The Underrated Hot Rod King! '89 Caprice Classic!
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- Опубліковано 5 січ 2025
- Listen, I realize this hot rod is not exactly quintessentially what we all picture in our mind when we hear the words "hot rod". The '89 Caprice is one of the most surprising cars I ever bought, not only with the troubles it initially caused me- but also with how much I fell in love with it. If you're looking at getting into hot rods but the ol' tri fives and dodges ain't for you- I'd say go g-body all the way.
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DD Speed Shop
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370, 5222 130th Ave S.E.
Calgary, AB T2Z 0G4
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Love the caprice! I remember my father putting decals on the caprice cop car, he was a officer for a tiny town in maine back in the early 90's, They are rarer then hens teeth around here now. I got a 78 4 door malibu (my profile pic) that I recently got into an accident with. So now I'm 6.0/4l80e swapping it and then going to sell it to fund another project lol (85 k5 blazer)
Thank you Dan and Dani! Keep it up, love this channel.
I had an 87, which was an old police car. It had over 200K, and ran great. I drove it for 10 years and was still running well when I sold it.
a buddy had an older model of this series that he installed cop car suspension, etc from a wrecked cruiser and swapped in a 454. the engine looked like a factory job. they were meant for it. :) always loved this model. still good looking.
Love this car, I had an 81 Malibu, bought in 2001 with only 21000km. I wish I stayed ahead of the rust. Loved that car, put 150k km on it. Miss that car. Started better at -20c than anytime in the warmer months.
I agree with you 100% that was about one of the classiest cars. I never own one, but my favourite car was my 1981 Pontiac Parisian,Brouham.
I daily drive a 97 Crown Vic about 75 miles a day to my job in the city. I totally agree that the V8 rear wheel drive full frame cars are great comfortable drivers. Doesn’t get the mileage of a Honda civic but I can get out and walk around fine when I get there.
Thanks Dan&Dannie
Take care 😊
Big cars like that makes a good sleeper. Years ago a friend of mine had an 83 Caprice we dumped the 400 small block in it. We had lots of fun with it.
I have an 86 i got from my grandmother RIP. Drive it every single day love that car.
My dad had a 1980 impala ….. i was 17 in 1984 and i drove it on weekends like i was a stunt driver…. The car always ran and never had a problem for 10 more years …. Then he handed it to me for 500. Bucks and i drove it for 2 more years and still could not kill it !
I had an 88 Caprice Classic , my dad bought a new Buick so he gave me the Caprice, loved that car.
Loved my base model 88 four door.
@scottbledsoe6042 that's what mine was, no power windows . No cruise, had power locks and A/C. That was it. 305 , 4 door
@@kevindavies2867 I had ac, and power nothing else. Great car. Weak little 305, that I added a mild cam and top end kit to, with alum intake, headers, and dual straight exhaust. Car was a blast to drive...and I wish I still had it.
My mom still has her 89 Caprice. My grandfather had many years of these as well.
Staties the nation over loved these cars. My dad had a '77, one of the first cars I ever drove.
My first car was a 1984 caprice 4 door grate car. Then i had 78 caprice then 83 buck regal great car.
best way to increase the HP in beauty like that is with the "Hedman Headers" and "Accel Ignition" stickers in the back window
Hey Dan and Danielle, I have an 89 4 door just like yours in my driveway now. You were right about the 6 cylinder, mine has the V6. It has only 65,000 original miles. I got it from a girl friend not girlfriend, of mine who inherited from her uncle when he passed. There's a few things it needs to be back on the road. The worst thing is it needs a driver's side floor pan. The man didn't use floor mats. Here in Michigan we get a lot of snow and I don't have to tell you about floor pans. What I should do is fix it and sell it to a young driver for their first car. At least they will be protected in case of an accident. These cars are the last of the street tanks with steel bumpers. These newer cars on the road are junk. If they have a head on collision with a dog, the dog will win. Anyway, love the channel, the builds, and all of the videos. Take care and be safe.
As I said in your first video my 88 had a carb, 89 was first year for fuel injection on these. Also there is a screen on the bottom of the distributor that is supposed to act as a vent to keep out moisture. The screen on my car was clogged with dust and the moisture built up inside the cap and started a misfire.
Yep I miss my 79 regal,I put a 350 Buick in it was a ripper ,slepper.left it stock looking.used to smoke 5.0s
I love my 79 Oldsmobile Delta 88 2 door B-body--the b bodies are great! Been hot rodding it for 20 years!
I had an '82 Impala back in the early 90's. I referred to it as "my tank". It was one tuff old car 🙂 It started out as an unmarked police car, and I used it as a taxi for many years. The odometer was broke, but it probably had 1/2 a million miles, but still kept going. 305 with a 4 speed automatic, and a big quadrajet. You wouldn't win any drag races, but it was a heck of a cruiser. One of the cars I wish I had never let get away! Indiana_Dan
Had a Buick regal that thing was just a comfortable ride Low maintenance on the highway set the cruise at about 65 70 and it just purrs on down the road
I have a 78 2 door, most reliable car I own, my favorite in the collection
I am running a 92 olds wagon for my daily.. I love it... only 250k miles on it... Pretty much all the parts are the same as the 1/2 ton pick up so lots of cheap parts... The only suggestion I would say to you, is put an extra trans cooler up front... The transmissions seem to be killed by to much heat... 700R4.. Without a trans cooler they only seem to last about 100k... With a trans cooler..... I have not had a failure yet.. I use it to haul my car trailer... Great video again thanks..
I've put 400 small blocks in a couple of these. Just the torque monster they need for the street. That body came out in '77. The two I put the 400s in were a '79 and an 83. The '79 was an ex-cop car and had the police handling package. The '83 was a buddy's daily driver.
I have 1979 Impala. Same shape. Same moror. Carburated. Dual exhaust awesome ride, especially if stuck in traffic. Elbow Room.
I drive a 1986 2dr Caprice it had a 4.3 v6 fuel injection i swapped in a 5.3 ls with carb love these cars
In 1989 I bought a 1980 Buick Regal, 2 door …damn I wish I still had that old girl ! ..Thanks for the vid guys.
Love these cars. Doesn't matter which variety (Olds, Ponriac, Buick or Chevy). Like driving a couch and very relaxing to drive. Never in a hurry when I'm driving it. Mine is an 84 Olds Custom Cruiser. Yes body parts are very hard to find now. But mechanical stuff is easy to find and cheap. Most of the time, they've been taken care of, and the cars are fairly straight. With the thicker steel, it is easier to pull dents and do rust repair. The weather stripping does degrade. I found the stuff from late 90's to early 2000's Buick Century work on these doors. Might have to shim one corner. If you have the wagon version the long rear side windows do leak. Have to get them resealed or use some rtv or aircraft form a gasket on both sides of the window. If you do need to find floor pieces the next gen roadmaster ( like 91-96) will be exactly the same. Just some of the stuff I've learned anout these awesome cars over the last 16 years.
I have a 1978 Caprice in excellent condition and many km on it, but very poorly maintained, an excellent car for traveling long distances, the improvements I made mainly were to the suspension, all the special energy spring suspension bushings, a comfortable and correct ride when going hard, as for comfort nothing to envy of new cars... my Caprice has a white roof and light brown bottom... it will remain in the family as long as I can... greetings from Argentina!!
Dan I agree with you on the cars around that age, The last ones that were mostly easy to diagnose and repair. Those Chevys, and the big Fords of that era rock for being a dependable ride. Also in the states there are plenty of parts in scrap yards, hopefully they can avoid the crusher.
My mother in law had one of these. 1984, fully loaded. Two tone maroon color. It was a very nice car and very reliable. These things only went to the garage for oil changes.
Bar and chain oil is a great undercoating after the pressure wash.
Looks like a sweet family car,put a decent engine in it, tubo you got a sleeper, 😂😅 line them up and take them down, 😂😅 thanks for sharing, all the best to yous and your loved ones
I had an 84 Caprice Wagon. I gave my nieces a ride from Iowa to Florida. While loading their gear, they noticed a new roll of duct tape and asked what is was for. I replied, "Misbehave and you'll find out."
I get what your saying .... totally. But that car actually look like a investor car. Love it ..
We bought a brand new 1986 Caprice Estate Wagon. Great reliable, sturdy car.
I took my drivers test back in 85 in a 77 caprice! Just a fabulous car! Motor in it just gave up! I would absolutely agree if you can find one in decent shape! Buy it!
No doubt the peak of automotive engineering
I had many of these cars. Love them I built a 79 Impala with a 454. It was a fun car.
Dude!!! Senior skip day to kanita warm springs in a 83 Caprice green house rear glass!! Same body style!!! Party on!!!✌️
Rock solid car with Rock Auto parts. You should rattle can that bad spot on the hood, it would look a lot better, less rust.
Dan I agree 100% . Those cars are darn near bullet proof and check all the boxes . I'm looking for one right now .
My first car was a '69 Chevy Caprice. Loved that car!
The best car I've ever owned was a 76 Caprice Estate Wagon with a 400sbc . It had over a half a million miles.
Great platform for a nice cruiser guys. A rear sway bar from an 9C1 cop car or 94-96 Impala SS with a front sway bar from a late 70's T/A, the driving a sofa and feel will be gone.
How about a little DDS on the decklid that reads. "Designated Driver Service". lol
I’ve always liked the 70’s and 80’s cars and pickups
Definitely one of the great ones!
got a 90,same color.put on older chrome bumpers.rattle caned the lower chrome.sway bars front and rear.pluged the holes above the dist so the water does not leak on to it.trans is a 200r,if it shift quick when hot change the solinoid.yes this is a cheap car to fix,cheers
Watching in MN. Great content as usual Dan and Dani.
I had a 1979 Impala I love those cars thank you
I love them cars. I had a few of them now I have a 2014 Caprice yes 2014 I love that thing as well. Happy New Year's
730 Holley, Edelbrock Street Ram manifold, MSD ignition, .200" off of the heads, Lunati 262 Voodoo cam, headers, and it's ROCK 'N' ROLL!
I just bought a 2008 Cadillac STS with the 3.6 in it, black on black. It sat for 6 years so I had to redue the entire braking system some new and some junkyard parts, today i changed all 6 ignition coils and spark plugs and I have a car that's selling for $10,000 now but I'm keeping it. I'm going to do struts all the way around next and absolutely nothing else unless it asks for something. Headed and air-conditioned front and back seats, heated steering wheel. It's fully loaded with navigation, bose sound system, and I only paid $2,500 and maybe another $1,200, and she's rust free and gorgeous. I refuse to buy anything with a payment.
Had a 1985 Delta 88 Royale Brougham. The seats in the Brougham cars are better than most peoples couches. Add another 100 hp and you have an unbeatable car.
A LS fits right in there like it was made for it. Swapped one in my impala a few years ago to get the no power 4.4 265 V8 out.
We had an 87, drove that thing everywhere
You broke my heart when you talked about that poor idle ! I really hate a sick Caprice !
I love them they are and you can fit 3 car seats in the back seat.
I like these cars. They just work well.
Watching from the Burgh!! Go Steelers😊😊
Dan Chevrolet came out with their first V8 way back in 1917 it was a 4.3L 265cid Turbo Fire V8, Zora Arkus-Duntov just perfected the V8 after he developed the famous Duntov high-lift camshaft and helped bring fuel injection to the 57 Chevy Corvette...
My favorite feature is what I call "the crotch vent". That AC vent under the steering column is amazing to have in the summer. LOL
These cars are great. You need to change the stance with wider tires and classier wheels, and do something with the hood paint. Really make the car pop.
I grew up with these cars, they were everywhere. These are the last of the classic GM platform. My dad had a '79 Olds Delta 88, my grandfather bought a 1980 Delta 88 Brougham new from the dealer, my gramma had a '84 Pontiac Parisienne, neighbor had a '79 Buick LeSabre. I had two Olds Delta 88 two doors myself, one beige and one white Brougham. They were all basically the same underneath, just different front ends and bumpers. Good old soldiers. If you look up "car" in the dictionary, this would be it.
Great show keep up the amazing work be safe my friends God bless all a special Dan go rolling into a driveway near you
Had an 81 Caprice 2dr Landau for a winter beater. Got it for free and drove it for several years. Sold it to my sister for 1 dollar. She drove it till the cops pulled the plates as the body was pretty rusty despite the reliable 305. She drove to the the junkers with well over 500,000 miles on it.
I loved my Caprice Classics I've owned three of them like I said in your previous video the only thing I did was change the wheel combo I went with 91 IROC Z wheels because I'm odd 😅
Definitely a good Car Dan and Dani
I took my driver's license test in a light green one just like that, way back in 1991. I was going to take it in my dad's Z-28, but the license plate had expired. We had to go get my grandmother's car.
I was in high school in 77 when this body style was introduced. My prediction, as a 16-17 year old, was that the two door variant of the Caprice with its wrap around rear window would be in high demand with hot rodders in about 20 years. I envisioned seeing them cruising around with the rear end jacked up running big meats everywhere by the year 2000. It never happened, but it was nice to see someone out there recognize the value of this model.
I saw a couple that were hot nodded like that, they look good with that aesthetic.
I’ve always loved the Impala and caprice . I’ve owed a bunch…..beat most of them to death .
I’m driving a 72 Impala now with 45,000 miles . Bare bones air car and I dream at night of driving it tomorrow . All those big gm cars were great . Like a 71 Buick Lesabre limited 2 door coupe …….I miss that one .
Yes Dan as cheap as you bought ,you could maybe paint the hood. I think then all the paint would be nice
I have a 85 caprice wagon probably the best driving car I've ever had
Favorite asphalt circle track car by many a Saturday night racer....
They make great sleeper cars
I mean, a intake and a Holley sniper would just make it better right 😁😁
87 was the first year of the TBI in the K5 Blazers/Jimmy's. The Caprice's had to be around the same time.
A lot of automotive writers feel like this was peak traditional American car. Well packaged as the first of GM's downsized cars; reliable; and even good-handling with the F41 or 9C1 packages. Lots of aftermarket support thanks to the later SS cars and just about any GM powertrain will plug right in.
Because it's now old enough that it's cool and not some old piece of junk.
I was driving these when everyone thought it was just an old piece of junk. Only reason I got rid of the last one was I traded it for bodywork on my Silverado.
Totally agree Dan. Those cars are MINT!
These are awesome Old people cars. And can be fixed unlike modern crap!
Let’s gooooo. It’s time for another great video 👍👍
❤❤ love your videos awesome content😊
In 2010 I bought a 2007 Grand Marquis. My then 8 year old scoffed and called it an "old man's car". I replied "You'll be driving this thing soon enough". Guess who loves his Grand Marquis? Oh and the illuminated turning lights are now considered a "necessary accessory on any new car". Good luck with that. As one friend put it, these cars are "anvil tech".
Had Caprice "woodside" Estate wagon in DIESEL. Ran great.
Box Body was introduced in 1977
We call that an " Incognito " car. Like you two we drive our hot rods.
I've had a bunch of Caprice Classics,Impalas, and Pontiac Parisiennes'
I also started my automotive apprenticeship in the late 80s so I worked on a pile of these cars. Almost every car out there has some sort of weak link about it. I'm trying to think of a common failure with these cars, but there really wasn't one. They had camshaft issues like every Chev did in that time era. The lifters would wear the cam lobes into a circle. You would get a car that constantly back fires and runs like a turd. Cam and Lifters. Beside that, every other issue was just natural wear. If you can find one of these in decent shape, get it. Very easy to squeeze a big block in it. And they did come in two door models, as well as station wagons.
I have one now it's like driving around in your living room
Definitely a sweet ride. Quite new for DD Speed Shop but, great car for Dani as a daily driver. Cheers!! 😎
Agree...they could also be had with the 3.8l v6...the ford crown vic is another great and inexpensive car with all the goidies
B-body. G-body is Malibu/El Camino in those years. Great platform and I agree 100% on the LS (Voretc) engine upgrade if the 305 goes out, but it won’t. Those 305s last forever.
I had a 305/200-4r in my ‘55 and got 25mpg as my daily. Not a hot rod but best commuter.
Them GM mud flaps are a hoot.
just an awesome old car
Love the Caprice, Carona and I do!
Had one cop version was Caprice 91C lots of 1 off and taxi cab parts even the rims were thicker for jumping curbs
That's just a good looking vehicle!
I had tons of these and g bodies in the early 2000s freaking tanks
Hey from Missouri!
15:50 I work for midas and we do life time warranty on brakes only if they purchase rotors at the same time. All they have to pay is labor. Not 100% sure if the same thing applies to drums. Other than that nothing else has a life time warranty. If you do still have one of the old midas mufflers we will warranty that still. I have only come across one that was installed in the 80’s. Of course it was replaced with a lesser quality one because parts are junk now.
I owned a 85 buick estate wagon 307 , ride comfortable, also owned 85 Caprice can't do wrong with box chevy, same lug pattern as Astro and RWD chevy pickup 5x5 lug pattern