Re: 3800 Things have changed alot in 30 years....... The vehicles that they are making with plastic engine components are trouble waiting to happen. It's a crap shoot whether yours breaks or not, I kid you not. I have been doing this a long time, and many of the cars I have had to replace these parts on I have seen from the day they were new...and done all of the service on them since that day. You can tell what part is a problem part by how many the GM parts counter has on hand. Call and need an upper intake for a 97 BOP 3800 ........ they had 5 in stock! How about injectors for the vortec 4.3...... yup 45 in stock. They don't stock them babies for Christmas sales! We know there is a problem there.....and so does GM. Would you put a 3800 with a plastic intake in an airplane, then go flying with it??? I sure wouldn't! While it's a great engine.... there are parts of it that are made from recycled Legos or something and we all know the limited life of plastic in a high heat cycle environment. I am a firm believer in going back to "metal" compounded engine parts.....let's leave the plastic stuff for the kid's Big Wheel. Mike
Re: Re: 3800 You can also tell which models/years to stay away from by the condition of a dealership's service manuals. The ones with the backs worn off and pages torn out from usage! Our '96 and '97 S/T manuals are a good example where I work.
Water pump. 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. sure felt like the whole day...beacause it was!!! Still can't get to the spark plugs in back. Prolly the ones that came with it. Good amount of steel for my wife to bang into things with though....trash cans, curbs, parking poles, parking meters...:af:
3800 Well, Guess my undying loyalty to GM is being put to the test..... :af: Wonder how the dealers are making any money on warranty work with all this crappy plastic in their engines? Inflated labor rates and parts prices? Wonder if this plastic issue is going on with the other big auto manufacturers? Surely BMW would NEVER put plastic in their engines..... :laugh: Just food for thought. Ed :beer
Actually they do have some plastic in their engines, they also use special oils in some models which cost like 20.00 a quart (or void the warranty)and you couldn't buy that engine for a what a new GM CAR costs....anyway....just not a real BMW fan, I have a good joke about them but it wouldn't go over well with the moderators here. I have a friend with a Z3, it has given him some grief, so don't think GM is the only one with problems. Anyway, read this, its interesting! Enjoy. http://www.qualitymag.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/news/news_item/0,6407,108194,00.html Just some thoughts. later Tim
3800 WOW..:eek2: $20.00 a QUART for OIL...of course if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Ed :beer
Heads up to GM buyer's Well there you guys all think you have it bad with just having to replace a gasket, well at least you got a chance to work on your car. I ordered a brand new 02' Chevy Silverado 1500 standard cab, short wide. I ordered the truck because I wanted the biggest motor I could get with a manual tranny. So I ordered it with a 4.8ltr V-8 with a stick, and had the option of putting the 3:42 posi rear end in so I did. Well needless to say that it was working out great for me and I loved the truck until I started to hear a knocking sound coming from the motor at an early mileage of about 5,000. As I continued to drive the truck it got louder and louder, until one day I read an article in the "Oregonian". our local newspaper here in Portland, Oregon. In the drive time section it had a big article on GM recalling not all but many of their 98-02 small block V-8's. Well it just so happened that I got a recall notice in the mail soon after and the truck I has bought for the looks, motor, tranny and rearend, and not to mention the 22" wheels and tires I bought for it and lowered it, was going to be swept away at the hands of GM company. It ended up being a recall because the motor was preigniting and sooner or later it would end up burning a hole in one of the pistons. Instead of recalling them to put new 03 motors in them, they just bought my truck back from me, and over all I got screwed and took a huge loss thanks to those you know who's.
Thanks, Changing the antfreeze is still on my list of things to do. I have to add about a pint to a quart every oil change.
One of my personal GM favorites is the starter location on a Northstar Caddy motor...under the intake!
gm speaking of the northstar motor, if anyone ever has to change a water pump on a 1997 cts caddy, you will need a special tool to remove the pump and re-install it. these water pumps have been failing as early as 50,000 miles.
