My eBay Venture Sales - '85 Caprice Classic Junk - 1972 Satellite Sebring Plus - Pt16 D HD

[BuyMyTools]

On all cars we ever had accessories lasted between 80K and 100K sometimes much more.

We had a 3.1L chevy that leaked out from the distributor plug hole every 80K like clock work which was every 18 months!!!

I have seen 5.0L ford heads cracked at 80K three times in the exhaust port area.

Everyone has their preference. I don't really have a preference. We have had GM, Ford, Chrysler, and AMC over the years. Never owned a single import car so I can't say a word good or bad about them.

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools Never had in import either....

[BuyMyTools]

I got some pictures of a ford 302 engine that was machined wrong as well. It was a 1992 mustang. I had several 5.0L mustangs and honestly the engines seem to get really tired at 100,000 and the rod bearings are small.

I know you don't like GM but other than the 318 dodge engine only GM V8's are internally balanced which costs more and increases durability by reducing harmonics and vibrations.

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools Internally balanced?!?, perhaps that's why they only output 10 MPG highway! (305) whereas a Mercury 302 gets atleast 18 MPG (if you can live with the incessant oil leak usually from the pan gasket, front seal, & valve cover gaskets lol)

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools Oh as for myself only 1 '92 Dodge b350, 360,w/an a51846R 4 spd OD tranny (OD never worked when I picked up at 166k) now 253k miles which I had for the last 11+ years while my family went thre 2 GM's (the '83 Pontiac & the '85 Caprice 305) 1 Mercury Grand Marque LS & 1 98 Caravan (steering rack so picked up another 2000 using now)

In the future I'll probably purchase a Sprinter when one depreciates down to 1 or 2k which should happen when they pass 10 year mark. & convert to WVO

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools Then I'll truly be able to be a redneck & drive for less then .03 cents a gallon (with a centrifuge cleaning to sub .5 micron!)

I can hardly wait

[BuyMyTools]

I have the old papers on these cars. Keep in mind the warranty on a 1974 dodge was 36,000 miles. The worst one we had when 100,000 miles so that was "good" back then but most ran much much longer as you know.

I bought a 1972 satellie in 1992 for $100 with a 318. That car had 150,000 miles on and engine was perfect but the trans case cracked.

Machines are like people. I had someone in my class die of a heart attack at 11 years old. It happens.

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools Everyone has luck w/ one brand over another I suppose. 

[BuyMyTools]

1978 pontiac Bonneville (small v8) - 300,000 no problems ever. This one never had the trans fluid changed even ones because my dad was busy working and raising 5 kids and fixing an apartment building on the side.

I also had several Ford and AMC V8 cars with over 100,000 miles and no drive train issues.

Machines are machines. We had two 1974 dodge 318 cars one was machined wrong on the connecting rods and they "fixed" it with copper plating which failed three times faster.

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools Sounds like a paradox? lol

Speaking of Ford the old 1976 versions (like the '73 of Sam Walton/Wal-mart) were actually cool but in 1977 the quality went down the drain mainly during the 1980's then in '92 Ford tried to make a comeback with the redesign of the Econoline van but still leave much to be desired especially with gas models. The diesels don't fair much better as in the 6.0 or even the 7.3 (see Pug's cracked heads at 124k even w/ship shape military upkeep ~ wtf?)

[BuyMyTools]

1985 Caprice classic wagon (350V8) - 450,000 - trans blew at 280,000 or so

1990 trans-am (305V8) - never a single problem and ran HARD to 300,000

1959 plymouth fury - (361V8) - needed spark plugs every 3,000 miles but good

1975 plymouth fury wagon (400v8) - trans blew at 80,000 miles. cracked head at 20,000

1974 dodge dart - (318V8) - 350,000 and no engine or trans problems at all

1974 charger (318V8) - 100,000 rod scored cylinders. 2 of 8 rod rods were copper plated to fix tolerance

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools My experience the trannys fail at 80 - 90k routine (read the Want Ads "New Tranny at 90k" "Fresh 350 at 100k" what does that tell you?

But I agree the the old plugs & points were had an inherent design flaw.

The 3/9 V6 & 400 V8 had also head gasket problems & were a weak link unlike the 318, 360, 413 & 440 which I consider legendary.

[BuyMyTools]

Cars are like people. You can't really say GM is bad based on one car. This might be a few comments long. Myself and my parents and my one brother ironically had some of the EXACT cars you had and more most new but some used. Some great some bad but all were maintained to above standards.

1985 new Caprice Estate wagon (305V8) - 200,000+ no engine or trans problems

1986 Olds Wagon (can't recall the model) (olds V8) - 400,000 - trans rebuilt at 300,000

[Begbucks]

@BuyMyTools Broad subject I see lol, Well in our time we had 3 GM's A Covair (before my time), a 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix & the '85 Caprice, 4 Fords/Mercury & 2 into 3 Chrysler/Dodges over satisfaction for Dodge first, Ford farther second, GM distant third. 85% highway on all. Perhaps it's just luck or perhaps you replaced everything else to keep it running as such?