SS vs. SS

by Roadcaptain S3 Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:33 pm

Gonna be looking for a driver over the next year or so, not in a hurry, but starting to think about what I want to look for.

Leaning towards a mid 80s Monte SS or a mid 90s Caprice/Impala SS. (LT of course)
Decent mileage, a little power, some buttons and whistles with both, and REALLY
wanted one when they both came out.

Anybody know much about them?

by 77malibu77 Thu Jun 10, 2010 5:09 pm

nope im right there with you im intrested in knowing about the 80s mc's i know a lot of parts interchange with the 78-87 (some 88) el camino and malibus, because i used to own a 81 elky before i bought my 76
i know they shouldnt be too hard to find either look on craigslist bet you could find one in perfect shape for around 4000

by The Dude Thu Jun 10, 2010 5:11 pm

Monte SS = 180hp 305, 200-4r, 3.73 gears, weighs something like 3200 lbs. 80's technology & architecture. See them on every corner priced from $1,500 for a driver on up.

Impala SS = 260 hp LT1, 4l60e (96 had an optional 6 speed), 3.08 gears, weighs 4200 lbs. 90's technology & 70's architecture. Harder to find, but usually in real nice condition. Usually priced $8,000+.

That's all I got.

by coreys73chevelle Thu Jun 10, 2010 6:01 pm

in order. 96 impala ss, 95 impala ss, 94 impala ss, 86 monte, 84 monte

by dragons_lair59 Thu Jun 10, 2010 7:03 pm

round here seen some nice mc ss for sale

by Roadcaptain S3 Thu Jun 10, 2010 7:43 pm

96 impala ss seems to be the most popular year, more power or something?

by 77malibu77 Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:08 pm

heres a real nice 95 impala ss near me

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1780980966.html

by Roadcaptain S3 Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:11 pm

I've been poking around the local CL and some other sites today, and there appears to be a good supply of both within a couple hundred miles of here, but DAMN......a LOT of them (Montes and Impalas) are all donked out. The Caprices are even worse.

by 77malibu77 Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:19 pm

ahhaa yeh your going to find that with it being a popular car for donk enthusiasts

by The Dude Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:26 pm

Roadcaptain S3 wrote:96 impala ss seems to be the most popular year, more power or something?

Same power. The reason there are more 96 models is:

1) Only year a 6 speed was offered
2) Only year a color other than black was offered
3) The production year ran until mid December 1996 making it a very long run.
4) People knew it was going to be the last year, I'm guessing everyone wanted to buy a new one before they were all gone.

by 74MonteCarlo Thu Jun 10, 2010 9:31 pm

Road, you know exactly what I'm going to say, so I'm not even going to bother! Lmao!

by coreys73chevelle Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:33 pm

Roadcaptain S3 wrote:96 impala ss seems to be the most popular year, more power or something?

biggest things in 96 they switch the shifter to the floor, also went from the digital guages to the nice anlog round styles with a tach and the o/s mirrors were mounted in a different location. the cam was also a little different because 1996 was the crossover for all vehicle to the OBD-2 computer systems

by novaderrik Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:18 am

Rago wrote:
Roadcaptain S3 wrote:96 impala ss seems to be the most popular year, more power or something?

Same power. The reason there are more 96 models is:

1) Only year a 6 speed was offered
2) Only year a color other than black was offered
3) The production year ran until mid December 1996 making it a very long run.
4) People knew it was going to be the last year, I'm guessing everyone wanted to buy a new one before they were all gone.

the only trans option for the 94-96 Impala SS was the 4L60E. all the 6 speed cars out there are aftermarket or home brewed conversions- i think the last year for a manual trans in a B body was probably '74 or so. but the 96 did have the floor shift and analog speedo.
94 was the only year that black was the only color. 95 had a few colors, and 96 had a whole bunch of colors.
96 was the biggest production run- in usual GM fashion, they killed the chassis just as soon as they were selling a lot of really cool cars built on it (the 87 Grand National is another example of this trend).
96 had the OBD2 computer system, which is enough make me not want one. you can swap a 96 gauge cluster, steering column, and center console/floor shifter into a 94 or 95 to get the good stuff from a 96 in the less temperamental OBD1 ecm.
the 94 had different rear view mirrors and still had the pointed 1/4 glass, which had covers bolted on to round off the corners. the 95 cars had different glass with the rounded shape.
personally, i'd love to get another '94 9C1 Caprice. they had all the good stuff from the Impala except the 17" aluminum wheels and leather interior, plus they had better cooling and electrical systems for cop car use. you can get a good 9C1 for $1500 and put Bonneville leather seats in it with a little work and buy the Impala wheels brand new from GM for a fairly decent price.

by The Dude Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:30 am

Thanks for correcting me Derrik. I don't know a lot about the B-Bodies, but I'm trying to learn. I could have swore that I read about the 6 speed option being available in late 96, but I guess not.

If it were me, I'd rather go with the Caprice or Impala just for the extra room. Daily drivers are supposed to be big & comfortable.

by IndyG3 Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:45 am

Roadcaptain S3 wrote:I've been poking around the local CL and some other sites today, and there appears to be a good supply of both within a couple hundred miles of here, but DAMN......a LOT of them (Montes and Impalas) are all donked out. The Caprices are even worse.

You could find one that has a relatively normal looking body, then sell the rims and the lift kit (if it had one). You could probably make back all of your money from buying the car by selling the rims Laughing

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