8th Aug 2022, 04:40
V8’s are primarily about torque, not horsepower. An 80’s V8 could still get off the line real quick.
8th Aug 2022, 19:19
Had a 1980 Cutlass Supreme with the Olds 4.3 260 V8. It was by no means a powerful V8. Off the line it was slower than molasses. Other than that a very reliable engine and car all together. Over 280,000 miles. Most of your small late seventies - mid eighties V8's were no different when it came to power off the line, including the Pontiac 301-265, Olds 260-307 and Chevy 267-305.
9th Aug 2022, 02:22
Maybe some V8s were quick, but did you ever drive for example a 1980 Cadillac Deville? Those things were/are slow to the point of being dangerous.
9th Aug 2022, 18:13
I find that a little tough to believe. The 1980 Cutlass had about 2x as much torque as it had HP. Consistent with the other comment that the V8’s were torquey but not super powerful.
9th Aug 2022, 18:20
Actually 1980-1981 weren't that bad. Those 2 years used the last of the big block Cadillac being a 368 6.0 litre. It was the HT 4100 V8 starting in 1982, THAT was a horrible engine between power and durability. Getting on a freeway ramp you literally had to floor it in order to merge with traffic by the time you got on the main highway.
5th Aug 2022, 23:23
Sounds like the car was repainted, as mint green was not a factory color for the SS Monte Carlo. Neat story though.