91 caprice

[kahjdh]

since i had to sell my wagon i have been looking around for a new car b/c i hate my family pos (91 tempo). so i have been looking at the classifieds and i found a 91 caprice with 122K mi. Now he says it has the original lt1. Now did nt the lt1 not comeout until atleast 93 on the fullsize cars (i know some roadmasters had it). So i dont know if i wanna drive 45min to look at this car if this guy is lieing to me.

[CD Smalley]

LT1 was not installed until 1994. That car should have either an L03 or L05.

I'd be leary of the car since the owner obviously knows nothing about the car....

[1986Z28]

yeah thats bs, lt1 wasnt released until 94, either lo3 or lo5

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by blownalcoholboy

yeah thats bs, lt1 wasnt released until 94, either lo3 or lo5

Unless it's a 9C1, it'll be an L03. A 9C1 can have either an L03 or L05.

[kahjdh]

o well, i hate driving the tempo so im kind of desparate to find another one.

[RootBreaker]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Unless it's a 9C1, it'll be an L03. A 9C1 can have either an L03 or L05.

my 9C1 is a L05

[RootBreaker]

Originally Posted by RootBreaker

my 9C1 is a L05

oh yeah... and the 1991's suck in hp/torque....

my 1991 I put i my pickup is a whopping 195hp/295lb-ft torque.... with tbi

tbi removed, dual full headers, holley truck avenger 670cfm carb
going to replace the crap heads with vortec heads, vortec dual plane intake and a comp cams xtreme 4x4 cam... got all the parts.. just need the weather to do it..

my bud has desktop dyno 2003 and I should be at 325hp/465lb-ft torque when done!!!!!

[directory]

i have a 91 caprice for sale...still. $900. L05 350 9c1 180000miles...old cop car. pm me if you want.

[HLandin]

As far as model year goes, its all a matter of what your looking for. Many people don't like the 1991-1992 model year due to the closed rear wheel wells.

Saying that the 1991 model year sucked as far as HP/torque is a very subjective statement. While the drive train is "basically" the same between 1990 and 1991, the vehicle weight grew due to the cosmetic changes to the body (weight grew by about 240 pounds). Thus, the 91' had slightly lower 1/4 mile times than 1990 Caprice; however, 1991 model picked up some top speed due to the better aerodynamics than 1990 boxy.

In 1992, the engine received a better cam which boosted output over previous model years. As a result, a 1992 model had a higher top speed than 1991 model and better power to weight ratio than 1991 model. If you like the closed wheel wells, you might want a 1992 instead of a 1991 due to higher power to weight ratio. If you like the open wheel wells, you would want a 1993 or later model year because rear wheel wells were opened back up.

Also, 1992 and later models feature a gear driven water pump instead of a belt driven water pump which is supposed to increase reliability.

All that said, I'm sure you would be happy to get any year model since finding these discontinued vehicles are becoming harder and harder to find in good shape.

As a special note, anyone who removes an EFI system and installs a carb system is either very ambitious, or just dumb. I have, in previous posts, detailed the many reasons why EFI is superior to carbs. While there are several bottlenecks in the factory TBI system, you find those in any regular production vehicle (carb or EFI), and if you make all the basic kind of changes that a person who is replacing a factory carb setup with a high performance setup, you can wake up your TBI engine just like modifications wake up a carb engine, and you can keep the superior TBI (a.k.a. Smart Carb) system.

[silicon212]

"Also, 1992 and later models feature a gear driven water pump instead of a belt driven water pump which is supposed to increase reliability."

Nope. This is a feature only of LT1 and L99 engines - the L03 and L05 still are belt driven, up to and beyond 1994 (they still used these in trucks till 96 when the Vortec came out).

[kahjdh]

Im not picky when it comes to caprices its just finding one with little rust. I live in the snow belt so most of the caprices around here are trashed. I want atleast a 350 in my car and thats basically all i care about. I have a part time job and im in high school so all my money goes right to my car.

[HLandin]

Originally Posted by silicon212

"Also, 1992 and later models feature a gear driven water pump instead of a belt driven water pump which is supposed to increase reliability."

Nope. This is a feature only of LT1 and L99 engines - the L03 and L05 still are belt driven, up to and beyond 1994 (they still used these in trucks till 96 when the Vortec came out).

Oops. My mistake; you are correct. I looked under the hood of my new 1993 yesterday and it still has the belt driven one.

[tribal terror]

Keep away from the LT1 if you like your bank account.They are great motors but being older they are due for alot of maintence and that is very costly.They are also a Vette motor so majority of them are beat on constantly and then dumped.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by tribal terror

Keep away from the LT1 if you like your bank account.They are great motors but being older they are due for alot of maintence and that is very costly.They are also a Vette motor so majority of them are beat on constantly and then dumped.

That's subjective. LT1s are cheap to get - GM made a lot of them - if you know where to look. I would not install a used engine into my car without an overhaul first. Once rebuilt, the engine basically is like new and if you keep it maintained, it will last a long time.

It is true that the LT1 debuted in the Vette, but to call it a Vette motor is incorrect. It is also a Camaro/Firebird motor. It is also a Caprice motor, a Buick Roadmaster motor, and a Cadillac Fleetwood motor. GM used these in everything RWD that's not a truck between '94 and '96.

You're just as likely to find an LT1 in Granny's grocery getter as you are in that old 9C1.

[tribal terror]

Where are they cheap? How much for cap & rotor? How much to change cam positon sensor that's under the intake?Used LT1's over here are going for $2500 from the wrecking yards with high mileage and basic leaks. If your rebuilding it (sensors included) then is it still cheap? I am responding to his original question and everyone has told him the LT1 doesn't belong in there but nothing about cost involved after purchasing, if problems arise.Most people jump at the chance of having a LT1 in their cars but don't realize the cost for repairs.He's obviously familar with the basic 350.I know they came in all those cars but when you open the hood and see an LT1 what motor is it for selling purposes or power? The Vette motor( just a figure of speech- don't take it personally)