[COPRICE-SS]

Hi everyone. Been slaving away to save up enough to rebuild my CAPRICE and so havent been on much. I want to rebuild engine, body, interior, and anything that I can to give the carcass nee life.
I'm having trouble finding fans of our cars in the GREATER TORONTO, CANADA area. Posting ads as much as I can but still no serious replys.
I knew some of the members from the former TAISSO group but cant find anyone.
I'm looking for their help in advise of which mechanics/machine/body shops to go to in our area where I can get proper work done at an affordable cost.
I'd appreciate ANYONE who has connections in the GREATER TORONTO/MISSISSAUGA area to help me get hooked up with trustworthy people who can help me get my CAPRICE back in fightin shape.
Willing to trade any man power or skills I can give in whatever projects people might have.
Cars getting tough and I need to get him help really soon.
Please contact me.
Cheers, God bless.

 

[JackFish]

I have a similar problem up here in Winnipeg.
It's not too hard to find an engine builder or a shop that can do driveline and mechanical stuff.

But the whole autobody/painting thing is a different can of worms.

I think you'll have to visit or just talk to a bunch of different shops to get a feel for where they're at on these older vehicles.
Most places don't do anything but insurance claims and bolt on parts.
I had one shop that wouldn't even look at a small rust patch on my old Ford fox-body.
I ended up finding a guy on Kijiji who did a great job in his garage.

 

[96 Black]

Sure they're getting dog-$yit cheap, but these quarter-century old cars are getting to entering the ranks as classics. Ancient paint spec, antique drivetrain (still with a distributor!), unimpressive gas mileage, dwindling survivors on the road, ----- especially in the wake of C4C (well at least here in the lower 48). You both will have a lot better return by ferreting out classic car shops not dependent on a mass production business model. You'll pay more, but results will come quicker and way less frustrating.



Just find and pick from a few of the classic car clubs in your area. Ford and MOPAR (and even Rambler and Hudson and Studebaker) owners are people too.


Then there's always the smartest tack in simply getting an FSM and digging in and getting dirty - and gradually better just doing it yourself. JMHO

 

[COPRICE-SS]

I've been looking and it seems allot of places are trying to rip me off either cause I look way younger than I am (45) and the think I'm not experienced or because they dont want to do the work.
That's why I was hoping someone either that knows the TORONTO IMPALA guys or is from the old TAISSO club could get in touch with me and connect me to a good shop..

 

[COPRICE-SS]

I'm super surprised no one serious is answering my ads and call for help. I mean I do offer what ever I can do in return..not asking for it to be free..
I thought, having the same interest in cars was the whole point of having clubs/forums where we all help each other.
All my ad rolls are mainly just guys trying to sell stuff and that's a waste of my time.
I'm very specific in my wording and never mentioned wanting to buy parts or even a full car..
It's annoying when I've helped allot of people with their projects but never received help in return. Sad.

 

[COPRICE-SS]

Just to clarify, I'm talking about ads I post locally. Didn't mean here..

 

[gbhs72]

Maybe you're offering the wrong product in exchange for the work. This works a lot in the USA. [ame]https://youtu.be/04u58ifxmRA?t=79[/ame]
Add pizza and you might even get it painted. :wink2:

Mark: Snowman-33

 

[Fred Kiehl]

If you are a good mechanic, you could possibly rebuild the engine and trans yourself. If the cylinders are only in need of a hone, and you can get a new/reman crank (think Rock Auto), it could cost you less than having someone rebuild it for you. It cost me $125USD just to have the crank turned locally. The heads were another $400USD locally (for both excluding new valves or springs). It is mainly a matter of bolting it together correctly. You can also get long blocks for relatively good prices. Getting an FSM is a good idea too. Most of the shops do not remember (they are not old enough) how to work on these cars. Another possibility is a shop that specializes in trucks. Trucks still have similar architecture to the B-bodies, and sheet metal is sheet metal.

Remember, when you work for yourself, you get retail rate for your pay. The parts will cost retail, no matter where you get them, and every turn of the wrench that you do is the same value as the guy you pay. If you must buy tools, they pay for themselves the next time you use them, or you can sell them to offset the cost. You can even "rent" some tools from local parts stores (Autozone, and Advanced Auto are best, O'Reillys is tricky), and get your $$$ back when you return them.

The first engine I built was my 454. It is 90% common sense, and 10% physical labor. You even get to screw up a couple of times, and then you have experience. I have an $8K engine that cost me about $4K plus my labor to build (it cost me about $1K in screw-ups). If you do not want down time, you can get a good core from a wrecked car, and still drive while building it. You can even sell the good used parts to offset your new parts/rebuilt acquisitions.

If you decide to do a lot yourself, let me know, and I will share some helpful hints and kinks.

 

[COPRICE-SS]

Appreciate the offer for info. Unfortunately I dont have a good driveway to do anything major, nor do I have enough experience to do it alone. I dont have anyone around that would help me either..and my "estranged family" are the reason the car is in rough shape..they caused it.

How is it know one knows anyone up here from the club that I could talk to??

 

[COPRICE-SS]

I meant no one, still getting over the flue

 

[SSWEET]

Hi everyone. Been slaving away to save up enough to rebuild my CAPRICE and so havent been on much. I want to rebuild engine, body, interior, and anything that I can to give the carcass nee life.
I'm having trouble finding fans of our cars in the GREATER TORONTO, CANADA area. Posting ads as much as I can but still no serious replys.
I knew some of the members from the former TAISSO group but cant find anyone.
I'm looking for their help in advise of which mechanics/machine/body shops to go to in our area where I can get proper work done at an affordable cost.
I'd appreciate ANYONE who has connections in the GREATER TORONTO/MISSISSAUGA area to help me get hooked up with trustworthy people who can help me get my CAPRICE back in fightin shape.
Willing to trade any man power or skills I can give in whatever projects people might have.
Cars getting tough and I need to get him help really soon.
Please contact me.
Cheers, God bless.

PM me with what type of work, specifically, you're looking to have done. I may be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[Fred Kiehl]

Appreciate the offer for info. Unfortunately I dont have a good driveway to do anything major, nor do I have enough experience to do it alone. I dont have anyone around that would help me either..and my "estranged family" are the reason the car is in rough shape..they caused it.

How is it know one knows anyone up here from the club that I could talk to??

I did everything myself, and I did not have any direct experience. The only thing I had going for me was a place to work indoors. If you can rent a workspace for a couple of months, you could get the drivetrain done. You do need a couple of specialty tools, like an engine lift, and stand. It took me 3 months, but I swapped to an engine that was never in the car, and had to integrate the systems. Much of that was waiting for special parts for the engine. It should have taken about a month, had I known that the engine I built was "special".

I had no instruction manual, and had to figure out everything with no help. I did have a little help one day, but it ended up being more of a hindrance, and cost me a new distributor.

I had the whole front end off of the car, and did the removal and reinstall with no one to help.

 

[gbhs72]

Fred is correct here. This can be done. Granted the person doing this(link follows) most likely had some experience but it's really doable. You're situation is far less of a project than his. Mine is about the same as Fernado's. Health and family obligations slow me down. https://www.impalassforum.com/vBull...ilds/348362-91-caprice-frame-off-rebuild.html Buy the FSM and "Get-R-Done".

Mark: Snowman-33

 

[COPRICE-SS]

Apologies everyone. Just been trying to get things happening..tired as hell most of the time. Still looking for shops, lots of parts, and doin it without help from anyone around me. Plus everyday life trials.

Can you fellas also chime in on who to deal with for ALL INTERIOR/EXTERIOR/MECHANICAL and AFTER MARKET parts please?

Just messaged MR.IMPALA a huge starter list. Obviously looking for deals. As long as it works well and looks decent, it doesn't have to be show quality..just not broken.

 

[COPRICE-SS]

This what sent MR. IMPALA. Maybe someone maybe be able to suggest who is safe and good to deal with.

Hi there. I'm trying to save my daily driver and planning work to begin soon.1991 DARK MAPLE CAPRICE LTZ with the thicker frame. I'll need to speak with you about purchasing ALLOT of parts and that being the case, I'm hoping we can work out some multi part deals.I also have a 91 BLACK SAFFIRE INTERCEPTOR that will need parts at a later time.Just to give you an idea, this is a small list of parts I need
-front burgundy inner door panel plastic portions only(something stronger maybe from an OLDS/BUICK design) or fiberglass.The Caprice ones obviously crack from closing doors.
-burgundy front arm rests.
-91 woodgrain door panel trim or something again with a stronger plastic design(as long as it fits).
-burgundy dash pad.
-upgraded plastic window slides.
-burgundy steering wheel (rim only)ooen to Caprice/Camero/Impala but in that case will need rubber center parts for Camero/Impala.
-burgundy drivers seat bealt.
That's a start. Please contact me to discuss further. Thank you. God bless
Dean.

 

[COPRICE-SS]

Hi all..still burning it at both ends and, really burnt out but still trying to save enough to fo my "INTERCEPTOR" justice.

I'm again asking for any help to find the shops in or around the TORONTO/MISSISSAUGA area of ONTARIO I need to get my Caprice in for rebuilding.
I'm still posting numerous ads on all the free sites and not finding much at all.

Please, if you or your friends know of any trust worthy shops,(machine shop/mechanics/body shop) that are into our cars and wont try and RIP me off..PLEASE LET ME KNOW?

I gotta get my car in now..
Thank you again everyone. Cheers.

 

[COPRICE-SS]

Soo...I have been messaging members and posting here when I can and not getting replies..
I'm working hard to get things moving on rebuilding my car/cars..and so I'm not on here as often as I'd like, plus not receiving replays from members I've sent PM's to which helps remind me to check in here, isn't helping.

As I've also mentioned, I'm having trouble navigating the way this site is set up.
I'm used to a different set up and its goofing me up..

I sure would appreciate replies to my PM's and questions on posts.
I'm really trying to get things happening to rebuild my INTERCEPTOR.
Thanks all.