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 Post subject: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:06 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
Posts: 5403
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
Many times I have seen this car at work, and almost every time, I check it out. Talking to the coworker that owned it, I later learned the back story, about, how it was owned by an old lady, and then when she was no longer fit to drive, it was sold to another little old lady, who owned it, until she was no longer fit to drive. In the first ten years of this cars life, it did less then 30k miles. It was still kept in the family after that, but after another 10 years beyond that, 40k miles, and 2 owners who didn't always treat it in the best way it could have been treated, it landed in my driveway, however it did take $700 worth of convincing to make it happen.

And here are the preliminary pics, of my new '94 Regal, with 72k miles.

Image
Image
Image

And the RPO Sticker:

Image

Nothing too fancy, 3.06 FDR, L27, RKE, FE1, etc

Right now, there are some immediate concerns, such as a broken drivers seat frame, broken driver rear quarter window, and possibly a broken front motor mount. Also I think there is something with the left front suspension because it seems like it is sitting on the tire oddly, however a friend of mine suspects its merely chronic underinflation of the tires, causing shoulder wear. Aside from this however, the car drives very strong, and the suspension is very tight.

I could probably double my money on craigslist fairly easily, however I plan to keep it.

More pics to come later! Also, any feedback, or W-Body related pointers are welcome also.

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~Randall~
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1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:10 am 
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Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:34 pm
Posts: 174
Year and Trim: 1996 Buick Lesabre Custom - metallic dark cherry
If it has drum brakes immediately check the wheel cylinders... they are prone to leak and suddenly fail. The brakes were based of the A-body's, which were based off the X-bodys... so way too small. I used to set the parking brake constantly in my 92 Lumina to adjust the brakes. While I was always a fan of the coupes, I see you got the last of the "elegant dash" regals. I'd be hard pressed to pass up one that nice w/ a 3800. Especially w/ red interior.

I also see your PA in the background... Love the color, that was my 1st choice when shopping for mine... I just picked up the same alloys for my LeSabre and put them on today

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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:31 am 
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Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:38 pm
Posts: 1935
Location: Lincoln Park, Mi
Year and Trim: 2004 GTO
Luckily the seat is easy to change out, seems like it's a common issue since all this era w bodies I have found in junkyards had busted seats. Which is why my 96 GP now has a beige seat in a charcoal interior.
Nice score though!

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2004 GTO....LS1, LSA supercharged 525whp, 6MT
96 SSEi...September 2010 COTM........GONE
04 GTP comp G.... December 2015 COTM........GONE
2013 Audi Allroad Quattro

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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:35 am 
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Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:47 pm
Posts: 6871
Location: Philadelphia
Year and Trim: 95 SLE
Solid car for $700.

A buddy had a L27 4DR Regal that just would not die.

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95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:27 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 11:14 pm
Posts: 3967
Location: St Cloud, MN
Year and Trim: 06 Grand Prix LS4
My grandpa had a MINT 93 Regal forever. He eventually traded it in for his LeSabre and always regretted it...

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Previous, 07 GP SE, 06 GP GXP, 97 SSE 40th, 96 LeSabre Custom, 93 SLE, 90 LeSabre Custom


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:26 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
Posts: 5403
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
Took some more photos after I pulled the drivers seat out:

ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

Further probing revealed a few oversights on the pre-purchase inspection. I appearantly forgot to take off the radiator cap. I remember attempting to do it, but the cap didn't come right off, so I was going to come back to it, and never did. Once I got it off today, I discovered low coolant, and what looks like either stop leak or oil sludge coating the inside of the neck, and underside of the cap. 1 gallon of coolant later, the radiator was full, overflow maxed out, and then I let it idle coming up to temp. There was still air in the system as it came up to temp, however it was gaining system pressure, but it seemed to taper down a bit. Valve cover gaskets visibly leaking as well. A/C compressor kicks over with no drama, but keeps kicking out, so I suspect the system may need charging. The previous owner said it just blows warm and he never messed with it. There was also mention of a brake fluid leak, and there is an intermittent ABS light at startup, associated with a self test from the sounds of it. There was talk of a possible brake fluid leak, and the brakes stop the car just fine, but pedal feel is somewhat low and weak. THere is also a metric ton of grime everywhere. I thought mine was bad, but it's not nearly as bad as this...

Updates to come as it gets whipped in to shape!

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:39 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 11:21 pm
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Location: Lone Star State
Year and Trim: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Regardless, it is still a very nice find, especially for $700. If (there I go again, IF) I was able and had a chance at the car I would "jump on it like a banty rooster on a june bug". - BC

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2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 11:07 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
Posts: 5403
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
1oldman wrote:
Regardless, it is still a very nice find, especially for $700. If (there I go again, IF) I was able and had a chance at the car I would "jump on it like a banty rooster on a june bug". - BC


You are completely right, I just think it's the reality of the work ahead of me that is finally hitting. I forgot that 7 years ago I bought a Park avenue with twice the mileage for $1800. I also forgot that right from the start, the master cylinder, radiator, tranny service, and full tuneup went down. I was only remembering that since then I only had to kick it the occasional nickel and dime from the 'to be expected' list. It's also astounding what the PA has been through, but a testament to the drivetrain, that still runs perfectly fine, it's just all the bits connected to it that are making all the threats.

Well, enough with the sentiment I guess, and on with the show :-#

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:15 am 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Solid looking car for $700. The issues you have shouldn't be too hard to sort! Good luck.

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"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 12:36 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
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Location: SE Michigan
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
New wheels, tint, and sticker deletes would go a long way for that car, if there's room for it in the plan. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

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The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
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'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
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RIP:
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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 11:01 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
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Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
So, I pulled out the back seat, and found these:
Image

Per the previous owner, they were lost by his kids 3 years ago. To recover from this loss, he had to get copies of copies made, which explains why the ignition key I was given didn't seem quite right. The one I just found slides right in, like it belongs there. I also swapped the passenger seat over to the drivers seat to drive the car. Filled it up with 91 octane, mainly because I have no idea what was in it to begin with (probably cheap gas). I also confirmed the passenger front motor mount is not holding the engine down, so the dogbone is taking a beating right now. Coolant level seems to have stabilized, however the car does smell of coolant after driving so I suspect there is a slow leak somewhere. Also the brakes are being moved up the priority list too. They stop fine under normal driving, however leave a helpless feeling in the event of an emergency.

All in all, I am feeling better about this thing now. It's going to take a bit to bring it up to par, but it will be worth it.

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 8:03 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
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Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
And for my first purchase: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191335440718 (FSMs)

Seemed like a decent enough price to not pay the lay and wait game.

I have had a set for the PA for quite some time, and they are worth their weight in gold when you need to do some nitty gritty figuring stuff out.

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:34 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2011 7:59 am
Posts: 802
Location: Portsmouth, England
Year and Trim: 1992 SSEi
Looks good. A clean 72,000 miler for $700 sounds like a good deal to me.


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:53 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
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Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
These popped in today:
Image

It's a good thing too, because in driving it I keep noting different quirks that come up. Some surging if you start digging in to it, the RKE now seems to magically be working perfectly fine, valve cover gasket leak is horrendous, etc.

The beat goes on, the todo list grows longer by the day, and the motivation is in short supply lately...

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 9:44 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:16 pm
Posts: 450
Location: Sherwood, WI
Year and Trim: 1997 SLE factory L67, stock
1992 SSEi
1990 GP SE
Nicely optioned car; 3800, console shift, keyless. The W Bodies are fun to drive, I like my 90 GP. It would have been cool had GM offered the 3800 in the GP and Cutlass as well during these years and not just the Regal.

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97 SLE with L67 (1 of 354!) * 90 Grand Prix SE * 1992 SSEi * 99 Buick Regal * 2006 Chevy Uplander


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:56 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
Posts: 5403
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
Thanks! Even now, L27 combined with 3.06 FDR and W-Body make this car very easy to get rolling.

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:36 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
Posts: 5403
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
$300 later, the car is rolling with a new engine mount and 4 wheel alignment. It still has front camber issues that need to be addressed (another $160 worth), however it now drives straight as an arrow. It will also go for a tire rotate and balance once the alignment issues are squared away.

Now that the engine stays put, it's a whole different car. For some reason, however, I have trouble bringing myself not to drive it like a grandma. It moves pretty decently when I give it a poke, but even so it just feels tight and unnatural, and downright scary when I give it the full stab. Before I lost the water pump in the PA, the pedal got mashed without giving it a second thought.

I also took a crack at the A/C. Compressor would kick over on command, but kick out pretty quickly, with no cooling achieved. I threw the gauges on it, spotted a low charge, and on a hunch, popped them off, only to have the low side valve stay partially open, and dump what was left of the charge. I was really glad I didn't stick anything in it at that point. Serviced the low side port, dumped a 1 oz oil charge in, with 3 cans refrigerant (system calls for 2 lbs, cans are 12oz a piece), and I now have A/C that was trying to crack below 40* before the compressor was kicking out on a 65* day. High side port may have been bleeding slightly, but I think it may have settled in overnight. I also put the original service caps back on, which I believe are supposed to retain pressure as well, just in case. I then plan to never touch it again unless I have a good reason to.

Also, the 1st tank of gas with seafoam treatment came in at 18mpg. I really was hoping for better, but then again, this is only just the beginning.

Next items are getting the driver seat back in the right spot, because my head just don't hardly fit, and window fixed. Brakes are on standby right now, and seem to be behaving a bit better lately. Thankfully it seems like the opening rounds are starting to settle down, which is good, because now I have to stick a waterpump on the other car.

Fun times!

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:23 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
Posts: 5403
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
600 miles have rolled on the odometer since purchase. Took a 250 round trip in to the mountains, and the car did develop a misfire at high load low RPM, usually when starting to pull a mountain while still locked up in OD. That trip netted 25.7mpg, which I thought was 21.6 mpg until I looked at the fuelly text again, it was also a fair amount of mountain climb, and 80mph on the highway the rest of the way, with a speed limiter tag on the trip as well.

Still needs a tuneup, but it really is nice to drive now, and seems to be getting better day by day.

I also stumbled on this ebay, and snatched without thinking twice:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Actron-CP9145-S ... true&rt=nc

Gut says it comes with the ALDL obd1 cable, which will work with the Park Avenue, but even so the OBD 2 cables aren't deal breakers either. A $40-$60 solution to a $150 problem in my mind is a no brainer, and it lets me service mom's '95 Blazer as well.

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~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place


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 Post subject: Re: New wheels
PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 9:36 am 
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Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
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Location: Chicago, IL
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Nice! She's coming along nicely, and proving herself too.

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"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles
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