What V8 engine powers your 9C1?

This applies to all 9C1 Caprices, from 1986 to 1996.

Engines -

L03 - TBI 305 - from 1989 through 1993.
L05 - TBI 350 - from 1989 through 1993.
LG4 - base 305, 4BBL Carb., 1986 through 1988.
LM1 - 350, 4BBL Carb., 1986 through 1988.
LT1 - 350 Gen. II Small Block, Sequential Port Injection, 1994-1996.

Good poll. Only problem is that you forgot the 4.3L 265-cid L99 V-8 from 1994 to 1996.

Good poll. Only problem is that you forgot the 4.3L 265-cid L99 V-8 from 1994 to 1996.

Oops ..next time. There was also an available 4.3l V6 from 1986 to ? - but I've never seen one of these in actual use.

Negative. You made the same mistake most people make, confusing the 4.3L V-6 and the 4.3L V-8. Here is the scoup:

The LB4 (4.3L 262-cid V-6 with TBI) was used in the Caprice from 1985 to 1990. Displacment wise, it was a 350-cid with the back two cylinders chopped off. This V-6 earned the nick-name, "The V-6 that acts like a V-8."

The L99 (4.3L 265-cid V-8 with sequential port injection) was used in the Caprice from 1994 to 1996. If anyone remembers any history, this is the same displacement (265-cid) as the original Chevy small-block, released in 1955.

Like I said, confusing the 262-cid V-6 and the 265-cid V-8 (both 4.3L) is a common mistake.

I didn't know you could get a 9c1 without the LO5/LT1... I thought everything else was for the civvy.

I didn't know you could get a 9c1 without the LO5/LT1... I thought everything else was for the civvy.

The 9C1 was available with any available civilian engine, plus the 350-ci engine that wasn't in the civilian cars until the LT1.

The base engine for my '88 was the 262-ci (4.3L) V6, same as the civilian car. Many departments opted for the 350-ci V8s, but it is important to note that the NYPD ran 305s in most of their cruisers.

The engine available in the different model years -

LB4 262-cid V6, 4.3 Liter, TBI, 1986-1990 in Caprice 9C1, 1985 in Impala 9C1.
LG4 305-cid V8, 5.0 Liter, 4BBL, 1980-1985 in Impala 9C1, 1986-1988 in Caprice 9C1.
LM1 350-cid V8, 5.7 Liter, 4BBL, 1980-1985 in Impala 9C1, 1986-1988 in Caprice 9C1.
L03 305-cid V8, 5.0 Liter, TBI, 1989-1993
L05 350-cid V8, 5.7 Liter, TBI, 1989-1993
L99 265-cid V8, 4.3 Liter, SPI, 1994-1996 *Nod to HLandin*
LT1 350-cid V8, 5.7 Liter, SPI, 1994-1996

Okay, so what was the 9c1 option for then? Just the boxed frame? Or did it include the heavy suspension as well? Could I turn my '89 Brougham into a 9C1 clone minus the boxed frame by swapping the suspension?

Okay, so what was the 9c1 option for then? Just the boxed frame? Or did it include the heavy suspension as well? Could I turn my '89 Brougham into a 9C1 clone minus the boxed frame by swapping the suspension?

The 9C1s had the same frame as the other cars did, but with a little more bracing and with more body mounts.

The 9C1 package was some upgrades, some substitutions and some deletions vs. the civilian model. Upgrades include the electrical system, the suspension, the aforementioned frame strengthening, and some other improvements. Most 9C1s have seriously upgraded electrical systems due to the electric load of police equipment. Better body grounding is used to ensure continuity with the high current draw of such police staples as lightbars, etc., as well as efficient use of two-way radio ground planes.

The cars were generally configured for reliability and durability under tough conditions, so heavy-duty parts are found in many places throughout the car. EG the engines had oil coolers for cars in hot climates, heavy-duty transmission coolers, increased coolant capacity, silicone hoses in place of standard hoses, larger (8.5") ring gear differentials, larger wheel bolt patterns with 1/2" studs for <1991, increased braking areas, different tire combinations (225/70HR15 vs. 205/75R15) for performance and sustained high speed driving, basic interiors, higher capacity speedometers, gauge packages, transmission 1st gear lockouts, heavy-duty front and rear seats, equipment placing and on and on the list goes. Most either had radio deletes or standard AM/FM radios. Most had 45/45 split 'bench' seats (more like bucket seats) for use with a center console. Not sure about '91-96, but the '86-90 had basic interiors that were carryover from the '85 Impala (vs. the upscale Caprice Classic). Rubber flooring was the standard in the 9C1, although you could get one with standard carpet (such as my car has. My car was never used as a pursuit car, so it has some upscale interior treatment).

I think silicon212 nailed it. To find out the differences based on the model year, check out:

http://www.9c1.com/brochures/index.html

for the appropriate model year.

Here is a basic overview of the features that remained pretty constant:

-Heavy duty frame
-Enhanced suspension including special springs and shocks, front and rear anti-sway bars (9c1 had rear sway bars standard before civilian models)
-Larger radiator
-Oil, transmission, and power steering coolers (although the last two were options in the boxies, most came with them and they were standard later models)
-Specially calibrated transmission
-Specially balanced driveshaft
-Body grounding strap package (used copper wire straps to ground trunk and hood to main body to improve radio transmission/receiving)
-Heavy duty brakes which featured Chevy's award winning semi-metallic disc brakes in front (and rear in later models) and larger rear drums (before rear disc)
-Heavy duty seats
-100% Silicone green cooland hoses and worm gear clamps (option in boxy, standard in later models)

I had a freind with a 92 camaro with the L05 v-8. We had the same turbo 350 transmission, but my car was faster. The L05 is not a bad engine, but it really doesn't compare to the LT-1. Especially with the big weight differential between a caprice and a camaro.

People get WAY too hung up on wanting believe a 9C1 is something special. My originally L99 car had a higher capacity cooling system than a 9C1, bigger drivers side rad tank did not have an oil cooler in it and was not thin to allow external oil cooler lines to go by.
The external oil cooler randomly cools as opposed to an in radiator cooler like some of the cici cars got with REGULATES the temp with coolant. The body bushings thing STOCK those extra 9C1 bushings were loose. On the bracing the boxy cars did get some more bracing the whale bodies all got the same due to the extra weight of these over th boxies and the wagons were boxed but not the sedans.

96capricemgr, I am sick and tired of you posting that same BS about 9c1. You CANNOT base your ramblings about the 9c1 based on JUST the 94-96 models. This point has been hammered again and again. To make an opinion of the 9c1 based ONLY on the 94-96 models ignores almost the whole history of the 9c1.

The code 9c1 has been around since 1972 when it was first used to include the former individual codes B07 (police chassis equipment) and BY2 (police body equipment). This has always meant improved equipment over the base models including a better suspension than even the SS models. For example, the B-body Impala 9c1 had a better suspension than the Impala SS of the same model year.

While it is true there was less difference (and that may not be true) between the civilian models and 9c1 models in the bathtub models, it was because so many more features were added to the base model with the body change (just compare features of base model of 1989 or 1990 to 1991). The '91 civilian model got the same heavy duty wheels that were just for the 9c1 or wagon in the '90 model. Until 1994 (with exception of ONE model in 1993), you could not get the 350-cid in the Caprice WITHOUT it being a 9c1. The 9c1 transmission features higher shift points than the civilian model. 9c1 models only have to meet federal emissions which means that they are not hampered by the same emission issues as the civilian models would be in states like California which is a good thing (unless you believe the trees and flowers will wilt and die because my '90 9c1 does not get 26 mpg) because emissions often reduce the performance of the engine.

The 9c1 was, is, and continues to be just a code for additional options that are or were not always available with civilian models. These options are specificially suited for police work and may or may not be suited for civilian use.

Hear, hear!

I concur on what Landin said about the 9c1 , it has been around for awhle and just because you have one option , u can't just base everythng on that perticular thing. But thats just my thoughts on it.

yeah, I'm going to go ahead and agree with that.
The 9C1 is just one option, but it's also not...
There is a whole bunch of other crap that comes with it.
Sigh....
This is why I stopped posting here...some douche is going to come along and flame everyone for saying the 9C1 is something special. Obviously that same douche has never had a chance to compare the various models and options. I used to drive for a distro-center for the northern va area dealers, and I know damn well what I am dealing with. Plus I have been racing cars(track and highway) for almost as long as I have had a license. My first car I ever owned was a 95' 9C1 Caprice, and being in the military I make lots of trips around the country. I still have that same car, and it has never failed me. I am still amazed that it will get over 130 in it's current condition! It used to top out around 150, but that kind of performance takes money to maintain.

But yeah- I ramble. The point is; 9C1 LT1 is the way to go!

I can still get my tired old 1991 (130K) up to 125MPH... I've run it at 75MPH for 3 and 1/2 hours straight two days in a row (Waterbury, CT to Allentown, PA... there and back).
No question about it, Chevy built a durable car when they put together the Caprice and the 9c1s are the icing on that cake.
I still see dozens of boxy Caprices, both 9c1 and civilian, on the roads in Connecticut.
As a daily driver, these cars are unbeatable (in my humble opinion)... as performance vehicles, they don't rate all that highly but a 9c1 will still beat a lot of newer cars off the line with it's superior torque.

L03 - Tbi 305