Vehicle Sighting - mid-'80s Buick Le Sabre

[wag123]

The 3.8/229 was a SBC 5.0/305 with two cylinders lopped off - same bore (3.736") and stroke (3.48").

The 4.3/262 was a SBC 5.7/350, also with two cylinders cut off, with the same bore (4.00") and stroke (3.48").

The 305 was an underbored 350. I think the 350 debuted for 1969, and the 305 for 1976.

I remember hearing of colonade-style Oldses and/or Buicks around 1976, so I think the SBC-based 3.8 came before the 4.3. (I first remember the 4.3 from Astro vans c. 1983 or '84.)

The first year for the SBC 350 was 1967 and appeared in the new Camaro.
The 3.8L V/6 was first introduced by Buick in 1962 as a 3.2L 198cid and was originally derived from Buick's 3.5L 215cid aluminum block V/8 with two cylinders lopped-off., and is also closely related to Buick's 4.9L 300cid V/8 which itself was a cast iron block version of the 3.5L. The V/6 was sold to Jeep in 1965 then repurchased in 1973 from AMC reappearing in 1975 as the 3.8L 231cid. The Buick V/6 engine was also manufactured in 3.0L, 3.3L, and 4.1L displacements along the way.
The SBC based Chevy V/6 first appeared in 1978 as the 3.3L 200cid in the new downsized Malibu, originally a SBC 4.3L 262cid V/8 (Monza/Nova) with two cylinders lopped-off, but Chevy also manufactured this engine as a 3.8L 229cid in 1980 to replace the 250cid I6 in cars, and then the 4.3L 262cid V/6 came in 1985 and was used across the Chevy line in RWD cars and light trucks.

 

[Number_35]

I need one of these! my only question is which side?
View attachment 180583View attachment 180584

Go for the real deal - KOMPRESSOR

 

[KCJeep]

Still carb'd for the 1990 model year too. I think it was the last carb'd American car too. I think the last carb'd car sold here was the Tercel in 1992.

Yep my 87 Caprice Estate wagon had it. Slow, but smooth and reliable.

 

[TomYoung]

Yes those were very good cars and rode nicely. My FIL had the Olds Ninety Eight model with a 3.8 engine.

“Very good cars” is a stretch, I think.

 

[TomYoung]

They were a wonderful car to "use up"... give it to your kid who's off to college where it will be treated indifferently (yet perform admirably) then traded in for their first "real" car.

There aren't many middle class "ow my back" aged people who want to clatter around in a 20-30 year old slightly luxury vehicle when they can do better.

The Avalon fills this role now.

Also a car of the past.

 

[dishdude]

“Very good cars” is a stretch, I think.

No, they were great at the time.

 

[hemitom]

The Oldsmobile 307 "Rocket" V/8 was was being used by all of the GM divisions in the full-size RWD cars and wagons in the 80s and was retired after 1990.

my grandfather had a 79 regal with a 301 v8 which was pretty good , traded that on a new 86 regal with a 307 car always had issues