Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Widewing on September 18, 2009, 09:09:38 PM
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According to Bob Lutz, GM has decided that the G8 is too good to discontinue. It will be rebadged with new front and rear clips and sold as the Chevy Caprice beginning with the 2011 model year. I'd vote for a better name....
Prior to the merger with Fiat, Chrysler was shopping the Viper, hoping for a buyer. Fiat quickly nixed any attempt at selling the iconic SRT10. According to Italian sources, Dodge is considering a proposal to exchange the aging V10 for a new lightweight 650 hp 6.5 liter V12 design in 2013. Fiat insiders say that the Viper may return to LeMans in 2013 with full factory support.
My regards,
Widewing
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IMO, if I were CEO. I agree on the lack of "balls" on the Caprice. I'd revive the Buick "Gran Sport" namesake or the Chevy "Bel-Air" namesake.
That is a good seller for a Company that is bleeding, it's a shame to succumb a crappy name.
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Why don't they call it a Chevy G8 instead of a Caprice. Sorry I :rolleyes: when I hear Caprice. One more reason Chevy is in the red. Eh, still a chick car IMO.
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Why don't they call it a Chevy G8 instead of a Caprice. Sorry I :rolleyes: when I hear Caprice. One more reason Chevy is in the red. Eh, still a chick car IMO.
Caprice = Impala = Impala SS
See where this is going?
wrongway
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If GM had a clue they'd retro a '57 Bel Air and dump that swoopy ricer lookin concept vette and go a bit more retro with it also.
just my 2 copper.
-Frank
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According to Italian sources, Dodge is considering a proposal to exchange the aging V10 for a new lightweight 650 hp 6.5 liter V12 design in 2013. Fiat insiders say that the Viper may return to LeMans in 2013 with full factory support.
interesting, are there any US V12s for cars out there? cant remember ever hearing of one.
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Caprice = Impala = Impala SS
See where this is going?
wrongway
a real impala ss has a 409 with a six pack
its a shame that the auto makers taint the names of great icons by naming some of the garbage they produce after them.
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a real impala ss has a 409 with a six pack
its a shame that the auto makers taint the names of great icons by naming some of the garbage they produce after them.
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Have you checked out the specs on the G8? Far from garbage the thing rocks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHZAQfRMEHU&feature=related
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Call it what it is...a Holden VE Commodore, right after you get rid of the awful and smurfy Pontiac front.
Far better as the standard VE or the even better looking HSV version which is what the Brits get as thier Vauxhall VXR8.
VXR8 Bathurst (http://www.topgear.com/uk/assets/cms/9131225d-f8ae-495f-a3ea-dd7671c2a907/Large%20Image.jpg)
HSV Clubsport R8 (http://images.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2007/10/10/clubsportR804_L_700.jpg)(http://media.nextautos.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/HSV-GTS-f-3-4.jpg)
VE SS-V (http://img2.netcarshow.com/Holden-VE_Commodore_SS-V_2006_800x600_wallpaper_01.jpg)
Top Gear VXR8 Bathurst (Upgraded HSV) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEh84Hoq82Q (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEh84Hoq82Q)
Tronsky
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a real impala ss has a 409 with a six pack
Actually the Impala SS could have any engine from a 235 c.i.d. to a 454 c.i.d. depending on the year it was made until 1972...then they started nerfing it...unleaded gas became the standard.
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Why don't they call it a Chevy G8 instead of a Caprice. Sorry I :rolleyes: when I hear Caprice. One more reason Chevy is in the red. Eh, still a chick car IMO.
i don't understand what the problem is with the caprice. they're pretty badass'd cars. they handle exceptionally well, for such large cars, they accelerate VERY nicely when equipped with the 350, and they cruise VERY nicely.
hot rod em just right, and you end up with a 4k+ car that'll run 12's, and still get decent mileage.
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interesting, are there any US V12s for cars out there? cant remember ever hearing of one.
we don need no steeeenikn v-12's
:aok :D
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V-12 would be cool, but I'd rather the Viper get scaled down a bit (Lotus-ized) and have a V-8. The V-10 is awesome but sounds like a milk truck.
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Most cars these days are buttugly. Most trucks are the same.
My opinion is let chevy die. Poor management deserves it.
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Actually the Impala SS could have any engine from a 235 c.i.d. to a 454 c.i.d. depending on the year it was made until 1972...then they started nerfing it...unleaded gas became the standard.
correct yes, but in early 60s how many v8 did you see coming from factory producing more then a horse per cube :D it was actually the 409 with 2x quad set up that was the monster 425 hp
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i don't understand what the problem is with the caprice. they're pretty badass'd cars. they handle exceptionally well, for such large cars, they accelerate VERY nicely when equipped with the 350, and they cruise VERY nicely.
hot rod em just right, and you end up with a 4k+ car that'll run 12's, and still get decent mileage.
The Caprice has always been marketed as a luxury family sedan. The old 2 door coupes could be ordered with more sporty options, but still...compared to the Impala or Chevelle/Malibu...same class as the Buick Skylark, just a Cadillac without the fancy trim work and a couple thousand dollars cheaper.
I completely forgot this but I'm surprised they don't consider a retro "Judge"...
(http://www.classiccar-buyersguide.com/Resized_1967-Pontiac-GTO-muscle-car-wallpaper.jpg)
or are they?
(http://www.diseno-art.com/images/Pontiac_GTO_Concept.jpg)
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I completely forgot this but I'm surprised they don't consider a retro "Judge"...
(http://www.classiccar-buyersguide.com/Resized_1967-Pontiac-GTO-muscle-car-wallpaper.jpg)
or are they?
(http://www.diseno-art.com/images/Pontiac_GTO_Concept.jpg)
Bring-on the goat! :rock
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correct yes, but in early 60s how many v8 did you see coming from factory producing more then a horse per cube :D it was actually the 409 with 2x quad set up that was the monster 425 hp
Yeah but that was only a factory special order "option", they did replace it in 1965(?) or there abouts with a factory standard 425bhp 396 c.i.d. and that engine had a better stroke to it with the 4 bolt main block. The 409 was a really nice engine when it was "shade tree'd" into one of these jobs:
(http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1930-1939/1938-Chevrolet-Coupe-Purple-Trailer-sy.jpg)
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Yeah but that was only a factory special order "option", they did replace it in 1965(?) or there abouts with a factory standard 425bhp 396 c.i.d. and that engine had a better stroke to it with the 4 bolt main block. The 409 was a really nice engine when it was "shade tree'd" into one of these jobs:
(http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1930-1939/1938-Chevrolet-Coupe-Purple-Trailer-sy.jpg)
The 409/425 was not a special order option. It was an RPO, or Regular Production Option. A true special order would be a COPO, or Corporate (or Central) Office Production Order, such as the 9561 and 9562 1969 427 Camaro, or the 9562 1969 427/425 Chevelle.
The 396 didn't have a "better" stroke, it had a longer stroke. The 1965 396/425 option was even rarer than the 409/425, and it was only faster because it was available in lighter cars, the very rare Z-16 Chevelle, and the less rare Corvette.
In the Impala, the 65 396/425 was not faster than the 62/63/64 409/425. I had a clone 409/425 64 Impala, and a guy I know had a clone 396/425 65 Impala. Both drivetrains were factory original, they just weren't in numbers matching bodies. I beat him regularly, both were 4 speed cars with 4.56 gears. The 396 had a lighter piston than the 409 and would wind up tighter. But the 409 made more power all through it's operating range than the 396. The 396 Impala had a better rear end, he could beat me if I broke my 55-64 rear end. He could out run me if we ran up to a 1/2 mile, but I beat him easily in the 1/4, and killed him in the 1/8.
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I'm betting the reason they're keeping the G8 is that it is their Pro Stock entry. They already have it. And their Camaro program is, to steal a quote from R. Lee Ermey, a disorganized, disconnected, grabasstic, fustercluck.
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I'm betting the reason they're keeping the G8 is that it is their Pro Stock entry. They already have it. And their Camaro program is, to steal a quote from R. Lee Ermey, a disorganized, disconnected, grabasstic, fustercluck.
Just can't help but like Gunny. <S>
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I'm glad to hear this. The G8 is a fantastic car. I would put it against anything European at twice the cost. I agree that it would be better badged as a Buick GS or even a Buick Grand National.
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I'm glad to hear this. The G8 is a fantastic car. I would put it against anything European at twice the cost. I agree that it would be better badged as a Buick GS or even a Buick Grand National.
It's not even remotely Buick. For that matter, it wasn't even remotely Pontiac. Chevrolet is where the LSx engines were designed. Were it powered by something else, for example a turbocharged or supercharged V6 (say a Series xx 3800) then making it a Buick might be a good idea. But eventually, GM will be down to Chevrolet and Cadillac, and possibly GMC. And again, only Pontiac and Chevrolet have racing programs, and the G8 is at least partially being kept as a model that is raced. Buick ain't going racing. Except maybe on to its eventual demise. And I say that as a TType Regal owner.
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I'm glad to hear that the G8 is going stick around in the States. The engine/chassis combo is a wonderful combination and a pleasure to drive. My only beef with it is that they've built a 5 series competitor and equipped the interior with plastic. If they could stick some leather around and smooth out the console it would be absolutely world class. Looking forward to driving another one of these things
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The 409/425 was not a special order option. It was an RPO, or Regular Production Option. A true special order would be a COPO, or Corporate (or Central) Office Production Order, such as the 9561 and 9562 1969 427 Camaro, or the 9562 1969 427/425 Chevelle.
Sorry man but I believe you're thinking of the 1962 409/380HP, since it was the factory stock option until 1965 or 1966...the dual four barrel 1963 409/425 (dual 4barrel carbs) was a "special order" from 1964 to 1965...it may have been a dealer factory option, but it was not something granny could just drive off the lot unless the dealer already had one on the lot. It was replaced in mid 1965 by the 396/425 which is much rarer than the 409/425 because in the 1966 model year the bhp was dropped from 425bhp to 325/350/360/375bhp, depending on the vehicle. After that short run in 1965 the 396cid from the factory never exceeded 375bhp. You can look up the serial numbers.
In the Impala, the 65 396/425 was not faster than the 62/63/64 409/425. I had a clone 409/425 64 Impala, and a guy I know had a clone 396/425 65 Impala. Both drivetrains were factory original, they just weren't in numbers matching bodies. I beat him regularly, both were 4 speed cars with 4.56 gears. The 396 had a lighter piston than the 409 and would wind up tighter. But the 409 made more power all through it's operating range than the 396. The 396 Impala had a better rear end, he could beat me if I broke my 55-64 rear end. He could out run me if we ran up to a 1/2 mile, but I beat him easily in the 1/4, and killed him in the 1/8.
I never realized that (409 = 4.312" x 3.50") vs (396 = 4.096" x 3.76")...a .26 increase in stroke made the engine slower considering the 396/425 4 bolt mains could handle higher rpms and reached peak hp at over 6200 rpm (409/425 peak hp @6200 rpm). Pretty sure the piston rods and the crank were lighter in the 396 than the 409, not the pistons.
If both of those cars had the original rear ends in them after you replaced the engine/transmission...you should have beat him, because I'm betting the gear ratio in your buddies car didn't match what was put into an original 396/425 Impala SS.
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V-12 would be cool, but I'd rather the Viper get scaled down a bit (Lotus-ized) and have a V-8. The V-10 is awesome but sounds like a milk truck.
I suspect that the V12 being considered is a bigger displacement version of Ferrari's Type F133F engine. The downside for Dodge is that this engine will be an extremely expensive piece of hardware, which would push the Viper's price tag near to $200k. Production may be limited to enough to qualify it for competition, assuming it is actually built. I doubt that you ever see these in showrooms. I think Fiat is just talking up the possibilities to maintain interest.
My regards,
Widewing
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cant see ferrari allowing one its v12s in a Dodge somehow, and iirc the 456 version of that V12 cost about $120,000 5 years ago. Like they say you buy a ferrari engine, and the car comes free :)
btw I had no idea that Fiat were taking over Chrysler. my condolences :(
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cant see ferrari allowing one its v12s in a Dodge somehow, and iirc the 456 version of that V12 cost about $120,000 5 years ago. Like they say you buy a ferrari engine, and the car comes free :)
btw I had no idea that Fiat were taking over Chrysler. my condolences :(
Since Fiat owns Ferrari, and not the other way around. I do believe that if they want to put a Ferrari V-12 into a Viper they can do so.
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Sorry man but I believe you're thinking of the 1962 409/380HP, since it was the factory stock option until 1965 or 1966...the dual four barrel 1963 409/425 (dual 4barrel carbs) was a "special order" from 1964 to 1965...it may have been a dealer factory option, but it was not something granny could just drive off the lot unless the dealer already had one on the lot. It was replaced in mid 1965 by the 396/425 which is much rarer than the 409/425 because in the 1966 model year the bhp was dropped from 425bhp to 325/350/360/375bhp, depending on the vehicle. After that short run in 1965 the 396cid from the factory never exceeded 375bhp. You can look up the serial numbers.
I never realized that (409 = 4.312" x 3.50") vs (396 = 4.096" x 3.76")...a .26 increase in stroke made the engine slower considering the 396/425 4 bolt mains could handle higher rpms and reached peak hp at over 6200 rpm (409/425 peak hp @6200 rpm). Pretty sure the piston rods and the crank were lighter in the 396 than the 409, not the pistons.
If both of those cars had the original rear ends in them after you replaced the engine/transmission...you should have beat him, because I'm betting the gear ratio in your buddies car didn't match what was put into an original 396/425 Impala SS.
The 409/425 was an RPO. The Z-11 was the closest thing to a COPO car in that era. A Regular Production Option was not "special ordered", you merely placed an order. Any dealer could get as many as they wanted at any time. The 409/425 cars were found on the lot, I know at least a dozen people who drove up on the lot, found a 409/425 sitting there, and drove home with it. In 64, the 409 was a 340, a 409, or a 425. They are ALL factory stock, and regular production options, they had no restrictions, all were found regularly on dealer lots in stock across the country. My uncle sold them brand new, as a Chevrolet salesman from 1958 until he died in 1986. The man owned nearly every Chevrolet HP car built in that era except a Z-11, a ZL-1, or an L-88.
Of the 409 HP engines, the only one that had its production numbers actually limited was the 63 Z-11, which was actually a 427/430, not a 409, and had a 3.65" stroke and a 6.136" rod. That engine was a limited production option that you had to get through a factory race program, it came in a car with a complete aluminum front clip.
The two four barrel 409 was not available in 65, only the 409/409 single four barrel, but it had the big cam from the 64 409/409 and 409/425. It was only sold in the 65 in order to use up the production inventory, and once that was used up, they were no longer available. The two four barrel version was not offered, the intake and carburetor setups were kept as over the counter service replacement parts, as they did not want the 409/425 to overshadow the new 396/425 and 396/375 engines. That is the same reason the 67 Chevy II was not offered with the 327/350, Chevrolet did not want it to overshadow the new Camaro with the 295/350. The left over 327/350 engines from 67 were sold in 68 in Corvettes, but they had their aluminum high rise intakes and 565 Holley four barrels removed and replaced with low rise cast iron intakes and Rochester four barrels.
You are completely wrong about the 409 as compared to the 396. The piston in the 409 weighed close to 1000 grams, without the pin, where as the 396 piston with the pin weighed about 825 grams. The 409 rod is is lighter, it is about 0.100" shorter, and has a smaller journal bore. But the rod and piston assembly of the 396 is 159 grams lighter than the 409, and the fact that the piston is over 200 grams heavier on the 409 over stresses the smaller and lighter rods. The two four barrel 409/425 had a bigger cam and more available CFM, the heads flowed very well. In fact, the cam on the 409/425 had over 0.550" lift, where the 396/425 barely had 0.500" lift, and the 409 cam had more duration as well. Further, the 4.094" bore of the 396 is a serious handicap, as the bore shrouds the valves significantly. The 4.312" bore of the 409 unshrouds the valves far more than even a 4.250" bore 427 or 454. On top of that, the 409 has no combustion chamber in the head to shroud the valves either. The valves on the 409 are nearly even with the deck surface, and the extra 0.050"+ of valve lift only makes it better.
Even the 65 409/409 had a much bigger cam than the 396/425, the 409 had 0.557" lift on both valves, where the 396/425 had the same cam as the 396/375 of that year, with 0.497"/0.503" lift. The 396 did not even get a 0.520" lift cam until later, and that is all the cam a 396 EVER got. The 409 cam had more duration as well, about 15 degrees more at 0.050" tappet lift. The 396/425 was identical to the 396/375 in every way, except for the carburetor and intake. It had the same block, crank, rods, pistons, cam, and heads as a 396/375.
The later HP ratings on the 396 had nothing to do with the car they were in. The 325HP version had a low lift hydraulic cam, lower compression, oval port heads, and a low rise intake with a Rochester carburetor. The 350HP version was still hydraulic cammed, but with more lift, more compression, and a high rise intake, it still had oval port heads and a Rochester carburetor, the 360HP engines sold in 66 were essentialy the same as the later 350HP engine. The 375 engines had solid lift cams, most after 65 had 0.520" lift and 242 degrees duration at 0.050" tappet lift, even higher compression with forged high dome pistons, rectangle port heads, high rise aluminum intakes, and 780 vacuum secondary Holley carburetors. All of those engines were available in most any 66-69 Chevelle, Impala, or other mid size or full size model, even station wagons. They were also available in 67-69 Camaros, and 68-69 Novas. Until late 68, the 360 and 375 engines only came with a 4 speed manual transmission.
I have no need to look up any serial numbers. I've built and raced both engines for decades. I know them like the back of my hand. I had my first 409 almost 30 years ago, and I've had over a dozen big blocks from 396/325 up to 454/450 LS6 engines, and even had my hands on both an original ZL-1, and an L-88. I've even had an LS-7 454.
If you read the post, both cars had 4.56 gears. The 65 began life as a SS 327-300 4 speed car with 4.56 gears. My 64 began life as an SS 327 automatic car with a 3.08 gear. I bought 4 chunks for it when I bought the 409/425 from my cousin, it had been in his garage for some 14 years. It was pulled from a new car under warranty for rocker arm failure. I put the 4.56 posi chunk in my car for street use, and got a Muncie M-21 4 speed (actually, it had several in it) with a Hurst shifter.
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If GM had a clue they'd retro a '57 Bel Air and dump that swoopy ricer lookin concept vette and go a bit more retro with it also.
just my 2 copper.
-Frank
Or a 55' Bel Air....
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According to Bob Lutz, GM has decided that the G8 is too good to discontinue. It will be rebadged with new front and rear clips and sold as the Chevy Caprice beginning with the 2011 model year. I'd vote for a better name....
Oh yaaayyyyyyyy.
Now the retards in Australia who put Chevy badges on their Holdens will actually think they have a reason to do it.
*face palm*
I don't know what it is about Holden drivers that makes so many of them complete dorks.
....Maybe it's because they can't win a race in the V8 series. Hahaha.
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I'm glad to hear that the G8 is going stick around in the States. The engine/chassis combo is a wonderful combination and a pleasure to drive. My only beef with it is that they've built a 5 series competitor and equipped the interior with plastic. If they could stick some leather around and smooth out the console it would be absolutely world class. Looking forward to driving another one of these things
I'm a Ford man but I can also say that I'm glad to hear that our car isn't dying with Pontiac.
With any luck, Chevy won't ugly it up as much Pontiac did.
Having said that, the HSV version of the VE Commodore is ugly as bag full of smashed bums too, so they're fighting an uphill battle.
The VE SS looks pretty good... but HSV butchered it.
What you Yanks really need is for Ford US to grab this:
FPV GS 302
302 kw... $54k AUD
I don't know about the wheels they chose... they look a bit crappy... and so do the door stickers, if I'm honest... but a good car.
Half the engine is US anyway, it's a BOSS 5.4L V8
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i253/plague_06/GS-SEDAN-PROFILE.jpg)
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i253/plague_06/Ford-FG-Falcon-FPV-GS_2.jpg)
In reality, though, what you guys really need is the Ford XR6 Turbo
Great fuel economy, well balanced.... and it's actually faster than the V8.
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i253/plague_06/xr6t_006.jpg)
I'm stunned that Ford hasn't hooked up a similar deal to that of Holden and Pontiac/Chevy.
Actually, I'm not stunned, Ford wouldn't know a good idea if it punched them in the face... They make good stuff... but don't know how to sell it.
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Ford is advertising a twin turbo V6 Fusion here, so it looks like we do have a version of the XR6 turbo.
I'm sure when GM gets to work on the G6 they will ugly it right up like the rest of their line-up.
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I'd like to see Pontiac and Chevy replaced completely by Holden. And the Falcons show up as is in LHD trim. We've got enough bloated UAVs and minivans. How about some real cars?
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We've got enough bloated UAVs and minivans. How about some real cars?
Amen.
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I'm all for Aussie fast Fords pls. :D
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I've seen the G8s on the road...and damn those are some mean lookin cars...I want one.
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I've seen the G8s on the road...and damn those are some mean lookin cars...I want one.
If you get one, make darn sure you test drive it and watch the steering wheel for any hint of wobbling above 40 mph or while braking. Some cars have fairly severe steering wheel wobble and the dealers can't do anything about it but endlessly replace the front tires and re-balance them. A really good road force balance will make it a lot better but it won't go away entirely and it comes back after a few hundred miles.
Some G8s don't have the wobble at all and they're fine. But the ones with the wobble... Do not purchase a G8 with the steering wheel wobble under any circumstance, no matter how good of a deal you get. The only exception is if you plan on doing a complete suspension upgrade anyhow, in which case find the cheapest wobbliest G8 you can find :) Some guys who do suspension upgrades find that the wobble is gone after they replace a bunch of stuff like tie rods and all the front end bushings. Some have had success with simply putting cadillac CTS wheels on the car. But there isn't any sure cure and GM doesn't have a clue.
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I don't know what it is about Holden drivers that makes so many of them complete dorks.
....Maybe it's because they can't win a race in the V8 series. Hahaha.
Todd Kelly, and Will Davison!
With any luck, Chevy won't ugly it up as much Pontiac did.
Having said that, the HSV version of the VE Commodore is ugly as bag full of smashed bums too, so they're fighting an uphill battle.
The VE SS looks pretty good... but HSV butchered it.
Actually, I'm not stunned, Ford wouldn't know a good idea if it punched them in the face... They make good stuff... but don't know how to sell it.
I prefer the SS as well...far cleaner
If you get one, make darn sure you test drive it and watch the steering wheel for any hint of wobbling above 40 mph or while braking. Some cars have fairly severe steering wheel wobble and the dealers can't do anything about it but endlessly replace the front tires and re-balance them. A really good road force balance will make it a lot better but it won't go away entirely and it comes back after a few hundred miles.
Some G8s don't have the wobble at all and they're fine. But the ones with the wobble... Do not purchase a G8 with the steering wheel wobble under any circumstance, no matter how good of a deal you get. The only exception is if you plan on doing a complete suspension upgrade anyhow, in which case find the cheapest wobbliest G8 you can find :) Some guys who do suspension upgrades find that the wobble is gone after they replace a bunch of stuff like tie rods and all the front end bushings. Some have had success with simply putting cadillac CTS wheels on the car. But there isn't any sure cure and GM doesn't have a clue.
Probably because the steering wheel is on the wrong side :aok
Tronsky
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I'd like to see Pontiac and Chevy replaced completely by Holden. And the Falcons show up as is in LHD trim. We've got enough bloated UAVs and minivans. How about some real cars?
many Aussies would get a big kick out of that. When they ran Gold Coast Indy, at the start of the V8 supercar race all of the Indy Car drivers would race to pit wall just to hear the beautiful music. A more down to earth class of racing here is the V8 Brutes based on a similar Ford V Holden campaign but with showroom type vehicles and they're utes (truck or utility vehicle).
(http://www.racecarsim.com/v8_brute02.gif)
(http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i9/0949_9lo.jpg)
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My first car was a 1985 Chevy Caprice Classic. That thing was a boat and it was awesome.
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It was replaced in mid 1965 by the 396/425 which is much rarer than the 409/425 because in the 1966 model year the bhp was dropped from 425bhp to 325/350/360/375bhp, depending on the vehicle. After that short run in 1965 the 396cid from the factory never exceeded 375bhp. You can look up the serial numbers.
True to Fact........... I sold my factory 396cid/375hp Turbojet 1966 Chevy Caprice lil over a year ago, that had a Dealership installed 4-Speed option, with all original paperwork, including the buildsheet that was tucked in under the wireframing of the bottom of the front driver seat......they did such a great job, you would have sworn it came from the factory as a 4-speed...... although it was an automatic at birth..........
Until late 68, the 360 and 375 engines only came with a 4 speed manual transmission.
the 1966 Caprice 396/375 was only available from factory as Automatic, as best as I can remember from my research, the 1966 Impala (Impala SS) 396/375 versions came available with the 4-speed from factory....
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True to Fact........... I sold my factory 396cid/375hp Turbojet 1966 Chevy Caprice lil over a year ago, that had a Dealership installed 4-Speed option, with all original paperwork, including the buildsheet that was tucked in under the wireframing of the bottom of the front driver seat......they did such a great job, you would have sworn it came from the factory as a 4-speed...... although it was an automatic at birth..........
the 1966 Caprice 396/375 was only available from factory as Automatic, as best as I can remember from my research, the 1966 Impala (Impala SS) 396/375 versions came available with the 4-speed from factory....
According to Chevrolet, they did not install the solid lifter engines in cars with automatic transmissions until some time in 1968. All of the 375HP engines had solid lifters. As did the 425HP 427 engines. Now, a quick look at the NHRA Stock Car Classification Guide shows that Chevrolet claims to have not installed any 396/375 engines in any cars with automatic transmissions until 1968. The reason that is important is that in order to submit a car to that guide and have it accepted, there had to be at least 50 of them built. There were a few odd cars that got out. We had a 69 Impala SS Custom, not only did it have a 396/375 engine, which is not in the guide, but it also had air conditioning, and Chevrolet claimed they did not install engines with solid lifters in cars with air conditioning, the reason being that the air conditioner compressor could not withstand the RPM.
Chevrolet does not even list a 396/375 big car in their guide after 1965, claiming they built big cars with only lower HP 396 engines, and two different 427 engines, a 390HP and a 425HP, and that the solid lifter 427/425HP came only with a 4 speed. That means that any car that did not conform to that spec was an oddball, and less than 50 were built that way.
If you knew the right person, at the right dealer, you could often get things that were not on the list. You did not even need a COPO, just the right person filing the order with the RPO desired. So again, there are cars that do not conform to the paperwork Chevrolet submitted, they're just rare.
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Some G8s don't have the wobble at all and they're fine. But the ones with the wobble...
What the hell are you Yanks doing to our cars!? Haha.
Before I had my licence, my father used to work for Holden, so I learnt to drive in all the brand new Holdens.
My first manual was a Monaro (Pontiac GTO) and the first car I broke the speed limit in was the 2003 Aus equivalent of the G8.
(I must add that I do not condone, encourage or support breaking the road rules... I've never lost a point on my licence in 6 years of driving... those V8s were just so bloody fast that you were at 120km before you knew it)
Back to the point, I have never driven a Holden that had anything like what you've mentioned. No wobble, no nonsense.
I've driven Clubsports, SS's, Monaros, Supercharged V6 S's.... never a problem with any of them.
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What the hell are you Yanks doing to our cars!? Haha.
Before I had my licence, my father used to work for Holden, so I learnt to drive in all the brand new Holdens. My first manual was a Monaro (Pontiac GTO) and the first car I broke the speed limit in was the 2003 Aus equivalent of the G8.
(I must add that I do not condone, encourage or support breaking the road rules... I've never lost a point on my licence in 6 years of driving... those V8s were just so bloody fast that you were at 120km before you knew it)
Back to the point, I have never driven a Holden that had anything like what you've mentioned. No wobble, no nonsense. I've driven Clubsports, SS's, Monaros, Supercharged V6 S's.... never a problem with any of them.
It was GM's prior "thought process" Xasthur, which is why Waggoner needed to go. He put out some cars before they were through the proper design phases. There should be NO wheel wobble on a car leaving a factory, unless they "cut corners" on suspension corners. My guess, is cheap, undersized tie rods with poly bushings (Rubber is better). The poly bushings cause more vibration and have less "give" in them, which moves the problem to the "next weakest link". I've mentioned the CTS-V's problems before a few times as well. It got so bad, they stopped replacing rear ends on them. Again, they rushed it into production and a lot of people turned them in.
GM is better without that dolt who never once in his tenure, earned his money. I just wish the Falcon would come back to the US. :devil
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The CTS-V had rear end problems in the first generation like mine (04-07). They still install replacement rear ends for those cars still under warranty. The problem is caused by wheel hop in these cars. There are several manufacturers making aftermarket axles that eliminate wheel hop all together and as far as I know those people with the new axles have yet to have a rear end failure or any wheel hop. The second gen cts-v (09-up) does not share the rear end problem as the first gen. To my knowledge no one has blown the rear on the second gen yet.
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wheel hop = axle tramp?
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They used a weaker Differential in the 1st generation. It was "upgraded" in the 2nd generation.
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They used a weaker Differential in the 1st generation. It was "upgraded" in the 2nd generation.
it was actually upgraded for the 1st gen. the 04-05 had the weakest, 06-07 got an "upgraded" case, and they have a final "upgraded" differential that came out in 08 with an upgraded pinion seal support. As far as I know the 09-up are a different diff all together and require a lot of modifications to put in a 1st gen. Either way GM failed us 1st gen owners :mad:
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it was actually upgraded for the 1st gen. the 04-05 had the weakest, 06-07 got an "upgraded" case, and they have a final "upgraded" differential that came out in 08 with an upgraded pinion seal support. As far as I know the 09-up are a different diff all together and require a lot of modifications to put in a 1st gen. Either way GM failed us 1st gen owners :mad:
that's an easy problem to fix.
vote with your wallet. go out and get a kickarse mustang. :aok
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that's an easy problem to fix.
vote with your wallet. go out and get a kickarse mustang. :aok
I need a 4 door with a baby on the way...and my cadillac is faster than a mustang gt :devil.
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I need a 4 door with a baby on the way...and my cadillac is faster than a mustang gt :devil.
MY has a cts. she loves it. personally, i think cadi screwed the pooch....they're kinda fudly looking. but i do agree that they are amazingly fast. :aok
it's ashame that ford only made the maruader for a couple of years.
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I need a 4 door with a baby on the way...and my cadillac is faster than a mustang gt :devil.
My G8 is also faster than a mustang GT, even without mods. A $300 engine and tranny tune makes it more fun to drive too, since GM screwed the pooch quite badly with the factory transmission programming.
There are guys getting over 400hp at the wheels normally aspirated, with a cam and some bolt-ons (headers, CAI, etc). Most guys adding blowers to the GTs are shooting for around 500hp for under $8000, and a blower on a GTX can easily get over 550hp at the wheels. That's 500hp in a decent handling 50/50 balanced 4-door sedan for under $40k. Add a couple grand in suspension work and for under $45k you're beating $120k+ AMG or BMW rides at the track while maintaining daily drivability in a car you're not afraid to leave in the wal-mart parking lot for an hour. :rock
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It was GM's prior "thought process" Xasthur, which is why Waggoner needed to go.
I'm only half serious when I rag on Americans.
I'm sure you guys will get your watermelon together with our Aussie muscle cars.
I honestly think that our sedans are just what you guys need.
Ditch the SUV rubbish and get back into the V8 4-door sedan market.
The Holden V8s have 'AFM' on their new cars, which shuts the V8 down to 4 cylinders when cruising and automatically cuts back in when you kick it in the guts.
For a V8, it means good economy.... certainly better than some hulking great SUV lump of crap.
It's time to start driving proper cars again and we all need to unite! :lol :aok
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My G8 is also faster than a mustang GT, even without mods. A $300 engine and tranny tune makes it more fun to drive too, since GM screwed the pooch quite badly with the factory transmission programming.
There are guys getting over 400hp at the wheels normally aspirated, with a cam and some bolt-ons (headers, CAI, etc). Most guys adding blowers to the GTs are shooting for around 500hp for under $8000, and a blower on a GTX can easily get over 550hp at the wheels. That's 500hp in a decent handling 50/50 balanced 4-door sedan for under $40k. Add a couple grand in suspension work and for under $45k you're beating $120k+ AMG or BMW rides at the track while maintaining daily drivability in a car you're not afraid to leave in the wal-mart parking lot for an hour. :rock
you're gonna have diehard in here telling ya how nothing can beat the porsches soon
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you're gonna have diehard in here telling ya how nothing can beat the porsches soon
I love German cars, but the fact is that they have nothing to offer with the power and torque of the Aussie muscle at the same price.
More luxury, more leather, more features? Absolutely.
But you'll still be left behind at the lights.
Driving is about fun, not about how many different bloody seat-warmers you have.
German cars are good iff:
1- You have bucket-loads of money and can fork out for an M5 or Audi R8 etc etc
2- You have money and don't give a watermelon about power
3- And if you want to look 'successful' but don't care that your 318 is slow as the creeping of time.
If not, get something local.