[90Brougham350]

I'll be leaving for Italy in the first part of January and returning to the states beginning of April. I'll have a full 4 months to work next summer, and plenty of cash to spend on the Caddy, as well as the lady. Plans begin as soon as I return with new shocks. NODIH has convinced me of Bilstein quality, and after seeking further opinion, I've concluded I'll be off well with them. New shocks front and rear. I've got some Cragar rims picked out. I'll be purchasing the rims along with new tires when I begin to need new tires. I have roughly 20, 25 thousand miles worth of tread on my Imperials right now, but should I need to purchase new tires next summer, I will purchase the rims with them. I'm considering Goodyear or Yokohama at the moment.

Engine-wise I'm considering a cam, and possibly more. The 350 has so much potential performance-wise.

"Depending on whether you live in California or a place that tests to California standards determines some of what you can do. A good cam choice would be a Crane 2030 P/N 104221, this is a hydraulic roller that slips right in it improves timing from what you have at 170/184 with less than .4 inch lift to 204/214 at .429/.452. This stick will add about 80 ft pounds of torque and about 60 horsepower. Then depending on California or not, a set of Vortec heads which require an intake change for bolt pattern will add an easy 40 ft pounds and a like amount of ponies. If in Calif. a set of Edlebrock Performer heads, while more expensive, add the same or a bit more power, use your stock TBI intake and are CARB/50 State legal. So we've moved this turkey from 175 to 275 horeses no sweat with an additional 120 ft pounds. A set of headers and a cat back exhaust could add another 20 to 30 ponies up toward the top end."

This is my ultimate goal, maybe a summer or two's worth of work. I'd be looking at a little over 300 hp and somewhere between 410 and 430 ft. lbs. if I went all the way with headers.

Should I start with headers? Hedman makes a pair of long-tube for less than $150. I think headers are a great place to start with performance upgrades, they make all the other upgrades perform to their full potential.

Has anyone done dual-exhaust on a 90-92? What did it cost? I'm not concerned with true-dual, I just want the look. I'm not going for anything loud either, I'd prefer the sleeper to be as quiet as possible. Is it possible to split the pipe behind the axel? Where is the best place to split off? Should I stick with the stock look, or go with stainless tips?

Body-wise, she needs suggestions. I have a popular paint combo right now with Light Antelope body / Light Antelope molding. The paint isn't bad by any means, but it could use some work. She's been berry-stained, and looks a little rough above the lower molding in spots, and I think it would be enjoyable to spray it. I know how to shoot, and I have access to a pole-barn and plenty of help. So if I were to spray her, what should I do? Same color? Two-tone? For a while, I was considering Light Antelope above the pin-stripe, and black below, leaving the molding Light Antelope as well. Sounds horrible, but looked pretty cool when I taped some trash bags on her and took a look. What about the molding? Should I change the stock look? What would match the leather, which is tan? The vinyl top is light tan and in very good shape. I could replace it though, if I had to. What about dyeing it? Is it worth the cost? Does it last? Is it just more cost-effective to replace it?

The seats. She's not a d'Elegance, but I love d'Elegance leather seats. Would it be worth the effort to replace them? Is there a significant difference in the comfort and feel from the regular leather? Do seats from 80-89 fit? What about 76-79? How difficult are seats to replace? The service manual makes it seems fairly easy, but I've never done seats before. What about dyeing them if they're a different color? Does it actually hold up?

Sorry about the long post guys, just trying to get a bunch of ideas out there and see what comes of it, I'd love your opinions on anything I've said above, whether you love it or hate it.

The Cragar rims I'd like

The Yokohama tires that might work

The Bilstein shocks

 

[addison_ii]

I like your mods you've got planned. I'm not sure what it would cost for true duals but you can have duals and still have her quiet. you probably will just have to have stock mufflers/regular tips on the duals. From what I've heard Bilstiens are great when it comes to suspensions, I guess that's why the B & D body guys all use them, and I think they were OE on the Impala SS IIRC. I would go with stainless tips because you have all that shiny chrome on your ride and they would only set off the chrome even more. About the color I'd keep her the same when you respray. That color is sweet!! I may be wrong but D'elegance seats probably offer the same comfort but are just stitched more elaborate(but I could be wrong). But if you wanted to switch them the D'elegance seats could be dyed to match your current interior. The 80-89 seats should fit as it is the same car though your car has the modernized trim look. As far as the dye holding up you can PM frost and ask how his steering wheel(99 deville)He dyed it a couple of months ago and since it takes alot of wear it probably would be a good test subject. Those rims are great. I say :thumbsup: on everything you have planned and good luck in Italy pal.

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Nice :thumbsup: We share the same vision about Broughams!

 

[caddycruiser]

All sounds good EXCEPT for those hideous wheels

They look more "lifted ******* truck" than anything that should even be near a Caddy, but that's just my view.

As for the tires, ever checked out Kumhos? We were about to buy a set of Yokohamas for our '93, when I noticed the Kumho's had a longer mileage warranty, higher user ratings, AND were cheaper. Got them on the car and they are, by far, the BEST tires we've ever owned.

I'd offer more suggestions on the whole engine/exhaust category, but what you've said sounds good!

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

yeah im not liking the wheels either :/

 

[90Brougham350]

Alright guys, find me some wheels! I'm looking for any opinions on this one, if you've got one, let me know! Show me what you think looks the best. 15 or 16 inches.

 

[N0DIH]

Impala SS wheels look great and get you to 17in.
Vortec heads a good low budget head, Skoggings Dickey I think has some modified for 0.500 lift. Like $600/set, ready to drive with. Aluminum Etec170's from Edelbrock are excellent heads too (the 200's haven't proven any improvements in power) This is nice as it loses weight on the front end.
IF on a budget, the Gabriel Ultra 9C1 (cop car) shocks in the front are proving themselves as worthy. Time will tell on lifespan, but so far, they handle the bumpiest road I can find with awesome control. Consider my 91 Cadillac with weak struts would bottom out, my Aerostar van with good shocks would go airborne, my 91 Bonneville could bottom out, my 80 Turbo T/A was too close to the ground and would bottom out (old 9C1 cheapie shocks). The 94 FWB with RPO FE2, and the Gabriel Ultra 9C1 shocks handled it like almost no bumps at all, excellent firm control. This is not a smooth riding shock, this one for business. This is a downhill @ 55 mph with some serious drops, it gets most any car out of shape bad. The Cad laughed at it.... It was enough I might take it daily now!!!
Be cautious on cam selection. Don't murder low end torque, cams like 204/214 are BIG cams for a 350. I had one in my 85 Cutlass Olds 350. I missed the stock 77 350 cam (190/200 duration area) for low end. Top end was ok, but didn't match the heads well. Pattern the LT1 cam, or the HT383 cam. Then make several calls to Comp Cams, Crane, Wolverine Lingenfelter and the like, and then ultimately, Ultradyne. See what they all recommend, then call and talk to the same company and talk to another rep. See what they recommend. Evaluate all the advice. Ultradyne will custom grind your application, and they are unbeatable for selection. None of that off the shelf junk that is so common out there. Be real to them about your use. If you are going to change gears, talk to them about what they recommend. You know, I am wondering if 3.55's are the best overall around in the FWB. 3.42's are good, 3.73's are rumored to be too much, hmmm, 3.55's? Buick used to run some 3.64's, but they are rare now.
Go get a set of HO Racing front and rear bars, or Herb Adams front and rear sway bars. They are big and solid. You will like.

 

[HotRodSaint]

Alright guys, find me some wheels!

What's the style you like? 5-spoke, 6-spoke, holes, fins, deep dish?

I'd guess you chose the others for price?

When I saw the first post and saw Cragers, I immediately thought old skool 5-spokes. And they'd look good.

When I saw your NASCAR wheel I thought, they should be painted black with raised white letters on the tires in order to look good.

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

the wheels on Hot Rod Saint's FWB look good, but personally, I would go with the Impala SS rims!

 

[90Brougham350]

I like the look of either 5 or 6 spoke, something similar to the rim I posted; I also like your rims quite a bit HRS. I'm trying to keep the rim cost itself to maybe 100, 120 a piece. Any comments on the leather or paint?

 

[Guest]

Will the Impala SS wheels fit?. I've asked this question before in regards to my 91 FWB. I was told the offset is wrong and they will not clear the back. Anyone have any pics?.


90Brougham350:

As far as putting in seats from an 80-89, I believe the power seats on those models had the controls on the side of the seat and the 90-92 have them on the door panels, plus (mine anyway) they have dual power seats on the 90-92 while the older ones were drivers side.

Exhaust: I got the exhaust done on my car for $450 (or close to that). Alumanized dual exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers. I've since bought headers but need to install them. Awesome install on the exhaust, both pipes run down one side and it looks killer.

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Destroyer and 90Brougham350,

You guys, and I all have the same vision of hot rodding a 90-92 Brougham. Just wait 5-8 years, and then we all can cruise around and toy around with Hondas!

 

[90Brougham350]

Hahaha, sure thing I~LUV~Caddys8792, I'll have to show you everything I've done when we have another Minnesota meet next summer.

Thanks for the info, Destroyer. For some reason I thought the controls from 80-89 were on the door, but if they're on the seat, I'll have to find a 90-92 car at the junkyard, a vehicle I've only found one of at several yards. So when they did your exhaust, they ran both pipes down the passenger side? Didn't you post pics about that a while back? Think I remember something like that. I'm assuming that's true dual then. Was $450 for just the install or did that include the mufflers too? I'd probably go with something quieter to suit my personal tastes, but how do yours sound? What brand of headers did you chose? Long tube? How much did they cost?

I'd like Dopestar's opinion on the seats whether I should switch them or not. His seats look excellent and comfortable.

Does anyone know if any of the 80-89 Broughams came with passenger-side power seat?

HRS, I agree! I think the old 5-spoke would look pretty nice. I am still unsure about the rim design. Your rims look good, but they look good on your 93-96 model. The 90-92 being a little boxier I would think should probably have rims with sharper straigher lines to match the body.

Addison, I'll probably keep the body the same color, but I'd love to hear some ideas from anyone about color combinations or anything of the sort. I'm getting a lot of good feedback guys, thanks!

 

[90Brougham350]

I'll definately consider some more possibilities for the engine upgrades, NODIH. I realize that .429 and .452 is a pretty big cam, but I'm still considering possibilities. If I had the money, I'd love some AFR or Trick Flow heads and the Edelbrock EFI conversion for TBI engines! Now that would run smoooooth!

 

[Guest]

The price included the mufflers. When I had the TBI, I thought the exhaust sounded good at first but the more I drove it, I hated it. Real loud and very raspy. After I switched to a carb it sounds incredible. That raspy sound is gone (I have no idea why, any input anyone?). Sounds like a well tuned musclecar now. I also have 3.73 gears and an 87 L98 Iroc 350 with a cam but I dont know the specs. Pretty lopey though and great torque but she runs out of steam in the upper rpm's. I'm considering Vortec heads and roller rockers in the near future but that means I have to buy yet another intake. Anyway here are a few pics of the exhaust.

 

[brougham]

I think Impala SS rims would look just as bad on it as those chrome ones. Cragars would probably look better if that's really the kind of wheels that you're looking for. I saw a couple pictures of Broughams with newer Fleetwood wheels on them and they look OK. That's what I'd probably put on a Brougham if i wanted to put different ones on it and didn't have the factory wire wheels.

In front wheel drive Cadillacs the leather seats in Fleetwoods are harder then DeVille ones are. That's probably like the Broughams are too. Mine has cloth seats. They're more comfortable then the leather ones are.

 

[It's Just Eric]

As for paint and that kinda stuff, the tan leather and tan top might look pretty good on Dark forest green paint. I cant recall ever seeing a fleetwood in a dark green like that but it might look nice. Kinda like nature with class or something. lol

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Ya know, I dont think I've ever seen a Dark Forest Green Brougham! And I know I've never seen a dark forest green brougham with a tan roof, so you would have the only one! and Dark Green/Tan would look great on a Brougham!

Actually, come to think of it, you dont see many dark green early '90s Caddys at all:hmm:

 

[N0DIH]

Nice exhaust, that is similar to my Cutlass duals (Hooker GN Regal w/Super Comp mufflers).

Did you change intake? The intake exhaust crossover will make a significant exhaust note change, especially if you have true duals.

Vortec heads are a great choice for hp/$. Aluminum is better due to the weight, but typically has worse airflow and less thermal efficiency.

3.73's and a 205-210 degree duration cam (like the HT383 cam) would be a nice swap with the Vortec heads.

The price included the mufflers. When I had the TBI, I thought the exhaust sounded good at first but the more I drove it, I hated it. Real loud and very raspy. After I switched to a carb it sounds incredible. That raspy sound is gone (I have no idea why, any input anyone?). Sounds like a well tuned musclecar now. I also have 3.73 gears and an 87 L98 Iroc 350 with a cam but I dont know the specs. Pretty lopey though and great torque but she runs out of steam in the upper rpm's. I'm considering Vortec heads and roller rockers in the near future but that means I have to buy yet another intake. Anyway here are a few pics of the exhaust.

 

[90Brougham350]

Ya know, I dont think I've ever seen a Dark Forest Green Brougham! And I know I've never seen a dark forest green brougham with a tan roof, so you would have the only one! and Dark Green/Tan would look great on a Brougham!

Actually, come to think of it, you dont see many dark green early '90s Caddys at all:hmm:

Now that's interesting! I kind of like that! So would I want to leave the body molding the same color or paint that too? If I painted the molding, would I go same color green or would I go with somehing else?

Speaking of Vortecs, has anyone seen these new Vortec Bow-Tie heads? Interesting stuff!

http://popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/hardcore/0511em_vortec/