'94 Buick Century wagon (MORE PIX!)

[F14CRAZY]

I just picked this up last week from Naples, Florida for $1700...









It has the 3100 V6 and 4T60e trans, riding on 14'' wheels. 150k miles. It's virtually rust free, most of the A-body cars around here are showing some serious rust through. Due to fuel prices we haven't been using our Power Stroke E350 for plumbing, and using one of my dad's '92 Civic sedans for plumbing (NOT at all a functional or professional plumbing vehicle). I thought it through and figured a Century or Cutlass Ciera wagon would be a good choice based on fuel economy, purchase price, reliability, parts availability, ease of repair, and function. I posted before asking on a decent plumbing vehicle and considered a Silhouette/fiberglas U-body van and Astro as well but these have enough space and mileage is good. My dad suggested an old Honda Odyssey or Escort wagon but the 4 bangers in those would be slow and get similar mileage. The 3100 V6 in this is rated for 29 mpg freeway if I remember right, so it should work out well. The rear suspension is sagging a little and I'm going to swap it out for some cargo coil springs and new struts, and possibly air bags (thanks for the help Sonoma). I looked for a white one for business purposes, though yes, I could have got wood paneling too...

I found it on Autotrader, offered by a used car lot down there. I flew in and taxi-ed to pick it up with a friend of mine. The interior is in great shape for the mileage and age. The paint is still pretty glossy, just normal chips to touch up. Someone took a screwdriver and F-ed up the keyhole for the rear glass and tailgate. While it opens via the glovebox button, it's a pain to have to do and the lot knocked off $100 for me because of that. The tires are in good shape (whitewalls!) though I had to get another rim locally cuz it had a slight wobble in it. The heat's hot and the air con blows cold. It consumed very little oil during the 1500 miles we drove it around in Florida and back to MI, which I'm pretty pleased with. The 4T60e is a fairly heavy duty trans for a Century so I figure it will last a long while. The front corner lenses were broke when I bought it which I found out is rather common to happen. the CEL was coming on due to the EGR valve, but I happened to still have one from my 3800 LN3 Reatta and they're the same according to the part catalog...saved like $200 there.

I plan on getting some OEM hubcaps (it had some cheap tacky chrome hubcaps...they had to go), a dark tint for the windows, a remote lock system (it already has power locks), replacing the corner lenses, and doing typical maintenance stuff.

[knightfan26917]

Hey F14,

CONGRATS on the new-to-you Buick! It looks to be in good shape.

A friend of mine in TX has one, similar vintage, I believe:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/1106...585r8_jpg.html

Though, despite it being rust free, I think he has since replaced it....



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"A smile can hide all the pain" ... Glen Campbell ... 'Rhinestone Cowboy'

[EldoFan]

Hope ya had a good mini-vacation there!

I agree with you on the choice of those A-Body wagons.......you get the decent mileage and reliability along with a hell of alot more utility. Should work out good for you guys........

[AndrewGS]

Nice find! Century wagons are kinda hard to come by without the paneling. It will look great once you get a set of wheel covers on it.

Are you going to replace the the front parking/side marker lenses? You should be able to find a set pretty cheap.

How does the front-end feel?

[bouda]

A buddy in high school had one of those in the family. Was all three brothers' first car. Went well over 300,000. Not too bad.

[F14CRAZY]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Nice find! Century wagons are kinda hard to come by without the paneling. It will look great once you get a set of wheel covers on it.

Are you going to replace the the front parking/side marker lenses? You should be able to find a set pretty cheap.

How does the front-end feel?

Heh yeah it seems I'll probably have to get a new set of them since they do break commonly and they always seem to be picked at junk yards.

The front end needs new inner tie rods which we're gonna have done pretty soon. It's the typical old school overboosted Buick steering feel


It should prove to be pretty reliable and practical

[GMCSonoma]

Nice!!

It's always refreshing to hear about GM vehicle purchases on GMI!!! New or used!!!

I had a 1990 Century Limited wagon I bought for a steal, it came from Palm Coast Florida, white with woodgrain & blue interior...61K miles...

The cosmetic issues were rashed wire wheel covers & a scraped up steering wheel (ring marks)...otherwise despite it being filthy dirty inside & out...it was rust free!

I bought it off the original owners granddaughter who got the car from her grandparent's estate... They thought the transmission was junked...it turns out it was a modulator that needed replacing...

I also got a used set of wheel covers from a 86 LeSabre & it's blue steering wheel...

After an intense cleaning inside & out, and complete tune with crank/cam sensor repalcements as well...new whitewall tires with new struts & shocks...

I sold the car for $5200 a year later...6 years later the fellow I sold it too is still driving it!

I always got HUGE compliments on the car whenever I was out with it...I should try & post a pic!

[PositiveAboutGM]

I always felt those cars were under-rated myself. I'm kicking myself for not buying a Ciera Wagon with the 4.3L diesel (one of GMs better early diesels) that actually had a 5-speed manual (previous owner had retrofitted), the FE3 suspension of the day and bucket seats. It was black with the maroon leather interior. Oh for that car today!! I just wished GM had read midsize wagons available again...

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by F14CRAZY

Heh yeah it seems I'll probably have to get a new set of them since they do break commonly and they always seem to be picked at junk yards.

Here you go! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/91-92-96-Buick-Century-Corner-Parking-Signal-Lights-Set_W0QQitemZ310040727182QQcmdZViewItem

[F14CRAZY]

Since then:

-cleaned, touched up, hand washed (soon going to claybar and wax)

-found the rims from a tire dealer in the state for $200. They're 14''s and have been sitting on a shelf since 1996 but they're brand new and look pretty good. I would have much rather upgraded to something bigger but didn't want to have to get tires too. I'm blingin now! Besides that I'd be afraid of using anything over 16'' due to the awful potholes we have around here. And whitewalls in...I don't get whitewalls, let alone Vogue tires..

-Monroe Sensa Tracs for the rear. It fixed most of the sag and cornering is MUCH better

-got rid of the bent up antenna...I only use the tape deck for Sirius and my iPod anyway

-went to a local u-pull and got some front corner lenses, $10/each. Also replaced the hood strut with a good one

-replaced the tailgate keyhole that was f-ed by someone poking at it with a screwdriver (was like that when I bought it). $40-some at Glen Buege Buick/GMC. They matched the new lock cylinder to the rest of the cylinders by looking up my VIN

-my dad volunteered and paid to have a new CV joint boot and tie rod ends installed along with an alignment

[F14CRAZY]

And what else...

The short rubber pipe that routes air from behind the headlights and goes to the air cleaned canister was missing and I figured it was drawing in hot air from the engine. I figured I'd use my plumbing expertise and fix that, which evolved into a ram air system lol. You can't see it in my crappy Treo pix but there's a 3'' PVC elbow behind the grill near the Buick emblem. I understand "ram air" was more of a Pontiac marketing thing and isn't good until like 100 mph, but hey, we've got plenty of pipe and fitting around here

I flushed the trans fluid, removing the pan and replacing the filter. I also added a drain plug to make it a little easier next time (6 quarts coming down is a mess)

I still plan on a hitch; a local hitch shop has like an NOS hitch they'll install and wire for $150. I can't find them online any cheaper (and none of the wagons in the salvage yard have hitches). The hitch shop probably figures they'll never have another person calling for one for a Century wagon lol

As Sonoma suggested I'll still add Airlift airbags for the rear when I'm towing.

And a good window tint to keep the tools and supplies more secure. It'll look sweet too

[EldoFan]

Wow......you're "work vehicle" seems to be developing a Jekyll/Hyde complex.....

[AndrewGS]

Lookin' good, damn good! Great find on those wheels, I can't believe a shop had a set of wheels sitting on the shelf for 12 years, that's crazy. Whitewalls look good on some cars, like yours, but only with stock or wire wheels, good choice on the flip with those chromes.

You'll have to get a picture of that intake. I've got a Vararam ram air intake on my truck and it really works at highway speeds.

[Kennyboy]

Are you planning to remove the stickers or keep them there? I suggestion is to go to Home Depot and buy a few spray cans and spray your car in white to cover the stickers.

[F14CRAZY]

They're magnets, for our business...