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2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV
- Thread starter regal403
- Start date
So I've been doing this daily commute of 30-40 miles for about 2.5 years now and I gotta tell ya, this 2012 Mazda 5 minivan I have just ain't cutting it anymore. Sure it has a 6 speed manual and I've installed a subwoofer and upgraded the stereo, installed twinkle lights and sewed up my own red velour shifter boot with a white cue ball knob, but it's distinct lack of oomph and boring FWD handling characteristics don't inspire. Its suspension is fine, albeit a little bouncy, and the steering is snappy, but overall I have grown tired of operating an appliance for 70-80 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
And it only gets 21 mpg since I have my foot in the firewall 85% of the time.
So I've been looking for something more exciting, bigger, more luxurious and something that I actually enjoy driving. A large, V8, RWD sedan is what I envisioned myself driving, and is the vehicle type I've most enjoyed owning and operating over the 26 years I've been driving on public roads.
Enter the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV).
This is a sedan made in Australia by Holden, GM's now-defunct Aussie subsidiary. It's essentially a stripped down, extended wheelbase Pontiac G8 or Chevrolet SS. Under the hood it's packing a 6.0L L77 backed by a 6L80E transmission with an aftermarket electronic tap shifter box. Out back are the stock 2.92 gears, which netted me 22 mpg going 70 all the way home.
Originally a Washington State Patrol car, this was obtained by a used cop car dealer in Oregon and sold to a private owner in 2018. He put in a Blue Line Performance cam, did the DOD delete, installed a cold air intake, headers, and full exhaust minus tail pipes and cats. He put on the ugly lightweight Konig wheels and had intentions of building it into a type of track car, but priorities changed and I picked it up for a good price.
It runs hard but the exhaust drones terribly and it needs a tune besides a full detail.
I love it.
This will be my journal of mods and upgrades to make it the perfect daily driver.
And it only gets 21 mpg since I have my foot in the firewall 85% of the time.
So I've been looking for something more exciting, bigger, more luxurious and something that I actually enjoy driving. A large, V8, RWD sedan is what I envisioned myself driving, and is the vehicle type I've most enjoyed owning and operating over the 26 years I've been driving on public roads.
Enter the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV).
This is a sedan made in Australia by Holden, GM's now-defunct Aussie subsidiary. It's essentially a stripped down, extended wheelbase Pontiac G8 or Chevrolet SS. Under the hood it's packing a 6.0L L77 backed by a 6L80E transmission with an aftermarket electronic tap shifter box. Out back are the stock 2.92 gears, which netted me 22 mpg going 70 all the way home.
Originally a Washington State Patrol car, this was obtained by a used cop car dealer in Oregon and sold to a private owner in 2018. He put in a Blue Line Performance cam, did the DOD delete, installed a cold air intake, headers, and full exhaust minus tail pipes and cats. He put on the ugly lightweight Konig wheels and had intentions of building it into a type of track car, but priorities changed and I picked it up for a good price.
It runs hard but the exhaust drones terribly and it needs a tune besides a full detail.
I love it.
This will be my journal of mods and upgrades to make it the perfect daily driver.
I have one too. Its my family road trip, highway car. I can't think of a better traveling car, lots of room, lots of power, good mileage and huge brakes.
In for the info!
I have been trying to snag one of these for a long time but have been holding out for a Detectives/Sergeant's version.
The patrol part does not bother me but all of them I have found had a bunch of idle time.
I have been trying to snag one of these for a long time but have been holding out for a Detectives/Sergeant's version.
The patrol part does not bother me but all of them I have found had a bunch of idle time.
Mine has 4710 idle hours, which isn't terrible. 146k on the odometer.
The car was filthy when I got it. He must have lived on a dirt road and parked it under a pine tree judging by the caked on mud and pine needles/sap everywhere. 
I didn't get a before picture of the engine bay, but just imagine this covered in dust, dirt, grime, dead insects, and mouse poop. They chewed up some of the firewall insulation, so I cleaned that up.
Degreaser and a detail brush, followed by the power washer gets you the after picture.
Found a couple cool souvenirs under the seats when I cleaned the interior. Still need to do a deep cleaning, but I knocked down much of the mud and funk inside the car.
I didn't get a before picture of the engine bay, but just imagine this covered in dust, dirt, grime, dead insects, and mouse poop. They chewed up some of the firewall insulation, so I cleaned that up.
Degreaser and a detail brush, followed by the power washer gets you the after picture.
Found a couple cool souvenirs under the seats when I cleaned the interior. Still need to do a deep cleaning, but I knocked down much of the mud and funk inside the car.
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Those were pretty good patrol cars, performed well. Front doors didn't open very far so thinner officers only. We tested a few. The replacement parts coming from Australia is why not a ton were bought.
These genuine imitation made in China chambered Flowmaster knockoffs have a nice rumble and bark from outside the car, but drone more than the government.
TOTALFLOW®
TOTALFLOW®
They dumped under the trunk and make for a headache inducing drone and odor (no cats, remember?), so I had to do something about it in short order.
First I tried these angled turn downs, since the muffler outlets don't line up with the holes in the bumper.
No bueno
But a quick spin around the block proved my theory that an extension would reduce drone.
Neither muffler is angled properly, but then I realized the clamps weren't all that tight, so I was able to adjust them slightly to I could put a straight extension pipe out past the lip of the bumper.
It's far from perfect, but the drone has been reduced approximately 30% from my highly calibrated ear-o-meter.
And if you squint just right in the dark from 40 feet away, it doesn't look half bad.
First I tried these angled turn downs, since the muffler outlets don't line up with the holes in the bumper.
No bueno
But a quick spin around the block proved my theory that an extension would reduce drone.
Neither muffler is angled properly, but then I realized the clamps weren't all that tight, so I was able to adjust them slightly to I could put a straight extension pipe out past the lip of the bumper.
It's far from perfect, but the drone has been reduced approximately 30% from my highly calibrated ear-o-meter.
And if you squint just right in the dark from 40 feet away, it doesn't look half bad.
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Gonna put some black steelies on it for that official cop car look?
One step ahead of you. Photos incoming...
After a 3 day wait for my "next day shipping" from the jungle website, the oddly large and uncommonly 6-splined lug nut socket arrived so I could rid myself of these ugly/meh 18" Konig wheels.
The dog dishes were covered in rusty brake dust, so I cleaned them off and popped them on tonight after work.
A bit of an improvement, I'd say. These tires are the Goodyear Eagle® Ultra Grip® GW-3, with a unique high-performance winter tread compound that offers performance driving in all winter conditions. Their high-blade density with multiple biting edges helps provide enhanced grip in snow and ice with wet and dry steering capability. Not only that, but their V-TRED™ technology helps evacuate water and slush away from the contact patch.
And who can forget about their best in class rim protector that helps protect wheel against accidental curb damage? These will come in handy jumping curbs while chasing perps on the lam.
I've read online that these are tires the Denver PD uses on their units year round, so I should be able to get around fine in my neck of the PNW woods.
The dog dishes were covered in rusty brake dust, so I cleaned them off and popped them on tonight after work.
A bit of an improvement, I'd say. These tires are the Goodyear Eagle® Ultra Grip® GW-3, with a unique high-performance winter tread compound that offers performance driving in all winter conditions. Their high-blade density with multiple biting edges helps provide enhanced grip in snow and ice with wet and dry steering capability. Not only that, but their V-TRED™ technology helps evacuate water and slush away from the contact patch.
And who can forget about their best in class rim protector that helps protect wheel against accidental curb damage? These will come in handy jumping curbs while chasing perps on the lam.
I've read online that these are tires the Denver PD uses on their units year round, so I should be able to get around fine in my neck of the PNW woods.
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Nice I love the PPVs any interior pics?
I have only vacuumed it and added a cheap cup holder so far. It needs a deep cleaning.
The fisheye lens makes it look cramped and the steering wheel huge. It's spacious and the wheel is actually kinda big.
The fisheye lens makes it look cramped and the steering wheel huge. It's spacious and the wheel is actually kinda big.
Did they come with an actual factory console?
Martin
Martin
The 9C3 detective models came with a console, but they are much less common than the 9C1 patrol models, which did not get a console. The aluminum panel was installed by the PO. I have a black steel panel in the trunk that is the mounting plate for cop radios, lap top mounts, weapon holders, etc.
Good news though: the Pontiac G8 console is a direct bolt in and a common upgrade.
This is a 9C3 interior with carpet and a console looks like. I'd like to eventually get one.
Good news though: the Pontiac G8 console is a direct bolt in and a common upgrade.
This is a 9C3 interior with carpet and a console looks like. I'd like to eventually get one.
Really draws the room together!
Martin
Martin
The cabin air filter is an often overlooked aspect of routine maintenance, and this car was no exception. I vacuumed several years' worth of pine needles, mud, and dead organic material out of it.
Surprisingly, the drain hole wasn't clogged!
It was installed backwards, though I'm not sure how much of a difference that really makes.
My wipers would stop pointed about 20° up from horizontal, then would go down to 0° before cycling up to 70° and returning to 20, which was annoying. PO said he tried to run the wipers when they were frozen to the windshield one time, which told me it probably just jumped around the splined shaft a smidgen.
I disassembled the plastic cowl cover, wiper arms, and motor assembly, cleaned and lubricated the pivots, and readjusted the wipers to the correct 0° home position, then tightened everything back together.
Works like new now.
This is a during pic, no before or after I'm afraid. Not a difficult job, just a little time consuming.
Last project for today is to figure out why my left blinkers and left brake light don't work. It's not the bulbs or the housing. I'm just not getting voltage to the plugs.
I suspect a damage wire somewhere.
Fun fact: PPVs have a trunk-mounted battery with optional dual batteries. Mine still has the wiring hooked up for the dual battery just flopping around inside the quarter panel, so I disconnected it for safety.
Remnants of the car's original purpose can be found throughout the car. Here is where the trunk lights would have been mounted.
And here is an example of the leftover police accessory wiring that the upfitters hastily snipped out. I bet they got a little wild with the side cutters and nicked one of my left brake/turn wires. Over time, somehow it failed. Just a theory. PO said they worked for him at one time, then just stopped working.
Ugh
No closer to figuring out the wiring issue, but hey, at least my stinky ghetto exhaust sounds halfway decent.
Surprisingly, the drain hole wasn't clogged!
It was installed backwards, though I'm not sure how much of a difference that really makes.
My wipers would stop pointed about 20° up from horizontal, then would go down to 0° before cycling up to 70° and returning to 20, which was annoying. PO said he tried to run the wipers when they were frozen to the windshield one time, which told me it probably just jumped around the splined shaft a smidgen.
I disassembled the plastic cowl cover, wiper arms, and motor assembly, cleaned and lubricated the pivots, and readjusted the wipers to the correct 0° home position, then tightened everything back together.
Works like new now.
This is a during pic, no before or after I'm afraid. Not a difficult job, just a little time consuming.
Last project for today is to figure out why my left blinkers and left brake light don't work. It's not the bulbs or the housing. I'm just not getting voltage to the plugs.
I suspect a damage wire somewhere.
Fun fact: PPVs have a trunk-mounted battery with optional dual batteries. Mine still has the wiring hooked up for the dual battery just flopping around inside the quarter panel, so I disconnected it for safety.
Remnants of the car's original purpose can be found throughout the car. Here is where the trunk lights would have been mounted.
And here is an example of the leftover police accessory wiring that the upfitters hastily snipped out. I bet they got a little wild with the side cutters and nicked one of my left brake/turn wires. Over time, somehow it failed. Just a theory. PO said they worked for him at one time, then just stopped working.
Ugh
No closer to figuring out the wiring issue, but hey, at least my stinky ghetto exhaust sounds halfway decent.
Cold start before I put the stock wheels on.
Not sure on the PPV but my van has separate fuses for each directional. The body control module has 4 different fuses where we used to only have one. Its madness. They also are not next to each other in the fuse block on the van, just random locations. Check every fuse you can find.
