Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

General topics relative to the Caprice and associated vehicles. For items not fitting into other sub-sections in addition to general chat.
cal30_sniper
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2016 1:17 pm

Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by cal30_sniper »

So, after looking all over the eastern seaboard for a about a month and a half, and seeing all kinds of nonsense for sale, I finally settled on a car and brought it home last weekend. I took the long drive up to NJ for the weekend with my wife on her way up for a work trip, picked up the car Saturday morning, hopped in and drove it straight back. Performed flawlessly and was probably the only time I've ever had fun driving on the Jersey Turnpike or I-95 north of Richmond.

The car is a 2011 9C1, black, with 11k miles. It was some sort of dealer demo car, and didn't leave the dealership until late 2013 with 7500 miles already on it. It went straight into private hands, never saw department service. I found the sale ads from 2013 where it hadn't been titled, and still had a light bar on top that wasn't hooked up. No extra holes drilled anywhere, or other nonsense. As far as I can tell, the only thing that was added was a backup distance meter that's on top of the dash. Oh yeah, there's also some rubber/chrome bumper ding protectors attached to all 4 corners. I didn't think I'd like them at first, but they're growing on me.

Here's a shot of the car at Wawa in NJ right after I picked it up:
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I drove 75-80 for the 500+ miles back, and dealt with all the stop and go traffic jam that's to be expected of trying to drive through Philly, Baltimore, and D.C. on I-95, and still averaged 22mpg. I've been getting 18-20mpg driving it back and forth for work every day, which is more than double what I've been getting in my ol' Suburban. I'm incredibly pleased with the car so far. Handling, power, road feel, etc, have all been great.

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I've already got some plans and parts lined up for the car. So far, I've already ordered or picked up the following:
-G8 GT Premium leather steering wheel
-G8 center console
-2013 Malibu/Impala 18x8" aluminum wheels
-255/45/18 BF Goodrich Ultra High Performance All-Seasons
-Rotofab CAI intake
-2014 Chevy SS Mufflers, modified to fit G8/Caprice flanges, and Red Tail quad exhaust tips to go with them.

I'm working on sourcing a G8 shifter to go with the console, the proper dark silver steering wheel and console trim to match what's on the dash, and the wiring harness pigtails I need to install the console. I'll also be adding carpet, mats, the necessary console conversion pieces, and '14 SS springs sourced from the dealership. I will most likely do the G8 seat conversion while i'm at that, and then call it good for a while. Long term, I'd like to do headers and mid-pipes with an LS3 cam and tune. Then drive it until the wheels fall off.

I knew it was a good sign when this guy pulled in next to me at Dunkin Donuts the morning I was getting ready to go pick up the car:
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-2011 Caprice 9C3: Mirage Glow Metallic, 63k miles
-2011 Caprice 9C1 (Gone)
-1973 Firebird Formula, restoration in progress
-1986 K30 Suburban 8.1L/NV4500, the toy hauler and wheeler
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Congrats! Sounds like you have a winner. We'll look forward to the WIP project page. ;)
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
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Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by Pursuit »

Congratulations! Glad to hear that your search and patience paid off. Don't be afraid to search existing topics and to ask us here on the forum. Good group of people and information here.

Regards,

Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
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No Moa
Posts: 472
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 9:30 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by No Moa »

Damn!!!!! That's is freaking sweet!
2014 Caprice PPV silver
2017 Ram 3500
2002 CETA trans am
1996 Impala ss (soon to be t56)
1995 9c1
1977 Trans am SE 4spd.
1978 trans am 400 4 spd.
cal30_sniper
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2016 1:17 pm

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by cal30_sniper »

Short video of the 2014 SS axle backs installed:
https://youtu.be/b7FUJRyIXps" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'll have to take it to get the tips extended out to the bumper sometime this week.
-2011 Caprice 9C3: Mirage Glow Metallic, 63k miles
-2011 Caprice 9C1 (Gone)
-1973 Firebird Formula, restoration in progress
-1986 K30 Suburban 8.1L/NV4500, the toy hauler and wheeler
smwalker
Administration Staff
Posts: 2203
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:44 am
Location: Azusa,CA

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by smwalker »

Be careful driving long distances, the last guy who did not extend his tips ended up melting his bumper.
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
cal30_sniper
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2016 1:17 pm

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by cal30_sniper »

Wow, that's kind of hard to see. I've driven all over the place the last two days with no sign of any heat damage. Must be because its cool out.
-2011 Caprice 9C3: Mirage Glow Metallic, 63k miles
-2011 Caprice 9C1 (Gone)
-1973 Firebird Formula, restoration in progress
-1986 K30 Suburban 8.1L/NV4500, the toy hauler and wheeler
K9Vic
Posts: 241
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2013 9:36 pm
Location: Fort Worth
Contact:

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by K9Vic »

Heck, nice Suburban, too bad it is not a 4x4 (C20, but at least a 3/4 ton)!! I have a 84 K20 diesel and my 2011 Caprice. I have driven my caprice to/from Wisconsin a few times and actually a comfortable ride.

So are you in Texas or is the Suburban from Texas?
cal30_sniper
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2016 1:17 pm

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by cal30_sniper »

I'm a born and raised Texan, but have been hopping around doing the military thing for nearly the last decade. The Suburban actually came out of the Big Bend originally. All my wheeling is out in the desert or mountains, where 4x4 is a non-issue unless you get caught in the snow. I've got a Richmond No-Slip Locker in that 14 bolt, and haven't found a road yet that wasn't easily doable in 2wd.

I always wanted one of those diesel burbs. With the right setup, they are capable of very good gas mileage. If I didn't tow quite so often, I'd definitely consider the swap.
-2011 Caprice 9C3: Mirage Glow Metallic, 63k miles
-2011 Caprice 9C1 (Gone)
-1973 Firebird Formula, restoration in progress
-1986 K30 Suburban 8.1L/NV4500, the toy hauler and wheeler
cal30_sniper
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2016 1:17 pm

Re: Finally found my car, 2011 9C1

Post by cal30_sniper »

Got the spotlight delete done and new wheels put on. Completely changed the look of the car. I used '13-16 Impala wheels which are 18x8" with the proper offset and center bore diameter. I stepped up the size on the rubber to 255/45/18 all the way around with some new BFGs. Huge overall improvement on the car. I put another 1000 miles on it over Thanksgiving weekend and loved every minute of it. The SS axle backs now have the tips lengthened to meet the edge of the bumper, and the rotofab CAI is on it as well. Next step: G8 steering wheel and console conversion and SS Sedan spring swap.

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-2011 Caprice 9C3: Mirage Glow Metallic, 63k miles
-2011 Caprice 9C1 (Gone)
-1973 Firebird Formula, restoration in progress
-1986 K30 Suburban 8.1L/NV4500, the toy hauler and wheeler
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