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I bought a '73 Sdn De Ville in '83 while stationed in Louisiana, drove it to 20 day school assignment in Biloxi, MS., then took it on a looong and comfortable drive round trip to Philly on a 30 day leave before returning back to Louisiana via Montgomery, Ala to see my daughter. I remember gas was expensive, but the car was paid for and insurance (liability only) was cheap. The car ran like a top, no other expenses, but unfortunately I got an assignment to UK right after I got back and had to sell the car. I later heard the buyer totaled the car on base after running into a tree while drunk.
My '79 Eldo California Emissions, has a strong 350, 73,000 miles and gets 10mpg on the highway. I don't understand it. The map sensor, computer, vacuum lines all good. Emissions show the engine is running clean. Any ideas? The only thing I can think of is the transmission..driving at highway speeds when I let off the gas pedal it feels like I'm driving a standard shift car, it doesn't coast like other cars. In any case, the mileage does not make sense. Ideas?
Nick
[email]A1957Eldoman@aol.com[/email]
My 1978 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham (with the 425 V8 4 bbl. and 3 speed TH-400 automatic) gets good fuel economy considering its size. I get around 15 at highway speeds, (which is good for a 7.0 litre engine coupled to a 3 speed non-overdrive transmission that doesn't have a lock-up torque converter).
In addition to its surprisingly good fuel economy, it is an extremely smooth running engine, even better than most other V8s. It is very well built, reliable, and durable. It also has a good 320 foot-pounds of torque.
This was the last decent motor for the Cadillac line.
I think the 79 Cpe de Ville was the last good Cad GM built..
Dad was retired mechanic/business owner and always drove Cads (as did I for many yrs)
Anyway he had a 76 or 77 Cad (cannot re call exact yr...been a while) with a small fender bender (other person fault) so Ins paid Dad with a Check for the repairs needed.
Debating on what to do he saw a 79 Cpe de Ville with a 4 sale sign parked in a vacant lot (Palm Springs Ca).
Anyone who knows the area will understand this kind of car would be well taken care of along with only 9K on the spedo.
Dad bought the car for a reasonable sum and with the proceeds from the older Cad along with the Ins Check and $500 more paid for the 79.....not a bad deal considering only $500 out of the bank for a like new car.
Dad later sold the car after a couple of yrs with only 21K on the spedo to someone from Palm Springs who bought it w/o ever seeing the car. Know this for a fact as I spoke with the person while he made the deal over the phone.
I wanted that car but was already car poor and parking space was limited for my already stable.
That car purred when I drove it.....they got a real nice car.
Sorry for the long dialogue but those cars of that era were a dream to drive.
I don't see any point to such a engine swap in these cars considering the 2.28 axle ratio most of these cars have which works best with the low rpm torque of the existing 425 and swaping in a 472 or 500 would be even better. Some of these came with fuel injection but those are rare and not nearly as reliable as the carbureted versions but someone could put aftermarket fuel injection on the existing 425 or on a 472/500 easy enough.
The rear axle is a phone call to Currie for something much meatier with a better ratio, plus the LS has a lot more potential to make the car a sleeper
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