Joined Cardomain on August 21st, 2004

- Red and Lucky greet you!
-( yes, I've named my cars)

Hi

April 22nd. Sorry Chevy fans. The Caprice is gone. I sold it. Its gone forever. I just could never seem to find a home for it or the time to fix it. 12 hour overnights just don't leave much time for it. Lately its been extended cab c/k pickups. But now that I have the right truck for me. Working on a 92 Cadillac. Its a pain. These big ones are getting harder to find in nice shape. When I started playing this game, I could go and find any kind of car I wanted in almost the color I wanted with the engine I wanted. Now I'm 20 and I can't find anything now that I have the money. I swear in 3 years, 300,000 of them have vanished. All that seems to be left is 16-18 year old front wheel drive trash. God damn gasoline costs haven't helped. People can't sell them so they become enduro cars and derby wagons. So thats that. When the time permits, a page will be created specifically for the trucks, and the progress that will ensue with that, and a page for the Cadillac, should that work as it should.

Okay its been forever since I been here. I don't have the red olds anymore haven't had it for months. Was May 9th I waved good by as she went down the road. The Caprice is still safe and still making progress. I have a 1994 Chevrolet Cheyenne C2500 Extended Cab / 6.5' box. Didn't pay anything for it so it works out well. Its dark blue metallic outside, dark blue cloth inside. Father bought it new in November of 93. It has the 305, Auto Overdrive, tachometer, electronic digital air conditioning, split reclining bench seat up front, delay wipers. Has the folding rear bench seat which is nice. Folds up, folds down or folds open. I added a sliding rear window the original wasn't dark tinted and didn't do anything. It has the W/T package also. I haven't done many upgrades so far most I did was take the cap off of it, put in the sliding window and put in Oldsmobile pedals [the accelerator was NOT a bolt on mod]. I'm workin on some late 80s early 90s Scottsdale and Silverado pieces and lookin to add more chrome wherever possible, I also wanna add other features that daddy didn't get 11 years ago [flip out vent windows, tilt wheel, and so on. I'm a full-time student at Job Corps in vocational training on the former Loring AFB in Limestone Maine about 7 hours away from my cars. So updates will come far and few between.

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------------------------------1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Landau Aerocoupe 350---------------------------------------

I bought a 78 Chevy Caprice Classic Landau Aerocoupe at a junkyard for 200 bucks. the car is in much better condition than the price and location might make you believe due to the fact that the car has spent most of its life in California so far, but managed to spend some time in Massachusetts apparently, considering it had a mass sticker and mass plates, plus parking violation stickers for the Quincy area.

Its in good shape underneath, because it spent its "useful lifespan" in California, and was owned by people who cared about the car and kept it, judging from the overall shape of the car. Most Likely, this car would be nothing other than rust rot and deterioration if it had spent its 25 years here in N.E. Granted there are a few New Englander box GM cars that are cancer survivors, but the most of them were junked cause of rot in the frame.
And when the inspection laws tightened down in late 99, alot of them were just thrown away.

But anyways,

For instance. Fellow aerocoupe and b-body owners alike, I ask you to examine this photograph closely. Granted I didn't use the flash, but notice there are NO holes in this door bottom. Normally, from what I've seen, the corner rots out, and holes develop all along the flat portion which appears shiny in this picture. This is one of the small details I that sold me on this aerocoupe as I inspected it at the salvage yard.

Its maroon with maroon top, carmine interior. Its fully loaded with everything from power windows to tape player, but theres some stuff it doesn't have. Being a 78 its naturally not going to have leather or whatever. But its right up there with some of the fanciest cars I've owned. I think it might have been special ordered.

From Behind....parts for it laying in an old plastic phonograph cover....

I have the build sheet, but heres what the car has for options, and if you think about it, with the size of this list, the Caprice Classic, which was nicely equipped back in the late 70s, would be quite plain compared to modern Chevrolets.

Power windows
Power door locks
Power 6-way driver's seat
Power trunk release
50/50 Seat Package - this option included a divided bench seat with 2 armrests in a choice of vinyl or Dover II Knit Cloth, which I have. This package also included a reclining passenger seat. Also included in this package but available seperately, were color-matched seatbelts. See back in the 60s and 70s, when you bought a car, if you didn't tell them you wanted "deluxe" or "custom" seatbelts you got black, no matter what color your interior was.
Tilt Column
Cruise-Control
Cold Air Conditioning
Factory Analog Clock (every 77-84 Caprice Classic has this STANDARD)
Factory AM-FM Stereo Radio with 8-Track Tape Player (replaced with Cassette at some point, but still Delco GM analog)
Electric Rear Window Defogger
Lighted Visor Mirror, Right Hand
Auxiliary Lighting Group
- underhood light
- trunk light
- glove box light
- combination dome and dual lens reading lamp
"Courtesy Light Delay Option" - this is basically, when you open your door to get into the car, the lights stay on for about 15-20 seconds, or until you turn the car on. When you shut the car off the inside lights come on for the same amount of time, but the timer is reset when you open the door. Unlike illuminated entry, the door handle is nothing to do with the timer.
Landau Package - This was a trim level available only for Caprice Classic, Impala, Malibu Classic and Monte Carlo coupes actually. For the 77-79 Caprice Classic, it contains special 15" wire wheel covers with Landau i.d., special sail panel emblems, a vinyl roof for the front half of the roof in a choice of I beleive 7 colors. This color was also the color of the upper door frames and the color of the metal around the rear quarter windows. Also this color was applied as a sprayed insert to a special belt reveal molding. Also, I believe the body colored paint in the door handle was part of the Landau package. Every Landau had sport mirrors.
Sport Mirrors, Left Remote/Right Manual
Landau-issue Wire Wheel Covers, 15" (special, they say "Landau" on them)
Bumper rub strips
Bumper guards
350 Chevrolet V-8, 2-bolt
Turbo 350 Transmission
2.73:1 rear axle differential, non-posi
Tinted Glass (not limo tint, the greenish tint with blue on the upper part of the windshield)
rubber floor mats, front and rear

And this is my beautiful 78 Chevrolet!

Its this bodystyle, you might have seen this before, you might even own one:

And the highlight of my car and every aerocoupe of course, is this beautiful attention drawing wrap-around rear window.

This car is definately spacious, as demonstrated by this picture. I've had 5 people including myself in the car and nobody complained of tight quarters, including my 6'4" 340 pound best friend, who opted to ride in the backseat.

Here is a fresh picture of the driver's side door panel, in the sunlight. The sun and the camera brought out the fading in the plastic armrest, which isn't noticeable otherwise. I might just grab the very very clean good condition red armrests from that 78 Bonneville Brougham. In any case, notice now that I have door strap! I was complemented by a friend who said "with that handle on there, looks like it com outofa Caddy"

Notice the naugahyde (fake leather)storage pouch I installed, adds a Cadillac like touch, and is a good place to store maps, since this car has no seatback pockets, which, in my opinion the only thing Chevrolet forget when they designed the interior (and good for the registration and crap since my glove box is toast).

And as far as the interior and front seats are concerned....they're in excellent shape for a 78 with a cloth Carmine interior. Just wonderful. I've NEVER seen a Carmine (red) interior in this kind of condition, especially cloth! (As you may have now guessed, I've grown accustomed to be exposed only to aged and often dead/dying "old-school" beauties)

I have alot of work into this car, and much more to come. Updates for the Chevy will be, unfortunately, to a minimum this year. The major news will be next year, when I will see the engine/tranny rebuild, repaint and vinyl rooftop replacement.

This is the Enemy! What does the enemy do? The Enemy Does This!

And I will do my best as often as I can within mental reason to prevent this from happening to box GM cars from the late 70s and the 1980s that don't deserve it (my 78 Chevy for instance!) I however, am responsible for the death of two box GM car to my knowledge, my Cadillac, and a parts Caprice 4-door I had.

Update --- August 22

Not originally having them, I installed chrome bezels around the interior door handles. My armrests were and still are in beautiful condition, but I liked the look of the chrome better than the normal red plastic. These chrome panels were donated by a Custom Cruiser.

She went from the photo on the left, to the photo on the right, basically. However, my car, despite this OLD, DEAD picture, is NOT missing the driver's door closure-pull strap, as I have corrected that problem.

This chrome bezel was part of an optional interior upgrade package, called the "Special Custom Interior," that my car unfortunately wasn't ordered with. This package included the 50/50 seat with recliner and color matched belts that my car has, but it doesn't have the crushed and wrinkled velour or these chrome panels, until today.

I also replaced all the chrome trim (actually its really nicely finish aluminum) on the outboard sides of the seats. The only piece that remained was the passenger side piece, so since the Custom Cruiser that donated these pieces had the lower moldings with the proper cut-outs, I decided to install them for an even more finished look.

I installed a new gas tank and a new exhaust in the car as well today. Well I can't say the exhaust is brand new, but its damn close. The gas tank is brand new however. That solved that problem.

Update --- August 23

I'll be taking 27 pictures of my Caprice from every angle except the undercarraige (I already have those, see above). These will include interior, exterior, engine and on the road pics, and a pic of the junkyard where I bought it at. I'll turn these in today and they should be back in like a week (I'm cheap and don't want to pay for the 1 hour photo).

Update --- August 28

Did some maintenance to keep her going, cleaned up the engine a little...think I have a power steering pump leak. Theres alot of shit all over the place, but man does it run great! Going to start doing mechanical repairs and improvements soon.

Update --- September 2

Due to extremely hot weather we've been having recently, my windshield cracked. This needs to be replaced, however I can't just go to the junkyard and get one cause thats risky, if I get my old one out and bust the new one getting it in, I'm screwed. So I'll be having a professional do it. Plus I need the one with the antenna installed in it.

Pics to be coming soon! I have them just need to find a some good time to scan them up.

Update --- September 3

I installed two adjuster plates on the lower hinge of my driver's door this morning, in an effort to preserve my cars appearence as long as possible. Once I start getting some more money in, the bodywork will begin. But these damn doors are in prestine condition, and the last thing I need to do is fold the front edge back. These two plates have made a very noticeable improvement.

Hinge pins for both doors are the first thing on the list of replacement parts for the Caprice Landau.

Update --- September 17
I've had my license suspended for a while now, and I bought a shiny, wine-red-metallic 84 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale 4-door with the original intention of using it for parts. After seeing on pavement and out of a field of knee high grass, I've decided its WAY TO FUCKIN CLEAN to part out. It is like the 78 Chevy! I'll be making a page for it. However, before I could even get the car home somebody busted out the driver's side stationary vent window and stole the cd player!The Olds literally only has few options and has a strong, smooth, clean 307 and, unfortunately, a METRIC Hydra-Matic Overdrive...the single worse automatic transmission in the history of General Motors.

It has a soft driver's floorboard, a very small hole in the driver's side quarter (about the size of 2 quarters fully picked at) and a pinhole in the brakeline. But what can you expect for 100! It was repainted at some point recently, but in the original color. Its in excellent condition and will be going on the road while the Chevy gets its much deserved restoration and motor/tranny rebuild. Granted, one could still drive the Chevrolet without a blinkin an eye, but for such a exquisite, long-term car, I want to do it complete and thorough. People will not recognize the car from the outside when I'm done, cause it will not be maroon on maroon anymore, or have the same wheels, plus it will be factory shape.

The Oldsmobile, "Red", as seen here, will become my more frequent daily driver. Notice the shine of the paint on both vehicles. The hood appears dull in the center because there is dew on it.

Update --- September 27
Chevrolet sits and watches as I invest just under 150 dollars in regular maintainence and a few hours time into the Delta 88. And let me tell you she still has life left in her! With a new rotor cap, button, etc, plugs and wires she ran so much better.

Friday we should see some more improvements. Friday I plan on buying backup lights, a taillight, side marker, and factory premium dash gages for the Delta 88. I will also purchase several electrical lights from other B-Bodies prematurely pronounced dead. But you can't win them, nor can you rescue them all.

In anycase, most, or all of the appearence defects you see in the Oldsmobile will be corrected, including Oldsmobile wheel covers, and possibly a hood ornament. Keep posted. More pics to come constantly.

Update --- October 3
Its been a few days now and I've decided I should update the page. '

Today I installed red kick-panel carpet inserts from a fully loaded 78 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham which has a 400 motor and a 400 tranny at the junkyard which really shouldn't bea there. It has a very very rich, good condition carmine interior with little to no fading, so anything useful will be coming out before this car becomes metal dust. And, finally got around to installing that beautiful and fully functional quartz-movement analog clock that I retreived from a silver and gray 84 Pontiac Parisienne Brougham. That very same car, will hopefully donate its full gage package, which has the trip odometer, temperature gage, and fuel economy gage. Someday......

As far as the Oldsmobile is concerned....

Just yesterday I got to installing the taillight and rear valance panel I bought from an 85 Royale Brougham. I'm having problems with he backup lights not working. Its in the steering column, or the wiring thereto.

This evening, utilizing a brand new razor blade, a combination of two-stroke oil and gasoline, and turtlewax, i removed any traces of those obscene bumper stickers that once resided upon the trunklid of the Oldsmobile. Man what a difference! Someday, hopefully soon, a new bumper will be coming and the rotted, sticker adorned one seen in the photographs will be in the cellar with my other box gm parts. I have come up with many new ideas for both the Oldsmobile and the Caprice. Since there is a fully loaded one at the junkyard, I'll be taking the belt reveal moldings, extra gages, and radio for the Oldsmobile. No less. For the Caprice, however, the fiber-optical light monitors (just the back ones, the front ones are too wide), chrome pedals, possibly the power passenger seat (if I can rig the motor to the Caprice's seat!), and the cornering lights will be donated. I don't know how to remove power electrical mirrors or automatic headlights, or where to even start on installing them, or else i'd have taken them too.

Update --- October 10
Though this isn't a serious update, I figured I'd record it while I had access to a computer and a 'lil free time. I have fresh pics coming soon, a LARGE batch, with updated AeroCoupe pictures (new side profiles, interior shots, etc) to replace the lousy ones I took first just to get something up on the page. Again, the update is for Red, the 84 Delta. What I did was get a new sidemarker from an 85 Delta Royale Brougham, a sad scenario. The "frosted" lens for the side marker filled with water on this one. Just today, my good friend Charles E. Parsons, formerly of Hollis, donated the sidemarkers of his wife's former Custom Cruiser, another sad case. The chrome is hideous on these, but the lenses are beautiful and completely removable! If you can put two and two together, you'll understand that I'm removing the good lens from the shitty sidemarker and putting it in the pretty one from the Delta 88. The other update is I installed the front left bumper guard, missing in the front end photograph seen on both page 1 and 6.

Update --- October 28
Check the Oldsmobile page for more pics. I got a couple of pics of the Caprice. They came out fucked. My seats aren't pink, or white. They are red, refer to the early pics. Its the angle I took them at I believe. I never said I was a professional. I got a pic of my busted windshield, and a pic of the car which shows the bad side of the car with the rust and the dent. It also shows why I want another vinyl top. In the 5 months I've had the car, I've armor-alled the top regularly, but its done nothing but crack more and fade. Its cause the car gets no shade. The Oldsmobile is sittin up on jacks, actually only one now, see pics. The taillight and caliper are still the last two hold ups. Notice the new bumper pics as well. Show quality chrome!

Update----
Work on the cars has pretty much any way you look at it, stopped for the time being. The car has brakes and whatnot, but its been determined I need a new catalytic converter, and the taillight lens. Got the back up lights to work flawlessly now, no flickering. It was the switch on the steering column. I've waxed the car a few more times, hoping it'll shine more. It doesn't really and I think it needs the help of a high-speed electric buffer, and the thick pastey wax.
"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities" - Teddy Roosevelt

Page 1: Here - Caprice Landau 1978
Page 2: Story - Caprice Landau 1978
Page 3: Updated Plans - Caprice Landau 1978
Page 4: Sample Medley - My former GM "box" rides ---- few pics....my bad
Page 5: Musical Medley - The Artists that I love to listen to
Page 6: The Other B-Body - Delta 88 Royale 1984
Page 7: CHANGED PAGE More off-topic - A List of "Box" Cars In My Area I Could Save, and a few I regret that I didn't

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