Ode to the Road

[old white man]

Roadmaster, that is.

Howdy! I'm an old white man.

I drive a 1992 Buick Roadmaster Limited, white with the burgundy leather interior, 230+k miles on the odo.

I've had it over a decade. Stock, with the exception of the deletion of the DynaRide levelers/shocks and replacement with gas charged heavy duty shocks.

3.08, FE2, top speed 112 mph (limited), according to Garmin.

I can drive it two thousand miles a week and be ready for more.

It's hard to keep my wife and friends awake it it. Must be the show tunes cassettes...

I have a brimmed hat on the left rear package shelf.

A/C temp is 34.9 f at idle, in sun, 100 f ambient temperature, extremely low humidity. Still running R12.

I recently mounted blackwalls for the first time. Looks kinda sporty!

They're General Altimax RT's in 225/70 R 15.

I'm satisfied with the performance of the TBI L05, and it turned in an average of 22.3 mpg, with a high of 24.3, on a 2000 mile trip around the mountains and valleys of New Mexico last year. Averages 21.7 at 75 mph.

I mostly use it as a highway cruiser, but it's served well even as a chase vehicle (Roadmaster One) for Greg Foutz' championship run for the Best In The Desert full size pickup class for 2009. The Hummers and SuperDutys looked aghast as the white whale rolled in through the silt beds into remote desert pits. Surprised when they saw it roll out again through the Nevada dust.

I'm going to change the spark plugs soon, they've been in there since before I bought it.

Usual GM issues over the ten plus years: alternator(s), starter, p/s pump, water pump(s) replacement.

Only real need is a steel wheel to mount a full size spare. The 22-year-old temp is holding air, but for how far... and I don't like to drive 50 mph or less.

What is the offset/width of the appropriate 15" diameter wheel? I believe it is 6, rather than 7, inches wide, but don't know.

Will a wheel from any 91-96 GM B-body work?

Thanks in advance!

 

[old white man]

A decade plus of maintenance and repairs, over 94+k miles, starting with 138K on the odo:

First off, LOF at 6K, going for the cheapest coupon price most of the time. Coolant and tranny fluid/filter changed at around 30K; air and fuel filters, alignment, as needed.

03: battery, belt, alternator

04: added Freon, replaced one spark plug lead, brake shoes, starter

05: brake pads, four tires, master window switch

06: fuel tank, added Freon, alternator, battery, front shocks

07: added Freon

08: water pump, EGR pipe, tire, rear shocks, pinion bearing and seal

09: water pump, heater inlet hose, two tires

10: RL ball joint, idler arm

11: windshield, battery, p/s pump & low side hose

12: oil cooler hoses, fuel pump

13: catalytic converter

14: four tires and shocks (at the same time!), p/s high side hose, pump & pulley, belt, battery, wheel seals, fan clutch, PCV valve, oil pressure sender, hood release cable, front brake hoses, eight spark plugs, distributor cap & rotor, one spark plug lead, added 6 more oz of Freon, brake light switch

This year I got around to a few things that could have used a bit of attention for years. But nothing major, nor too expensive, besides tires.

I foresee a steering box, LL ball joint, radio antenna and radiator replacement in the not-too-distant future, say, by 2016. Maybe some Freon, have added about 20 oz over the past.

It's been a good car, but some of the replacement parts haven't been too good, not lasting long, like rebuilt p/s and water pumps.

I believe that overall, this presents an exemplary frequency-of-repair record for any vehicle, from any manufacturer.

 

[old white man]

Just returned last night from a 26-day, 5000 mile camping trip to Port Angeles, WA, and back to my home in the southwest.

My RMLS performed flawlessly, from the dirt roads in the Quinault River Rain Forest in the Olympic Peninsula and the beaches of the NW coast of the USA, to the Interstate superslabs, deserts, urban traffic and alpine forest.

Best tank was 25.5 mpg.

Haven't determined exact total mileage and fuel consumption yet, but guessing a 21 +/- mpg average overall.

My wife is sure we were the only tent campers this summer on the peninsula camping out of a white RMLS.

Total mileage now approaching 237,000.

 

[rjathon]

Sounds like a romance to me!

 

[fullmonte44]

A good read. I'm guessing a lot of those repairs over the years would have sidelined a lesser enthusiast. (Both ball joints at the same time, just like brake hoses as I found out, unless you are of the persuasion to only fix what's broken.)

How long did the DynaRide shocks last?

The open road is calling.

 

[old white man]

Thanks!

Which of those repairs would sideline a RM?😕

I only replaced the lower right BJ because it was the only one that showed significant play. I'll replace the left lower next, I felt a little bit of play in it before I left.

Brake hoses were preventive maintenance.

The left bladder blew going over a speed bump in Huntington Beach, 2007, IIRC.

Spring rate is a little soft in rear, but I prefer that over a little stiff, and control it with HD gas shocks.

 

[fullmonte44]

Oh, I agree none of them should sideline one. That is I am sure an excellent frequency of repair. I was thinking more about the time factor, the age of the vehicle. Most people don't own 22 year old cars as their daily driver- or daily cruiser in your case, lol, and BTW, I can't believe you took a beautiful road car on some demolition derby style race in the desert!!!!.that's pretty cool. I once turned a ford maverick into an off road mountain car.

Now my daily driver is 27 years old, so you and I are in the same minority. You say your okay with TBI. I say I wish I even had THAT. But even better, for significantly improved miles per gallon, would be a multi port injection system. Maybe look at a '93 or '94 RM, as a ("replacement") I have to whisper it, don't want your car to hear it.

 

[old white man]

I've been driving off highway since 1962 in/on all kinds of vehicles, mostly two wheel drive. It's a matter of practice.

The Best In The Desert Championship Series is not a "demolition derby" style operation. It's off road racing, which really takes place on roads one could call "off," in the same way one might have an "off" day. Rough, but usually passable by a skilled driver in a well-equipped 2WD vehicle. If, he's lucky...

Several classes compete against the clock over various routes in Arizona and Nevada ranging from 250 to 500+ miles long.

I used the RM to "chase," which in this case meant trying to stay ahead of Stock Full racer Greg Foutz's Ford F-250 by reaching the various impromptu pit areas or trouble spots before he did, utilizing the highways while he struggled through the dirt, rocks, silt and sand.

We communicated by radio, and could often warn him of bad spots ahead for him. We carried a spare wheel and tire for him, which took up a good chunk of the trunk.

The RM had no trouble reaching the often remote pits, which left me to help Greg change his entire rear axle at one point. That was no picnic, but allowed him to finish the race.

And that's what off road racing is about: finishing the race; to finish first, first you have to finish. Speed comes second, and the inevitable mistakes exact a high toll on tires and equipment.

Look at a Tahoe or Yukon, nothing but tall station wagon bodies sitting on frames similar to ours, and built on the same line our RMs were; our cars are perfectly capable of covering uneven, unstable, terrain, just at slow, steady, speeds while cognizant of approach, break-over and departure angles.

It's too bad that by the time GM built a great American four-door sedan, few even considered buying one anymore.

The 94-96 engines have too many issues for me, I think I'd go LS3. Lighten up the front end by 75-80 lbs.

Light up the rear tires a lot more. 😉

 

[fullmonte44]

I see. I didn't know they used chase cars. Sounds like the wild and wooly west ! I was born and raised in Roswell, NM, up and down the Pecos Valley south of there, Artesia, Dexter, Hagerman. My dad moved us to a farm in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas when I was 13 years old. That was 1957. Now I live in a rural place up against the rocky mountains in Montana.

 

[old white man]

Bucks up teams have dedicated chase vehicles, usually 3/4 ton F-250 SuperDuty Crewcab 4x4, and the like, with well-equipped utility beds or custom racks.

We'd usually try and pit near them. 😉

And act friendly but helpless.

Lower buck teams use a variety of rental cars and trucks, as well as private vehicles.

The AHP and NHP make sure chase vehicles are adhering to the rules. Even throwing gravel onto a paved surface is an infraction.

The RM handled it all with aplomb.

 

[keumnam]

1993 maroon/maroon velour interior. 167k or thereabouts. My wife uses it as a daily driver. Paid $850 for it from a elderly couple going into assisted living about 3 years ago.

Already had AC converted to 134, a newer battery, and a newer alternator.

What have I done to it?

New tires right after I bought it.
New radiator. It was leaking last year.
New battery last month.
New pads and rotors in front (did myself). With that, new bearings in front.
Thought I had a sticky valve. Tried numerous things to no avail. Then the alternator went and replaced. Apparently the ticking was a bearing in the alternator because no more ticking.
New starter last spring.
Installed a bluetooth player so my wife could talk hands free while driving.

The car drives perfect and is so reliable. One thing I have left to do are some of the bulbs in the ac control unit are out. Other than that....the seats are perfect, ...they inflate and deflate perfectly....all the switches work correctly (seats, windows, lights, etc)....I have never driven or ridden in a more comfortable car.

 

[old white man]

Wow, that 3.5 years went fast. I haven't made any real long trips but the RM keeps on clicking off the miles through desert and mountain. I've added a little R12, a little power steering fluid, changed the oil a time or two since I last posted.

I also cleaned out the evaporator fins with Berryman's a/c cleaner and it restored the flow to like new performance.

But, like my wife says, the Buick has been to the moon. And she's not sure she wants to ride it back.

Historic status at 26+ model years old...

I'm still driving it, though a younger cousin will be before too long.

He's another OWM.

 

[djohn75087]

I absolutely love my 92 Roadmaster. Mine was our traveling car until the wife insisted on buying something newer for trips. So, I reluctantly bought an 03 trailblazer with the 5.3. I still have my Roadmaster and I can't see ever getting rid of it. It only has 134K on b/c I ride a motorcycle 95% of the time. The roady no longer lives in the garage but it still has a place under a carport ( I just happened to get the carport when the roady left the garage) I didn't want my car sitting out in the sun, hail, and rain. At 150K I'll be changing the plugs, coil, wires, and ignition module. I changed them last at 75K so it'll be due. I plan to get the ball joints replaced soon just because I hear they go bad on these cars. I'm not a big fan of the Corvette motor. Too much to go wrong on those. My 92 has more than enough power for me. When I used the car for traveling I ran 80-90 mph all day long and it never missed a beat. I've had 3 vehicles that I never plan to get rid of. My V65 Magna, Valkrie Interstate, and my Roadmaster. They are all pretty rare and at one time they were vehicles I dreamed of owning. Now I have all three!