Best and Worst GM Engines
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-12-2006
Posts: 390
From: Derby, KS
I hearby bestow you with the redneck of the year award (a little late) 
Thanks Old Lar, that is very interesting!
My 1st one burned oil so bad that I went to the junk yard and bought an old windshield washer pump/reservoir and mounted it to the firewall, then ran a tube from the pump into a hole I made in the oil cap. When the oil light came on do to low oil level, I would flip a switch under the dash and let it pump about a quart of oil back in until the light would stay off
I guess that was what one would call Jerry rigging.
It was my 1st car and all I could afford, so the pump kept me going a couple of years until I bought my 2nd Vega that only burned about a qt every 500 miles or so
My 1st one burned oil so bad that I went to the junk yard and bought an old windshield washer pump/reservoir and mounted it to the firewall, then ran a tube from the pump into a hole I made in the oil cap. When the oil light came on do to low oil level, I would flip a switch under the dash and let it pump about a quart of oil back in until the light would stay off
I guess that was what one would call Jerry rigging.
It was my 1st car and all I could afford, so the pump kept me going a couple of years until I bought my 2nd Vega that only burned about a qt every 500 miles or so
Senior Member
Joined: 02-29-2008
Posts: 838
From: Oak Creek, WI
I dont currently have a best, but the worst motors are the 3.4 v6 in my '94 base model camaro & the 4 cylinder ( i dont know the exact size) in a '02 brand new cavalier.
The cavalier was a 2 day rental, while my other car was getting a new hood put on. I beat on the cavalier bad & the engine was smoking after just driving it hard for 30 minutes, the dang thing only had like 5,000 miles on it.
Fail !!!!!!!!!!
The cavalier was a 2 day rental, while my other car was getting a new hood put on. I beat on the cavalier bad & the engine was smoking after just driving it hard for 30 minutes, the dang thing only had like 5,000 miles on it.
Fail !!!!!!!!!!
Banned
Joined: 10-24-2006
Posts: 1,761
From: The Show-Me State
Worst:
Iron Duke 2.5
307 V8
Olds 350 Diesel
Best:
3.8L V6
2.8L-3.1L V6 through 1993
Gen I/II small block (265-400 except 307)
455 Pontiac
LS small blocks
Mark IV/V big blocks (396-up)
Ecotec
LLT V6
Northstar V8
Cadillac 500 V8
Iron Duke 2.5
307 V8
Olds 350 Diesel
Best:
3.8L V6
2.8L-3.1L V6 through 1993
Gen I/II small block (265-400 except 307)
455 Pontiac
LS small blocks
Mark IV/V big blocks (396-up)
Ecotec
LLT V6
Northstar V8
Cadillac 500 V8
Senior Member
Joined: 01-02-2008
Posts: 1,529
From: Nashville, TN
OK, very surprised that no one listed the Cadillac V8-6-4. The first displacement on demand engine in a mass produced vehicle. Remember the engine fires? I do! Cylinders that didn't completely "shut off" like they were supposed to. Terrible performance as the engine tried to keep up with the changes between cylinder usage. Just bloody awful. But boy, did they tout that engine as a fuel saver and a real innovation!
Senior Member
Joined: 11-27-2007
Posts: 1,115
From: Austin, Texas
Worst was the 350 Diesel (converted gas motor despite lame attempts to claim otherwise) in my 1979 Silverado. Lasted about 40,000 miles. Replaced it with a 455 Olds with some good mods, so all was not lost. Most interesting (not best) was the 2.0 liter Cosworth Twin Cam in my 1976 Vega. Came stock with excellent Stainless Steel tubular headers. With some engine work and Weber carbs, I nearly doubles the hp, so it had potential. Nice wheels too. Got a deal, since list price was nearly Corvette territory but it was still a Vega.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-06-2008
Posts: 1,761
From: Grand Haven, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 08-06-2008
Posts: 1,761
From: Grand Haven, MI