I am looking for a back-up vehicle/ tow vehicle. I was wondering how well the last of the B body wagons towed with the 350. Also is there any real difference between the Caprice wagon, Buick Roadmaster wagon and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser? And what is the difference between the LT1 and L05?
You want LT1. My vote is Buick.
Towing capacity is 5000 lb with the towing package, 3500 without. I'd slap some airlift bags under it to help with the towing. Suspension is pretty soft on those things without assists. I had a set on my Astro and found them to be a big help.
DeadSkunk wrote: Towing capacity is 5000 lb with the towing package, 3500 without.
What is the towing package?
It'll be a particular rear axle ratio and a transmission cooler, I would guess. There are a half dozen different axle ratios on the wagons IIRC. I seem to remember a 2.93 economy ratio. I would think that's not going to be the best for towing, something in the 3.40 range would be better. How much weight do you think you'll be towing?
Race Spitfire, Yugo, dirtbike (not all at the same time).
Well, an Astro will pull 5000 lb with a motor that's only 3/4 the size of a Caprice. I pulled an 18 foot deck trailer with a Miata, or a VW GTI on it. It had a tire rack with 8 tires and wheels on it. I don't know what it all weighed, but it had to at least 4000 lb and my van could handle it. A V8 would be nicer, especially if you happened to have a lighter trailer than mine.
I towed this:
Behind my Roadmaster Sunday without any problems. I bought mine to take over towing duties and sold my van. So far I love it. I was getting tired of driving vans all the time.
Not all the B bodies came with the 350. Roadmasters did, but I know some of the Impalas got the 305. The LT1 in the 94 and up will have more power, but you pay a premium for them. The cheapest one I saw when I was shopping was in the $4000 range. My 93 was $1200. Simpler is better as far as I'm concerned.
I just picked up these for it today. I'm a happy camper. 
there were only 2 engines in the 94-96 B bodies- the LT1 5.7 liter 350 and the L99 4.3 liter 462.. the L99 was only in Caprice sedans, everything else got the LT1.
no exceptions.
if you find a wagon or anything besides a Caprice sedan with an L99, then someone put it in there for some reason.
there are a few different gear ratios in the wagons that range from 2.56 to 3.23, i think.. maybe they offered a 3.42, but i don't think so. a 3.42 rear axle from a 90-93 LO5 350 powered car is a bolt in deal once you pull the axles to swap the disc brakes over to the housing.
novaderrik wrote: there were only 2 engines in the 94-96 B bodies- the LT1 5.7 liter 350 and the L99 4.3 liter 462.. the L99 was only in Caprice sedans, everything else got the LT1. no exceptions.
I am talking 91-96 though.
93EXCivic wrote:novaderrik wrote: there were only 2 engines in the 94-96 B bodies- the LT1 5.7 liter 350 and the L99 4.3 liter 462.. the L99 was only in Caprice sedans, everything else got the LT1. no exceptions.I am talking 91-96 though.
skip the 91-93 cars and go straight to the LT1 powered cars. they are just better enough in every way- more power, same mileage, better interiors- to make it worthwhile.
'91 cars were TBI 305s. I had a '91 Custom Cruiser that I slammed into the weeds. It looked cool but couldn't get out of its own way with the 305. Definitely spring for an LT1 car.
hrdlydangerous wrote: '91 cars were TBI 305s. I had a '91 Custom Cruiser that I slammed into the weeds. It looked cool but couldn't get out of its own way with the 305. Definitely spring for an LT1 car.
some had 350's.
I am having a hard time justifying to myself paying the extra for LT1 though since they seem command a premium. I mean the 350 is in vans I am also considering as tow vehicles.
In reply to novaderrik:
According to Wiki only in police cars.
In reply to 93EXCivic:
You make a good point. The TBI 350 still makes 300 torques for towing.
In reply to hrdlydangerous:
From what I saw on Wiki, the Olds Custom Cruiser had it available in '92 and the Roadmaster had it in '92 and '93. No idea about the Caprice. I mean I also figure a 350 is just a SBC so how hard is it to tune and doesn't the LT1 have a number of know problems.
FYI, used tow an SCCA race Spitfire on trailer with a Vega Wagon. 75-85 MPH no problem, thousands of miles.
hrdlydangerous wrote: The TBI 350 still makes 300 torques for towing.
93EXCivic wrote: In reply to hrdlydangerous: From what I saw on Wiki, the Olds Custom Cruiser had it available in '92 and the Roadmaster had it in '92 and '93. No idea about the Caprice. I mean I also figure a 350 is just a SBC so how hard is it to tune and doesn't the LT1 have a number of know problems.
Plus, a Roadmaster is the master of the road.
The only rear end ratio I ever saw was 3.08.
honestly i'd skip the LT1 cars, you pay a premium for more complicated fuel injection/ignition systems and more expensive repair parts.
You know the Cadillac Fleetwoods of the 90s had the LT1 and with the towing package were rated to 7000 lbs...
Does any one know what was in the towing package? And is there any mechanical difference between the three wagons?
Raze wrote: You know the Cadillac Fleetwoods of the 90s had the LT1 and with the towing package were rated to 7000 lbs...
Not available as a wagon though I don't think.
93EXCivic wrote:Raze wrote: You know the Cadillac Fleetwoods of the 90s had the LT1 and with the towing package were rated to 7000 lbs...Not available as a wagon though I don't think.
Correct, but the trunk is almost as big ;)
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