Mike C Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Since when was a Caprice Cruiser a TPI Camaro? The Caprice will be TBI. It isn't really any different than any other TBI 350, but they run sweet. $600 is a fair price for a running car IMO. I have an LT1 from a '96 Caprice that will most likely wind up in my Z in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DRK Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 Throttle body injection. 87 and up should have a roller cam and center bolt valve covers. Also should have 700R4. Would be a candidate. DK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 I dunno the state has been known to get some odd cars, if it was actually a cruiser it could have the TPI motor in it (like you could get later on the roadmaster) I have seen more than one of the caprice cruisers with the TPI Motor, just can't remember what year they started doing it. how many have seen the early government edition tarus's running around with duel exaust (3.0 yamaha SHO motor) only way you could get that motor in an automatic. intresting little sleeper of a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 The TPI never was put in anything production other than a Camaro or Corvette. The LT1 WAS available in the Caprice from 94-96, when the B bodies were killed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 Since the cruisers later were getting what the Camaros were, I figured that they had the TPI option, guess not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdsk8r Posted February 14, 2003 Author Share Posted February 14, 2003 I sold my 327 to a very persistant fellow for a very sizeable profit. Now I'm back to the drawing board, so to speak. I have a line on a 88 Caprice police cruiser from a small town nearby. Low milage (high hours though, I'm sure). It has the 350 police interceptor in it. I can get the complete car for under $600. Can anyone tell me anything about these engines? Is it a throttlebody injection? Your help is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 The Camaro was TPI from 85-92 so the Cruiser should likewise be. There is some difference from 89-92 but not schooled on these engines, other than they make mean TQ from the long runner intake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 1988 LT option dropped and Z28 model dropped and replaced by IROC-Z. Total Production -88 IROC Camaros: 27,811. The base IROC motor (305 cid) had the TBI injection and dealership sticker price $17,076. Only 12,116 people ordered 350 IROC. B2L/L98 (350 Cid TPI V8) option for the CAMARO cost $1,045. Serpentine belt now on Camaro V-8's. Long-lived LG4 carbureted 305 replaced by the new LO3 throttle body injection 305 (170@4000 255@2400). All Camaro TPI motors bumped up 5 hp due to slightly higher lift/longer duration cam profiles, additional valve seat angle, exhaust port/exhaust manifold changes. 305 TPI powered cars on -88: 195@4000 295@2800. http://www.fbody.com/members/matias/camaro.htm I'm going to assume they got the 'good' 350 instead of the TBI 305(?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Flash Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 I haven't driven a Caprice police car since about 1992. My old department and the one I work for now went to the Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor. I can't tell you much about what kind of engine is in the car you are looking at but I can tell you a couple of things about police cruisers. #1 Not all police cars are "police package" equiped. Sometimes departments will get regular Crown Vics in an effort to save money. This is usualy a bad idea because the cars do not last as long. #2 Police cruisers are driven sometimes for a couple of days without being shut down! For instance. You drive the car on day shift starting at 7:00am till 3:00pm, the second shift guy takes over from 3:00pm till 11:00pm, and then the third shifter gets in and takes it from there. I know some guys who have an extra key for their car and let it run the entire shift! Even while they are sitting in a restaurant eating! Be careful when buying a police car. If the car is a 1988 the odometer may have rolled over lol. We average 75 to 100 miles per shift on our cars and they get replaced every four years due to wear and tear. The car I drive right now is a 1999 Crown Vic with over 75,000 miles on the odometer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdsk8r Posted February 14, 2003 Author Share Posted February 14, 2003 Georgia Flash, I had the same concerns. This is a small town police dept. Two cruisers and six officers. The afore mentioned car has the police package, 71000 miles, records show oil changed/serviced every two months. It runs very well, needs brakes only. Oh, it has throttle body injection. The car is very quick for a big "land barge". I'm negotiating with the village to get the car for $500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Flash Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 Yes as I can remember the Chevy Caprice of that model was pretty damn quick. $500 or $600 should be a good deal on it just be careful and do not under any circumstances ever sit in the back seat lol. I have seen blood, vomit, urine, human crap, and all kinds of drug items in the back seats of cruisers. Sure they get washed down...but you never know. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 Considering somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% of wear comes on startup, letting it run is not a bad thing. Idle has virtually zero load as well. Consider that most police cars after they are retired become taxi cabs, there is no reason to think that its life expectancy is used up. As noted, not all cop cars ARE "Cop Cars" they use cheaper models sometimes. As far as GM motors, the Caprice 350 is the same as the "cop car" 350. The suspension, possibly cooling, and transmissions are usually beefed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted February 15, 2003 Share Posted February 15, 2003 Most likely a trans cooler, and maybe an oil cooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted February 15, 2003 Share Posted February 15, 2003 Anyone know the going rate for an LT1 Caprice at a cop car auction in CA? Ballpark numbers? What other engines came in early-to-mid-90s Caprices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Flash Posted February 16, 2003 Share Posted February 16, 2003 While I agree that most wear and tear does come on start up, I might also still have to disagree with the life expectancy issue. Ever ride in a piece of crap taxi, lol? Just because something can still be driven doesn't mean it will run well. I would suspect that most taxi companies get the ex cop cars at auctions to save money. Not only do the cars sit and idle for hours at a time (which I have heard is not good on the engine) but when they are driven they are driven hard. As I said before $500 to $600 would be a good price for an ex patrol cruiser in good shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdsk8r Posted February 17, 2003 Author Share Posted February 17, 2003 Well, I got the Caprice for $475. But I'm still looking for another donor car. My son was home on a 96'er and needed a winter car/transportation until he gets shipped to Kuwait, his Mustang is totally useless in the winter. Maybe I can get it back from him when he ships out. I'm still looking in the meantime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruez Posted February 17, 2003 Share Posted February 17, 2003 There are 10 or so newer Highway patrol cars for sale at the DMV near me in NC. Looks like they sell instead of auctioning them there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zgeezer Posted February 18, 2003 Share Posted February 18, 2003 I paid $2100 for complete '96 Caprice with tow package through a bid placed by friendly dismantler. He paid less. Purchased early this year. 65,000 on vehicle..roll over with only a few unbent body panels. zgeezer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted February 18, 2003 Share Posted February 18, 2003 zgeezer, An LT1 car or L99? Just curious about the existence of the HD engine driven cooling fan on LT1s. I have heard of this option on some cars with towing packages and on station wagons. Did/does your car have the eninge driven fan? and if so, do you have pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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