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I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today!

29825 messages,  Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 6:34 AM

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Messages Page 2767 of 2984

#27653 of 29825 Re: WARNING! Discussing a Vega on eBay! [hpmctorque] by andre1969

Jan 20, 2013 (6:56 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jan 20, 2013 1:59 am)
Okay, I'll bite, what were the weakenesses of the '76 Cadillac engine?
 
I think Shifty was just being facetious there. Now I've heard that in the 1977-79 425, Caddy cheaped out in the valvetrain. I forget what, exactly, maybe the rocker arms or something? IIRC, it was something that, instead of being a thick, solid piece of metal was just a thin piece that was crimped over to double it up?
 
I don't think there was anything inherently bad about the 500 though, except that in later years, it was choked down and didn't put out much power for its size. I'm sure it was a guzzler, but in the context of the times probably competitive. And, I'd imagine the fuel injected versions added some complexity.
 
Just for kicks, I googled "Cadillac 500 weakness", and the only thing that popped up was a vague reference to the valvetrain.

#27654 of 29825 Re: WARNING! Discussing a Vega on eBay! [andre1969] by uplanderguy

Jan 20, 2013 (7:19 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 20, 2013 6:56 am)
The only complaint I've ever heard about the 500 over the years was that they could only squeeze 190 hp out of 500 CID!

#27655 of 29825 Another very original/authentic non-Cosworth Vega by uplanderguy

Jan 20, 2013 (9:20 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 20, 2013 7:19 am)
This exact car is a regular at local cruise-ins around me during the summer. The guy was employed at Lordstown when he bought the car. It's a '72 and has the nice (IMO) black cloth Custom Interior.
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7764622N06/2292021827/
 
I think the wagons need the roof rack, though!
 
Personally, I like the '74-75 styling best and the '76-77 a close second. The bumpers and mirrors on those early Vegas seem so doll-house diminutive, I actually like the 5 mph aluminum bumpers better.

#27656 of 29825 Re: Another very original/authentic non-Cosworth Vega [uplanderguy] by stickguy

Jan 20, 2013 (9:54 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 20, 2013 9:20 am)
I agree about the bumpers. The Vega did look better balanced with the later ones and the slant nose.
 
Vega always did look like a miniature Camaro though.

#27657 of 29825 Re: WARNING! Discussing a Vega on eBay! [uplanderguy] by fintail

Jan 20, 2013 (10:04 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 20, 2013 4:03 am)
Yeah the white letter tires work with a "sporty" model, and I would prefer cloth too - so long as it didn't have any age-related rot and was in danger of splitting when someone dares to sit on it.

#27658 of 29825 Re: Another very original/authentic non-Cosworth Vega [stickguy] by uplanderguy

Jan 20, 2013 (10:05 am)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 20, 2013 9:54 am)
There's another guy on this forum who agrees about the early Vegas looking a bit 'fragile'. Some folks think they're the best-looking though, and that of course is OK.

#27659 of 29825 Re: Auction Week in AZ [andys120] by fintail

Jan 20, 2013 (10:07 am)

Replying to: andys120 (Jan 20, 2013 5:55 am)
I am surprised there would be real oddballs like Fiats there at all - they must sell better at home. But I guess if someone wants it, the shipping isn't a huge deal.
 
I am curious as to what auctions and markets will look like in another 20 years, when boomer demographic changes really take hold.

#27660 of 29825 Re: Auction Week in AZ [andys120] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 20, 2013 (10:12 am)

Replying to: andys120 (Jan 20, 2013 5:55 am)
Do you know what that '64 (or was it '65) Porsche 356 Cabriolet C sold for? Gooding had it up but haven't posted results yet.
 
RE: VEGA -- I wouldn't mind having a Vega wagon. I wonder if an Astre engine would work in there? Did they made an Astre wagon? Is there one left on earth?
 
RE: '76 Cadillac---yeah, I was being facetious--just picked another '76 car out of the hat; however, as uplander mentioned, that was pretty pathetic HP out of such a huge engine. You know, some people like 'em, but those people are usually between 90 and 107 years old.

#27661 of 29825 Re: Auction Week in AZ [Mr_Shiftright] by uplanderguy

Jan 20, 2013 (10:50 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 20, 2013 10:12 am)
The Astre and the Vega had the same engine at the Astre's introduction, but Astre later went to the "Iron Duke"--I think in '76. The Vega wagon that was called "Monza" had the "Iron Duke" engine in '78 and '79 so the engine must fit right in there. You could also get V6 engines in the (Vega) "Monza" wagon from the factory.

#27662 of 29825 Re: Auction Week in AZ [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969

Jan 20, 2013 (11:31 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 20, 2013 10:12 am)
RE: '76 Cadillac---yeah, I was being facetious--just picked another '76 car out of the hat; however, as uplander mentioned, that was pretty pathetic HP out of such a huge engine.
 
One thing that's an extra slap in the face, is that in 1976, if you specified a 454 in a full-size Chevy, it had 225 hp. The Caddy 500 only had 190 with the 4-bbl carb. If you coughed up another $600, you got fuel injection, which bumped that up to all of 215 hp.
 
That year's Pontiac 455 put out 200 hp. The Olds put out 190 hp, but there was a 215 hp option for the Toronado. And Buick's 455 was rated at 205 hp.
 
Chrysler's 440 was rated at 205 hp that year, while the Ford 460 was at 202. So, it seems like the Caddy 500 had the worst hp-to-CID ratio of any of the big engines out there. I wonder if it at least had a torque advantage?
 
Oddly, it looks like the Mopar 400 was about the strongest engine around. My old car book is listing it as offering 240, 255, and 260 hp variants, in addition to the more common, choked down 165-175 hp or so versions.
 
I wonder if that's a mis-print? Or, if those are copcar 400's? Or, copcar 440s mis-labled as 400s? Consumer Guide doesn't always do the best job in the world at proof-reading their work!

Messages Page 2767 of 2984

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