1984 Chevrolet Caprice Classic


Rear wheel drive (GM 10-bolt - failed)
Engine: 4998 cc (305 cid) OHV V8, 155 hp (failed)
4-speed automatic transmission (TH250 - failed)
six seats, with Lada-sized butts - eight people
top speed - never went over 85 mph (speedo limit)

Detroit People Mover #1

Now, time for Big Detroit Iron. We moved to Michigan in late November, 1994. My former advisor at Wayne State University made me an offer that I could never refuse - an '84 Chevrolet Caprice with all the options and 153kmi on the clock, for 1 (one) U.S.$. The clerk in the Office of Secretary of State (where people of Michigan pay for their plates) refused to believe this price, so I had to pay sales tax on a declared $100! Oh well... It was, and probably will be, the most comfortable cruiser I ever had. I especially liked the silent power of well-muffled 305 cid small-block. 
Amazingly, this car was a typical creature of fuel-economy years without the might of fuel injection - very sophisticated computer-controlled carburettor and a heck of vacuum spaghetti under the hood. Geared incredibly tall - the engine wouln't even break 2000 rpm mark at 75 mph! One gas mileage record was made during one trip from Detroit to NY City, then to Boston, then back to Detroit - 24 (twenty-four) miles per gallon! Now that we live in San Diego County that doesn't make big business on speeding tickets, and everybody's squeezing the best from their wheels, this kind of gas mileage I couldn't reach even in a Ford Escort. But, that particular trip laid through great states of Ohio (65mph, enforced by the traffic rather than police), Pennsylvannia, New Jersey, and New York (that all had 55 mph limit and plenty of hunters to make it real). Moreover, she was badly overheating on my way back, so I cranked up the heater and let it coast at as low speed as the cruise control would let me (about 40-45 mph for the last 300 miles).
Now, this car was a champ of sorts. During two years of my ownership of this boat, I had to replace the following mechanical parts (nearly in order):
front brake pads/rotors, central tie-rod with ball joints, rear brake shoes (rework drums), spark plugs, windshield wiper motor, headlights (all of them), fix the stereo, alternator, starter (went through 2 of them), P/S pump (was a delight in a 20F + sleet weather), horns (wasn't necessary, just wanted to make myself heard in NY City), radiator (in Boston), timing chain and gears (in Batavia, NY), drive shaft U-joints, transmission (yes, all of it), rear shocks, all tires (at different times), battery, and entire rear axle to top it off. It was crashed twice (not by me!), so front sheetmetal - fenders, inner fenders, hood, front panel, grille, and bumper - was replaced twice. Most of this work I did myself on various parking lots (except engine and transmission work). Still, I liked this car, so this wasn't much of a nuisance.
 
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