Originally Posted By: addyguy
It is impressive just how solid and reliable a powertrain combo the 2.2/3-spd. combo was in later A-bodies, when you consider just HOW underpowered and overworked they generally were.
You'd expect that combo to be reliable in something like my Cavalier, where the power/weight ration is decent enough that I don't actually have to rev the heck out of my car to get it where I'm going.
But a Century 4-cylinder 3-speed? Woof, that eingine would have worked hard!
BTW, thanks for the pics - never actually seen a 2.2 OHV in an A-body - just the earlier 2.5 'Iron duke' powered ones, seen lots of those!
I dearly miss this car and want another one but I'll insist on it being a clean one, the kind of car I don't normally buy. My other two Centurys were a $275 '88 with the 2.5 and it had 217K when I got it, 231K when I sold it (subsequent owner got it to 250K and traded it for a Civic which he killed in a month) and a $250 '89 with the 3.3 which had 229K when I got it and 238K when it got impounded for expired tags. The four was definitely better than the six. Maybe not as fast. Didn't even get better mileage (old Dukes like to drink).
After five failures in the A-body range since those 3 Centurys ($177 89 Ciera 2.5 with oil pump failure, $132 87 Celebrity 2.5 with brake problems, $400 89 Celebrity 2.8 the dealer couldn't get me a title for, $300 89 Celebrity 2.5 head gasket, $225 90 Ciera 3.3 with underbody damage) I am going to be more careful with the next one I get. Granted, I sold or scrapped these and made money (except on the $300 Celebrity, I lost my tail on that one) but I want something I can pile miles on.
I will stick to the best of the bunch, the 2.2 from 93-96, in a Ciera or Century, well cared for, not rusting out, not abused, miles don't matter as long as it is in nice shape.
*gasp*
I might even spend more than $400 for it...
