Caprice 1977 - I need your help !

Hello everyone.
I'm a frenchguy who just bought a 77' Caprice that has been partially dismantled. I would really appreciate your help to identifiy parts that I have and that I would need.


I suppose that the engine actually under the bonnet is not adequate to this caprice. I think that this is not the most desirable smallblock but that's a basis...

The real deal should be the engine wiring harness that has given headaches to the previous owner that finally abdicted. I tried to find some new engine wiring loom on the web without success for the moment.

Here are some pictures of the engine compartment.



I did an introduction video to the project that you can find here :


at 6:45 you will be able to see some engine footages.

If there is a section of the forum dedicated to members presentation, please tell me, I did not found it for the moment

Thank you very much !

First thing to do, if you haven't already, is to buy a good service and repair manual like this one:

https://www.themotorbookstore.com/chevy-caprice-biscayne-bel-air-impala-repair-manual-haynes-24045.html?cmp=googleproducts&kw=chevy-caprice-biscayne-bel-air-impala-repair-manual-haynes-24045&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqPDaBRC6ARIsACAf4hAZYmZah2tfBxmN79BqBl7M5yKSzqbBWwq2gHDyD1JlsqphlmAOCq0aAu_NEALw_wcB

NEXT thing to do is to decide if you want to keep it all original or upgrade it. For a comfortable cruiser the original motor is fine; for more a performance-oriented build it... isn't. My 1979 Oldsmobile is the same General Motors 'B-Body' platform and now has a modified 6.2 liter V-8 from a heavy-duty pickup truck, so nothing is original on the inside. And it's fast!

Great car, and good luck!

Hi,
I am also a frenchguy who rebuilding a caprice77 too, i see your caprice on LBC some month ago.
I starting mine with completly dismantling, sand blasting all, buy all exterior part in NOS, ... I know each parts of this car.
so you don't have the correct engine but just a quadrajet and is pipe and a good hei will be a good primary job (I have a stock pipe for it).
for electrical, I can do picture and you can compare and also read à haynes manual, also remove diagnostic plug and is wiring, you will remove 50% of inused wires.
but in first, search rust on chassis under the rear bodymounts, around windshields... and you will know how many job waiting for you.

and your caprice look to be a impala.

you can see my car here:http://tribuneauto.forumactif.com/t34090-restauration-totale-chevy-caprice-77
when I finish it, I will post it here.

I look in my workshop and I have a lot of parts you will need;
nos hood emblem
quadrajet pipe
rear windshield molding
clip for windshield
complete interior, nice door panel in light grey etc
lateral emblems
some parts of the dashboard
right outside mirror and drawing for holes in the door
a clock
a sport dash board with is 4 gauges
r and l inside roof moldings etc


pm me.

So sorry to have not visited this forum for so long. Thanks both for your replies.
I made a lot of progress on the project and the car is now drivable.

You can follow the process via the 3 videos following :

EP 01 :


EP 02 :


EP 03 :


here are some additionnal pictures of the car, from last week :






alusil850, you think right, this is a '78 caprice with 77' title. But the plates are matching so no worries about the legal state of the car, even more with its "classic title".
I bough a 4bbl intake manifold already (aluminum yay!). I plan to buy the 4bbl carb in the following months.

I achieved to sort out all the electric issues/lacks I had and the very last thing to resolve is the lack of dash illumination.
I repaired the breaker points ignition system but replaced it with a brand new HEI system (simpler and period correct).

For now the engine seems to be in very good health. I will post a new video soon.
I am very pleased to have not found ANY worring rust on the car. Thats awesome.

I keep you in touch

Congratulations on getting the car on the road and driving again! It amazes me that you can work on the car (and grind away at the exhaust manifolds) in bare feet! I would be too afraid of getting a metal shard in my feet or drop something on my toes! LOL!

yeah I'm weird somehow

I've always been like that. Maybe because I'm from Africa

The Caprice is working great now ! And it begins to be very enjoyable to drive.
I did a short test to verify the performances of this "little" powerplant :
https://youtu.be/ihOgPfDj7iA
Quite good in this 2bbl configuration. I wonder if it will be very different with a 4bbl carb (I already have an aluminium manifold waiting to be installed).

I don't know where to post it but I supposed it could interest you... I did a video about my Caprice : )