79MKII

Not mine but looks very interesting....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=160688644543

Hurstolds1973

Beautiful car!
A few items I noticed not original but most notable are the Poly Glass tires.
8000 miles I dought it maybe 80000. In 1973 there was a gas shortage and a GM strike, do you think people saved these gas hungry beast to collect?
No dought it is sweeet, but cant any one just sell a car without all the low mile original crap that only the naive beleive???

Allan R

I'll bite, why are the polyglass tires wrong? What other things are wrong? The odometer shows just 8K miles and the condition of the rest of the car looks like that could be true.

I remember the 73 gas shortage well. Wish our prices were the same now as they were back then. I don't think the 350 4bbl is a gas hungry beast though.

I'd like to know what items you noticed that are not original, because I'm interested in this car.

MDchanic

Too early. They're more like 1970 (not sure of the exact year).

That car probably got about 12mpg highway, 8 city.

- Eric

Allan R

Eric, I know the G70 14's were on the 72 442s. Are you sure about them being too early?
Why would it get such horrible mileage? My 72 is a 350 4bbl and it gets around 12 mpg city, and 20 highway. I'm

79MKII

Did that type of tire come on some of the cars directly from the factory? Very interesting...I thought those must be rare as I don't see them on many cars these days but am unaware of the history.

MDchanic

No, but I think so. Hey - I admit it when I'm not sure .
They don't look right to me.

I can't say exactly, but, in general, de-tuning.
Compression was low, timing was retarded, EGR was in place, and the cars were heavier (shock absorbing bumpers and new crash requirements).
It didn't make any sense at the time, either, but these things all got absolutely terrible mileage. I seem to recall that the 6 cyl. Maverick in about '74 was rated at 16mpg highway.

- Eric

Allan R

Don' worry 'bout dit.... it wasn't something that would make or break it. Even if they are the original tires, they probably aren't road safe even if they've been stored inside. The chording will probably be breaking down after sitting in one position for so long.

Like I mentioned, I was interested in the car, but if it's such a pig on fuel, that changes my interest quite a bit. I did look at the 350 engine specs (compared 72 to 73) and can't really find a lot of differences for the 350 4bbl other than the 73 develops 180 hp at 3800 instead of 4000 like 72. All the other values for torque, bore/stroke, compression, oil pressure are the same. The valve spring pressure, cam, connecting rods were identical so it must have been something to do with emissions controls that sucked the life and mileage out of the car.
Oh, I found something different but don't know if it affects performance/hp.
The 72 valve seat angles were int 45/exh 30 + face angles were int 46/exh 30.
The 73 valve seat angles were int 45/exh 31 + face angles were int 44/exh 30.

I can't see that makes a huge amount of difference? Were the 73 heads even part of the problem? Sorry to have so many questions - just trying to understand.

FWIW, I consider your knowledge and opinion to be highly valuable and straight forward in spite of your rose colored approach to Delta 88's. I still get a laugh every time I see it in your avatar. Thx for any info you have on this.

mmurphy77

Awesome!!

MDchanic

I just tried unsuccessfully to find actual fuel economy ratings for 1973 but could not. Maybe someone else has a lead on them.
I did discover, though, that overall average US fuel economy reached an all-time low of less than 12mpg in 1973.

Wow. Thank you.
I've got a pretty high opinion of myself, but even I wouldn't go as far as that .

- Eric

Allan R

I'm thinking the 'overall average' included the 455's as well as 4 and 6 cylinder cars? Plus that was the year the AIR system was pushed really big. My Dad bought a Chevelle wagon in 73 with a 350 2bbl. Had absolutely no guts to it. It also had a ton of pollution crap on it including the AIR system. He bought a 76 Malibu Classic a few years later - it also had a 350 but a 4bbl. That car would go like a scared rabbit! It was FUN to drive, even if it was a 4 door 'colonade' sedan.

I'm going with: the Olds 350 is probably about the same for 73 as 72 (Olds 350 4bbl) with very minor differences. I'd bet the fuel economy on this car will match the 72. Curb weight (avg) in 72 would be around 3400 lbs. Curb weight (avg) in 73 was 3721. Wierd that if economy was a concern the wieght would go UP?? Usually it's the other way around. That's not enough to drive the mileage down so radically though. Like having 2 people in the car.

79MKII

I can't figure out what this is a picture of? It's from the auction....anybody know?

bulldog

Its the underside of the hood.The latch to be exact.

79MKII

Oh yes, I see it now. I thought it was a catch of some type but just couldn't place it....Thanks!