July 13 Weekly Open Thread
by Chris Hafner
on July 13, 2009
As always, this is the thread for open reader discussion of any relevant topic. Don't feel limited by the suggested topics!
Suggested topics:
- As many of us hoped, the Pontiac G8 will live on as a Chevrolet Caprice. It seems a slightly weird fit as a Caprice instead of an Impala SS, but the important thing is that one of the best GM cars around will still be available.
From that same article, another piece of good news--the lustable Cadillac CTS wagon may be available in hot-rod -V trim. Whoo hoo! There is some bad news, though; the burly Camaro Z/28 might be toast. Even there, though, there's some good news, as the surviving regular V-6 Camaro might actually be the better car.
--Chris H.
Bill T. on July 13, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Here is my open forum topic – engines.
In my experience, three come to mind, all winners. The first is the Chrysler slant six with 225 C.I. It was around for some time, and I had one in a Dodge Challenger Deputy coupe. I bought it new in Jan. 1970 for $2,495.00, including dealer rustproofing, which was a joke. This was a basic model with fixed back windows, and the engine was a $25.00 or $50.00 option over the 198 C.I. base powerplant. I drove it to a bit over 100,000 at which rust was taking over. The engine was still running very smoothly and I approached Chrysler about buying a Dodge Mirada or Chrysler Cordoba body to put the engine in. I emphasized that I would take this with no warranty, but was turned down.
The only dificulty with that engine was changing the points and condenser. The distributor was on the side closest to the right fender and therefore somewhat tight to access.
No. 2 is the 5 liter, 302 C.I. that was in several Ford products. I have one in an ’84 Crown Vic that needs some attention. I bought it from an uncle with 44,000 miles and took it to 124,000 very easily. It hasn’t run recently, and I would like to see it back on the road – it is a smooth ride.
The third is the 3.8 liter in many GM models. I have two, one in an ’89 LeSabre with 160,000 miles the other in a ’01 Park Avenue. Both run smoothly and I have heard nothing but good words for this powerplant. The LeSabre is showing some rust, and I thought of putting the engine in a Riviera body, but have been told that it will not fit.
The 3.8 in the Park Ave. is a type 11. I am not sure what this signifies, but I am looking forward to many more miles. I currently have 55,000 on the odometer.
I watch maintenance closely, so in each case, I changed the oil and filter regularly. It is easy to do, and will pay you back in engine life.
That Car Guy on July 13, 2009 at 05:42 PM
GM's 350 and 400 small blocks are, to me, the best production engines ever made. Their only real flaw was oil seal leaks.
Slick on July 14, 2009 at 07:18 AM
that buick 3.8 is wonderful i have a commo with this engine. Its got all the power i need (tops out at 200kph, despite apparently being limited to 185), good enough fuel economy, whisper quiet on the freeway and finally the durability, i know of a vn commo that had 420k on it when the owner swapped engines, and thats only because he got a killer deal on an engine with 30k on it.
i'd say its better than the ls1, because i hear problems with its 200k+ reliability. (all figures are metric for all you seppo buggers out there ;)
diamond dave on July 20, 2009 at 04:51 PM
The only thing that needs to be watched out for in some of the GM 3.8's (at least the mid-90's ones, like what's in my 95 Bonneville) is the tendency for the plastic intake plenum to melt through and leak coolant into the cylinders, thus eventually hydrolocking a piston and junking the engine. Other than that, good engine.
Open Road Rambler on July 21, 2009 at 04:40 AM
I'm partial to Nissan's VQ family V6 engines, particularly the 3.0 version I have in my I30. It's very smooth, powerful and surprisingly economical.
Bill D. on July 21, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Hey-don't forget the 242 c.u. inch AMC, used mostly in Jeeps. EPA rules killed them, but, my father-in-law worked for AMC as a Superintendent in Milwaukee, and picked up for my wife a Gremlin with that motor.(Just a "test" motor, you know ). That 73 Gremlin kicked the snot out of all small-block GM's, any Japanese/French/Mopars(comp size on Mopars), and blew away BMW 2002's of their day.
Cheap as heck to run and to insure!
cpu on July 25, 2009 at 09:17 AM
My three. -
Chrysler 225 c.i. slant six - certainly belongs on the list.
Ford 300 c.i. straight six - The best pickup truck motor ever sold.
VW flat four. Just because.
cpu