Utterly OT: Vega engines (was: RE: Cheap cars (was: 1%...))

From: Chad Fernandez <fernande_at_internet1.net>
Date: Tue Jul 31 11:37:54 2001

Chris Kennedy wrote:
> - A cast iron head. I'm not sure who thought that the combination of
> a cast iron head and an aluminum block was a good idea, but
> between the difference in thermal expansion rates and the tendency
> for cylinders two and three to "sink", Vegas blew a lot of head
> gaskets. Enough so that a special replacement gasket appeared on
> the aftermarket that was thicker around numbers two and three.

The 80's Caddy 4.x liter engine used cast iron heads on an aluminum
block as well. It isn't known as a good engine either.

> - The "vacuum leak center". The Vega appeared at the beginning of
> the 70's, a period wherein, rather than addressing the underlying
> issue of meeting emissions by making engines run right, Detroit
> applied a series of kludges, almost always in the form of assorted
> and sundry vacuum delay valves and vacuum motors. The result was
> a generation of induction systems that could do parlor tricks with
> exhaust gas but didn't have a clue when it came to a cup of high-test,
> and as implemented on the Vega came in the form of a collection of
> valves and hoses that invariably leaked under transient and
> difficult to reproduce conditions.

The 70's were the very beginning of smog equipment being mandatory on
cars. I think it is reasonable that the smog equipment didn't work the
best, was horrible to work on, and was a plumbers nightmare. It's
gotten a lot better, as they have gained experience with it.

Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
Received on Tue Jul 31 2001 - 11:37:54 BST