Upgrades, options for Olds Diesel

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I took a '83 Cutlass Supreme for a spin today I'm thinking about buying for a "commuter" vehicle. It's rear drive with the 4.3L V6 diesel.

What is there for replacement injectors for these? Are they the same as the 5.7L? Any upgrade injectors?

It made a fair amount of blue smoke and it was very quiet, no rattle to speak of, so I am thinking the timing is too retarded or it's sucking air somewhere. Most of the blue smoke cleared up once it warmed but it makes more than it should.

The car has 139,000 miles and motor has never been opened up (no head gaskets or anything). Original owners. I'm thinking it could be a potential greasel or bio-diesel car.

I read somewhere the Olds V6 diesels were better than the 5.7, but I know by '83 many of the issues of head gaskets, rods and mains had been addressed.

Vaughn

[More Power]

Vaughn,

I seem to recall head gasket issues with the V-6, but you may be correct about later versions. The 6.2's had head gasket issues as well (mostly due to gasket design), but the latest Fel-Pro gaskets solved most of those problems.

You can still get injectors and pumps. A free-flowing exhaust & intake, and a timing tune-up could help. Would be fun to experiment with a small turbo... smile.gif

MP

[dieseldummy]

There is a web site dedicated to the old diesels. I think it is olds-diesel.com or something like that. An ebay search should yield the answer.

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks More Power. Yeah the exhaust is pretty pathetic. It was like a 1.75" system I think! I'm probably going to pass on it though, they want too much for it. I'd rather pick something up with the 5.7 but I don't know if it came in the midsize sedans or not.

Vaughn

[Marty Lau]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie:
Thanks More Power. Yeah the exhaust is pretty pathetic. It was like a 1.75" system I think! I'm probably going to pass on it though, they want too much for it. I'd rather pick something up with the 5.7 but I don't know if it came in the midsize sedans or not.

Vaughn I have a friend that had a 5.7 in an Old's Toronado.....I think? It was a two door Olds any way. I also have a friend that is a retired Cat mechanice and he has a V-6 Diesel Olds sitting in his shop after he reworked the engine something in the Top end went out on him, he hasn't gotten back too it yet. When it ran the darn thing got like 35 mpg at 75 in a mid size 4 door.

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Doesn't one of the Diesel Page members have a worked-up Olds 5.7 in his Chevy 1/2T? I did read through the Olds-Diesel.com, pretty interesting.

Vaughn

[Craig M]

Hey Vaughn

The 4.3 V-6 diesel shares pistons, rings etcetera with the 5.7 V-8. There were much less of the V-6's made than the V-8's. Of the V-6's produced most were of the front wheel drive persuasion. The Rear wheel drive V-6 diesel is the more rare of the V-6. They came with steel heads or aluminum heads. Prevailing wisdom is the steel heads wre better, but any survivors still operating must be ok. Good condition running V-6's can go for a few pennies. Old heaps go for towing fees. What kind of price were they telling you?

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Craig they were asking $900. It had a few minor dents, interior is dingy, tilt wheel is loose and the paint is shot. To me it's a $400 car. What do you think?

Vaughn

[Craig M]

I would say a good running rear wheel drive V-6 diesel in reasonable condition (ie interior nice to fair, paint ok but not pristine) is ok for a little over $1,000. If it is going to require engine work, then a $500 figure would be the best. A low milege, nice condition V-6 could go for $2500 or so.

[Craig M]

Hi Vaughn. read your post a little better. From the condition you state, Bad interior, bad paint, dents, I think your $400 is about right. The main value is the rear wheel drive diesel eninge. And if it is haveing issues, then there is not much there. There are some of us who still work/collect/drive the old GM 5.7/4.3 diesels. Some of us would pay $400 or so for the car you describe. Freight is the main issue for most of us. With fuel at $2.40 or so picking up vehicles get expensive. I have an Eldorado in the garage with the 5.7 and front wheel drive. Have a Buick Electra wagon out in the sun. It drove great untill the transmission went South (again).

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks Craig. My other issue too is I have too many cars already. I'm better at buying than selling them, LOL

Another thing I'm wondering if there's any sort of headers that would work on this car. If the exhaust ports are the same as the gas V6 but I think most of the cars in that body style used the Buick 3.8 V6.

Vaughn

[ZZ]

It's a damn shame that the 5.7 & 4.3 engines are just about all gone. GM had all the bugs worked out on the 5.7 by 1985 but everyone was sickened out on them by then. I'd give my eye teeth to find a good '85 diesel Buick Riviera.

I wish they would've done something with the 5.7 like they did the Vega. They finally had a tough little cast iron engine in the '77 Vega but everyone was burnt out on them. They renamed it Chevette and sales picked up again. I called them "Shove It" :D

[Craig M]

ZZ, there is a gentleman in Northern California that has been trying to sell a nice low mileage Riviera diesel. Do not recall the price $3,500 to $5,500 range as best memory recalls. Could probale find the info if you are interested.

[ZZ]

Thanks, but that is a more than I can swing for now. The distance would be rough as well.

[Craig M]

The Riviera is still for sale, Is a 1982 with 65,000 miles and $5,000 asking price. Has been listed for many months. $5,000 may be a bit high for an old 350 front wheel drive diesel. It is a low production unit though. The Toronado and El Dorado were much more common. How many have seen a diesel Riviera?

[ZZ]

In 1999, I owned an '82 Riviera with the upgraded Goodwrench engine. It was by far the best car I ever owned. It averaged 34 mpg in the summer with the A/C at 70 mph. It was a good looking car too. I got it for $700. The guy didn't know what he had. I would've gave $2,000 and not batted an eye.

I could still cry with the way I killed that sweet thing. I drove it one hot July day on a 100 mile trip to a doctor appt. I smelled coolant when I got there. I intended to check it before I left, but after waiting several hours I just wanted to go home and forgot about it like a dummy.

50 miles later I smelled something that reminded me of farm chemicals or whatever and then she started losing power. I pulled into a quick mart and it died. I popped the hood and it was so hot that it blew one end off of the radiator. It had gotten so hot that literally melted the plastic completely off of every electrical connector on the engine. So much for Idiot lights huh? The hot light never even flickered.

I called my Dad to come after me with a trailer. Believe it or not after it sat there two hours; it cranked right up and I drove it up on the trailer. That was one Hell of engine. But after having the radiator repaired it either blew a head gasket(s) or cracked the heads. It still ran like a champ, but I was too afraid to tear into it after it had been that hot. I drove it locally till it would run no more.

It sets now in a junk yard.