2004 Impala SS vs. 96 Impala SS
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,979
Originally posted by AdioSS
Nope, we're not bugged by it. We are bugged that it took Chevrolet this long (8 years) do bring out a big sedan that matches the performance of our cars, and we're also bugged that it's Front wheel drive. I'm anxiously waiting for the first 04 SS to pull up beside me at a stop light, er, make that, at the track
Nope, we're not bugged by it. We are bugged that it took Chevrolet this long (8 years) do bring out a big sedan that matches the performance of our cars, and we're also bugged that it's Front wheel drive. I'm anxiously waiting for the first 04 SS to pull up beside me at a stop light, er, make that, at the track
Maybe we could arrange something if I get one.
Given your ET and trap, you might be in trouble... Methinks I could get an FWD Impy SS to 13.4 in a big hurry.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,954
Originally posted by bburn
Another vote for the old school here. My father-in-law has a '96 Caprice he retrofitted with Impala grill and badges. My wife's uncle has a true '96 Implala SS. Both run like a deer, have a comfortable ride, get good mileage, and get all kinds of attention from people at stop lights or in parking lots. IMHO, front wheel drive ain't all it's cracked up to be, and it certainly doesn't suit a lot of people.
I say put these cars back true to their original drivetrain layout, but make them with better-than-ever fit & finish and you've got a winner with everyone, especially law enforcement.
bburn
Another vote for the old school here. My father-in-law has a '96 Caprice he retrofitted with Impala grill and badges. My wife's uncle has a true '96 Implala SS. Both run like a deer, have a comfortable ride, get good mileage, and get all kinds of attention from people at stop lights or in parking lots. IMHO, front wheel drive ain't all it's cracked up to be, and it certainly doesn't suit a lot of people.
I say put these cars back true to their original drivetrain layout, but make them with better-than-ever fit & finish and you've got a winner with everyone, especially law enforcement.
bburn
The last "real" Impala SS was a great car because of the suspension and brakes. Here was a B-body that stopped like a Corvette, and handled better than any traditional American car. Sadly, there was no reason why every B-body car couldn't have had the same brakes, or even the same ride/handling compromise. Toned-down brightwork was another feature that should have spread to the Impala's platform mates. (Just imagine: a tasteful Fleetwood that didn't waddle like a hippo, or a Roadmaster Estate that wasn't a replica of the "Family Road-Queen Truckster."
)The market spoke, but GM didn't bother to listen.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Originally posted by redzed
The '94-'96 Impy SS is one of those rare cars that encourages "automotive counterfeiting." The funny thing is that the styling and drivetrain weren't the Impalas' defining features. After all, the engine and 3.08 rear-end were options on any Caprice. The limited color choices and grey interior weren't huge selling points either. Nobody can argue that the mono-chromatic paintwork didn't look good, but that wasn't the reason-for-being behind the car.
The last "real" Impala SS was a great car because of the suspension and brakes. Here was a B-body that stopped like a Corvette, and handled better than any traditional American car. Sadly, there was no reason why every B-body car couldn't have had the same brakes, or even the same ride/handling compromise. Toned-down brightwork was another feature that should have spread to the Impala's platform mates. (Just imagine: a tasteful Fleetwood that didn't waddle like a hippo, or a Roadmaster Estate that wasn't a replica of the "Family Road-Queen Truckster.")
The market spoke, but GM didn't bother to listen.
The '94-'96 Impy SS is one of those rare cars that encourages "automotive counterfeiting." The funny thing is that the styling and drivetrain weren't the Impalas' defining features. After all, the engine and 3.08 rear-end were options on any Caprice. The limited color choices and grey interior weren't huge selling points either. Nobody can argue that the mono-chromatic paintwork didn't look good, but that wasn't the reason-for-being behind the car.
The last "real" Impala SS was a great car because of the suspension and brakes. Here was a B-body that stopped like a Corvette, and handled better than any traditional American car. Sadly, there was no reason why every B-body car couldn't have had the same brakes, or even the same ride/handling compromise. Toned-down brightwork was another feature that should have spread to the Impala's platform mates. (Just imagine: a tasteful Fleetwood that didn't waddle like a hippo, or a Roadmaster Estate that wasn't a replica of the "Family Road-Queen Truckster."
)The market spoke, but GM didn't bother to listen.
), but one small thing. The suspension and brakes were nothing more than suspension & brakes from the Caprice Police car. They were good, but not "Corvette stopping" quick. Although I'd have to doublecheck to be certain, I believe they were also an option on other Caprices & came on Fleetwoods & Roadmasters standard. The bucket seats on the SS came from the Buick Roadmaster.Impala SS is one of those very rare cars that went from being ridiculed and slammed to being the very picture of bad*ss ride with nothing more than a borrowing a few parts and painting it black.
One can say that the new Impala SS is a more special & unique car from other Impalas than the 90s Impala SS was from other Caprices.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Originally posted by PacerX
Given your ET and trap, you might be in trouble... Methinks I could get an FWD Impy SS to 13.4 in a big hurry.
Given your ET and trap, you might be in trouble... Methinks I could get an FWD Impy SS to 13.4 in a big hurry.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,954
Originally posted by guionM
Agree with everything you said (shocked?), but one small thing. The suspension and brakes were nothing more than suspension & brakes from the Caprice Police car. They were good, but not "Corvette stopping" quick. Although I'd have to doublecheck to be certain, I believe they were also an option on other Caprices & came on Fleetwoods & Roadmasters standard.
Agree with everything you said (shocked?
), but one small thing. The suspension and brakes were nothing more than suspension & brakes from the Caprice Police car. They were good, but not "Corvette stopping" quick. Although I'd have to doublecheck to be certain, I believe they were also an option on other Caprices & came on Fleetwoods & Roadmasters standard.
Originally posted by guionM
Impala SS is one of those very rare cars that went from being ridiculed and slammed to being the very picture of bad*ss ride with nothing more than a borrowing a few parts and painting it black.
Impala SS is one of those very rare cars that went from being ridiculed and slammed to being the very picture of bad*ss ride with nothing more than a borrowing a few parts and painting it black.
Originally posted by guionM
One can say that the new Impala SS is a more special & unique car from other Impalas than the 90s Impala SS was from other Caprices.
One can say that the new Impala SS is a more special & unique car from other Impalas than the 90s Impala SS was from other Caprices.
....but the Impala SS was still far superior in handling, braking and appearance.
The Impala SS was a stunning transformation at the time.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10
From: Carol Stream, IL
The suspension was pure 9C1, but no other B-body had discs all the way around - not even the cop cars.
One thing though....when Chevy put the rear discs on the Impala, the didn't change the proportioning valve and rears hardly work at all.
Many Impala owners change the valving.
The rear drum cars stopped almost as good as the disc cars.
One other thing, a sport suspension option on the Caprice gave it the same spring rates, sway bars and shocks as the Impala...
Really, an Impala is just a Caprice with a trim package...
And who cars about the '04...I don't how fast it is.....
There is 10 sec Hondas out there....And I don't want one of those...
FWD......Just Plain Blows
Later,
Bob T.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Originally posted by redzed
The suspension was pure 9C1, but no other B-body had discs all the way around - not even the cop cars. Stopping was far shorter than LT-1 F4s. If that alarms you, remember that the F4's brakes were tremendously upgraded for '98. Even then, the Impy's brakes weren't far off those of a LS-1 Z28.
The '94-'96 Impy was never "slammed and ridiculed" to the extent of the other B-bodies. Demand was strong from the start, as were residual values. Counterfeiting is nothing new when it comes to muscle cars, but it's still surprising for a car of mid-90s vintage.
The difference between your average "dealer inventory" LT-1 Caprice (4.3 liter, standard suspension, cheap velour inside) and the Impala SS was huge. You could order a Caprice with leather, the 5.7 liter, 3.08 rear, F41 suspension, etc....
....but the Impala SS was still far superior in handling, braking and appearance.
The Impala SS was a stunning transformation at the time.
The suspension was pure 9C1, but no other B-body had discs all the way around - not even the cop cars. Stopping was far shorter than LT-1 F4s. If that alarms you, remember that the F4's brakes were tremendously upgraded for '98. Even then, the Impy's brakes weren't far off those of a LS-1 Z28.
The '94-'96 Impy was never "slammed and ridiculed" to the extent of the other B-bodies. Demand was strong from the start, as were residual values. Counterfeiting is nothing new when it comes to muscle cars, but it's still surprising for a car of mid-90s vintage.
The difference between your average "dealer inventory" LT-1 Caprice (4.3 liter, standard suspension, cheap velour inside) and the Impala SS was huge. You could order a Caprice with leather, the 5.7 liter, 3.08 rear, F41 suspension, etc....
....but the Impala SS was still far superior in handling, braking and appearance.
The Impala SS was a stunning transformation at the time.
Bob T beat me to it, but out my window right now is a black former CHP Caprice (co-worker's) with 4 wheel disc brakes. They had em.
Impala specs: http://www.maysvilleky.net/~gbeard/Impala/specs.html
9C1 specs:
http://www.copcarsonline.com/caprice_specs.htm
http://www.zianet.com/kc5kto/9c1/9c1.html
The Caprice was slamed & ridiculed in every magazine at the time, and in the public, and it's sales were pale compared to the Crown Victoria. The SS was basically a Police Caprice with a paint scheme Jon Albert spotted on the streets of Detroit (he followed the guy home, and invited him to show his car to a few Chevrolet people at GM the next day.....true story!).
SS was not a big seller at 1st, selling only about 6,000 cars. Impala SS is, however, the only B body to increase sales each year it was out.
One other bit of trivia: Impala SSs of the mid 90s were nortorious for being poorly built.
BTW, if anyone's interested, here's all you probably ever wanted to know about Impala SSs:
http://www.raiden1.com/ss_faq.htm
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,030
From: Frankfort, KY U.S.A.
There are a few differences in the (94-96) Impala SS and the 9C1 and other LT-1 B-Bodies.
Impala SS and 9C1 were the only B-Bodies with the 3.08 rear end.
LT-1 Caprices, RoadMasters, Fleetwoods got the 2.93 rear end.
The Impala SS had spefic rate DeCarbon shocks while the 9C1 used stiffer Blistien Shocks.
Impala SS and 9C1 both had 4-wheel disc brakes, other B-Bodies had rear drums.
LT-1 Caprices with HD Towing Pkg. got 1 electric cooling fan and one belt driven cooling fan.
Impala SS and 9C1 had 2 electric cooling fans.
Impala SS and 9C1 were capable of Top Speeds of 145+ mph.
LT-1 Caprices were limited to 108 mph, even if you ordered the speed rated H tires that were good to 130 mph.
Impala SS and 9C1 were the only B-Bodies with the 3.08 rear end.
LT-1 Caprices, RoadMasters, Fleetwoods got the 2.93 rear end.
The Impala SS had spefic rate DeCarbon shocks while the 9C1 used stiffer Blistien Shocks.
Impala SS and 9C1 both had 4-wheel disc brakes, other B-Bodies had rear drums.
LT-1 Caprices with HD Towing Pkg. got 1 electric cooling fan and one belt driven cooling fan.
Impala SS and 9C1 had 2 electric cooling fans.
Impala SS and 9C1 were capable of Top Speeds of 145+ mph.
LT-1 Caprices were limited to 108 mph, even if you ordered the speed rated H tires that were good to 130 mph.
LMAO!!! Good one....hehe!
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Originally posted by Z28x
an Aluminum 5.3L will weigh about the same and put out at least 60HP/50tq more
an Aluminum 5.3L will weigh about the same and put out at least 60HP/50tq more