The intake manifold gasket (driver's side, front) failed and leaked coolant(I have owned other 307's and this is a common problem on this engine).
Rear axle bearings failed (leaking differential gasket and low oil contributed to this).
Headliner had to be replaced.
No other unusual repairs.
This was a seldom-used city car and has so much carbon I run it on premium. It is faster than stock as a high-compression engine. It is quick.
Engine and transmission are smooth, tight, & reliable (I keep the fluids clean).
The overall reliability is very good.
It is easy to work on (except passenger side spark plugs (pull wheel & go through fender well).
Paint on this never-garaged car is poor. Leather interior is excellent, except cracked driver's armrest (common problem).
I like land yachts and I love the ride and handling. Braking and cornering are what you expect on a 4,000 pound car.
My 1987 brougham has a coolant leak. it appears to be the intake gasket, at the front drivers side. this car has always been reliable, however, i have some questions.
When slowing down from a highway speed the transmission sometimes fails to shift down, causing the engine to struggle until I manually shift or depress the foot pedal several times. it appears to happen more on extended trips rather than short. it hasn't caused me too much concern because it hasn't got any worse. also I'm used to it and prepared to manually shift down to 3rd.
The other problem is coolant loss. i replaced all hoses, (genuine gm hoses),and flushed system a year ago, because of a leak in the upper radiator hose. i check the water regularly, (2 to 3 times monthly),adding a little here and there. there was never a puddle on the garage floor. just last week the coolant light came on with the ac running. i promptly turn off the ac, opened the hood, and could clearly see coolant boiling over into the reservoir. it cooled down emptying the reservoir so I topped topped off the radiator. the next day resulted in the leak I have now.
Can all these problems be related?transmission, coolant loss, and overheating?how difficult is it to change the intake manifold gasket?how much did it cost?and if I fix it will the overheating problem go away?
Also, the ac will only blow out the floor and defrost, why is that?
From all the reviews and comments I've read on this car, the Brougham really does sound like a great example of the classic, good old-fashioned American boat car - comfortable, roomy, powerful, and tough.
The Oldsmobile 307 has to be a good engine for it to be placed in as many cars as it has. As someone whose car tastes remain stuck in the 70's and 80's, the Brougham is an excellent boat car for a very reasonable price. Nothing the foreign manufacturers build can compare with a car like the Brougham.
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