warwgn3 Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 Here's a dumb question.... How come GM never made any station wagons out of the W-Body platform? I'm guessing its because when the W-body first came out, they already had wagons being made from the A, B, and J-Body platforms such as the Celebrity, Caprice, and Cavalier, that they thought there wasn't really any need for another line of wagons. Oh well, I think it would have been cool to see a Z-34 wagon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intern8tion9l Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 oh i'd LOVE to see someone make one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94CutlassSLCoupe Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 if they had made one i would probably own it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 ditto. The closest thing they had were the U-vans that shared some visual resemblance, but used a lot of parts from the A-body. I think the easiest wagon conversion would be derived from a Cutlass or Lumina sedan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwgn3 Posted October 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 What's a U-Van? any relation to a Screw-U-Van? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bowler Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 lumina, silhouette and transport vans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 LOL I think they do screw-u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 Hmmmm found my next photoshop project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwgn3 Posted October 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 lumina, silhouette and transport vans ah, ok. My Dads friend has a Trans Sport van... It's always got some kind of problem too, so it must be a Screw-U-Van Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 never found a single part besides generic OBD1 stuff(MAP, coolant temp, tps) that was exactly the same on w's and u's. the wheels fit but have different offsets. the 16" euro/z34 wheels barely fit on my 90 APV, but it looked cooler than shit with them on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 Later U-vans share a vast majority of their parts with the W-bodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 never found a single part besides generic OBD1 stuff(MAP, coolant temp, tps) that was exactly the same on w's and u's. the wheels fit but have different offsets. the 16" euro/z34 wheels barely fit on my 90 APV, but it looked cooler than shit with them on it. the identical 15 inch lumina alloy rim was used on both U and W's iirc. Pat, what was the issue? did the inner rim go in too deep? oh and topic time..... no W station wagons. station wagons where a thing of the 80's, they where loosing popularity to suv's by the early 90's. but the buick apparently has a built in ''tailgate ajar'' warning indicator, during the first/or a few years... a good indication that they were thinging about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted October 6, 2006 Report Share Posted October 6, 2006 the issue was 1/8" clearance from the stock Z34 225/60/16 to the spring perch on the strut/spindle assembly. everything up front is different from the cradle to the brake calipers and pads, and the rear is a solid axle in the vans so that's all way different. should have kept my 91, i was planning to RWD/v8 it on a S10 chassis but got unmotivated, then got motivated again after i got rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbird232 Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 lumina, silhouette and transport vans Ever notice the later Transport's had what looked identical to a B4U nose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 but the buick apparently has a built in ''tailgate ajar'' warning indicator, during the first/or a few years... a good indication that they were thinging about it. I'm 99% sure the CS clusters have a spot for that bulb too. One of the two digital clusters do anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteCarloChick Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 lumina, silhouette and transport vans Ever notice the later Transport's had what looked identical to a B4U nose? Word. My grandfather had one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbird232 Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Dammit, can't believe I put an apostrophe in there... Must be tired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 but the buick apparently has a built in ''tailgate ajar'' warning indicator, during the first/or a few years... a good indication that they were thinging about it. I'm 99% sure the CS clusters have a spot for that bulb too. One of the two digital clusters do anyways. Yeah, the digital UB3's have them also. Also, I agree with Ken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 the ub3 does? hummmmm.... (gears are turning) Thats what i figured, Pat. lack of back clearance. now.... the older U vans were basically built on the chassis of an A-body, the same/similiar rear tube axle, front struts, and same frame(or..... was that from a berretta/corsica?) for some years, the pontiac transport and the bonneville used the same headlights too! and I wouldn't doubt other similiar compatabilites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 but the buick apparently has a built in ''tailgate ajar'' warning indicator, during the first/or a few years... a good indication that they were thinging about it. Thats from the cluster from my 88 regal, which was a late 87. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 The guy at work in teh bodyshop who does all the metal work is building a Cavalier wagon, except he's removed the back doors (making it a 2 door) and he plans on dropping it onto a RWD S-truck frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo231 Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Too many wagons...Ford did make the Taurus wagon...but they killed their full size wagon. Like the original post said, GM had the A, J and the B body through 1996...and after that, it was SUV's ahoy, which is the primary reason you don't see any wagons today...well, real wagons. I haven't seen a new Ford wagon, GM has the Malibu Maxx, and Dodge has the 300 variant...but if you can't fit a 4'x8' plywood back there, you just aren't trying. They will return though...as fuel economy steps in people want small cars to haul things, like one of the many subaru variants. As for wagons not being popular, GM was selling at least 10,000 B body wagons (Caprice/Roadmaster) a year until the end...they weren't killed because they were unpopular, but the overall chassis was cancelled for more trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwgn3 Posted October 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 I haven't seen a new Ford wagon, GM has the Malibu Maxx, and Dodge has the 300 variant...but if you can't fit a 4'x8' plywood back there, you just aren't trying. I totally agree on the 4x8 plywood thing. Infact, in my mind, if its not big enough to seat 8 belted passengers in 3 rows of seats, then its not a real wagon. No wonder why I hate anything newer than 1996. Everyone know's I'm obsessed with wagons from the 60's, 70's and 80's. But the Malibu Maxx isn't a station wagon at all. It's a 4-door hatchback. And as for the Magnum wagon, it's just a modern hot rod. there's not really very much "wagon" in it at all. The cargo area is too small to be usefull, so the car is really meant as a status symbol. "I've got a hemi"... yeah big fucken deal. Give me something thats atleast 18 feet or longer, with a drop&swing tailgate. Now THAT'S a Station Wagon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 The closest thing GM has to a wagon is the Vibe and the HHR. I'm not sure which of the 2 would have more room, I'm thinking maybe the HHR. Can't forget about the Torrent/Equinox... it's FWD/AWD and feels more car than truck. Seating for 8 is impractical for a car, that's why minivan crushed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88Regal Limited Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 w-body wagon.... if only I had time and could weld.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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