Hi David:
How right you are. From recent postings I realized that I had overlooked
two infamous GM engines. The 4-6-8 Cadillac and the 350 Diesel conversion.
We should probably also nominate the Cadillac 4.1 V8 as being too little
engine for too much car with resulting short life.
John McEwen
>On Sun, 4 Jan 1998 18:44:26 +0000 "Scott Gardner"
><gardner7@pilot.infi.net> writes:
>>> >how about the version of the "Iron Duke" 4-cylinder that went into
>>> >the 1984 Fieros?
>>>
>>>
>>If I remember correctly, there wasn't anything intrinsically wrong
>>with the engine that caused the failures. I think it was something
>>to do with the oiling system GM used when they decided to install it
>>as a rear engine in the Fiero. Whatever it was, a recall fixed it,
>>so it couldn't have been too complicated.
>
>Problem was if the oil level got low, then engine would overheat in its
>very tight space in the mid-engined car. During the mid-80's it was not
>unusual to see burned up Fieros by the side of the road (I remember
>seeing a couple). I also talked to at least one Fiero owner that had had
>three engines in his car, courtesy of the factory. The car was killed by
>its bad reputation and the fact that you couldn't get insurance for it!
>Of course, the V6 version didn't have this problem, but by the time it
>came out, it was too late. If you were to buy the last year V6 version
>you would have quite a little pocket rocket, with excellent handling. It
>took GM until the last year to finally dump the Chevette front suspension
>for a system designed for the Fiero.
>
>BTW, if you are going to name the worst GM Engine, the 4-6-8 V8 fitted
>into some late 70's (?) Cadillac Sevilles has got to be a candidate. It
>was called the 4-6-8 because, depending upon engine load, it would only
>operate on 4 or 6 cylinders (as on a highway, for example). The idea was
>to save fuel. The engine was horribly unreliable, however, and was
>quickly discontinued.
>
>David Littlefield
>Houston, TX
>David Littlefield
>Houston, TX
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