'95 Chevy Impala SS

[11 footer]

I'm looking at one of these to upgrade one big car to another.<br /><br />I've been looking for one of these rare RWD Impalas for a long time, and they have all been very expensive. I've finally found one that I can afford,it has 123k miles, needs paint , the factory rims have been stolen off it (expensive to replace), and the quarter panels on both sides are all dented up, I can do the body work myself, its rest of the car I'm worried about.<br /><br />I've been searching on the net, and can't find much info on these cars. Anyone have one? One thing I'm worried about is tires, they are the extra wide ones, I think they'll be expensive to replace. Any worries about performance in snow and rain with the wide tires? Anything out of the ordinary I should be looking for? Common problems?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: '95 Chevy Impala SS

Great, I never liked the factory wheels on those anyway, as to the wide wheels and tires on the ice and snow, well, I think you can answer that question without my help.

 

[dolluper]

Re: '95 Chevy Impala SS

Is it a 5.7 LTI engine if so it has opti-spark dist on timming cover , they can be troublesome espically if the 2 vents on the bottom of dist plug up, condinsation doesn't drain out.Check it outclose maybe pull computer codes you can use a paper clip on alda connector to ground it and get the codes. Tires 70/225 work ok on them It would be the same engine as in Vette's very strong if in good shape

 

[jimr]

Re: '95 Chevy Impala SS

If it has opti-spark ign it only costs about $700 for a cap a wires last one I priced out a few years ago. it belonged to Idaho State Police and they sent it to the Auction. I would also check the frame on it if it has been driven alot up there in the winter.

 

[dolluper]

Re: '95 Chevy Impala SS

One other thing I remember is to check and see if the lower ball joints have been replaced as the stock ones were dangerous ,there was a dealer alert on them,also I remember the mounting of the rear sway bar was weak and cracks pay close attention there and see if there is any cracks, if the opti-spark goes replace it with a 96 as it is a vac vent type and can be tee'ed in easy and much better than the 95 with the drain holes and superior to 92-94 that had no drains

 

[bluewater19]

Re: '95 Chevy Impala SS

Ryan,<br />I had a caprice 9c1 cop car. It is the car they used when they designed the 1994-1996 impala.<br />try www.impalasuperstore.com<br />Fast as hell 260 horsepower 330 ft.lbs of torque<br />They run 255/50/17 tires. It's an odd ball size.<br />I took the impala rims off mine and ran 255/60/15<br /><br />There is a company that makes a replacement for the optispark. check out chevy high performance<br />they just did and article on this a few months back.<br />Good luck

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: '95 Chevy Impala SS

Ryan, most are expensive for a reason. They were expensive when new, and anyone who owns one thinks they are made of gold. And they have been WELL cared for because of that. The one you are considering, sounds like it was abused to me. So just because it's affordable, doesn't mean it a good buy. Sorry to trash a car I haven't seen, but from your description, it's lead a hard life! Buyer beware.

 

[Snookster]

Re: '95 Chevy Impala SS

I have one, sweet ride - the LT1 makes it a 4 door vet. The only trouble I've had is the windows have cheap roller guides & the rear fluid was wrong - look into ss web sites you can get all the bulletins & help you need.