Various questions.. door pillars, instrument lighting, dash paint, mirrors..

[narcisis420]

Hi fellas, this is my first post - man do you know how hard it is to find a GOOD forum for Buick LeSabre's? God I feel like I found a diamond in the ruff here! lol.

I own a 1995 Buick LeSabre Custom (150k) and I was wondering could I get some assistance with finding a few parts, and maybe some advice. I'm trying to find Chrome Rocker Panels and Chrome Door Pillas, I realize that most likey they aren't made for this year of car but I was wondering did anyone know of some that would fit a 95 LeSabre? Also I was wondering had anyone changed out their instrument panel lights? Mine are pretty much toast and I'm going to replace them blue LED's - just wondering what kind of job is ahead of me. I want to change every single instrumental panel light, even the one the illuminates the orange pointer. Also I was wondering had anyone painted the vinyl on the door panels or dash? I was looking to paint it all black and swap out my floor carpet molding with black carpet as well. Lastly, I was curious if anyone knew if it's possible to swap out your side mirrors for mirrors that have the little indicator light on the front? I didn't know if the wiring was there or not to power the additional light (I've seen this done). Mine are currently glued on with super epoxy and I'm going to change them soon anyway (yes yes I know it's trashy but it works.. for now, lol).

Any help appreciated!

[buick24]

I was wondering on the same things like the chrome door pilars. I saw this stuff being done on cardomain.com but the guys on there haven't gotten back to me on where they got their parts. Hopefully someone on here can get us some feedback.

[buick24]

Also, Having been a member to s10forum.com Which i think is a better site because pretty much everyone on there has done mods to their trucks. I wish this website was more like there's. For example they have different forums for mods and lighting and such the guys there know their stuff and are a great help so now that i have a buick i need a good place for questions to be answered and as far as i can tell the people don't to mods here.

[narcisis420]

Originally Posted by buick24

Also, Having been a member to s10forum.com Which i think is a better site because pretty much everyone on there has done mods to their trucks. I wish this website was more like there's. For example they have different forums for mods and lighting and such the guys there know their stuff and are a great help so now that i have a buick i need a good place for questions to be answered and as far as i can tell the people don't to mods here.

No mods?? Why every buick board I find there's no modders around? Such a let down..

hm.. what about the mirrors? Any ideA?

[Alibi]

No modders? Nonsense. There are some, but they are few and far between mainly because Buicks are just too dang nice to mess with anyway

Chromed parts: Your best bet is to find a Park Avenue at a junk yard and pull them off that...or maybe a LeSabre Custom (better bet).

Instrument panel lights: Don't screw with LEDS as they are just not worth the effect. Pull the dash apart, find the numbers for the bulbs and then order them in the colors that you want. You might be able to find the blue bulbs at a parts store or maybe even wally wurld, but for odd-ball colors you will prolly have to look online.

Mirror indicator lights: I've never seen it done with aftermarket stuff and to my knowledge didn't exist with that style of mirror...soo...rigging for you basically. As for powering them, you will probably have to run a new wire from the flashers under the dash through the wire conduit in the door to the mirrors.

Paint: Paint will stick to just about anything, as long as the object doesn't have too much flex that the paint will flake off. Even then, there are ways around that. But on the plastic parts in the interior you should be fine with a decent grade of rattle-can paint and a coat or two of clear.

On mods you have to remember that Buicks have the image of a granny car (but to those of you with an L67 you really know what you have) so pretty much NOBODY makes any aftermarket stuff...there are a few parts for the series II engine but otherwise it is all scratchbuilt stuff.

Good luck!

[Loekee75]

Pillar covers can be found on ebay for about 65 bucks for a set of 4. They have polished stainless steel for sure, but search around a little and you just might find chrome finished as well. I've never seen chrome rocker panels for these cars, nor have I seen indicator mirrors.
For modding, you can always search for a SuperChip, I have one for my 92' 3800. This chip adds about 15 hp and a torque increase (bought mine off ebay for 172 bucks) If you don't have it already, upgrade your ignition system to the Delco ignition (this ignition has 3 seperate coils, instead of the single coil pack "Magnavox" style) replace the coils with MSDs. Be careful with your plugs and wires, I've never had luck with aftermarket brands. Remove your air box and install an open intake with a K&N filter. Just a few ideas..

[narcisis420]

Originally Posted by Loekee75

Pillar covers can be found on ebay for about 65 bucks for a set of 4. They have polished stainless steel for sure, but search around a little and you just might find chrome finished as well. I've never seen chrome rocker panels for these cars, nor have I seen indicator mirrors.
For modding, you can always search for a SuperChip, I have one for my 92' 3800. This chip adds about 15 hp and a torque increase (bought mine off ebay for 172 bucks) If you don't have it already, upgrade your ignition system to the Delco ignition (this ignition has 3 seperate coils, instead of the single coil pack "Magnavox" style) replace the coils with MSDs. Be careful with your plugs and wires, I've never had luck with aftermarket brands. Remove your air box and install an open intake with a K&N filter. Just a few ideas..

As for the door pillars, I searched for these too but I couldn't find any for a 95 LeSabre custom. I'll search again.. or did you find some for a different car that just happen to fit a LeSabre?

The chip.. see I want that bad but I keep hearing its horrible for your car, whats your experience been like with it?

As for the ignition, good suggestion! I completely forgot about that, did you get any real benefit from upgrading your ignition?

Also it's hard to find intakes for LeSabre's I found one online (ebay) but it looked suspicious as it was very very cheap, say around 25 bucks. Also I heard if you buy one for a LeSabre the sensor is too short and you have to elongate it somehow to fit.

[Loekee75]

My chip works fine, and I've had it a little over 2 years with mo problems. The doors (front doors) are the same for the 95' PA and Lesabre, so the pillar cover will fit. The rear doors are different, however, only the rear end of the doors are different, so the pillars are the same. That tip on the ignition is a "project on the works" for me. Several people on here have done the ignition swap and many agree that the start up and ing fire is much improved with the type II Delco system. Your 95' may already have the type II, I haven't seen many post 93' models without it. The intake was a project a buddy of mine bought for his LeSabre (94' model) it didn't have dynaride so there was plenty of room for the intake with the removal of the airbox being the only obvious change in the installation. He ordered his online but I can't say how much he paid for it.

[narcisis420]

Originally Posted by Loekee75

My chip works fine, and I've had it a little over 2 years with mo problems. The doors (front doors) are the same for the 95' PA and Lesabre, so the pillar cover will fit. The rear doors are different, however, only the rear end of the doors are different, so the pillars are the same. That tip on the ignition is a "project on the works" for me. Several people on here have done the ignition swap and many agree that the start up and ing fire is much improved with the type II Delco system. Your 95' may already have the type II, I haven't seen many post 93' models without it. The intake was a project a buddy of mine bought for his LeSabre (94' model) it didn't have dynaride so there was plenty of room for the intake with the removal of the airbox being the only obvious change in the installation. He ordered his online but I can't say how much he paid for it.

Ah.. thanks for the info about the PA, I'll definately look into that. Do you know if your friend had to lengthen the sensor to reach the new spot on the intake?

[Alibi]

As for the air intake, your best bet is to custom build one from PCV or other pipe. Yes, the wires on the air temp sensor need to be cut and lenghts spliced in, but its not hard.

As for the performance chip, it is just a series of resistors that trick the computer into thinking that it is running too lean so the computer compensates by increasing fuel through the injectors to run rich. Basically, you spend tons of money on a couple dollars worth of components and soldering in a neat little box. Exactly how it is wired, I wouldn't know but thats where the tons of money come in, eh?

[vrmlbasic]

For the air temp sensor you could leave it disconnected, and use one of those "HP Boost 3500 ohm resistors" to make the car think that it always receives air at the optimal temperature.

So if you had an intake with increased airflow, you'd get increased fuel flow, for more 'power' but it still dec's fuel economy.

**I only bring this up because it was my idea for the intake that I came into posession of as it doesn't have any place to put the sensor.
"decroated piece of crap" sums it all up.


While I'm no expert by any means, I heard that your local HomeDepot/Ace Hardware PVC will hold up to engine heat like an ice cube in the sahara. Again, I haven't tried it, but that's just the knowledge that I've 'acquired'.

--VrmlBasic