1985 Buick LeSabre Collector's Edition 307
Faults:
I have had very little trouble with this car, my wife drove it for several years as a daily driver.
The only minor issues I have had is the service light came on for the throttle position sensor; who would have thought, a 1985 with a T.P.S.
The rear end started clunking as a result of the car sitting, and the clutches in the posi unit were sticking.
General Comments:
I was reading some of the comments, sent in concerning the 1985 Buick LeSabre Collector Edition. One gentleman wrote in that he would like to transplant a 455 in place of the 307, but was worried, about devaluing the car.
Well, here are some things to consider, the current value of this car in excellent condition would be around $3500.00-$4500.00. Number two, you can always change the motor, as I am, and save it for the car it came out of.
Most people don't realize it, but the little 307 in the Collector's Edition is what Olds called the LG8 code engine, which is what was used in the Hurst 442.
This motor had special heads (5a) roller cam, aluminum intake, 180 hp 225ft lbs torque.
As for the misconception that Buick called the car a Collector's Edition because it was the last year for the full sized rear drive Buick, this is completely wrong. Buick had several Collector's Edition LeSabre's over the years; the last prior to the 1985 was in 1978.
The Collector Edition is as with many of General Motor's special built cars, left over parts! Before they re-tooled for the completely redesigned LeSabre, they had a bunch of parts to do something with. So here you are, a Collector's Edition, which stands for special badges and options.
1) 180 hp roller cam, performance heads, aluminum intake.
2) 700R4 transmission instead of a 200R4.
3) 12 bolt limited slip posi rear end.
4) Every power option available from Buick in 1985.
5) Special badges, and collectible brass keys, that will probably be more valuable than the car (as a complete set). The point is if you want to hot rod your Collector's Edition by dropping in a 455, do it!
But by all means, save all the original parts. Not too many people believe these cars will ever be worth much, this means most of them will be run into the ground, scrapped, or cannibalized. Remember the less there are, the more they are worth.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 13th February, 2011
1st Mar 2013, 14:32
The only cars that got the LG8 were the 85-87 Olds 442 and the 83-84 Hurst Olds. It's rumored that some Cadillac Broughams got it from 86-87, but I've never seen any Cadillacs with the VIN-"9" 307 or LG8 as it's called. If any Cadillacs got it, then they must be cars built for the Federal government i.e. presidential motorcade cars. The Buick LeSabre Collectors edition stuck with the sluggish VIN-"Y" 307 or LV2 as it's called, and 200-4R trans. Nothing special about the running gear in these cars.
8th Nov 2011, 10:05
You are totally wrong about the V8 motor in the 1985 LeSabre.
Yes, in 1985 the Le Sabre and Delta 88 got roller valve lifters with the V8. This is NOT, however the same motor used in the higher performance 442. The 1985's got new 7A heads (versus 5A on the 1980-1984 models). The 7A heads had roller valve lifters, but smaller intake and exhaust ports. And this motor is SLOWER than the 1980-1984 models, because the intake and exhaust is even more restricted.
It is possible your motor was replaced.