Originally Posted By: TFB1
Guess you weren't around for the '70s??? About everything from around '79 up was a breath of fresh air compared to 'most '73-'78 models...
As far as just plain junk, nothing posted so far comes close to the 2300 Vega motor...
So I'll post a another top contender, GM's 5.7 Olds diesel... 105Hp in a 4000lb pound full size model was pitiful... Biggest problem was the tendency to break head bolts, blow head gaskets or toss the crank out of the bottom of block(generally with ZERO notice)... Injection pumps rarely lasted 50K mi, usually car was on it's second engine when that failed...
I would tend to agree.
My mom had a 1975 Chrysler Cordoba that had recurrent carburetor and ignition issues. Probably trying to tune for lean burn and emissions.
Her 1978 Zephyr with the 3.3L I6 was ok. She wouldn't follow the cold start instructions and it would stall several times before the first stop sign a half a block from our home.
If I started it, according to the big sticker Ford/Mercury put on the sun visor, it would go just fine. You had to pump it once to set the choke.
Fortunately, the auto industry has largely perfected the ECM, and in the mid to late 1980's, computer controlled ignition and fuel injection was reliable and literally made most cars a turn-key operation.
Guess you weren't around for the '70s??? About everything from around '79 up was a breath of fresh air compared to 'most '73-'78 models...
As far as just plain junk, nothing posted so far comes close to the 2300 Vega motor...
So I'll post a another top contender, GM's 5.7 Olds diesel... 105Hp in a 4000lb pound full size model was pitiful... Biggest problem was the tendency to break head bolts, blow head gaskets or toss the crank out of the bottom of block(generally with ZERO notice)... Injection pumps rarely lasted 50K mi, usually car was on it's second engine when that failed...
I would tend to agree.
My mom had a 1975 Chrysler Cordoba that had recurrent carburetor and ignition issues. Probably trying to tune for lean burn and emissions.
Her 1978 Zephyr with the 3.3L I6 was ok. She wouldn't follow the cold start instructions and it would stall several times before the first stop sign a half a block from our home.
If I started it, according to the big sticker Ford/Mercury put on the sun visor, it would go just fine. You had to pump it once to set the choke.
Fortunately, the auto industry has largely perfected the ECM, and in the mid to late 1980's, computer controlled ignition and fuel injection was reliable and literally made most cars a turn-key operation.
