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Automotive News & Views Memories Of The Old GM And Its Cars
386 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 9:01 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: dave8697 (Jun 13, 2009 7:55 pm) As for pushrod engines, I'd vote the most reliable, albeit not the most refined, were the Volvo/Penta Inline 4 and Inline 6 engines. The Volvo Inline 4 had more main bearing area than a Chevy 350 V8.
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Replying to: almatti (Jun 16, 2009 8:35 am) Yeah, that has been my experience. Had a buddy with a 98 GP S/C and it was a POS too. Rattles and everything fell apart. They were definitely quick for their time, but that was then. Heck a run of the mill v6 Camry, Altima, or Accord will easily run with a 3800 S/C GP and you don't have to live with a complete POS in the process. I don't think GM improved the GP at all from '97 to '07. My wife's 07 is every bit the POS my buddies '98 was. It has 50k on it know and it feels like it has 150k on it. The suspension is feeling old and floaty, impact harshness is horrible, and the interior would feel insanely cheap in a car 1/2 the price. I won't even go into packaging, room, and comfort. Nonexistent. |
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Replying to: almatti (Jun 16, 2009 8:35 am) Those 195 HP 283's were pretty peppy and nearly as fast as the 250 HP 327's.
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Replying to: colloquor (Jun 16, 2009 8:57 am) Yeah, those old Volvo Penta's were great engines but parts were expensive. Now all Volvo gas marine engines are GM based. Had a 4.3L v6 Volvo in our old boat, basically the same 4.3 you'd find in a Chevy. Very reliable,tough, and relatively fuel efficient, but man, running down the lake over 3,000rpm would definitely show it's crude side. |
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Replying to: isellhondas (Jun 16, 2009 9:19 am) I didn't think they started putting the THM up to smallblock engines until the lighter THM350 came out, around 1969?
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Replying to: fintail (Jun 16, 2009 7:41 am) Many GM car's I've driven have a reluctance to downshift. My Suburban nearly had to be floored to downshift (real annoying when in o/d at 55mph), as did my grandpa's Park Ave. That really drives me nuts. Now my wife's 07 GP downshifts fairly easily and doesn't upshift nearly as quick as other 3800 powered cars I've driven. It will routinely wait until 3k+ rpm to upshift under moderate acceleration. So it's not as bad as some others I've driven. The 3800 doesn't feel like it has any more power much above 4,000rpm. I'm guessing torque must fall off fast past 4k rpm. |
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Replying to: dieselone (Jun 16, 2009 9:48 am) My grandmother's '85 LeSabre was like that. It didn't like to downshift, and always seemed like it wanted to upshift too early, even under hard acceleration. If you'd hold the gears manually, it was a much better performer. And that overdrive gear was totally gutless unless you got the car up to 85+, which is what you had to do to get the engine to rev fast enough to have any power in that gear. |
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Replying to: dieselone (Jun 15, 2009 9:21 am) Current ride is a 2006 Pontiac GPGT w/260hp S/C 3.8 showing 34k miles with no engine issues, intermediate steering shafts and batteries are it's issues, had 3 of each, all warranty covered..Car was bought cheap w/4300mi in June 2007, Caddy tradein..paid 1/2 of original MSRP, so it's a keeper. loaded with all items.. Yes, it's loud, not too comfortable, but holds 5 occupants, enough power to run along at a 80+ cruise and enjoys the 120 mph blasts to loosen up the carbon deposits..It could stand a better suspension system and may upgrade the struts. Living in SW Fla, the a/c is a must, and with the 260hp, any drag by running the a/c is overcome..I've had better cars and worse cars, but this one will stay. The S/C smooths the 3.8 out under heavy acceleration..May install an SLP catback exhaust system which eliminates the intermediate muffler and offers 2 1/2 inch piping all the way..Little more noise, but who cares.. Next buy will be a 2010 Mustang GT w/track pkg and 5spd manual, I miss the 2009 Bullitt and I imagine Obama will kill all the fun cars, so at 76yrs young, it's going to be fun to the end. The Pontiac also stays with me. No more GM/Obama cars will enter my garage.. Please don't mention the Jap cars on this memory forum!!!!!!!!!! My background doesn't allow me to ever relish a tin can from Asia.. My roommate has a 2002 Camry XLE w/72k miles on it and the only thing it has going for it is better gas mileage..miserable noisy engine, sloppy suspension, and an a very uncomfortable driving position, entry and exit from the drivers seat is a pain, the silly steering wheel is always in the way..She loves it, her money, so it's not my problem..except for gas and maintenance..the Toy dealer is a piece of work, they love to sell filters,belts, radiator flushes,transmission fluid changes, and every other gadget known to the automotive world..especially to the older women..My instructions are to change the oil/filter and check tires for 34#, that's all..If it breaks, you can fix it..Otherwise don't try to sell her the shop for the sake of preventative maintenance..
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Replying to: dieselone (Jun 16, 2009 9:48 am) Those engines do have a unique aural presence too, kind of reminds me of a quiet vacuum cleaner - as opposed to the horrible noises made by the 2.8-3.1 family.
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Replying to: motorcity6 (Jun 16, 2009 10:40 am) What the heck is up with GM and those ISS issues. I would have thought they'd have fixed problem by '06!! Oh, that's right, we are talking GM and takes years to fix a know problem and when they finally get it fixed it gets discontinued. LOL. Wife had an 01 Impala with that issue along with the engine cradle and so did my '00 Suburban. Very annoying. Oh the memories. Ironically, I had thought my wife's 07 GP was developing an ISS problem as it was clunking when you turned the wheel at slow speeds. The dealer rotated the tires and the problem went away. I still feel some type of play in the suspension but it's tolerable. It's a company car and should be replaced by the end of the year. Don't know what her car choices will be this round. The only car still available that was on her list from a few years ago is the Impala, as the Ford 500 and GP are gone. I guess the Impala would be okay, the 3.5 should be better than the old 3.4 she had in the 01. |
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