The SSheriff (1996 9C1)

Well, I just worked myself up to finally send a general email to the LA County Sheriffs Office. Hoping they can provide some insight, paperwork, pictures etc etc of my 9C1s history.

It was easy giving George Bates Automotive a buzz and getting its refurb paperwork and list of parts and total bill. But bothering the actual department, not so much. Honestly, I hate bothering them with small shit like this, but I think it's really worth a shot.

It was only retired in 2009. I made it easy to identify the car I'm talking about with its "division assignment" and roof number.

Over on the caprice forum, some guys have had luck contacting the department of origin. So, we shall see what happens with my email. Could be more than a week until I get a response, IF I get a response.

Fingers crossed.

Info would be sweet! But they'll be upset because you're a modder

They don't know anything about the car NOW. Just then.

What exactly are you trying to find out? I mean, you know where it came from? Are you trying to find out the officers who drove it? Its daily beat? I don't know what it is that you're actually trying to find out? Or even why?

toomanytoyz wrote:

What exactly are you trying to find out? I mean, you know where it came from? Are you trying to find out the officers who drove it? Its daily beat? I don't know what it is that you're actually trying to find out? Or even why?

.... Maybe it's in the Rodney King video?

Well crovo, since you're so "that's a stupid idea", the big thing is pictures.

Maybe it was in an accident. Any MAJOR reason it was sent for a refurb since it was only an auxiliary unit.

Who knows crovo. Like I said, its worth asking.

Way to come off as a complete dick head.

The sarcasm about which officer drove it was good too

To me, it's a B body with a waaaaaay more interesting past than some 2 or 3 owner impala SS or your grandmothers station wagon.

Unlike you, I plan to KEEP the car, so every little bit is nice.

Interesting facts are just that. Like dumb people who try to say their '96 9C1 was originally a CHP car. The CHP didn't order any for 1996.

Go pee in someone else's corn flakes.

MASShole9C1 wrote:

Well crovo, since you're so "that's a stupid idea", the big thing is pictures.

Maybe it was in an accident. Any MAJOR reason it was sent for a refurb since it was only an auxiliary unit.

Who knows crovo. Like I said, its worth asking.

Way to come off as a complete dick head.

The sarcasm about which officer drove it was good too

To me, it's a B body with a waaaaaay more interesting past than some 2 or 3 owner impala SS or your grandmothers station wagon.

Unlike you, I plan to KEEP the car, so every little bit is nice.

Interesting facts are just that. Like dumb people who try to say their '96 9C1 was originally a CHP car. The CHP didn't order any for 1996.

Go pee in someone else's corn flakes.

Dude...? Wtf? I was genuinely curious. I didn't know what you were trying to find out. Sorry I asked. Geesh.

Like, seriously? Why you gotta be such an asshole?

Why??? It's in my nature.

It certainly read like you were being an asshole, so naturally I followed in suit

Well, it's uncalled for. We're friends here man.

I noticed the change in your sig. Don't make that happen.

You got it boss

MASShole9C1 wrote:

You got it boss

Isn't he El Presidente?

You got it el presidente

So anyway....

I just got back from Kenwood tire and automotive in west bridgewater.

The same place that Brian took the box 9C1 to after new wheels and tires. He had some custom specs he did when he went.

So, Sean, the tech who did his, did mine today. Very helpful and friendly people.

Not many shops can shim front ends these days but I can tell you it was a night and day difference between the drive there and drive back.

Excellent job. I recommend them to anyone looking to get an alignment done right the first time.

I did email Saturday for an appointment. Might be easier than just showing up.

We had to put all sorts of extra ramps and blocks down to get the car on/off the lift.

Damn lowered cars, but they knew right away what to do for a lowered car, which to me, as a first sugn, says they know what they're doing.

Glad you had good luck. It took me 3 different shops to get my lowered Fleetwood lined up properly. It would pull, my tires were getting chewed on the outside edges. I finally found a place that did it right. Goes straight, and my tires actually smoothed out and are wearing perfect now.

Despite previous ridiculousness over my sending an email to the LASD, I received this email just now:

Brian, this was one of a series of 17 Caprices that were acquired by LASD from the MTA Police Department when we absorbed their department and took over policing responsibilities for the transit system..

This explains the differences in vehicles from the standard LASD 1996 Caprice that was equipped with power windows etc.

The original LASD vehicle number was SD01413. It was changed to SR01413, signifying it was a refurbished vehicle.

My notes show the vehicle was removed from service on 08-28-08. Last known mileage was 112,192.

Sorry, but we typically don't have photos of specific vehicles.

Hope this is helpful,

Lt. Bob Killeen
LASD
Communications and Fleet Management Bureau

-----Original Message-----
From: Duffy, Vance E.
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 1:58 PM
To: Killeen, Robert L.
Subject: FW: Research inquiry

Maybe you know.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gannon, John P.
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 1:13 PM
To: Duffy, Vance E.
Subject: FW: Research inquiry

Please distribute as you see fit, sir... this guy needs help with a retired asset (pre-FAST)....


-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon, Jeffrey A.
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 9:01 AM
To: Gannon, John P.
Subject: FW: Research inquiry

So, interesting in itself, to me at least, it provides some insight as to why it is in a low number group of matching RPO codes. Assuming that the others all were ordered by the MTA of course.

Ok so you've got one....get one of the other 16 to build for the wife

Cool info!

That's pretty nice of them to email you back. I wonder if that happens often with the Caprices for them being that some were refurbed, people want California cars, etc...

It is pretty cool of him to email. Certainly very helpful info. We're actually emailing eachother now about little odds and ends.

Interesting to note tho. The MTA and its 300 officers were integrated into the LASD and LAPD, respectively in a 40%/60% asset and responsiblity absorption, in 1997. About a year after the vehicle presumably went into service for the MTA.

Then, they put roughly 13k miles on a new motor and tranny and the huge list of stuff I have, then parked it months before auctioning it. Which explains the faded paint. It took almost 10 years in the refurb for those miles. Auctioned in feb 09 I bought it in may 09 with something around 15k on the refurb.

Pretty sweet deal for $5,000 IMO

WOW. An even better email after I asked a couple more questions...


1. Not real sure but it would probably be safe to assume it was around the time the vehicle was required. (1997)

2. I don't have exact numbers but there were approximately 250 Caprices refurbished. These vehicles were used in all areas of the department, including patrol. A number of them were designated to patrol stations for exclusive use by LASD Reserve Deputies, at the direction of the Sheriff. Another significant number were assigned to Court Services Division.

The vehicle you own was likely one assigned to Court Services. The vehicles in that division accrue lower amounts of mileage and are used only occasionally, unlike full-time patrol vehicles. A vehicle with crank windows would likely not have been sent to full-time use in patrol due to the lack of electric windows. If it did, it would not have been driven in favor of other cars with that feature.

The low post-refurb mileage also indicates to me that the vehicle was likely assigned to Court Services.

Many of the "refurbs" that were assigned to patrol, returned to the field as GM discontinued the Caprice. Many personnel who favored the Caprices were happy that they would get to drive them still. After a few years, with newer personnel coming on board, they drifted toward the newer Crown Victorias and the refurbs fell into dis-use.

It was about 2008 or 2009 that I was given the ok to remove all refurbs from service. They were under-used and the costs to maintain them exceeded the value of keeping them in service.

4. FAST stands for Fleet Asset Status Tracking. It is a database for inventory and equipment brought into service in 2012.

Hope this helps,

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian [mailto:briandonato@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 7:05 PM
To: Killeen, Robert L.
Subject: Re: Research inquiry

And another email explaining the roof numbers


Pre-1996, LASD vehicles were assigned 5-digit vehicle numbers assigned by the County.

Those numbers stopped being issued when they reached about "33000". County vehicles assigned to other departments continued beyond the 33000 range but LASD started issuing its own numbers.

In 1997, LASD began assigning vehicle numbers with an "SD" starting with SD00154 (lowest record I can find).

In 1998ish it was realized that our Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system could not accommodate vehicle numbers with more than six characters.

At this point, six-digit numbers were assigned starting with SD1486.

In 2010 we started numbering vehicles with either an SH or an SD prefix, SH being used primarily for black and white vehicles.

The "R" in the vehicles was used as an indicator that the vehicle had been refurbished. Early vehicles (five digit) had an SR prefix added, such as SR32054. The later vehicles, such as yours, Had the SD changed to SR.

2 more emails from the Lt.

You can chalk some of it up to being assigned an uneventful afternoon shift.

I will look around a little more and see if any other vehicle specific information exists.

If I turn some up I will let you know.

For clarification of the "roof" number you mentioned, LASD uses only the last three digits of the vehicle number. The 18" numbers were applied to the roof behind the light bar so that a helicopter behind the vehicle would be able to read it.

In the roof area forward of the light bar, most vehicles have a one or two digit 12" number indicating the station the vehicle was assigned to. Again this was used for aerial support.




I found a data base from 12-29-03 showing the vehicle was assigned to CSW, or Court Services West:

CSW SR01413 14038 LOS ANGELES SH AG96BABR 96 CP REFUR B/W Sedan- 1G1BL52P6TR113208 105138

The last column was the mileage.

A similar record in a data base from 08-0-31-08 shows the vehicle was move to the Disposal (D) category:

D SR01413 15815 AG96BABR 96 CP REFUR Sedans-Sol 1G1BL52P6TR113208 112192


CSW includes courts along the western edge of LA County, starting in the Antelope Valley and looping down to Long beach. It could have been assigned to any of about 18 court houses.


He also says


Note how little the vehicle was driven – about 7,000 miles in just under four years. May be why the paint was bad, it sat in the sun a lot

That's all wicked cool info dude! I like it!

Something to print out and put in the picture binder at a car show soon!

You said it, Matt.

You should see some of the cool 9C1 "archive" stuff I've collected for said binder and shows.

MASShole9C1 wrote:

You said it, Matt.

You should see some of the cool 9C1 "archive" stuff I've collected for said binder and shows.

Probably fatter than mine will be...ya know...someday

You'll have more pics and detailed build info. I can assure you that.

The Lt. Asked around and managed to find a scan of the auction bill from Ken Porter Auctions.
Name of the buyer is the man I bought it from.

That is wicked cool! Thanks for sharing the story.

I just filled out the order form, called Keith, and paid the $190 for PCMforless to tune the computer I bought from Jim. Sending the PCM out tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to have this done.

Even tho the car is mostly stock, its a cheap starting place for now.

Hopefully by the end of this summer I'll be bolting on some headers, cam, heads, and an SS rearend with 3.42s.

At least, that's where my route is now...

In addition to the above reply, I've had an o2 code for 2/2. Rock auto had AC Delco ones for $33+ shipping. I realize I can have that stuff timed out, but not just yet.

Just for kicks did you check amazon?
Not that it matters if youve already ordered
I also doubt youd save enough either way to matter much
Was it AF75 or something like that? Cant remember
Amazon was cheap & quick tho

I did not check amazon. I don't bother with amazon.

I've purchased many things from rock auto flawlessly.

I don't think thats an unreasonable price for an AC Delco one.

Push bar should arrive via FedEx tomorrow. Anyone want a bunch of RMW bumpers and modified grills???

Pics of the grills?

MASShole9C1 wrote:

Push bar should arrive via FedEx tomorrow. Anyone want a bunch of RMW bumpers and modified grills???

What kinda grills

BBQ grills..

Note the for sarcasm.

Cadet57 wrote:

MASShole9C1 wrote:

Push bar should arrive via FedEx tomorrow. Anyone want a bunch of RMW bumpers and modified grills???

What kinda grills

ODB's "gwill"?



Bear Grylls?

I highly recommend using band clamps (so far) for those tricky exhaust systems

I have slip in joints, so I used 2.25" lapped band clamps at the muffler inlets and the H pipe. The car is soooooo much quieter.

No more stock car sounding acceleration.

My PCM arrived yesterday.


I met up with Tim to grab the bumper from his caprice.
It is a lot better than what was on there.


I swapped in the PCM at work last night and did a quick electrical tape mod



I also used that MAF cleaner in the spray can.

Thanks for lookin'.

Remember Brian, WAX is your friend!

Yea I know. I'm thinking ill TRY it sunday

GasTT wrote:

Remember Brian, WAX is your friend!

You'll be happy with whatever you do. Anything will be an improvement.







*cough* meguiars *cough*

Actually, nothing but a full paint/body work job is the only improvement.

Anything else is just me chasing my tail.

What better way to practice than on a completely effed up paint job.

Found my other exhaust leak. Wasn't to obvious right off the bat. But, the H pipe is fixed, no more leaks there.

I've had zero time basically to do "car stuff" lately. Ended bringing my sun to the ER Thursday with a 104 temp. Now, of course, I'm sick with what he caught.

But, today I finally snagged some car time. I ran out of daylight, but I got to swap the suspension techniques lowering rears for the ppm autox rears and what a difference in ride quality! And, it raised the rear up a bit allowing me to tote around my tools and whatnot without reversing or flattening the rake I have going on. Made me almost forget about being sick!

I also charged the AC, which I thought wasn't working/leaking. We shall see if it holds the charge but it is ICE COLD and I love it!!!

Here's a reference pic. PPM on left (new) stock SS on right (~100k miles). The STs sit much lower. The PPMs sit lower that the ss springs but will obviously settle more in the coming weeks.

Here we are with rear PPM autox springs installed. Full tank of gas, full metal tool box, spare, 2 jack stands, aluminum low pro racing jack in the trunk.

Nice stance.....but are you saying you NEED that stuff or your to high?

Any spring changes up front planned

Looks REALLY good!!..

sdstick wrote:

Nice stance.....but are you saying you NEED that stuff or your to high?

Any spring changes up front planned

Looks REALLY good!!..

I think the junk is in the trunk because that's where it lives...lol. Been there.

Matt's right. It lives in there. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Plus, I hate packing everything up for a junk yard trip or going out to rescue family and friends.

No need to change the front. Already rebuilt EVERYTHING minus brakes and new control arms, last summer.

5662s, poly isolators, with drop shocks, and ZQ8 bump stops.

It's the second set of springs I put in the front. Chopped SS springs before = NO!

MASShole9C1 wrote:

Matt's right. It lives in there. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Plus, I hate packing everything up for a junk yard trip or going out to rescue family and friends.

No need to change the front. Already rebuilt EVERYTHING minus brakes and new control arms, last summer.

5662s, poly isolators, with drop shocks, and ZQ8 bump stops.

It's the second set of springs I put in the front. Chopped SS springs before = NO! for a driver. Chopped SS springs = Amazing show car stance

Fixt