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[xXxHawkxXx]

Hello everyone. I own an 88 Caprice Classic Broughm LS. A little story behind the car: My neighbor bought it brand new in 87 and only used it to go to the liquour store every thursday. When she passed on, she left it to my family in her will. When we first got it, the dealer plastic had not even been removed from the back seat. The car had 70000, and it looked brand new. Then, my dad drove it to down town Dallas for a year and a half just until I got my license. When the car finally made it to me, it had 96000 miles on it. It now has 107000, and I baby the heck out of it.

Also, I have personally put in a new radiator, belts, brakes, rebuilt carb, as well and many other small scale things.

Anyways, here is my question:

I want to make the car faster, handle better, and just overall make my Caprice awesome. The one thing I do not want to do is turn it into a car that would be used in a rap video. I think those are ruined, gaudy, and just plain sorrowfull Caprices. Does anyone had any suggustions? I am open to all.
Thanks


I forgot to mention that the car is a 5.0 305. Also, I was thinking about turning it into a 9c1, but with the comfortable broughm edition seats. Good idea?. bad idea?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by xXxHawkxXx

The one thing I do not want to do is turn it into a car that would be used in a rap video. I think those are ruined, gaudy, and just plain sorrowfull Caprices.

Welcome to AF! I already like you! <G>

Anyways, here is my question:

I want to make the car faster, handle better, and just overall make my Caprice awesome.

I forgot to mention that the car is a 5.0 305. Also, I was thinking about turning it into a 9c1, but with the comfortable broughm edition seats. Good idea?. bad idea?

CD Smalley has a great handling improvement article in this thread.

As for power, unless you wanna go 350, you're pretty much stuck where you are with it. There are some things that can be done, here and there, but the real power gain mods come at a cost and that money would be better invested in a 350.

Personally, I'd replace all of the body mounts and bushings, all of the suspension bushings and any rubber. I'd also replace the springs with new 9C1 springs (these can be had at Autozone - they're the 'heavy duty' springs and are equivalent to the RJ factory springs) to give your car a more aggressive stance, and replace the shocks with good 9C1 quality shocks. You can improve the ride a bit with variable-rate shocks, I am using Monroe Sensatrac shocks on my own car to good results.

As for the seats or the Brougam LS series and 9C1 - I have personal knowledge of the existence of two of these from the factory. They were in the employ of the Phoenix Police Department back in the day. One was brown/silver two tone and the other was ruby red. Both LS models, but with 350 LM1 engines and the rest of the 9C1 package (excluding the speedometer and gauge package). They had Eagle RS tires on them.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by xXxHawkxXx

Hello everyone. I own an 88 Caprice Classic Broughm LS. A little story behind the car: My neighbor bought it brand new in 87 and only used it to go to the liquour store every thursday. When she passed on, she left it to my family in her will. When we first got it, the dealer plastic had not even been removed from the back seat. The car had 70000, and it looked brand new.

Let me get this straight. She only drove it once a week to the liquor store, and by the time your family got it , it had 70,000 miles on it? I did the math and found that it was a 77 mile round trip to the liquor store every week.( 70,000 divided by 17.5 years= 4000 miles/year. Then 4000 divided by 52= 76.9)That liquor store was FAR! But seriously that sounds like everybody's dream, almost like finding an abandoned car in a barn in great shape. That's a story you can tell your grandkids one day.

[xXxHawkxXx]

Okay, thank you silicon. Should I go find a old 350 and get it rebuilt? Or should I go about that process a different way. It seems that I know alot, and very little all at the same time.

Also, would I have to upgrade the tranny, or is a uniform fit. Or is that in another thread?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by xXxHawkxXx

Okay, thank you silicon. Should I go find a old 350 and get it rebuilt? Or should I go about that process a different way. It seems that I know alot, and very little all at the same time.

Also, would I have to upgrade the tranny, or is a uniform fit. Or is that in another thread?

Since your car is the LS, it should have a TH700R4 in it, along with a 3.08 axle ratio. These are both good and should be fine behind the 350. Get a block with heads - try to get one with a 1-piece seal and centerbolt valvecovers from a car - this will just drop in and has a hydraulic roller cam (as does your 305). Any '87-'93 Caprice 9C1 350 will work, as will any '87-'92 Camaro/Firebird 350.

[xXxHawkxXx]

What is a good guess as to what a 350 will cost?