+1, thats good stuff.

 

Gotta love them LT1s! My 9C1, really miss that car, (sold it last spring) Ran 14.94s all day 100% bone stock with 100k+. Did the "home depot" CAI and cat back pipes drop to 14.5s, had the PCM tuned by a amature (friend of mine), dropped to 14.23. WHile later I by-passed the cats and had a pro tuner do it in car, big difference, it would run 13.90-.87 without much effort (on my part). When I really focused on a good launch it was 13.80-.82 consistantly at 101. This was around the 140k mark. Never had a valve cover off and supposedly the police department rebuilt the trans just before auctioning it off just under 80K. Oh and this was on stock size street tires, 235x70-15s

Whops, sorry, reminiscing a little, anyhow, I thnk the Opti-spark is a great design, durable as hell. Being in that community a while, it was pretty common for guys to have 160-180k on the original, and some times even the original cap & rotor. Few were well over 200k on the original Opti. Mine went almost 150k but being a police car the first almost 80k who knows how many millions of hours run time idling at the donut shop or slow cruising side streets and alleys at 10-15 mph, it was a Dallas PD so you know it had to get hella hot in the summer under that hood.
Yeah there is one, well two negatives with it, PITA to change being behind the waterpump, and expensive.

 

I've been scouring the entire web for a deal on Techron, maybe by the case if its cheap enough. No luck though, seems about $9-10 per bottle is the going rate.

Well updating my own post, re: Techron pricing. Seems this bloke has it for a more-than-fair price: Case 6 Bottles of Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner 12 Oz | eBay

 

I had a 90 Caprice LT1, was a retired cop car, had the police ECM, thanks to a friend who worked at the impound, cops swap them out before auction, put stock ones in, I do remember, the distributor caps did not last long, the electrodes would burn out of, car had 179,000 on it, transmission held overdrive past 1/2 throttle, was stupid fast. I miss that car, but it was completely wore out, the door on the drivers side, the top broke loose, had to take care not to grab it, risk braking the window, steering column was worn out, refused to lock the tilt at times, light switch in the column was bad. I learned, the flashers wire into the high beams, the wigwag used the high bulbs, override was on the box, but put extra use on the high beam switch, triggering it wears them fast.
I would rather take a beating than tackle the vans plugs, the 5.4 is too tight for me to bother, I do know, if you don't use the recommended Motorcraft plugs, they will not last. Never reuse the boots, they are the main reason for coil pack failures, a crack causes a misfire, burning the coil out.

 

Costco sells 6 packs of Chevron Pro-Guard, I believe it's called. It comes in bottles that treat 16 gallons and allegedly contains *some* Techron, maybe a bit diluted compared to the straight stuff. However, I believe the 6 packs are like $20 or something like that. We have 4 vehicles, and I'll put 2 bottles in my van at one time, so a couple times a year I buy a 6 pack and use it up.

I have noted that gas mileage for the tank when the stuff is in the gas seems to be noticeably a bit better, but maybe that's because I usually put it in before a road trip and run the tank way down before I fill it again.

I know that BMW and Honda officially recommend Techron, so although I am opposed to most additives, I believe Techron is good stuff.

I will also note that if at all possible, I used a "top tier" fuel, which is also recommended by some mfrs. For a fuel brand to be considered top tier, it has to have a high level detergents in all grades (not just premium). In Michigan, I know Shell and Mobil are top tier in terms of major brands, and the Costco gas I usually buy has signs on the pumps that say their fuel (including regular) have 5 times the minimum required amount of detergent, so I'm assuming they are top tier. But I don't think this is a national standard for Costco gas. Here's a web page giving info on top tier fuels, again recommended by a number of car mfrs:

Top Tier Gasoline

George

ps once more I will remind Ford van owners that the only Ford plugs in danger of breaking are the 2 piece plugs used in the 3 valve engines which have NEVER BEEN USED IN FORD VANS, EVER. The 2 valve OHC V8's used in the vans did have possible issues blowing out spark plugs, more so prior to about 2005. But not breaking or stuck plugs.

 

Just wait till E-15, watch mileage go with the longevity of engines.

 

Great info YoGeorge!

I found the Pro-Guard stuff too, its definitely cheaper but with your fleet being frugal is important I'm guessing! My deal for the Techron 6-Pack included free shipping so it comes in about $8.17 a bottle. I'll probably use it according to instructions.

Will also look around locally for the top tier fuels, compare prices and where its most conveniently available. Next plug change due in about 49K miles should tell me a lot how such changes might affect things.

Thanks again!

 

Absolutely positively no such thing as a "police chip/PCM". Thats urban legand BS. In '90 the 9C1 came with 2 V8s, the LO3 170hp/255ft.lbs 305 which was 100% identical to the civilian Caprice (and it's twins from the other GM brands) or the optional LO5 190hp/285 ft.lbs 350 that was the same as the full size trucks. The only difference in the PCM would be to compensate for the obvious size difference with the 305 and the gear ratio, the 350 got 3.42 and the 305 either a 2.93 or 2.56. In the car line up ONLY the 9C1 and Fleetwood got the 350, also the special service Caprice wagons. IIRC you could have had a choice of 3.42, 3.08 and 2.93 in the Fleetwood, not sure the wagon. Other then a VERY slight difference in programing for the different rear ends, they were the same. So, now answer this, "what would the police put the PCM into and where would they get a " stock" PCM from to put in it's place???" If they tried swapping with a 305's PCM then neither car will run right. What magic voodoo in the PCM would cause the distributer caps to burn out?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
When the mighty LT1 came out in the '94-'96 full size GMs (the ones PStruwing gushed over) the differences became absolutely zero even though many people claim has a "Corvette engine". They dont, Vettes got aluminum heads and different cams. Just more hype by the unknowing or sleezy salesman.
You could get the 350/5.7 in ANY full size, from grandpa Jims Fleetwood to aunt Millie's Roadmaster to uncle Joes Caprice/Roadmaster wagon to the 9C1 and even the Impala SS, IDENTICAL 260 (underrated) hp/330ft.lbs, same exact PCM progamming, same exact trans', same exact exhausts. The SS and 9C1 (w/LT1) came with 3.08 only (optional in civvy Caprices, Buicks and Caddys) would run identical times as one another and were a bit faster then the Buick/Caddys being lighter (and/or the gear). No "Vette engines", no "cop chips". No "FBI" chips either, yeah, I've heard that a few times!

"Stupid fast"? Compaired to what? A 4cylinder in a Sunbird? It's all relative. A Vette would absolutely kill it, 190hp/285ft.lbs in a 4000+lb vehicle is "peppy" at best but compared to any performance car is down right boring. Acceleration, it would be lucky to run high 15's at 82-83mph, top speed, maybe 130mph with a stiff tail wind.

 

Hmm, I'll have to check again but I'm thinking my local Auto Zone and Walfart sell them at$6.99 or $7.99. I don't pay too close attention as I'm usually getting several other things at the same time. I'll have to remember to get some more the next few days, been almost 2 months anyhow since I put some in the van.

 

EWagonJeff I'm gonna disagree with you about there not being different PCM's or chips available to the government. In the mid-80's Buick had their Grand National turbocharged coupe, one sold only to police and federal agencies. One of the biggest differences was a fuel shut-off function after a certain speed, the police/fed version going all the way to 140MPH.

To my knowledge those were never available to the general public, that they were simply returned to GM when their use in the field had ended. Of course the after market chip programmers of the time could outfit you for a price.

There have been and probably still are special features on vehicles intended for law enforcement duty, these features being somewhat loosely held secrets but almost certainly removed before sold to the general public.

I can't speak to the cars in question but it seems plausible to me.

 

Well I'll tell you yes there was a big difference, I put it back before selling it, but WTF do you know, you never drove the car. I had the car for a couple of years before it was time to get rid of it, started using oil due to the valve seals being shot, causing the plugs to foul out quickly, the AC would frost the windows, I miss the old R-12 units.

 

First, the FBI requested those cars not have the speed limiter, Buick/GM did not develop and market these special for police use, standard on the T-types and GNs were limited at 124mph (liability and tire speed ratings). Also, to save money the cars were built with column shifters (which BTW any T-Type could have had), crank windows and bench seat, some had radio delete too. Basically they ordered the WE4 Regals, more or less a GN but different interior, aluminum bumper brackets, rear brake drums and wheels(same as T-Types) package, FWIW, ANY Regal could have been ordered with the turbo motor, base and Limited. Connecticut state police also ordered a couple dozen of them. Basically the WE4 was a Turbo Regal but with blacked out bumpers, head light trim of the GN. Second, aftermarket Eprom chips were readily available, as you mentioned, with everything from the limiter removed to fuel curves, shift points timing and a few other parameters that would need changing when you free up the exhaust and intake, turn up the boost. The police got nothing special other then speed limiter raised. Two of my closest friends at the time are bat***** crazy Buick nuts, they've had these cars since new, they, as well as the whole Buick Turbo community can tell you what brand of wax will net you a .0001 reduction in ET, well OK maybe not that but they are extremely ****. I had a '98 GTP (supercharged Buick 3.8s for those that dont know) I had running low 13s.

Also, the cars went to auction when retired from police/fbi use.

All kinda a moot point since we were just talking about the Caprice 9C1.

I guaranty there is no mysterious "loosely" held secrets about police packages, especially the 9C1 Caprices and P71 Crown Vics. I used to belong to the EVOOA as well as various B-body (Caprice Impala SS) clubs. Everything is known of even the slightest differences between the cop and civvy versions. My aforementioned Caprice wasn't my first, just my last and it hasn't even been a year since I sold it.

 

As I said "to my knowledge......." which seems to be much more limited than your own----good on ya then!

 

WTF do I know?? I know I've probably forgotten more about 9C1s from '85 on up then you ever knew, I know people in various b-body clubs that have probably forgotten more then twice I ever knew. Not to mention some members are GM engineers as well as engineers regularly showing up at some of the national meets.
Anybody that knows anything about engines and/or performance can tell you simply changing a pcm or chip WITHOUT making any mechanical changes will at best scarcely be noticeable. The LT1, without any mods will see maybe 15 hp from a reprogramming, usually 10 was more like it, again that with NO other mods. The LT1 was much more advanced in every way then the LO5. Even the current LS series, which are way more advanced then the LT1 will only see similar changes. A 10-15 hp increase in a 42-4300 lb car (with driver) is just noticeable by a gear head, average drivers wouldn't even feel it.

Hmm, should mention the Michigan State Police police vehicle testing. They are THE most respected authority on cop package vehicles. All over the nation other PD order their reports. Their tests are EASILY repeatable by people after the cars are sold at auctions, actually once in civilian hands the cars turn better times but thats due to the MSP using two people and a couple hundred extra pounds of testing equipment, point is this shows no performance changes were made.

Again, "stupid fast" is all relative, compared to a 4.3 V6 Caprice, sure it's going to be a lot faster, but overall that doesn't make it a fast car.



Now, for a minute put all the above facts aside, just think about the very basics of a pcm swap with some basic common sense.....again, FORGET all the above FACTS and knowledge I bring to the table and just think about this, hypothetically of course.....

GM supplied the car to the PD with this special cop computer right. OK so now why would the police NEED to take old PCMs out of retired cars, what would they put them into? Hmmm? Where are they getting the "standard" PCMs to put in their place? Now as we all know, departments have budgets, this pretty much (in all but the most corrupt) prevent them from buying new 'standard' PCMs at several hundred dollars each, to put back in the cars wouldn't it! Not to mention the time and labor costs to do this.

Again, just think about this last paragraph and use some common sense thinking it over.

The new cop cars come with "cop" computers, what need would there then be and just what would they be used in if the PDs took them from retired cars? WHere would the non-cop computers come from and who is paying for them?



Then you have to look at the fact that, every two years, often every year their were changes in hp, or in the fuel injection system, ignition etc. When the cars are retired between 75k and 150k the PCMs are obsolete. Why pull an old computer that's they can not use in anything?



Well there you go, a mountain of facts and info, as well as a hypothetical that would indicate the fallacy of swapping out pcm's.....but if you want to believe in 'magic' PCMs, big foot, Lochness sea monster and UFOs, it's no skin off my teeth.

 

Maybe grow a slightly thicker skin towards those not rife with the exact same info you possess?

Yes there are mounds of what turn out to be misinformation about any one subject, that's in abundant evidence everyone we look on the internet. Its great you're sharing your GM info (I'm also a fan of the brand) but it doesn't need to be bashed about simply because one or two slightly disagree or have other experiences they share.

So what was the original topic here anyway? Oh yeah---- Ford spark plugs!