle information ,you will get many choices .For performance wise Avon seems good but those are not 4 seasons tires .
If you wanna hit and go over 108 MPH w/ a tuned PCM please don't do that with the S rated tires

I checked out the badges to make sure and no VP4 was there .Still, no complaint .

Thanks for the reply, but what are "badges" I'm still learning some of the terms and i don't have a glue what you are referring to. I just figured out FWB.

Thanks

Thanks for the reply, but what are "badges" I'm still learning some of the terms and i don't have a glue what you are referring to. I just figured out FWB.

Thanks


Anytime , I refer to the trunk label / badge .Just pop up your trunk and see it to the left hand side . You can also learn many things like paint code, VIN etc :)
I also checked out my spare tyre cover but there was no useful info on it other than "how to's" lol

Maybe that was the reason the tow package cars got the Eagle GA's instead of the Michelins. Firm ride would theoretically be more noisy, so a softer sidewall tire, which is very common with Goodyear (one reason I avoid them) tires.

Or perhaps those Goodyears were XL (extra-load) tires that had a higher load rating.

Any opinions on good riding tires for this car ? ? I'm sure there are more than one choice, I'm open for suggestion. Currently on the fronts are Michelin XW4 P235/70/15 . and the rears are Definity EX600 P235/70/15

I suspect those XW4s are pretty old, they were discontinued a while ago? While Michelins are good tires any tire will start feeling like riding on rocks after a few years. Or, worse case is that those are the original tires that came on the car in 1996! I think a tire specialist could tell you what year the tires were manufactured by reading some serial number off the tire, might be interesting. Don't know much about the "Definity" tires either.

Yes, definitely go to Tirerack.com - they have customer reviews/ratings and even side-by-side comparisons between tires so you can find a nice riding tire.

Well gee, i called the "Tire Rack" and was asking a few question and the person told me the only tires they had for my car was the Kumbo Solus KR21, and hung up in the middles of me asking a question about a Goodyear that also came up in the list of tires recommed for my car. Of course I'm searching for a website that also sell those tire. If I do decide to purchase tires from them, it will not be due to their customer relations. . . . would you believe it the guy just blew me off.

PS: I called back and reach a different person who apologized and took his time to walked me thru serveral tires he recommed . . . I hate when people "blow you off"

That first experience sucks :(

I use the Tire Rack website almost exclusively to do research, and then go to my favourite local tire reseller to have them order what I want - they use them as a supplier. I have only bought something directly from Tire Rack once, and that was because for that particular tire the wholesale price was no better than retail and I just had them delivered to the tire shop to have them waiting to be installed there.