Service and more service

So many new nice shine parts changed to my Caprice.
New police shocks, police springs and new brake hoses. Now it rides like it should.

Also got it Inspected, MOT passed. Now its road legal an other year again...
Also thing that they didnt liked, was those serach light. Finnish road law doesnt know what kind of lights they are. But its okey as long as they dont work.

Car also has new winter tires.

Shake shake baby

There is few fixes made to this car this week.

Gearbox was a bit loose, it gave awful noise when speeding hard. But its fixed now (new rubber holder) and there is no more extra noises. And I am happy!

I also changed light switch panel, it had too many holes drilled in to it:

Lower panel off first, then just open one screw on bottom and just pull it towards you. It comes off easy.

Two connectors need to be remove. Here you also see left and right clips that holds that in dash.

There was nothing wrong on my lightswitch by I opened it in case somebody likes to know what it looks like...



New panel on. That nasty bit thats missing is on lower panel, have to fix that someday or find new lower panel

You can never have enough LEDs

My lightbar originaly only has amber LEDs. I added some blue and red there, to make it more cop...

Those are not very bright. but in showroom they look like (and when its dark). Lights have 18 flash patterns but I just chose those.

Note to myself: When going for a spin after assembling more lights, remember to turn them OFF...

How to replace blower motor.

Problems with your blower? Here is some tips:

1. Blower motor only works in speed 1 and 2.
- your relay is busted. Change that.
2. Blower motor only works in high speed
- your resistor is busted, change that.
3. blower motor stopped. Might run sometimes.
- open the shield under passenger side dash. You see motor on right. When car is running, hit it hard with stick or something. If it starts running, you know its life is near to the end. You need a new motor.

Here is how you find and change these parts. (I have done it twice, took me 20 minutes.)

These are tools you need. Screws are not tight, but if you dont have power on your hand, might need extra help with socket. Socket is 6mm.

 First open passenger side plastic panel  and remove parts

 Open plastic shield under dash. Dont have to remove it, just push it down.

 Here you see part locations. Screws that holds motor are number 1,2,3. Number 3 is in difficult place, you need small hands.
Remember, screws are not actualy tight, dont give up. Base is plastic, so be careful not to open wrong way, or overtight when you get them back.

Heat resistor was from www.nippelit.fi

 Open connection.

 Take plastic cover from old part and replace it to new motor.
Put motor on its place (it is a bit tricky, but you know when its in right place when it stays there by it self.)

Last screw (number 3) is a bitch to put back. With a help of tape like this, you can do it.

Then just put all covers back, and you are done!

If you found this helpful, please leave feedback! Thanks!

Is it just a piece of junk?

Soooo many mechanical problems with this car. The thermometer on cauges was not working, so didnt knew that engine was overheating. Lucky we fixed it, so I saw that in time.
waterpump is leaking, that needs to be fixed first. Then the ABS system needs some TLC, it is busted too.

But for funside, here is some videos:

Fixing mechanical issues

Its time to fix those mechanical issues on this car. First all four corners is getting new brakes and bearings.

Also power steering is busted, its leaking and need to be fixed. Bigger problem is rear; bushings are totaly busted and needs to be changed. It is a much intens job and going to cost more money then i was prepared. But it has to be fixed, this car is driving like a shit now.

There is also horrible noise when speeding hard, that might be turbine or it is just coming from joints becourse rear is so loose. Also rear is leaking oil; need to be fixed too.

Then i have a funny job, blower motor is busted and needs to be replaced. I have done it once before to Caprice so I know how fun that is to change it under dash.

Water temperature meter isnt working, needs to be re wired.

When these are done first, then we will figure out what else there is...

We are very fortunate to have good local American car shop, Pasi Mahlamäki http://www.autokorjaamomahlamaki.fi/. He is good and reasonable priced. I know he can fix everything.

So much have been replaced

Here is some list of parts I replaced and also some info where to get them:

New deck cover. Old was realy busted, but with this it deck looks much better.
Got it from http://www.carid.com/1991-chevy-caprice-wood-grain-dash-kits/coverking-dash-covers-136432.html

There was no button to open trunk lid. Originaly car had open button left of streering wheel. I found this on www.rockauto.com and it even works!

All door trims were replaced. Now every window works! These are from www.ebay.com . Also got remote door opener, thats from ebay too.

This mirror records awesome HD video. It works by it self, starts when car is started. It was around 200,- euros on ebay, origin from China.

My favourite; the new console. Siren is from http://www.autodirectsave.com/  Its not quite as good as professional Whelen, or others would be. But it was cheap, looks good and sounds ok. 

Center console was also from ebay; http://www.ebay.com/itm/350530722655?item=350530722655&viewitem=&vxp=mtr
all the toys fits here. Price was right, perfect fit. I am very happy to this console.

 6 switch box is also from ebay. New carpet i got from local shop http://www.sepponiemensivu.fi/

The rear have changed most. New tail lenses (rockauto), trunk emblem and trim (http://www.ebay.com/itm/370447037705?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649), fender trim (ebay).

Front has new headlights (rockauto), new HID (ebay), new grill and trim (ebay)

LAPD logo stickers are from ebay. Get yours here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LAPD-ADAM-12-Los-Angeles-Police-Department-Decal-SET-/190696651056?_trksid=p4340.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D388831868318623346%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26

I painted wheels and added new covers (ebay). There is new brake discs and bearings etc. now in every corner. Those are bought localy too (http://www.sepponiemensivu.fi/)

New stickers

Finaly got those 911-stickers to rear of car. Took picture this morning. It may have been prosessed with photoshop...

When I get off work, job is to finish wiring center console.

Taking pics

Finaly got few pics of car. have to wait few monts, becourse there is way too much light in Finland right now to take cool night pictures. But for a meanwhile:

 

 

And here is few pics from jumkyard i went in US, they have nothing to with Caprice but Place is cool.

 

Putting pieces back together

Its finaly done. car is out of garage, and it looks good. Sunday we managed to put interior back, biggest job was to put new carpet. Its a litlle too blue what i was looking for, but its a million times better then the oold smelly rubber floor. It was so wet under the old carpet, water never gets away from it.

Here is some project pictures:

Ugly smelly carpet out

My cousin trimming new carpet

First testdrive; some odd piece from exhaust system fell off.

Seats are back on

I like those nuts lol

Please dont close the door

You can barely see new deck cover carpet

Few trim pieces from outside are still missing. When I get those, we take better pictures from outside.

Have you seen a shiny copcar

Nothing goes like planned I guess. Car got nice clearcoat, but i blow it (in few spots).
Before spraying I cleaned the surface, but I missed a spot on roof. So after spraying clear, there was a ugly black stripe in middle of it.

There was nothing else to do, then wait it to dry and then start spraying white again.

But nothing goes like movies; clear doesnt like basecoat sprayed on it, it peels off. Now I have to sand-paint-sand-paint it many times until it doesnt peel anymore. Then I can clearcoat again white parts.

But it looks very nice now with black finished. It will be a shiny copcar!

Black is finished. White still needs to be sprayed clear.

Nasty peeling on white. Hate that.


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Update next day:

Whole car is painted and clearcoated. Now I cant start putting parts back together!

First sticker and trunk trim on.