Brother buying his first car... - Page 4

caddycruiser · #46 (**permalink**) 11-02-06, 12:19 AM

Haven't talked to them in a few days, but my mother told me today that they went to get it inspected either yesterday or today and along the way something went wrong with a spark plug (she really didn't know what she was saying, other than "one started sparking") and then it was backfiring too. Not sure if this was before or after they made it to the DMV, but once there, it didn't pass emissions anyway (

), so now it sits again.

It seems like a nice car, I just hope it doesn't turn into more of a headache than it's worth--it's old, definately, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. Who knows, maybe the good karma from giving it a good cleaning this weekend will help it stop acting up

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #47 (**permalink**) 11-02-06, 12:25 AM

Maybe it's just feeling "down" next to all of those D bodies in the driveway!

caddycruiser · #48 (**permalink**) 11-02-06, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

Maybe it's just feeling "down" next to all of those D bodies in the driveway!

Hah, could be. I should be home tomorrow afternoon, so I shall see this thing up close and personal for the first time.

caddycruiser · #49 (**permalink**) 11-05-06, 04:17 PM

The half weekend went really quick, so I didn't even have time to help him clean it up anymore, but did take a ride in it and was able to get 2 quick videos (but no new pics) last night.

Looks just about as good in person as they described, only a couple small rust spots, and mostly shiny paint and a very nice interior. It failed inspection for emissions already, and then the one turn signal lense somehow went MIA on the way back, but it's all just minor stuff. Seems to run very well, aside from the still getting smoke when it was first started after sitting a couple days and then pulling away from stop signs, but that's the current mystery. Most likely just because it sat for so long with such nasty oil just laying in it, and has now been changed twice and cleaners added, but it just can't pass inspection until they can get it to a point where it stops the visible "puff" if you rev it. Only does it occasionally, and runs extremely well, but just wish it wouldn't do it in the DMV line

Regardless, my dad is still working on it and both he and my brother have been trying to drive it around the community and down back roads as much as they can, and it seems to be getting better.

In other terms, I'm used to the Roadie and 2 Fleetwoods, and I actually like this car a bit too. I didn't drive it, but the steering is apparently a mix of scary and awful (too many turns/slow ratio) and the springs are clearly of the excessive slop variety. Doesn't float much, but still soft and the back has the natural droop (if you saw how small the springs were back there, it's pretty clear why). And moreso, one thing that I wasn't expecting was how solid it feels. The hood and trunk, for example, close more solidly than the Roadie or Fleetwoods, and going down the road, it feels very robust and still mostly tight despite 20 years and 73k miles.

Still not my favorite, but I like it a lot more after seeing it and riding in it. And here's 2 quick digicam videos I took last night when they were leaving for the gas station.

1) Idling in the driveway:

2) Pulling up the driveway, and then down the street:

Still not what I would describe as loud, but the glasspack on there definately makes it sound more robust both at idle and under power, albeit it a still subtle way. Most of what you hear after startup and first going is just the mechanical fan roar anyway. A little slow around town, but my dad still thinks it feels faster on the road than his Roadmaster, at least a bit so. Just hope it passes inspection and they can continue cleaning it up--not that heading into winter is the best time for that!

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #50 (**permalink**) 11-05-06, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caddycruiser

Seems to run very well, aside from the still getting smoke when it was first started after sitting a couple days and then pulling away from stop signs, but that's the current mystery. Most likely just because it sat for so long with such nasty oil just laying in it, and has now been changed twice and cleaners added, but it just can't pass inspection until they can get it to a point where it stops the visible "puff" if you rev it.

So when you go to pass a car, does the Regal "puff puff pass"?? Hahaha!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caddycruiser

And moreso, one thing that I wasn't expecting was how solid it feels. The hood and trunk, for example, close more solidly than the Roadie or Fleetwoods, and going down the road, it feels very robust and still mostly tight despite 20 years and 73k miles.

I noticed that between the older '80s GM cars and the last generation B and D bodies. The older ones have a more solid feeling to them. Heavier, thicker steel, less plastic etc etc. On Wednesday, we got a '95 Roadmaster and a '96 Caprice in at work. I got the priveledge to wash them both, when I was driving them, I noticed that their door panels feel weak and somewhat brittle, now granted they weren't as bad as the door panels in my Roadmaster, but I could tell that something was loose and shaking inside of the door. The older GM cars don't have that problem, they shut solid and without any rattles.

caddycruiser · #51 (**permalink**) 11-05-06, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

I noticed that between the older '80s GM cars and the last generation B and D bodies. The older ones have a more solid feeling to them. Heavier, thicker steel, less plastic etc etc. On Wednesday, we got a '95 Roadmaster and a '96 Caprice in at work. I got the priveledge to wash them both, when I was driving them, I noticed that their door panels feel weak and somewhat brittle, now granted they weren't as bad as the door panels in my Roadmaster, but I could tell that something was loose and shaking inside of the door. The older GM cars don't have that problem, they shut solid and without any rattles.

Yep, this is exactly what I'm talking about. It still doesn't have the best materials and things overall, but everything definately feels a little heavier and more solid, even compared to our Fleetwoods and Roadmaster. Also this is kinda the thing where people comment on '92 and older Broughams feeling heavier and more solid than the newer '93s--just older and heavier materials, basically, and all applied without too much thought to overall weight, etc.

The doors still have that '90s and everything before "GM junk rattle", but they're also VERY heavy, mostly because of being longer. Overall, better than I mistakenly expected in a lot of areas...now if it would just get completely cleared out and pass inspection

dp102288 · #52 (**permalink**) 11-06-06, 09:53 AM

When one of our cars can't pass inspection, we take it to that mechnic down the "back road". There is just no way we are going to spend $400 to fix some serial link to get that SES light out.

caddycruiser · #53 (**permalink**) 11-06-06, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dp102288

When one of our cars can't pass inspection, we take it to that mechnic down the "back road". There is just no way we are going to spend $400 to fix some serial link to get that SES light out.

HAH! Funny you mention that. There's actually "that guy" right down the street from the DMV, and my father had an issue with emissions on his '92 Roadmaster when he bought it, strangely enough, too. The deal with this guy is, $100, he takes a look and fiddles around (actually not sure what he does, but that's what I assume), runs it through the line himself and if it doesn't pass, you don't pay. Worked for the Roadmaster, but he didn't make it with the Regal because of the puff it let out when they said to hit it.

Still, no biggie, my father put in a new O2 sensor over the weekend, as well as it should soon have the air pump back and working (belt is missing for some reason), so that should help--and they smoke seems to be lessening with driving, as expected, so hoping for the best there.

Have to find a turn signal lense too, since the one went MIA on the road somewhere.

dp102288 · #54 (**permalink**) 11-07-06, 11:12 AM

Actually, I have to take the 89 Regal tomorrow. It was due in October. I will try the real & free place first. the car runs good so I expect it to pass. If its something major though, I will be going to "that guy".

caddycruiser · #55 (**permalink**) 12-07-06, 01:20 AM

Just a little update. The Regal seems to be doing better now, as the smoking has virtually stopped, but it's still burning quite a bit of oil. There's a few different spots in the top of the engine that could be causing the issue, and they'll get to it eventually.

Driving it a lot more often helped--particularly after it passed inspection on a fluke and is now legal.

Not much else, except he's still trying to clean it up, and was working on brightening up the paint last weekend I think. Oh, and I may be getting him a suprise. The narrow ww's and wire caps don't help the already "blue" image, and even he asked me over Thanksgiving if I could keep an eye out for a set of stock or similar Buick wheels for it.

SO, in my random Craigslist exploration tonight, I ran upon a new ad from a guy near here with various older car parts and also "Buick 14" wheels". Asked him what model they were from and he immediately sent me pics and said from a Skylark he believed, and that they were most recently on a friend's '87 Cutlass (bingo, for fitment). They look great, and even have tires on them. Made him an offer of $100 for the set, and should be picking them up in a day or so

Pretty sure this was one of the choices he liked, so it'll be a nice suprise, especially the price. We shall see...

dp102288 · #56 (**permalink**) 12-07-06, 09:14 AM

Nice wheels! Good to hear your bro is doing good with his car, its good to see that happen.

caddycruiser · #57 (**permalink**) 12-07-06, 01:14 PM

Yeah, he knows nothing about the wheels yet--except for me knowing him mentioning to look for some.

But for so cheap, and them looking so good, I'll get them whether he wants them or not. I think they'll DEFINATELY improve the granny looks of the Regal, just like the SS's did on with my Fleetwood. We'll see

Here's a good guess, from a car on Autotrader:

dp102288 · #58 (**permalink**) 12-07-06, 09:40 PM

I like it!

caddycruiser · #59 (**permalink**) 12-07-06, 11:08 PM

Well, he seemed enthused over the phone after seeing the pics, so I'm definately getting them. Heading over tomorrow evening. For $100, what's to think about, really?

If anything, it means I myself won't have to look at those nasty wire hubcaps when I visit home anymore...

Benzilla · #60 (**permalink**) 12-07-06, 11:27 PM

Nice to see some updates. I like the wheels you picked out a lot, but I like them much better with whitewalls like on the Autotrader one. Just enough old school, with some kick.

If you find out what the smoke thing is, tell me. What color is it? I found out my Phaeton smokes a little when I hit it... and I really don't want a ring job. What's funny is that the guy I bought it from said it just passed California emissions testings. HA!