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Redog · 05-03-2008, 09:59 AM

Well I'm reading all these stories and I have to expand mine now.

Went to Vegas in 1999 for a week with the wife (ex wife now) and I had a rental, a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero. I loved the car, I thought I was driving a V6 all week. We took that car to the western ridge of the Grand Canyon, Death Valley National Park, My Zion National park, and of coruse the Hover Dam. I just wanted to drive the car.

After our week in Vegas and 1000 miles on the rental, I poped the hood and to my disbeliefe, I was looking at a 2.4 twin cam 4 cyl motor

This little 4 banger had more balls than my 3800 Cougar

6 months later, the Cougar's 2nd motor deceied to die with only 65,000 miles so I went car shopping.

The Alero was on the list, esp after I found out they offered a 3.4 liter V6 motor. Test drove the car, and almost didn't buy it. Loaded the car was $22,980 and I didn't want to pay $450+ a month for the car. I tried to walk out of the dealership and they stopped me and asked if I'd take the car if they got the price down. Well they did.

The Alero's story is fast forwarded to 2005. I'm getting more into drag racing now and the stall launches at 2500 RPM's didn't do the tranny very well. I blew the weak 4t45 tranny on a launch, but all the car did was slip. I finished out the day and drove the car the rest of the week. Friday of that week the car started slipping and missing gears a bit and a huge puddle of a thin clear liquid was under the car everyday. This was due to the 6" x 2" hole that was blown out of the driver's side axle housing. $2000 and a week later, the car's back on the road.

My mech told me to buy another car for racing and not to race this car all the time anymore. Look for a "framed" car, because of the strenght it will have for more power. I was looking all over the place. My wife suggested buying an Olds for this. I was looking for a "G" body car, but not neccessaryly an Olds.

I drove all the way up to the New Jersey sticks to look at a 1988 4 door Cultass and was only in OK shape, but ran pretty good. It was on eBay and the guy wanted $800. I told him I'd bid on the car, I did, and the bidding when over the $1000 I wanted to pay. I found the Delta on eBay, with a fresh paint job, but not insured or reg'ed for a year or 2. The guy was still driving it around. He wanted about $1600 of the car. I haggeled a bit but I really wanted the car. I got it for $1450 and he took it off eBay after I sent him the money. He had over 20 watchers, but he told my wife when we picked it up in Lodi, NJ that he was willing to sell the car to me since I took the time to come up and look at it and test drive it, and he knew the car was going to a good home.

I then got the bad news with the Delta

It needed a center link, rear wheel cyl, 2 front tires, and something else to pass inspection in PA and I was told that since the title was a New York State transfer, it needed to pass emissions in PA and could not be exempted. After $800 for inspection, and an exemption form

My pissed off wife drove me down to pick the car up. It hasn't needed anything for the past 2 inspections, and in Jan 09 it will probably just need rear brakes and rear tires.

My mech helper hated the Delta, it was down there a lot to fix little things that were wrong, so he decided to only put in 2 quarts of oil after replacing the manifold. I didn't know that was why the oil light kept comming on, I thought it was the oil pump. After changing the oil, the motor blew a few weeks later. 6 months pass, while paying for a wedding, trying to find and build a 350 Olds to drop in the car. Got lucky and found one that didn't need a rebuild right away

with a 400 tranny (which is being rebuilt right now)

The Alero will be getting a new bottom end from GM in a few years with a set of "stage 1" heads (milled .020 for 10.1:1 CR, 3 angle valve job, LS1 springs, Virton seats, gasket matching on the intake side) and a cam, haven't decided on stage 1 or stage 2 yet, probably a stage 1, stage 2's lift is .556/.560

I love them both the same. I hope my new mech will let me do some of the work on the Alero's new engine like my old mech let my do the work on the Delta's 350. It was a PIA, but a good learning experience and fun at the same time

05-03-2008, 09:59 AM	#60 (permalink)
Redog Alero Chapter Secretary Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newtown, PA Posts: 696	Well I'm reading all these stories and I have to expand mine now. Went to Vegas in 1999 for a week with the wife (ex wife now) and I had a rental, a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero. I loved the car, I thought I was driving a V6 all week. We took that car to the western ridge of the Grand Canyon, Death Valley National Park, My Zion National park, and of coruse the Hover Dam. I just wanted to drive the car. After our week in Vegas and 1000 miles on the rental, I poped the hood and to my disbeliefe, I was looking at a 2.4 twin cam 4 cyl motor This little 4 banger had more balls than my 3800 Cougar 6 months later, the Cougar's 2nd motor deceied to die with only 65,000 miles so I went car shopping. The Alero was on the list, esp after I found out they offered a 3.4 liter V6 motor. Test drove the car, and almost didn't buy it. Loaded the car was $22,980 and I didn't want to pay $450+ a month for the car. I tried to walk out of the dealership and they stopped me and asked if I'd take the car if they got the price down. Well they did. The Alero's story is fast forwarded to 2005. I'm getting more into drag racing now and the stall launches at 2500 RPM's didn't do the tranny very well. I blew the weak 4t45 tranny on a launch, but all the car did was slip. I finished out the day and drove the car the rest of the week. Friday of that week the car started slipping and missing gears a bit and a huge puddle of a thin clear liquid was under the car everyday. This was due to the 6" x 2" hole that was blown out of the driver's side axle housing. $2000 and a week later, the car's back on the road. My mech told me to buy another car for racing and not to race this car all the time anymore. Look for a "framed" car, because of the strenght it will have for more power. I was looking all over the place. My wife suggested buying an Olds for this. I was looking for a "G" body car, but not neccessaryly an Olds. I drove all the way up to the New Jersey sticks to look at a 1988 4 door Cultass and was only in OK shape, but ran pretty good. It was on eBay and the guy wanted $800. I told him I'd bid on the car, I did, and the bidding when over the $1000 I wanted to pay. I found the Delta on eBay, with a fresh paint job, but not insured or reg'ed for a year or 2. The guy was still driving it around. He wanted about $1600 of the car. I haggeled a bit but I really wanted the car. I got it for $1450 and he took it off eBay after I sent him the money. He had over 20 watchers, but he told my wife when we picked it up in Lodi, NJ that he was willing to sell the car to me since I took the time to come up and look at it and test drive it, and he knew the car was going to a good home. I then got the bad news with the Delta It needed a center link, rear wheel cyl, 2 front tires, and something else to pass inspection in PA and I was told that since the title was a New York State transfer, it needed to pass emissions in PA and could not be exempted. After $800 for inspection, and an exemption form My pissed off wife drove me down to pick the car up. It hasn't needed anything for the past 2 inspections, and in Jan 09 it will probably just need rear brakes and rear tires. My mech helper hated the Delta, it was down there a lot to fix little things that were wrong, so he decided to only put in 2 quarts of oil after replacing the manifold. I didn't know that was why the oil light kept comming on, I thought it was the oil pump. After changing the oil, the motor blew a few weeks later. 6 months pass, while paying for a wedding, trying to find and build a 350 Olds to drop in the car. Got lucky and found one that didn't need a rebuild right away with a 400 tranny (which is being rebuilt right now) The Alero will be getting a new bottom end from GM in a few years with a set of "stage 1" heads (milled .020 for 10.1:1 CR, 3 angle valve job, LS1 springs, Virton seats, gasket matching on the intake side) and a cam, haven't decided on stage 1 or stage 2 yet, probably a stage 1, stage 2's lift is .556/.560 I love them both the same. I hope my new mech will let me do some of the work on the Alero's new engine like my old mech let my do the work on the Delta's 350. It was a PIA, but a good learning experience and fun at the same time __________________ Me 2000 Alero running 14's 1985 Delta 88 w/1968 350 rocket 2005 Nissan Altima (her's)