sedan battle: crown vic vs caprice

i'm looking at an 80-90's sedans , would like rwd american v8 yachts. square 84-91 crown vic vs 80's box caprices..... what would be he better choive for dd / hot rodding / autox / hooliganing....?

Why limit yourself to four doors. It looks like this LeSaber hoons pretty well.

Jalopnik link

Crown Vics share a lot of Mustang parts, I believe Caprices do the same only with Camaros.

Boxy CVs have 5.0s and maybe 351s, Later use the underpowered NPI 2v 4.6L.

From what I've heard, the CV handles better than the Caprice, but I don't have any personal experience in the Chevy, and not much in the Ford.

ReverendDexter wrote: Crown Vics share a lot of Mustang parts, I believe Caprices do the same only with Camaros. Boxy CVs have 5.0s and maybe 351s, Later use the underpowered NPI 2v 4.6L. From what I've heard, the CV handles better than the Caprice, but I don't have any personal experience in the Chevy, and not much in the Ford.

Wrong on both accounts. Both Caprice and CV are body onframe.... full frame. Caprices in the 88-90 range would be my choice. The 9C1's had large front and rear brakes, large sway bars and a posi rear end with a taller ratio.

My personal goal would be a 88-90 Caprice, gutted, caged with 4 recaros, 6.0L truck Vortec mated to a T-56, tubular arms front and rear, upgrade the rear brakes to 94-96 rear discs and 17x9's wrapped in 275/40/17's.....

I didn't say they shared platforms, I said parts.

CVs use the same motor, tranny, and diff as a similar year Mustang.... how is that not parts sharing?

Nope, the 88-91 CV used a 351W with the variable venturi carb. Mustangs have been injected 302's since 86. I think the E4OD was the same, but the rear ends are different.

Caprice's used TBI 5.0/5.7's and 700R4. The 9C1's came with WOT lockup converters and 8.5" 10-bolts compared to the 7.5" 10 bolts in the camaros.

Bobzilla wrote: Nope, the 88-91 CV used a 351W with the variable venturi carb. Mustangs have been injected 302's since 86. I think the E4OD was the same, but the rear ends are different. Caprice's used TBI 5.0/5.7's and 700R4. The 9C1's came with WOT lockup converters and 8.5" 10-bolts compared to the 7.5" 10 bolts in the camaros.

Is that just the P71s? I thought I had seen civvy CVs with 5.0s in 'em.

And if the CV used the E4OD, the trannies are different - the auto in the Mustang is the AOD/AOD-E/4R70 line.

My apologies for bad info

Yes, Civvy CV's came with the injected 5.0, but had a different intake than the mustangs IIRC. I thought we were comparing P71/9C1? People actually bought civilian versions?

Either could be modified to suit your purposes, though I think it would be easier with the chevy. Think circle track parts; lots of bolts-ons, sbc engine/transmission options.

I've had a couple crown vics. There are a few well documented examples online of relatively highly modifed specimens so it can be done, but it's less of a parts-catalog/bolt-on affair.

If price is an issue, around here the Fords seem to be cheaper but then I haven't really looked for Chevys.

My dream "resto-rod" would be a B-body Caprice from the late 70's, or early 80's, in wagon form.

78 Coupe!

there is no choice - go with a caprice.

350 > 302, 351, 4.6, etc...

all 94-96 impala SS suspension bits bolt in to the boxy cars.

i had a 78 sedan deville with impala SS springs, sway bars, disc brake posi rear axle, and an aluminum driveshaft from a late model silverado that i had cut down. had SS wheels on it too.

"My personal goal would be a 88-90 Caprice, gutted, caged with 4 recaros, 6.0L truck Vortec mated to a T-56, tubular arms front and rear, upgrade the rear brakes to 94-96 rear discs and 17x9's wrapped in 275/40/17's....."

great minds think alike , i think this would be nice potent modern motor/trans combo for the weight of the car...and think of boost down the road.... what bolt pattern are the box caprices?

Don't forget Chrysler M-body. Diplomat/Gran Fury can be had super cheap. I had one in college for a couple of months...til I got rear-ended at 35mph by a Taurus while I was sitting at a stop sign. It bent my bumper a little bit. The Taurus left on a flatbed.

I've got one of those right now. so far i'm underwhelmed. no overdrive. 2.24 rear axle with a 7.25 ring gear (i know there's 8.25" out there, but still). there's potential. but only if you change out pretty much everything.

Caprice all the way (says the P71 owner). John brought home a box 'Vic (P72 back then). 351, AOD, Panther chassis (looks like the MIB car). He's got more money in it now than my cop car, gets horrible mileage, and still a $300 'Vic. New 4bbl on an aluminum Edelbrock intake, rebuilt trans, etc, etc and it's still slow. It also shares jack nothing with the Mustang. 7.5" rear vs 8.8", SO 5.0 (170HP, different firing order, flat tappet cam) vs HO 5.0, etc, etc.

Caprice shares all the good stuff with the killer Impala SS, any small block Chevy bolts right in (including LT1 and LS1), and they handle really nicely for a box. Sweet cars.

When they were new, an 80 9C1 was more fun to drive than an 85 police CV. (I did both.) Now that we can mix-n-match parts, it sounds like... it still is.

stealthfighter1 wrote: "My personal goal would be a 88-90 Caprice, gutted, caged with 4 recaros, 6.0L truck Vortec mated to a T-56, tubular arms front and rear, upgrade the rear brakes to 94-96 rear discs and 17x9's wrapped in 275/40/17's....." great minds think alike , i think this would be nice potent modern motor/trans combo for the weight of the car...and think of boost down the road.... what bolt pattern are the box caprices?

9C1's are 5on5.

I can't add anything to the thread really,but my boss has a late 80 vintage (maybe 87-88)Caprice with a 4.3 liitre in it. It is in remarkably awesome shape for being a former NYC street parked car. I think it has some really low mileage like under 80k. I told him if he ever thought about unloading it I want first shot,and I don't even like big cars. This one is cool though. I think it is fuel injected,does that sound right?

Edit: It is an 86 Caprice Classic,and I do believe it is a 4.3 litre. Not so sure on the fuel injection,but I doubt it.

even a 4.3 liter turbo build would be the cat's pajamas .....hhmmm