I am really proud of
my Roadmaster's interior.
The Dark Jadestone Metallic exterior goes
great with the Medium Gray leather interior.
I think the Roadmaster Sedan has
one of the nicest B-Body interiors.
Especially the Standard (STD) Roadmaster.
I'm not knocking the Limited Roadmasters,
it's just that I personally prefer
the Standard Roadmaster seats.
The Limited has a flatter
plainer looking seat,
in my opinion.
I like the "cushy" pillow
look of my seats.
These seats look great with
a center console conversion!
Burak Ergin made my custom aluminum door pulls.
See the stock on the LEFT....Burak's on the RIGHT.
These door pulls are pieces
of aluminum artwork!
They fit exactly,
and add a beautiful touch.
Greg Suski made
these Billet Aluminum
Seat Belt Mount Covers.
These have the
Buick Tri-Shield Logo
engraved in them.
They are amazing
pieces of Aluminum Artwork!
The only thing lacking
in the interior was a
center console with floor shifter.
That oversight
has been corrected.
In fact, I think
this console is one
of the nicest looking
and user friendly console's
that GM ever made.
I like the cup holders & huge
storage compartment.
The replaceable liners
in the cup holders and "clutter tray"
are a nice touch.
Part of the center console
conversion included
modifying the drivers seat.
The front seats were
originally a 60/40 arrangement,
with the driver's seat
having a built in armrest.
The factory made the driver's seat wider by
simply welding on an additional frame piece.
Other than that extra part,
the frame looks identical to the passenger seat.
We just removed this tube,
modified & rebuilt the seat cushion,
and then the cover was sewn
to match the passenger seat.
This modification looks absolutely stock.
(The part circled
in yellow was removed,
and the seat modified.)
Here is the same seat,
installed next to my
new console.
I dyed the shift
handle with SEM Medium Gray.
The vinyl , carpet , & faux wood trim were
already a perfect match to the stock interior.
An EXACT match!
The final touch was to delete the column shifter
handle and all evidence that it ever existed.
This was accomplished by cutting off the
little knob on the column, filing it,
filling the resulting hole, & finally
finishing it with a coat of Medium Gray SEM.
A neat feature is that the
"PRNDL" indicator
in the dash still functions .
It works in tandem
with the floor shifter .
Most importantly ,
this conversion looks stock
( I even sold my original
armrest on eBay
for more than
I paid for the center
console and shifter).
Want to install a center console
and floor shifter in your
Roadmaster (or Caprice)???
Here is what you'll need:
1) Center console w/ shifter
from a 1997-2002 Olds Bravada
or Chevy Blazer.
2) Try to get the shifter cable.
If you couldn't get
it with the console,
don't worry.
GM still carries them.
Part #15730543.
3) You will need
two brackets.
The first is a trans pan
bracket that holds
the shifter cable to
the trans pan.
The second
will need to be fabricated.
I got mine from
Kevin Giltner.
He is on the ISSCA Forum,
and goes by the name
96greengrey.
He will sell you both
brackets.
He does excellent work,
and charges a fair price.
One bracket bolts to the trans pan.
The second allows the stock
shift linkage to work with the cable shifter.
Why would you want to still
use the stock linkage
to the steering column?
Well, it allows the stock
shifter interlock to still function,
allowing you to shift out of park.
Also, the shift indicator in the
dash will still function.
On a Roadmaster, the doors
will still lock and unlock
with the shifter too.
Kevin's kit makes this
install like factory option.
The cable routes out
of the front of the console,
under the pedals,
and exits the floor near
the driver's door sill.
That rubber gromett comes
with the shifter cable.
The cable runs under the car,
to the transmission.
Sound complicated?
It isn't.
If you buy Kevin's bracket kit,
he also includes written instructions.
4) Wiring harness w/ relay.
Kevin can also make you a
wiring harness for this conversion.
His harness will allow
your current shift interlock
and the Blazer/Bravada
interlock to work together.
(a shift interlock is the
thing that unlocks the shifter
when you press the brake pedal).
His harness also covers the wiring
for the lighting on the console.
5) Modification of the driver's seat,
as shown above.
6) Modification to the steering column.
Cut off the metal stump that the lever attaches to.
Grind away all high spots.
Fill hole (I used JB Weld),
and finish it like body work.
Gray SEM or DupliColor in
medium gray is a perfect match.
Placement of the console
is up to you.
It can be moved
forward or backward,
to your preference.
The seats automatically
center it, so you don't
have to worry about centering it.
Height adjustment
is also up to you.
Some guys cut a notch
out or cut the rear
of the console
to match the lines
of the trans tunnel.
I did not do that.
I found it most comfortable
at the stock height.
I simply added
some fiberglass insulation,
and the console meets
the trans tunnel with
a factory look.
Also, note the
spray foam used to
deaden sound
and to strengthen the
shifter bracket that I made.
It's rock solid.
7) Misc part numbers you may want or need for this:
-Shift handle GM Part #12376739
-#12377275 clutter tray liner
-#12388409 cup holder liner
Kevin's kit & instructions also cover how to
synchronize the new shifter,
with the shifter in the dash gauge cluster.
It's pretty easy.
If you need any help with this modification,
feel free to leave me a message in my guestbook.
7) Kevin's contact info:
kevin62910@yahoo.com
Kevin Giltner's CarDomain Page:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/629700/1
Kevin's CarDomain Page
Here is my new steering wheel,
new air bag,
and re-dyed shift handle.
I didn't really need a new air bag,
but I wanted one for the new wheel.
My upholstery shop just made
a gray leather boot
to match my gray leather handle.
Here it is.
What do you think?
200 MPH Speedometer.
Made to match my AutoMeter gauges.
See page 9 for details.
When I got the console,
I held it up to the dash
and door panel
to check color match....
Perfect Match!
You may notice that I added
"GS" logos to the headrests ,
a "Gran Sport" emblem ,
and an
"LT1 Engine Specification Plate"
to the dash.
Other mods include a
Triple A Pillar Gauge Pod
filled with Auto Meter Artic
White Electronic Gauges ,
and a new steering
wheel / air bag combo
wrapped in a
red and gray leather
sewn-on Wheelskins cover.
The "GS" headrest logos
are from SLP .
They were GSX logos,
used for the supercharged
GSX Regals that SLP made.
I just didn't use the "X".
These logos are iron on,
and they have a
suede leather texture .
I think they are a nice touch.
Again, another influence
from the mid-90's Impala SS interior...
Take a look at that sanitary
and unworn door panel,
armrest, and switch panel.
Absolutely MINT!!!
They should be, as
they are brand new.
I was lucky and found someone
selling off factory
sealed NOS stuff.
Completing the interior
is a set of
billet aluminum pedals
manufactured by
Mallory Billet Accessories .
MBA made some of the
nicest and highest quality
B-Body items.
These pedals are a work of art .
The Roadmaster is equipped with an
automatic climate control system ,
which includes an interior &
exterior temperature sensor.
It's a nice feature,
just set the temp,
and it heats or cools,
to keep the interior
at that temperature.
In addition, I added a
rear-view compass-mirror .
The exterior
rear-view mirrors
are electric powered ,
and are heated .
Both front seats are power .
All windows, locks,
antenna, etc. are power.
The stock AM / FM Delco Stereo
with Cassette and Concert Sound
amplified speaker system
has an added Pioneer 6 disc CD
changer in the trunk.
I did not want to add
an aftermarket stereo.
I want to keep this car looking like
it was built this way at the factory.
I think completely upgrading the
entire suspension warrants
deleting the old Dynaride emblem
and upgrading to this
NOS Gran Touring Suspension
emblem on my dash.
Newly added is a jewelry grade
silver plaque that reads:
"RoadMonster".
I bought this from a
jeweler in Athens, Greece
who makes car dash emblems
and name plates.
Yes, Greece. Really!
Modified Stock Radio w/ MP3 Input.
Just installed an upgraded stock stereo
that has an input for an MP3 player.
It's a nicer stock radio than my car had,
with an equalizer, and digital
display for all radio functions.
The best part is that the radio
was modified with an MP3 jack.
I do not want to use an
aftermarket radio on this car,
to keep with the
"factory could have built it" theme.
Just installed it today
(December 15, 2006)
and I'm very happy with it.
Custom Trunk Kit
My trunk has a custom made trunk kit
This kit gives the trunk a sanitary look,
while providing useful storage compartments.
This is something the factory should have done.
On these cars, it is possible for shifting cargo
in the trunk to dent the rear fenders.
This kit eliminates that possibility.
I keep tools, Mechanix Gloves,
back up Meziere water pump,
serpintine belt,
and other extra parts in
the storage compartments.
It is made of 7-ply birch plywood,
and covered in matching carpet.
The hardware is top notch.
The fit and finish are exceptional.
This kit was made by AudioFX.
Update 12-18-07: 2.5# Halon Extinguisher.
I received my Halon Fire Extinguisher
that I will be mounting in the trunk.
Installed Pics to follow....
Brushed Aluminum Flashlight. 2/6/08.
Have you ever tried to find a
brushed aluminum D-Cell flashlight?
Let me tell you, it's pretty hard to do.
I wanted it to match the brushed
finish on the Extinguisher.
The extinguisher is also getting
a brushed aluminum mount,
that will also match the brushed finish.
The flashlight mount is red powdercoated.
What do you think?
This flashlight is made by Tow-Rax,
and is really a nice piece of work.
Brushed Billet Extinguisher Bracket. 2-10-08.
I just ordered the billet clamp
and mount for the extinguisher.
Now I can finish the trunk by
installing the extinguisher
and flashlight...
Finished!
2/15/2008
What do you think?
Embroidered Trunk Bags. 12-28-07.
Trunk Bags arrived today.
Nicely embroidered with RoadMonster
and the Buick Tri-Shield logos.
See page 8 for contact information for Suzi,
who embroidered and provided these bags.
She does GREAT work!!!!
Embroidered Spare Tire Cover
By Cesar @ New Imperial Embroidery.
Doesn't it look great!
Cesar did the Buick Motorsports Hat too.
See page 8 for his contact info...
January 24, 2009
Tool Kit & Tool Bags:
My buddy Cesar embroidered
my Craftsman tool bags.
I just purchased a set of
Craftsman Professional Pliers,
Screwdrivers, & Combination Wrenches.
I really like the Craftsman Professional
series of hand tools.
The grips are really comfortable.
The tools are nice quality,
clear powdercoated,
and the colors match
the RoadMonster theme perfectly!
A metric Allen Wrench set,
metric Craftsman Socket Set,
& a couple of red / black
Craftsman tool wraps
complete the new tool kit.
I try to keep everything clean and detailed,
which is easy on a trailer queen,
and not so easy on a driver....
page 1....................Introduction
page 2....................Gran Sport Theme
page 3....................Interior & Trunk You Are Here
page 4....................Under The Hood
page 5....................Transmission
page 6....................Wheels, Tires & Suspension
page 7....................Headers & Exhaust
page 8....................Recommended Vendors
page 9....................Modifications
page 10..................History
page 11..................Restoration & Help
page 12..................Part Numbers
page 13..................Art & 1:25 Scale Model
page 14..................Future Plans
page 15..................200 MPH Speedometer
page 16..................Shows 2006
page 17..................Shows 2007
page 18..................Shows 2008
page 19..................Shows 2009
page 20..................4th Annual Salem Roadster Show
page 21..................Upcoming Shows 2010
page 22..................Attended Shows 2010
page 23..................roadmonster.org
page 24..................page under construction
