LT1 engine in a Roadmaster?

Do I remember correctly that a 1994 Roadmaster Limited would have come equipped with a 5.7L LT1 engine?

 

That would be correct - all RoadMasters (Sedans and Wagons) from 94-96 came equipped with LT!'s factory rated @ 260HP. 94,95 used ODBI while 96's used ODBII engine management. Limited was a Trim package on the RM

Only the Caprices offered the baby Lt1, i believe referred to as the L99

 

thanks -

my mom's car was totaled by a guy who ran a stopsign and I am looking for an reliable used car that will last a couple of years and will be driven no more than 1000 miles max. I am on my way to take a look at an original owner, low miles, 94 roadmaster limited.

 

The two pesky flaws of the LT1 are

1) The OptiSpark "distributor" - Sits behind / under the water pump. The OptiSpark can be flaky on its own, but add a leaking waterpump to the mix and you'll want to strangle the GM Engineer who put the heart of the ignition system under a fluid pump. If one fails....you do both basically since you're there anyway

2) Exaust Manifold leaks due to broken manifold bolts.....not fun and will drive mileage down due to incorrect O2 readings

Expect at least one of the rear windows to not operate properly.....sometimes the fronts too. If you're lucky like me, you may even get 3 outa 4 that fail. problem is a plastic roller in a track - easy enough fix with upgraded parts except you have to take the door panels off. If all of them work well - dont expect them to for long

When you test drive it, If its running well, you Should have a big grin on your puss after exercising your right foot to the floorboards.....even in a 4,300# car

 

....also

easiest way to tell a tow package equipped car is to look under the hood. If its got 2 electric fans, It doesn.t.....one electric and one mechanical with a fan shroud breaking the flat top line along the top of the Rad. shows it is

below shows tow pkg



Tow Pkg. gave you HD engine cooling, Oil and Trans coolers, and auto- level air ride shocks. ...maybe a few other goodies

....of course you could look at the SPID sticker - V92 is towing pkg. G80 is Posi which was an option either way.

Good Luck

 

Jim - Look around the Impala SS Forum to find out more particulars on the Opti/water pump swap. I believe alot of the guys upgrade to a newer year ('95 I think).

There are differences in the timing cover and the size of the hole for the Opti and the water pump. Some have better venting too.

Like Alan said, when one goes - do 'em both!!

RoadMasters are really good cruisers!! Should prove quite reliable!!:TU:

 

Hey I guess since they have the LT1, they can be built to run pretty easy? :Brow:

LT4 upgrade kit comes to mind.

 

Scott - I believe your concerns abou the Opti are relevant to F-Bodies and Coverttes only - Frome what I understand (and I have a '94 and recently did the dual replacement) RM's and caprice/Imps all had the "later" style opti

.....the difference being a Vent in the cap

 

Scott - I believe your concerns abou the Opti are relevant to F-Bodies and Coverttes only - Frome what I understand (and I have a '94 and recently did the dual replacement) RM's and caprice/Imps all had the "later" style opti

.....the difference being a Vent in the cap

As for the LT4 stuff - the most prevelent part used is the LT4 Knock sensor

 

Glad to hear it!! Hard to keep up on all the 'exceptions'!!:Brow:

 

Jim, unless she absolutely has to have another big wagon, I would recommend not to go there, as parts are getting very hard to find, a tune up can run you up to $300 or more, even though it wouldn't be driven alot, you know just sitting doesn't help. A better bet would be a late model Park Avenue or LeSabre with 3800, very little maintenance needed, oil changes once a year, mileage in city or hwy, over 20, and lots of parts available, but they don't usually need any. And can be had for next to nothing with low miles and very clean condition, as the market is flooded with used cars due to the rebates aka cash on the hood. Just a thought. My dad, has a '92, and my brother works with a couple of guys that play with Caprices, ex cop cars, and are having trouble getting parts, The Old Guy's brother in law is looking to replace the rear brake line from the front to the back on his '92 Ohio Roadmaster wagon, while he's wintering in AZ and having a heck of time. Like I said, if she needs a wagon, well that's a problem, but the LeSabre and Park have more room than you would think. RV

 

Are the newer caprices and roadmasters that much different than my 93 caprice.I gave its first tuneup at just over 100,000 miles then drove it 4000 miles to the Gulf Coast and it never used a drop of oil. 4 adults and 1 baby and all the baggage and it still averaged 23 miles to the gallon for the whole trip and we drove for a week in the city. Won't the newer ones do this? Ed K

 

Ed.....after a full tune up (done at 133,000 miles replacing the Optisparck/water pump, plugs, wires, O2's , full hoses ...etc.) mine knocked off 24.7 mpg average over a 1400 mile trip.....mostly doing over 70 mph.

Roberta - I think Mr. Lore was looking at a sedan not a wagon......and even if thats not so, I dont think he'd make his mother replace the brake lines herself ou:

You are semi-correct though as some of the parts are getting tough to find but the basic mechanical stuff is still available.....mostly.

For the Woodie wagons, one of the most sought after parts is good wood trim - the thin, lite collored surrounds. The lite wood color is a vinyl applique that seems to envirnmentally fall apart revealing the light tan paint they applied to the base alluminum.

3M originally sourced the material and color and has none available at present. They will however make some for us Wodoie owners ......with a minimum order big enough to stretch from here to the moon and back uzzled: