Are the 1977-1996 caprices considered Junkers?

MrBR · 08-17-2012, 11:15 PM

For some reason whenever one of these has transmission or engine troubles people usually give up on them, and most people I know don't consider them hot stuff. Personally I find them to be the last traditional true Chevy full size(RWD/BODY on frame) and are respectable cars so long as they don't have hydraulics or ridiculous giant rims.
Hell I actually kind of wish I had one, they're not old enough to be considered "projects" so places like body shops or auto repair shops don't hold them hostage for months on end.

**Dwayne J** · 08-18-2012, 04:28 AM

I do see a fair number of them in the junkyard without body damage so I think you are right about folks scrapping them for little reason.

In the 80s the 700R4 was pretty weak and even today a LOT of shops will screw it up and take your money, I think that contributes a lot to it. Since they are big people assume they are gas hogs too which contributes but in reality they are better than a lot of vehicles people find desirable like small SUVs and some minvans.

A co-worker had a CRV and he wished he got the mileage that I do with my street/strip sedan. An idiot that breifly worked with me had a Furd truck and made fun of my wagon guessing I got 12mpg, he shut up in a hurry when I told him over 20. So a LOT of it is just a bad attitude towards full size cars without any basis in reality. I will be honest too and say I think often they are handmedowns from older folks to younger family members who don't car for vehicles atall and just get stuff cheap and wear it out and send it to the junkyard.

**77Impala** · 08-18-2012, 05:15 AM

No they are not junkers, although sadly many around here where I live look like that is how the owner thinks of them.

They are considered to be upcoming hotrod vehicles. There was more but appears that the article may no longer be on their website.http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/1101phr_classsics_of_tomorrow/viewall.html#ixzz1aFbAL9uM

Here is a segment from the article:

Classics Of Tomorrow

Ten Affordable Project Cars You Should Buy Now!

From the January, 2011 issue of Popular Hot Rodding

By Cole Quinnell

Photography by Kenneth Milroy, Robert McGaffin, Tavis Highlander, The PHR Staff & Manufacturers

Read more: http://www.popularhotrodding.com/fea...#ixzz1aFbAL9uM
Hot rodding at its core is about building unique-looking cars that go fast. You can argue the details of that definition and go off in a thousand directions, but it comes down to looks and performance. Why do you lower a car? To make it look better and handle better. Larger wheels and tires? All the better to hook up and grip the road around corners. Do readers of this magazine leave their engine's stock? No way! In fact, most of you have shared with us a laundry list of things you've done underhood and another list of components or modifications that you are saving up for. But there is one more extremely important element in hot rodding: what car to start with.
The generic response to that open-ended question is usually a first-generation Camaro, a '64-71 Mustang, or your favorite Chrysler B- or E-Body. That's fine if you've got a bankroll to buy a decent one or rebuild the body on a basket case. Nevertheless another basic element of hot rodding is looking for cars with potential-the inexpensive alternative. This is usually an overlooked model that has the right stuff. The true hot rodder has always looked at the affordable pool of used cars that lurks just outside of the realm of what average consumers desire. Sometimes it's a little too old or a little too rough to be considered much more than an eyesore by the Joneses, and that's when it becomes great fodder for us.
We've identified what may be the next era of hot rods: the top 10 classics of tomorrow. OK, so maybe they aren't all potential classics, but they are great foundations for building an affordable hot rod today. For this article, we're defining the right stuff as being rear-wheel drive, and available with a V-8. The reason for this is cost. In order for these orphan models to have hot rod potential, they must be affordable, and have an engine room big enough for real power.
Because of the era that these cars are coming from, they all have better brakes and better handling than the more favored muscle cars from the '60s. They are also more likely to have functioning creature comforts. How about an 11-second driver with factory air conditioning and power windows? You won't touch that in a classic car for less than $20,000, and you can pick up four of these future classics for less cash than that!
Of course, what most of these cars gain with luxury items and entry-level pricing, they lack in power. Most of the beauties we included here were lucky to have more than 200 horses underhood. Most of the cars you'll find in the local paper will probably have a couple-hundred thousand miles on the odometer and a pathetic original powerplant that will be wheezing like a two-pack-a-day smoker taking harmonica lessons. That's where you come in to give new life to some of Detroit's most overlooked models. We included V-8 vehicles to make it easier for you to swap in a good engine, not because the engine that came with the car was necessarily desirable.
While you could find basket cases without titles for hundreds of dollars, we give a price range for each model that would net you a driveable, registerable car-something that a reasonable hot rodder could buy, use as a driver, and build. Every car included here can be had for under $10,000, and most of them for far less than that.
These forgotten cars are finding favor with today's hot rodders because they're cheap, rear-wheel drive, and can house a V-8. Even with exhaustive research and much bench racing, we realize that we may have missed a few more potential classic cars from this era. If you have one that you think has the right stuff to become a future hot rod, drop Editor Hunkins a line at john.hunkins@sorc.com.

Full size Disco
1977-90 Chevy Caprice
The '77-90 Chevy Impala and Caprice cars are great examples of what this article is all about-forgotten pseudo-luxury cars from an overlooked era. But these models retained a basic architecture that was decades old. As full-frame cars with a live rear axle, these cars used a multi-link rear suspension that traces its design heritage back to the A-body of the '60s.
Impalas were available in both two- and four-door versions. Some of the two-door cars even had an aero rear window that would be brought back in '86-88 on some Monte Carlos. In 1980, the body was slightly revised to be a bit more streamlined. In 1981, a police package was introduced that brought with it heavy-duty brakes, steering and suspension, plus some cool dog-dish wheels.
Earlier models came with a 350 V-8 that made an amazing 170 hp. In the '80-85 models, a 305 is much more common. The engine specs don't matter that much. All those V-8s underhood mean it already has the motor mounts and accessory drive that you'll need when you drop your fresh small-block in place. (Beware, some wagons had the 307 Olds underhood, so some cajoling may be in order.)
This era of Caprices and Impalas were built on the B-body platform, and there were also Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac versions available. By this time, GM had nearly perfected badge engineering and the only real exterior differences between the brands were the grilles and trim. They retained engines from the brand lineage.
BY THE NUMBERS
Model years: '77-90
Most desirable: '77-79 two-door coupe
Engine you want: 305 or 350 Chevy V-8
Why you want it: Haul the gang to the drag strip and then lay down some 11-second quarters for cheap.
Price range: $2,500-$4,000

We also have this thread from almost 2 years ago on this subject. http://www.impalaforums.com/media-bu...w-article.html

Joe · 08-18-2012, 05:49 AM

No. Not to enthusiasts.

**Old Bones** · 08-18-2012, 07:07 AM

My 83 aint no junker

waynes91 · 08-18-2012, 07:19 AM

hard to find a b in the bone yard ,they crush them quick for the cost of steel they to have tons of rice there theres alway tons of people pulling stuff off them, guess theres more money there..and theres more of them on the road

btw old bones hows the ol girl running with the new trans plant?

**Old Bones** · 08-18-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynes91

hard to find a b in the bone yard ,they crush them quick for the cost of steel they to have tons of rice there theres alway tons of people pulling stuff off them, guess theres more money there..and theres more of them on the road

btw old bones hows the ol girl running with the new trans plant?

Really good thanks , lots of pep , haven't even got a ticket yet

Got the best emissions test result ever , 2 cat converters better than all the 80s crap that was on there

**Dwayne J** · 08-18-2012, 08:09 AM

There is a yard here that sits on b-bodies awhile, it is actually the LT1 cars that get crushed first since they come in with no engine or the engines are yanked before they even hit the yard.
cash for clunkers sent several there because politicians and the general public are raging idiots that took perfectly good cars off the road and left genuine clunkers because the people who were driving real clunkers couldn't affords to take advantage of the program.

waynes91 · 08-18-2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwayne J

There is a yard here that sits on b-bodies awhile, it is actually the LT1 cars that get crushed first since they come in with no engine or the engines are yanked before they even hit the yard.
cash for clunkers sent several there because politicians and the general public are raging idiots that took perfectly good cars off the road and left genuine clunkers because the people who were driving real clunkers couldn't affords to take advantage of the program.

thank you.. same idiots will vote for the jerk again... wait whats our options

dont want to turn this political

CinRed · 08-18-2012, 10:44 AM

The best thing about the "cash for clunkers program" was it took most of the Osa... err... I mean Obama bumper stickers off the road.

MrBR · 08-18-2012, 11:34 AM

I mean no disrespect toward these cars, hell I remember they used to be taxis and I remember them fondly and I'm sure they get better treatment at shops, I'm just saying that's what I think some people feel.

hotrodjunky1982 · 08-19-2012, 03:21 AM

I think the cop/taxi connection almost makes them invisible...everybody over the age of 20 has seen millions. Plus, They havent "ripened" yet. A 77 may be 35 years old, but it looks way close to a 90. They still look to "new" Still my favorite style. I think at least 10 years before they are "accepted". My 79 is to new for some car show cutoffs...and thats another thing. I think the general accepted cutoff should be tailored to include rwd full frame cars without plastic bumpers, and the end of the monte carlo/grand national era.

MrBR · 08-19-2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotrodjunky1982

I think the cop/taxi connection almost makes them invisible...everybody over the age of 20 has seen millions. Plus, They havent "ripened" yet. A 77 may be 35 years old, but it looks way close to a 90. They still look to "new" Still my favorite style. I think at least 10 years before they are "accepted". My 79 is to new for some car show cutoffs...and thats another thing. I think the general accepted cutoff should be tailored to include rwd full frame cars without plastic bumpers, and the end of the monte carlo/grand national era.

That means the last collector car would be the 1992 Cadillac Brougham.

hotrodjunky1982 · 08-19-2012, 02:16 PM

Agreed! want one of those too.

**kingnutin** · 08-20-2012, 09:31 AM

77-96? Nah, everybody that owns one is an asshole.

08-17-2012, 11:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
MrBR Screw The Environment Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 325 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts View My Garage MrBR	Are the 1977-1996 caprices considered Junkers? For some reason whenever one of these has transmission or engine troubles people usually give up on them, and most people I know don't consider them hot stuff. Personally I find them to be the last traditional true Chevy full size(RWD/BODY on frame) and are respectable cars so long as they don't have hydraulics or ridiculous giant rims. Hell I actually kind of wish I had one, they're not old enough to be considered "projects" so places like body shops or auto repair shops don't hold them hostage for months on end.

08-18-2012, 04:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,649 Thanks: 1 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	I do see a fair number of them in the junkyard without body damage so I think you are right about folks scrapping them for little reason. In the 80s the 700R4 was pretty weak and even today a LOT of shops will screw it up and take your money, I think that contributes a lot to it. Since they are big people assume they are gas hogs too which contributes but in reality they are better than a lot of vehicles people find desirable like small SUVs and some minvans. A co-worker had a CRV and he wished he got the mileage that I do with my street/strip sedan. An idiot that breifly worked with me had a Furd truck and made fun of my wagon guessing I got 12mpg, he shut up in a hurry when I told him over 20. So a LOT of it is just a bad attitude towards full size cars without any basis in reality. I will be honest too and say I think often they are handmedowns from older folks to younger family members who don't car for vehicles atall and just get stuff cheap and wear it out and send it to the junkyard. __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

08-18-2012, 05:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
77Impala 1st Year of the 5th Generation Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North TX Posts: 6,150 Thanks: 72 Thanked 67 Times in 37 Posts View My Garage 77Impala	No they are not junkers, although sadly many around here where I live look like that is how the owner thinks of them. They are considered to be upcoming hotrod vehicles. There was more but appears that the article may no longer be on their website.http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/1101phr_classsics_of_tomorrow/viewall.html#ixzz1aFbAL9uM Here is a segment from the article: Classics Of Tomorrow Ten Affordable Project Cars You Should Buy Now! From the January, 2011 issue of Popular Hot Rodding By Cole Quinnell Photography by Kenneth Milroy, Robert McGaffin, Tavis Highlander, The PHR Staff & Manufacturers Read more: http://www.popularhotrodding.com/fea...#ixzz1aFbAL9uM Hot rodding at its core is about building unique-looking cars that go fast. You can argue the details of that definition and go off in a thousand directions, but it comes down to looks and performance. Why do you lower a car? To make it look better and handle better. Larger wheels and tires? All the better to hook up and grip the road around corners. Do readers of this magazine leave their engine's stock? No way! In fact, most of you have shared with us a laundry list of things you've done underhood and another list of components or modifications that you are saving up for. But there is one more extremely important element in hot rodding: what car to start with. The generic response to that open-ended question is usually a first-generation Camaro, a '64-71 Mustang, or your favorite Chrysler B- or E-Body. That's fine if you've got a bankroll to buy a decent one or rebuild the body on a basket case. Nevertheless another basic element of hot rodding is looking for cars with potential-the inexpensive alternative. This is usually an overlooked model that has the right stuff. The true hot rodder has always looked at the affordable pool of used cars that lurks just outside of the realm of what average consumers desire. Sometimes it's a little too old or a little too rough to be considered much more than an eyesore by the Joneses, and that's when it becomes great fodder for us. We've identified what may be the next era of hot rods: the top 10 classics of tomorrow. OK, so maybe they aren't all potential classics, but they are great foundations for building an affordable hot rod today. For this article, we're defining the right stuff as being rear-wheel drive, and available with a V-8. The reason for this is cost. In order for these orphan models to have hot rod potential, they must be affordable, and have an engine room big enough for real power. Because of the era that these cars are coming from, they all have better brakes and better handling than the more favored muscle cars from the '60s. They are also more likely to have functioning creature comforts. How about an 11-second driver with factory air conditioning and power windows? You won't touch that in a classic car for less than $20,000, and you can pick up four of these future classics for less cash than that! Of course, what most of these cars gain with luxury items and entry-level pricing, they lack in power. Most of the beauties we included here were lucky to have more than 200 horses underhood. Most of the cars you'll find in the local paper will probably have a couple-hundred thousand miles on the odometer and a pathetic original powerplant that will be wheezing like a two-pack-a-day smoker taking harmonica lessons. That's where you come in to give new life to some of Detroit's most overlooked models. We included V-8 vehicles to make it easier for you to swap in a good engine, not because the engine that came with the car was necessarily desirable. While you could find basket cases without titles for hundreds of dollars, we give a price range for each model that would net you a driveable, registerable car-something that a reasonable hot rodder could buy, use as a driver, and build. Every car included here can be had for under $10,000, and most of them for far less than that. These forgotten cars are finding favor with today's hot rodders because they're cheap, rear-wheel drive, and can house a V-8. Even with exhaustive research and much bench racing, we realize that we may have missed a few more potential classic cars from this era. If you have one that you think has the right stuff to become a future hot rod, drop Editor Hunkins a line at john.hunkins@sorc.com. Full size Disco 1977-90 Chevy Caprice The '77-90 Chevy Impala and Caprice cars are great examples of what this article is all about-forgotten pseudo-luxury cars from an overlooked era. But these models retained a basic architecture that was decades old. As full-frame cars with a live rear axle, these cars used a multi-link rear suspension that traces its design heritage back to the A-body of the '60s. Impalas were available in both two- and four-door versions. Some of the two-door cars even had an aero rear window that would be brought back in '86-88 on some Monte Carlos. In 1980, the body was slightly revised to be a bit more streamlined. In 1981, a police package was introduced that brought with it heavy-duty brakes, steering and suspension, plus some cool dog-dish wheels. Earlier models came with a 350 V-8 that made an amazing 170 hp. In the '80-85 models, a 305 is much more common. The engine specs don't matter that much. All those V-8s underhood mean it already has the motor mounts and accessory drive that you'll need when you drop your fresh small-block in place. (Beware, some wagons had the 307 Olds underhood, so some cajoling may be in order.) This era of Caprices and Impalas were built on the B-body platform, and there were also Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac versions available. By this time, GM had nearly perfected badge engineering and the only real exterior differences between the brands were the grilles and trim. They retained engines from the brand lineage. BY THE NUMBERS Model years: '77-90 Most desirable: '77-79 two-door coupe Engine you want: 305 or 350 Chevy V-8 Why you want it: Haul the gang to the drag strip and then lay down some 11-second quarters for cheap. Price range: $2,500-$4,000 We also have this thread from almost 2 years ago on this subject. http://www.impalaforums.com/media-bu...w-article.html __________________ 1977 Impala Sedan, 5.0L, TH200, 2.56:1, 100K miles, 37 Lifetime Warranty Parts. 1997 Dodge Ram B2500, 5.2L, 36RH, 3.21:1, 373K miles, 24 Lifetime Warranty Parts. Last edited by 77Impala; 08-18-2012 at 05:35 AM..

08-18-2012, 05:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Joe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Detroit Posts: 764 Thanks: 47 Thanked 43 Times in 32 Posts View My Garage Joe	No. Not to enthusiasts. __________________ 2005 Impala - Base with a bunch of options 1967 Camaro RS/SS L78 - Perpetual restoration project

08-18-2012, 07:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
Old Bones Caprice Classic with Class Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Port Coquitlam B.C. Canada Posts: 4,182 Thanks: 279 Thanked 312 Times in 186 Posts View My Garage Old Bones	My 83 aint no junker __________________ People who drive slower than me are Assholes. People who drive faster than me are Crazy. 1983 Caprice Classic. 350 CID. 330 HP. 380 Ft.Lbs. Torque. Turbo 350 Trans. with Cooler. Headman Headers. Magnaflow Cats. Flowmaster Delta 50 Mufflers. Electric Fan. Compu STAR Alarm. Crazy Canuck behind the Wheel.

08-18-2012, 07:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
waynes91 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: groton ct Posts: 579 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	hard to find a b in the bone yard ,they crush them quick for the cost of steel they to have tons of rice there theres alway tons of people pulling stuff off them, guess theres more money there..and theres more of them on the road btw old bones hows the ol girl running with the new trans plant?

08-18-2012, 08:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,649 Thanks: 1 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	There is a yard here that sits on b-bodies awhile, it is actually the LT1 cars that get crushed first since they come in with no engine or the engines are yanked before they even hit the yard. cash for clunkers sent several there because politicians and the general public are raging idiots that took perfectly good cars off the road and left genuine clunkers because the people who were driving real clunkers couldn't affords to take advantage of the program. __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

08-18-2012, 10:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
CinRed Designated Driver Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 1,546 Thanks: 137 Thanked 204 Times in 125 Posts View My Garage CinRed	The best thing about the "cash for clunkers program" was it took most of the Osa... err... I mean Obama bumper stickers off the road.

08-18-2012, 11:34 AM	#11 (permalink)
MrBR Screw The Environment Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 325 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts View My Garage MrBR	I mean no disrespect toward these cars, hell I remember they used to be taxis and I remember them fondly and I'm sure they get better treatment at shops, I'm just saying that's what I think some people feel.

08-19-2012, 03:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
hotrodjunky1982 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: ct Posts: 465 Thanks: 3 Thanked 53 Times in 33 Posts	I think the cop/taxi connection almost makes them invisible...everybody over the age of 20 has seen millions. Plus, They havent "ripened" yet. A 77 may be 35 years old, but it looks way close to a 90. They still look to "new" Still my favorite style. I think at least 10 years before they are "accepted". My 79 is to new for some car show cutoffs...and thats another thing. I think the general accepted cutoff should be tailored to include rwd full frame cars without plastic bumpers, and the end of the monte carlo/grand national era. __________________

08-19-2012, 02:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
hotrodjunky1982 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: ct Posts: 465 Thanks: 3 Thanked 53 Times in 33 Posts	Agreed! want one of those too. __________________

08-20-2012, 09:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,858 Thanks: 212 Thanked 559 Times in 378 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	77-96? Nah, everybody that owns one is an asshole. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

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