How U.S. 5.0 liter V8s Became The 1980s Decade V8 Standard
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Ever wonder why so many V8s under the hood of 1980s decade cars were 5.0 liter V8s? Watch this video to find out how and why the 5.0 liter V8 became the de facto V8 standard for 1980s decade American rear-wheel drive mid-sized and full-size cars.
My old Monte SS with a L69 5.0L was a fun car. Could spin the tires on command, sounded good with dual exhaust, and never let me down. Thanks for the video!
loved those cars along with the Olds cutlass 442 of the same era ...But i heard many horror stories on the frame cracking bad in the rear
Ditto for my 5.0 Mustang LX w/ SFI. It could make smoke on command with the factory highway gear, and turn more of that power into acceleration with a 3.73 gear. Factory headers, H-pipe and a stainless exhaust were nice touches as well.
I just envy the people who got their G body cars with the rare 350 engine. More cubic inches is always better, and the aftermarket had been supporting the 350 for that much longer. Back then you could buy a kit with carb, intake, heads and cam, install them in a weekend and nearly double the horsepower N/A. A coworker's girlfriend drove one, it belonged to her mom. I did my best to meet Mom so I could make her an offer, but never did.
If the 5.0 is good enough for Vanilla Ice, its good enough for me. Time for me to go rollin in the 5.0.
with my rag top down so my hair can blow ...
VITAMULTEN I Roll In A 1.0!!! Ha!!
A1A beachfront avenue
cooking MCs like a pound of bacon
5.0 was a joke--fuel economy was same as the 350 it replaced and was no cheaper to make. They did it for govt regulations.
You said it best at the end. V8 power even if only 5 liters , gave the driver prestige and a special feeling. Myself included, have always had 8 cylinder rear drive cars all my life. One of your best videos yet, thanks!
I'm glad you're not yelling at me like all other channels.
The monotonous voice is soothing.
Gonads.....next to all my dope trying to steer the border in my 5 point oh....
Scottie?
@@jaystrock613
Scottie screams like his camera is recording from his neighbors basement
Somebody get this guy a clear eyes commercial
Those V8s were choked down to save gas, but they could be built to perform easily.
Sure with different heads
Emissions not mpg.
I've never tried but I was under the assumption that it would take a lot of work to bring one up to speed.
2001 Monolithic not really, letting them breathe is the key. Once you uncork them they will run.
Exactly.
89 Mustang GT was my dream car in high school, my Honda Accord has more HP now...still can't beat the looks and the V8 sound.
I had a 1988 Mustang GT.Used to get 30 mpg on the hwy with it.$13700 back when new.
30 MPG??
Someone sold you an LX 2.3 with some 5.0 and GT badges and rims... lol!
If it's still your dream car, go ahead and buy one, they are appreciating in value right now and they are still fun. About $1k in intake and exhaust mods will bring the power up, and it'll put the power to the ground much better than the anemic one tire fire torque steer transmission in the Accord.
@@Bartonovich52 Actually 32 on a trip to Florida back in summer 88'.2.73 gears helped.
@cleanview70 Wow!T-Top ones are pretty rare but that is some strong money
You should do a video on the diappearance of Inline-6s
I've always thought that some auto manufacturer should have tried a drivetrain based on a transverse front-engine straight-6.
@@1L6E6VHF Volvo did in the 2000s
But they didn't hang to them for very long
Toyota used them in Supras, Lexus GS. Nissan Skylines, Chevy Trailblazers has them. All 00s cars
@@1L6E6VHF
Suzuki did at one point.
wat... BMW 6 cylinder motors are all i6
I had an 81 Caprice with that underpowered Chevy 262 V8. Horrible gas mileage. Traded it for the 5.0 84 Olds Delta 88. One of the best cars I ever owned. Kept it for over 30 yrs.
I had a 77 Buick Electra with a Olds 350 5.7 in it, bought it from my Grandmother who stopped driving in 1981 with 22K on it, I drove it till 1996
I had a Jimmy with the 262 V6....a 350 V8 -2 cylinders, it was great!
@@crusherbmx I had a 90 Astro van with that engine, it honestly was the best car I ever owned, it had over 200k on it when we got rid of it in 2004. We got a suburban, should have gotten another Astro
Was that a comment on city mileage? I grabbed one of those cheap in the early 90s - was a single-owner retired gradeschool teacher's car - in like-new condition and most of that owner's (as well as my miles driven) were highway and interstate rendering decently efficient mileage relative to the times.
All those 80s V8 engines had all the potential to make 400+ of Horsepower easily with very little money.
@dannie curlett Not the only issue though. The compression was low, cam had no lift or duration, heads were the shits. It's easy to double or triple the power but it takes some aftermarket parts to do it. You can still pass emissions easily with today's technology and make all the power you want.
Not off the showroom floor they didn't.
@@geoffmooregm Good point. I have an 85 v6 tbi caprice. I really would like to increase the hp. But for now I'll just keep it clean and runnin'. Gotta keep those white walls clean.
Not really.
The ford 302, which would have more potential than many of those engines, would need aftermarket racing heads, a racing cam, and improved intake and carburation, and new pistons to raise the compression. You'd then need to strengthen the rods, valve springs, etc.
If you want to have something that doesn't drive like a race engine, you wouldn't get much more than 300 hp.
Absolutely. Dump the smog pump, put a cam that isn't degreed backwards to retard the valve-timing and which has higher lift and longer duration, some headers (or at least an exhaust manifold without EGR and smog-pump holes) and you'd be doing well over double the factory horsepower. Advance the spark timing and run higher-octane gas in there and you'd gain another 50 HP on top of that. All cheap upgrades you can do in your driveway over a weekend with hand tools and no welding (assuming you don't have to custom-make the exhaust parts, of course).
they need to bring back t tops. its one of the best creations ever.
I love my hurst hatch t-tops.
T-Tops, the perfect thing to let your mullet breathe and get that Newport smell out of your seats. When the tops come off, everyone will hear Van Halen blasting on your Delco radio.
steven thompson - yes sir! I’m actually buying a 3rd gen z28 t-top Saturday.
Pain to maintain!!!!!!!
Squeaky tho.
I still drive a 302 in a 96 F150. Will not win any drag races but uses little oil and has been very reliable.
My grandpas 94 f150 302 has 450000 on it with an automatic transmission....
JWelchon
I have an old 1972 Ford F-100 pick up truck with a standard four speed transmission.
Two barrel carb all mechanical with headers.
It runs like a raped ape and sounds pretty bitchen.
I bought an '81 f100 custom 302. 63k original miles, blue and white two-tone. Got it from a farmer's son. His father passed away 3 yrs ago. It sat beside his barn for 2 1/2 yrs. Once i got the fuel tank/system cleaned out, and a tune up the thing runs perfect. Love it.
Sounds great too. One of the best sounding V8’s of the 90’s. Probably the only one.
Drive 96 Ford f150 daily driver 200k pus mile still strong!
Makes me appreciate my little 305 in my 87 el camino a little more.
The corvette with the bed I called them 😜 🚙💏 makeout bed. Lol
I got a 81 El Camino and it came with the 229 3.8L V6, drove it for many years. it could barely get out of its own way, a quick engine swap to a 350 made it much more enjoyable and useful
My first car was an 85 El Camino I miss it dearly
I sold my 305 to a guy for a boat anchor and dropped in a 6.2 liter.
@@elcamino5145 wish I had the money to do that to mine
The 307 olds might have been a dog in the horsepower department, butthey were one of the most reliable engines I've had.
@joecugo it would still scoot pretty good, but that was just a stock 85 442. I have since upgraded to a 69 Cutlass with a 455 with some mild upgrades. Big improvement lol
I had 82 olds Delta 88 2 door Broham she had 307 with Quadrajet 4 barrel with 3speed auto trans with lock up torkconverter or over drive, some call it when I got her she was one owner 60,000.0miles clean car and I lived in Brownsville TX n drove to southern Kentucky n back once a month for 7 years!! Never ever gave me one min Of trouble!! I kept her in great shape oil changes, filters ,shocks n tires , belts n hoses!! Only thing was head liner, I just took it out n screwed map lites n dome lite rite back up!!! Did not bug me ny more!!!
The 307, even tho rated less than ho305, it would still spank the 305
My 83 Hurst Olds would spank a Monte Carlo SS everytime , it was quicker , faster on the top end , and would out corner it .... never understood why ... guess it was the gearing & final drive ratio .... but it was a beautiful Automobile & a head turner !!
@@waylonmccrae3546 what size engine did ur olds have?? Was it one that had like 3 shift levers in console???
I would still love to have a 1986 Monte Carlo
Yes indeed
big fan of those grand national and regal t - types,cutlass supreme. god i miss 80's cars!
GN and turbo buicks used a buick 3.8 with a turbo, intercooler and SFI and would easily blow a 5.0 out of the water..... 1986 and 1987 they were the fastest US made production cars. I know, I have had 11 of them over the years. Sadly the 5.0 "305 ci" chevy corporate engine was more for gas mileage and pretty anemic on power.
@@gregallen9065 exactly! we had them too gn and real t type. they were filthy tuned the right way.
I had 82 olds Delta 88 2 door Broham with 307 V-8 with 4 barrel Quadrajet 3speed auto trans with over drive!! At 70mph engine was just turning 2000rpm, she had longitude lites next to the rear side Windows , Kool machine!! I Loved to drive her!! Flip air cleaner lid n kick in passing gear on interstate n she wood sound like big milk cow!!! Loved her!!!
Those computerized Quadrajet had problems withe, so much that GM went Throttle body then to Port Fuel Injection. I know the problems that I had a 1981 Oldsmobile Tornado with the Oldsmobile 307 V-8.
@@frankw3217 yes they had one plug on top of the front of carb. The way to check if it was working correctly was stick W-D 40 straw threw float hole n if straw jumped up n down it was working !! I'm thinking it was the fuel air control sensor? If not jumping up n down that clicker thing was messed up? My next door friend was the county carb man!! He showed me how to check them out, that little clicker thing was easy to change out!! Sure made difference in how those carbs operated!!! I loved my olds !!
Frank W Exactly
@@jimmysapien9961 was easy fix!! Just needed to know a trick or two!!
Overdrive and lockup converters are a big deal.
Amazing that a 5.0L in the 80s made an abysmal 140hp, and in 2019 a 5.0L makes up to 480hp.
Technology
1980 Pontiac 301 v8 turbo made 210 h.p....1981 P*************made 200 h.p....
My made 175 actually.
@@peteandrepete528 1981 Capri V8 255ci 140hp auto ......we put racing fuel in one back in 1985 as a laugh..dyno showed 143hp ...
My 2015 chevy trax 1.4 liter turbo with all wheel drive: 138hp
New drinking game: Take a shot every time you hear, "Five point oh liter vee eight".
*unconscious 5 minutes in
Coincidentally I think that's how most guys plan their mods for their 5.0.
Drink heavily while calling Summit Racing and watch your savings disappear.
That game is worse than thunder struck
That's liver abuse!!!!
Or "pinnacle" alchohol poisoning before the minute mark..
I couldn’t hear anything else he said.
And when I was 19 years old, my 1986 Buick Grand National ate them all alive. With a V6.
I ran up against a GN Regal (T-Type?) many years ago in my ‘69 AMX with the 390 and four speed. The Buick was rather tame looking and pretty much a sleeper.......till we left the light. 😵
I was able to catch up and pass him, but I was VERY surprised at how that car performed as I thought it was “just another Buick”.
Still impressed by those today, and it’s kinda sad what Buick has become. NOTHING in their lineup today comes close to what the GN/GNX Regals were!
The 87 Buick GNX was the fastest American production car of the 80's I believe
Lies
U wish u had one
Bid difference between a v6 and a v6 with boost
Many years ago I had an 87 Mustang LX notchback 5.0 5-speed. installed straight pipes and an air horn, good times.
Man, my friend had one and it was as fast as fcuk! That car ruled the streets when it came to racing.
I got rid of my notchback in 92. 25 years later im in a 392 scatpack.
I had a 1987 5.0 LX hatchback 5sp. Loved that car. I removed the air box silencer, cats removed and flowmasters. It would run the 1/4 mile in 13.80 all day long with a best of 13.71@ 101mph
I'm fixing a 87 gt vert right now. The motor was dogged out but after the rebuild its pretty nasty.
@blackandgold51 they did... 95 Cobra R. Not everybody wants a giant cowl which is generally required to fit the taller deck height of the 351. Just like the 5.4 in the later Cobra R. Huge cowl. Not that it's bad, I'm always for a 351 or 5.4 in place of a 302 or 4.6, but most people are pretty happy with 5.0s and 4.6s in ponies and probably don't want a 4 inch cowl.
Come on folks! Let's share this man's fine channel and get it over 100,000 subscribers. He deserves it in a big way for all his work and research, and fine production. 🙌👏👋☝
I love the absence of attempts at humor. That's why I'm able to watch.
That was the beginning of the end of great v8 rear wheel cars
Yes, very very sad, indeed!! I loved those land yachts of the 70s and 80s. Nothing DEFINED America and the great wide open American Interstate like those cars!!
Panther platform was the end?
Not really. There are plenty of good RWD cars available nowadays. You can get turnkey 600+ HP Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers and even four door Chargers if you need a sedan, as well as a number of European sedans from BMW and Mercedes if you have a lot of money for maintenance. You couldn't get anything like that even five years ago. The old school solid axle muscle car died with the S197 Mustang in 2014, but there are plenty of used S197s, New Edges, SN-95s and Foxbodys if you want one.
prushimush 600 horsepower at 70 grand...prices are to high
@@aok5680 Car prices are sadly in line with other absurd cost of living hikes; just look at home prices, education and healthcare costs. I agree, 70k is too much. I built a boosted Foxbody SBF 5.0 instead.
The Cadillac 1970 Eldorado introduced the largest regular production engine in an American car at that time: 8.2 liters (500 cubic inches).
That is something to see one. Also interesting the engine compartment was so large the motor didn't have to mount transverse.
I think that engine was only in the Eldorado's the DeVille's had the 472 cid.
@@michaelmurphy6869 the DeVille got the 500 ci engine as standard in 1975. I have a 76 and it makes just 190hp 😂
@@DjAlyX1 too bad it does not have the optional fuel injection, it would have 215 hp.
My dad had a 77 Coupe DeVille with the 425. The 500 was a purchasable option still, but he went with the 425 thinking it was the same 425 he had in his Toronado (spoiler: the Cadillac 425 was a completely different engine from the Olds 425). Either way, the 425 made the same horsepower as the 500 but got better gas mileage, so it was no big loss when Cadillac dropped it. I removed the smog controls, put a twin Edelbrock 4bbl and intake setup on it, advanced the timing as far as it would go before choking, put Hooker headers on it and straightpiped it all the way back. It ran great on 93 unleaded, but if you could find a Sunoco that still had 114 leaded, it was extremely potent. I gutted as much of the unnecessary steel as possible trying to reduce weight, but there's only so much you can drop from a Caddy.
Still driving my 68 mustang , mpg is terrible especially with headers and a holly 4 barrel, but it’s still gets crowd around it when I take it out.
Too bad its a ford 😆
I was just getting old enough to pay attention to cars in the early ‘80s. My grandparents had full size V8 road boats but everything else I ever really had any contact with was 4 cylinder.
Ah the 80's. Mustang GT's, IROC's, MTV, Reagan, Miami Vice, great economy, people making big money, coke and Girls Girls Girls. Best decade by far.
Whatever decade anyone grew up in seems to be their favorite. Can't live in the past.......
It was indeed a great time to be young. Back then, The only Socialist Dweebs were in the USSR where they belonged.
Reagan destroying the middle class, such good times.
Gary Houtz To make such an ignorant statement means either 1. You’re young Socialist dweeb that wasn’t even in the workforce back then or 2. You’re an old Union hack still pissed about Reagan firing the illegal striking air traffic controllers. Either way, you’re ignorant or disingenuous or a combination of the two.
@@garyhoutz1540 that's funny. A Demo'Rat talking point with no hint of truth, but really funny, nonetheless.
If you want to see destruction of the middle classes, look at Carter and Obama. Better yet, look to the idiots who voted for them.
Oh yea! As a red blooded American Male that turned 16 in 1971, I had the opportunity to buy into some fairly interesting used cars in the mid 70’s while stationed at Ft. Carson, CO. The first was a beautiful 1962 Chevy Impala Hardtop Convertible Coupe loaded with the SS Package and Torque Monster 409 4brl, with a 4 speed and 3:72 Posi rear. That was lucky to get 12 city 16 highway! The next was an amazing 1969 GTO I traded the Chevy in on, that was a very nice all white with a regular 400 4 brl and TH 400 with 3:55 Posi rear, that again was lucky to get 12-16 mpg! But even in 1975, gas was still under .40-.50 a gallon for the real Sunoco 260! The final car in CO, after a salesman flying across a Mall parking lot T Boned the GTO, was an old Nevada State Police Chiefs 1970 Plymouth Fury Pillar Post Coupe that had a honking 440 Super Commando 4 brl Dual Exhaust that interestingly had a rare combination of 4:10 Posi Trac with an overdrive unit installed! That I’ve never seen since! That big car was as quick as any I’ve come across back then, but after you got rolling could put into overdrive and the tach would drop from 4,000 rpms at 110 mph to a much nicer 3,000! At the 75 mph speed limits back then at 75 it would only be at 1,800 or so. But still in tow it was a gas hog at 10 mpg, but on the open road, jetted for the high altitude, just shy of 20 mpg was easy at the speed limits! That car was like a truck! With HD leaf springs and cranked up front torsion bars was a real blast on the dirt mountain roads!
that 70 fury alllll day!!
efogg3 I have to say, that Fury was like a huge Road Runner! Actually with all that weight back over the rear wheels with the low gearing made that car as quick as anything RWD off the line! There was room back there for the biggest 15” tires I could find and in the winter I had some big azz Firestone Town&Country studded snow tires that along with some extra weight of sand bags helped make that car along with decent ground clearance a beast in snow and dirt roads.
Thanks for the memories!! The only limit to the humble 305 is your imagination and wallet!! Very reliable and smooth. I've got a 1985 Monte Carlo sport coupe. All it needs is just a little love and 400 hp is not hard to imagine.
You can blame it on the government, but fuel prices tripling and quadrupling by 1980 also played a big part in these monster engines becoming extinct.
I was a little kid, like 7 or so but I remember when gas prices hit 1 dollar even, my parents were ticked!!
Mom got a rabbit diesel in 81
You bringing up the Gov manipulated oil prices kinds backs up what he said lol
@@MrTheHillfolk I had a Chevelle SS 454 in 72 and there were wild rumors that gas would hit 50 cents a gallon!!!!! ;
Government didn’t manipulate oil prices other than by creating chaos in the Middle East. Who knew that Arabs wouldn’t like the billions of dollars of American weapons given to Israel or the Persians wouldn’t like the ousting of democratic governments for a despot who would sell cheap oil.
Just FYI the 1989 IROC Coupe with manual transmission and RPO N10 dual catalytic Converters was rated 230 horsepower 5 more than the Mustang and Firebirds so that was the highest 5.0 V8 of the 80’s!
Firebirds also could be had with the N10 option.
Praetorian no the 230 HP cars were not just 1LE
@cleanview70 1992 was the last year the Camaro had the 305 HO with 230 hp. I had a white one w/ red stripes. The 25th Anniversary Heritage edition.
cleanview70 actually 92 was but this video is about the “80’s” which Is why I said 89
For over 15 years I've been telling people that one of my first cars, '80 Thunderbird, had a 5.0. Wow I feel like a dummy now.
My 1992 Yamaha VMax had 145HP from the factory. It weighed 600 lbs. 1/4 mile in 10.8 seconds. No cars were that thrilling back then.
Thank you to the producers and narrator of Old Car Memories my favorite Channel!!!
Those old cars are so much better looking and cooler than any car built today.
Great video. So many different engines just from the different GM divisions from 78 until the early 80's until they settled on the 5.0. My brother had a 1980 Grand Prix with a 4.3 (265 cubic inch V8). Looked identical to the 301 but only had 120HP while 301 had 135 I think. It was a great engine and a great car. My buddy had an 81 Lemans and it had the 4.4 267 Chevy engine so a lot of different combinations to keep track of. The HP seems brutal but don't forget average 4 cylinders in those days ranged from 70-95 HP.
Chevy 4.4 had only 115 HP.Barely more than the 110 hp 3.8 V6
The horsies were underrated on paper back then. Had a '74 Hornet with a 304 v8, rated at 140 hp in the Chilton manual. Dyno measured 210 in bone stock form, would smoke the tires easily, 0-60 in 7.9 seconds with custom duals, otherwise stock. The horsies now are overrated on paper☺
The SAE gross system, despite being known for its legendary high HP and torque ratings, was rather rudimentary, since it involved testing the engine without any accessories attached to it.
God I love your videos. The aftermath of the oil crisis. True car talk.
he gets it all from Wikipedia i discovered the other day, exact words too haha
The oil crisis and the Environazis saw to it that cars became so emasculated during most of the ‘70’s into the ‘80’s. Nowadays, you’ve got little four bangers that can whip the pants off of a lot of those V8’s.
Still, there’s not much to compare to the nice bass sound of a V8 (or good straight six). Interesting that trucks are so popular today. I’ve always thought they are the replacement for the big cars that they no longer make.......and you can get those with a V8. 👌
People today can't envision the effect of being cut off from cheap middle east oil, which at the time we relied heavily on.
Imagine even/odd gas rationing and 4 gallons Max purchase. Even then gas stations with 'no gas' signs.
Tugboat let him have his fun LOL
Sigh, it's always to good to b true...Well at least he's making it easily accessible for discussion. This motivates me to start my own videos for discussion like gm and the fwd era or the end of the 3800 GM's bread n butter.
I love those 80's Buick's such a beautiful car.
GM had the best simulated wire wheel hubcaps.
Thanks again for creating another great video. I've owned many 5.0 in GM cars and I have to say they are and were the best reliable engines ever. My favorite was my L69 in my '84 Z28. True over achiever. I put over 120000 kms on that car and never had an issue, ever.
it was the end times for Detroit.
My 1986 Chevy Caprice sure sounded great exhaling through it's single exhaust with aftermarket turbo muffler! The 305 gave it "enough" power to get out of it's own way. People used to comment on how good it sounded. Not too loud. Good tough durable car--wish I still had it. You don't see many on the road. They all got used up.
Most of the 1980s was a performance and quality disaster for all of Detroit. Foreign car's quality dropped too. A whole decade of throw-away cars, but there was much to be learned and much was.
Ford modified the "Windsor" based 5.0L (302) V8 engine block in 1985 to accept a roller lifter camshaft in its "HO" series of small block V8s. The roller camshaft allowed for more radical camshaft profiles in OE applications that weren't practical for standard flat tappet, (lifter) cams. The roller cam, with electronic fuel injection made for a simple engine that was easily modified to produce substantial power gains; Chevrolet followed closely after with it's LT1 350 (5.7L) equipped with the same type of camshaft and fuel injection. The roller cam and electronic fuel injection bred the beginning of the new generation of "Muscle" in Detroit. Electronics allowed you to have the government's desired fuel economy and low emissions, with the increase in power that is more than awesome. American cars are powerful and fun once again. Thanks for the good series of videos, keep up the good work.
I don't know about that, I had a 87 Buick Grand National with 300 HP that never had a problem when I sold it at 93000 miles ;
Oh and an 86 Iroc 5.7 Camaro that was one of my favorite cars ever! (apparently someone else's too as it was stolen at the mall) :
@@bailey9r The Grand National WAS a really special car though. They did the right thing in making an advanced V6. The 80s V8s sucked though. xD
Love your videos. The cars from the 80's look so beautiful in this video. I miss them.
With the development of the LS engines Chevrolet proved without a doubt that the push rod v8 is far from dead,you got to at least give that to GM
Ford has developed a new 7.4 liter push rod V8 truck engine that will be available in the 2020 model year trucks. So you are correct in stating that the push rod V8 is type engine is going to remain in production. Plus the Hemi V8's in the Chrysler group vehicles are also push rod engines.
Mercedes be
400 hp
Was 400hp a new. But secret
I Totally Agree 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I’m interested in a LS 1 carburetor set up, for my Early Model Chevy Truck .
I was born in 1975 and grew up during the '80s and seeing all these cars in your great video really take me back to my childhood. I feel really lucky to have grown up during the 1980s, even if the cars were slow.
Loved seeing the L69 G VIN, H.O. in the 83 Camaro. Thank you.
Thank you so much for continuing to provide high quality accurate material. You always deliver interesting facts, along with great period photos in all of your posts. Great work!
My F-150 V8 5.0 still on the road best motor ever build by Ford
#5.0/5.8
I like them a lot better than the 300 I6 in trucks. The little pushrod 5.0 is just as reliable and has many more aftermarket parts for it thanks to the Foxbody Mustang. I find that it is more compact and easier to work on, as well.
I had an LTD, with a 5.0 litre. Awesome engine.
Glad I stumbled across this. I love these types of videos, where I learn about a specific niche time in history.
Subscribed.
We had one, a '78 Malibu Classic 4 door. Had been overhauled before i got it. Good car.
Oh yeah!!! I remember well the formula= bigger carb, lumpy bumpstick, hot up the distributor, headers, duals exhausts. All put in starting Saturday morning, getting done and running by 5pm. At least one of your buds knew how to tune carbs and you just timed it by ear. Now, it's a loud, shakey, gas-smelling beast; you cruised it that night and most girls went NUTZ over it!!! So what if it still struggled to one- wheel peel??? Man, I loved the 80's!!!!!!!!!!
The 87-93 Ford 5.0 typically found in the Mustang was an unbelievably reliable engine. Made 300 foot pounds of torque stock...and got great mileage. The key was the camshaft and roller lifters.
DUNE YXZ the video said starting in 1989 but it was 87-93
Edward Autrey Yes sir, owed many of them from stock to race cars...
I worked for Cadillac-Olds. From 84-90. Saw a lot of interesting cars back then, and drove them all.
I'm Italian, and I'm shocked that a 4.4-liter v8 can produce only 120 horsepower.
I'm even more shocked that a 6-liter engine was put into "normal" cars when in that period Fiat produced common cars with 113 horsepower 2-liter engine!
For us Europeans this is all madness 😂
And the family car based 289 (4.7L) Ford V8 beat Ferrari in the mid sixties. You can build a 350 hp 5.0 ford for about $2k. European V8’s were for wealthy people only, America democratized smooth running great sounding engines. The Chevy small block V8 has won more races than any other engine combined, and continues today.
US cars also had significantly tougher emission controls. Catalytic converters were mandatory by 1975, coinciding with the elimination of leaded fuel cars. Euro cars sold in America were dogs because of the emission controls. Way ahead of Europe where leaded fuels were still sold into the late Eighties. Knowing history gives you actual perspective....
Sir, you are a treasure to us gear heads! Thank you for The uploads.
Makes my day , thank you for taking time out and putting together fun informative videos , I enjoy the style and info, thank you
I love your channel. Thanks for the no nonsense, direct approach to document older cars. You have one of the best automobile channels on TH-cam and I have yet to see a video from you that wasn’t good!
Nice details and thanks for the memories of my early 20's... 😑👍🚘
My aunt had a v8 oldsmobile cutlass that car was BEAUTIFUL.
I don't think I felt very special driving my 1978 Buick Regal with the 5.0 during the 1980's. I could maybe chirp the rear tire if I got it spinning on gravel and then hit the pavement. My generation got the shaft when it came to car performance.
Coulda been worse. My mom's Regal came with the anemic 4.9 Poncho motor. It was a lot less than 4 cubic inches less. Not a bad car for highway trips though.
I was driving a 3.8 Regal back in the 80's. In period, it was ok. I envied anyone with a V8, especially a 5 liter. Driving anything with a 5 liter back in the 80's was a revelation. Grant it, they weren't powerhouses, but, compared to most other offerings, they felt strong. You could feel the torque.
Most people in the 80s were driving K cars and Iron Dukes huffing 80-90 hp.
@@Bartonovich52 For sure.
BUICK GRAND NATIONAL showed everyone what was possible.
im still running a 6.2 diesel to this day what a gas saver!
I have a 6.2 in my 1985 M-1028 4×4 radio station carrier 1 1/4 ton it's not safe to drive it over 60mph cause of the high rpm's from the 4:56 gears but it runs great and gets around 22mpg I only drive it on country roads. What is yours in.
Who remembers the government mandated Jimmy Carter 85mph speedo’s? They figured it would prevent people from going faster than the readout of the speedometer.
I thought it was Reagan who pushed that. Because I remember it was every vehicle and even motorcycles through out that decade.. had 2 bikes both '82s had the 85mph Speedos. One would bury it in 3th gear the other not quite..
>jjs777fzr: Gerald Ford.
@@michaelmurphy6869 Started mid 1979 model year. Parents had bought a 79 Cordoba in 1981 that must have been made JUST before it was mandatory it still had 100 MPH speedo in it, I drove it in high school when I got my license in March 87. Every 79 Cordoba I've seen since has an 85 MPH speedo in it. Including two that my dad currently owns.
The little 301 Pontiac turbo was a giant slayer with the boost turned up.
I really feel like after the 70’s, American cars lost their true touch. So much stigma that people say about them today. I mean, they’re killing just about all their sedans off very soon sadly. But I’ll say from 2010+ for the most part they have gotten their act up.
These crossovers are useless.
How many grocery bags can you put behind the rear seat, like 3?
Totally a waste of space, not efficient at all
@ Mr Hillfolk
Absolute BS
Go look at the actual measurements and get a clue. My 2018 Honda Civic has more head room and legroom than a 1976 Lincoln Continental Mk V and 8 more cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up.
V8 RWD ladder frame cars were notoriously space inefficient... which is why they are all gone.
Had an 1986 Camaro with the 305 v8. Bought it in 1989 with 27k miles and sold it with 127k miles. Drove it through College and it never once gave me any issues.
It's almost impossible to break a Chrysler 318 with TorqueFlite auto trans if you take care of them.
BobEckert56 yes the 318 and 727 are a great power train combo, and one of the most reliable produced by any manufacturer. They made the little LA engines for 40 years and the last one in 03, and are still powering Mopars on this great countries highways & byways 👍🏼🇺🇸
I abused one that had almost 200,000 on it for 8 years. couldn't kill it. I tried!
BobEckert56 while the 318s were a long lasting engine, I drove two 1977 dodge vans with 318s for floral delivery that were dogs and frequently dieseled when shutting off, thereby requiring cranking the steering wheel all the way to hard left to stop that - what a pain!, I hate the sound and smell of a dieseling engine.
Chuck Hursch well like the original posting said and I agree with, they have to be well maintained and also can't be loaded with overweight cargo that exceed vehicles limits. So if any of those factors were the case, then I would have hated it too but can't blame the engine lol
318's are essentially the V8 equivalent of their ol' Slant 6's...can't hardly kill 'em!!👍
My first car at 18 was a 87 cutty 442 with a 5.0 307 plus a 4 speed trans..helped make me a hood legend
The 305 was such a boat anchor, my brother had a new Formula Firebird with a 305 4bbl, it was Rockford Files tan/gold with t-tops. Well back in 81' he let me drive it on the last day of school my sophomore year and I brought it back to him with a spun main bearing. He wasn't thrilled, but hey you don't lend your nice new car to a 16 year old irresponsible kid who more than likely skipped that day and drove it around floored getting stoned all day.
I am guessing mommy and daddy made it all better.
Wow, what a huge flood of memories! Great video and thanks for reminding me how spoiled we are today with HP-Torque. My first car was an 1980 Chevy Malibu 3.8. While most of my friends have VW and Honda. Then my dad bought a 1986 Mercury Lynx.....my mom's sewing machine had more power. I remember the imports were spanking your everyday cars. Then the "older" guys started buying I-ROC's and Mustangs 5.0. The Grand National GNX was the icing on the cake.
The Ford 302 will always have a special place in my heart, as several 'moved me' through my more formative automotive years. It's not the best engine but they do get the job done. And the Olds 307, while a bit under powered in the big Broughams (the 305 and 350 in the early 90s were a huge improvement), is still better than the 4.1 those cars had '82-'85...
Not every car with a V8 needs to be a performance car- I can appreciate the low, subdued rumble of a stock 302 or 307 coming from a Crown Vic or a Cutlass Supreme. These were/are comfortable cars. Sure, more power is always appreciated, but for me at least it isn't a total deal breaker. These engines and they cars they moved (G-Bodies, Fox Bodies, even the old woody wagons) will forever be a part of car culture.
I've owned several 307s and always respected their reliability but still consider them a totally wasted opportunity to have made a 350. I've owned several Chevy 350s, got the same or better gas mileage and actually made power
Had an '84 Olds Cutlass Supreme Brougham Kemper Open (Burgundy/Silver) Edition w/ 302 V8. What a great car!
I owned a 1987 Monte Carlo SS with the 180hp 225lbs torque 5.0 engine In stock form it was incredibly slow and in modified with some little tricks it ran 15.3 at 89mph quarter mile! And it was a pig on gas... Just ridiculous
All these 5.0 engines had ridiculously low compression ratios
Which made them perfect for a Paxton supercharger.
Had a friend who had a 16V GTI which spanked quite a few small blocks back in the day.
@@brunotulliani I'm old enough to remember V6 Buick Grand National's with a chip, downpipe and thermostat destroying built Big Blocks. Heck, I remember Dodge GLH and GLHS 4 bangers handing out a few thrashings.
Bruno Tulliani Yeah, in a little shitbox car, too. Power to weight. My buddy's '81 VW Scirocco was a quick little shitbox if it wasn't loaded down with stoned teenagers😆.
NuclearGrizzly Built big blocks? With what, sand in the crankcase? Lol.
In the '80s my buddy's built blueprinted/balanced '70 440 Charger 4-speed used to annihilate GNs.
Observe what the F.A.S.T. big blocks are doing on TH-cam. Sorry, but that GN wouldn't stand a chance against those cars.
I own a 1984 Chevrolet Caprice Classic with original motor with 32,403 miles and the V8 305 is awesome and well built easy to work wouldn't dare change it
It's quite hard to understand that why late 1980s Cadillac Fleetwood isn't equipped with the 245hp GM L98 and let the 140hp L03 power the 2 ton car 😏
They were trying to improve fuel economy not performance
Grandpa was the only one buying a Fleetwoo back then...
They did offer the chevy 5.7 but as equipped those rode a bit firmer. However up till then & for years after they were still trying to push the exclusive to cadillac powerplants. Though the 5.7 got it around much easier the cars were typically cruisers so unless towing it wasn' t as popular as you would expect. Had they not rushed the diesel and a few minor changes been done before production. They may have held onto more customers long enough before "exciting models" came out.
@@cardinaloflannagancr8929
The 5.7 was better but still only made 200hp!!!
@@craigroth8710 True only +10-15 hp but 50 tq + Those all paired up with a higher axle ratio.
Exceptional video, your coverage of the issues that faced Ford, GM and Chrysler is very informative and dynamic in that meeting the bar was difficult, and game changing and the end result was just as you explained, your narrative voice is among the best, trustworthy, inviting, another video... well done. I really liked the job you did on the GMC motorhome I never knew it was the Oldsmobile power train although after seeing the gas and brake pedals would have told me something was a foot. I suspected it was a 454 400 turbo hydramatic platform and was very excited to find out it was the Toronado front drive set up, a new concept for the RV market and excellent choice with it's outstanding strength and reliability of both engine and trans. The Oldsmobile 455 would be the smoothest engine of the 460, and 454 , which were the industries leading gas RV power train formats. Great Video this comes from a lover and previous owner of the Big Three Big Blocks and Small Blocks of which I've experienced much fun owning and driving. But when it comes to softest ride, its hard to beat the Big Olds and Lincolns of the late 60s and early 70s. Thanks!!
Owned a Delta 88 with 307 and 200-4R transmission. Driving hard in city traffic it got 14mpg maybe... mayby not. But the odometer rolled over so many times in that car. Very reliable. It was a daily driver for over 30 years. Rust ate the rear frame rails.
My 89 F150, 91 F150, and 1992 Econoline all have 5.0 backed by an AOD and 8.8 inch rear with 3.55:1 gears. The 89 was a short bed 2wd and was actually pretty qick on rare occasion I jumped on it. The van is slow but not bad for a 302 pulling 6k lbs around
Hard to kill those Olds engines.
@@garymckee8857 for sure. My delta 88 went to a friend and he put a 330 in it. That was fun.
The crazy thing about those small low powered V8's of the late 70's and most of the 80's were pigs on fuel...they replaced very powerful small and big block V8's of the late 60's early 70's for good mpg's but in reality they were not if any much better on fuel than their powerful brothers...I know I owned them all back in the day.
I think the main benefit was in the gearboxes, going from 3 to 4 with lock-up. Which would only help MPG if you drive on the highway..
The excellent Cadillac 425 was called a 424 to avoid confusion with earlier Buick and Olds engines.
Thanks good stuff, I am glad to say I remember living and driving cars thru the 70s and 80s it was an interesting time to watch as the family car went from station wagon then became the mini van and then the SUV and then the luxury pickup truck
You missed the highest rated 5.0. wasn't Ford...was a 5spd 305 z28 TPI with performance axle ratio...230hp
My first new car was 1987 IROC Z-28 it had 305 TPI engine with 5speed with 3:42 rear end four wheel disc brakes GM offered 36 options n my baby had 35 of them! T-tops ,leather, and Bose sound system !! Oh how I Loved baby so much I did not drive it much kept her till 03 n she only had 50,000.0 miles on her she was maroon with black n gray stickers!! Only reason I had to put new gator backs on her was factory ones got flat spots from sitting !! From then on kept her on Jack stands up in air!! Till took her out for a Sunday drive few times a year!!
Depending on the sources, the LB9 had 230-245hp for 89 for F bodies. GM Performance offered special PROM chips that were still 49 state EPA legal which bumped horsepower up 15 over stock. Premium fuel was recommended.
@kell m exactly!! Those 5.0's is the very reason I have mustang GT 5speed car this very day and have had the last 17 years !! Growing up I had IROC Z fine car but by no means, Ford Tough!! My IROC busted trans two times busted rear end once engine was great !!! During same time My cuz had 90 GT mustang gt n beat it daily!! Never busted nothing!!! I knew then my next car would be Ford tough Mustang GT!!! I've Had same Mustang GT 5speed car for over 17years with over 330,000.0 miles still running factory clutch and ect, I've only rebuilt alt two times factory fuel pump factory water pump Mobil1 10w30 syn and Motocraft filters my baby's running as great as day She became mine!!!
@kell m no doubt abt that Ford knew those Mustang GT 5.0's was going to be beat on!! So madem extra Ford tough!!!
I myself bought a brand new 91 Formula 5.7L when GM cancelled my order for a 5.0 5spd due to plant furlough for slow sales
You've forgotten the 5.2 liter (318 cubic inch) V8 from Chrysler. It did duty in the Aspen/Volare/Diplomat/Fifth Avenue/Fury platform.
I did not know a Corvette came with a 305 ! Thanks for the info. What a dog, but thanks.
Deborah chesser 1980 in CA only!
12:49 That tag line should be on some kind of Gen 3 Mustang shirt.
Keep up the great content!
My '80 Olds Cutlass Supreme had the robust 260 V8. Nutless as it was, it was bullet proof. As choked up as it was it never broke down. I doubt if it had even 100hp. Solid car.
My dad had a 1987 Cadillac Broughman with the 5.0 Oldsmobile v8 engine and it would go into low gear on many steep hills around where we live. Sad for a Cadillac. Rode nice though which was good since you were going nowhere fast😆
Even though it makes its torque down low, the 307 just isn't big enough for a car that size.
If GM would have increased the compression and came up with a multi port fuel injection it would have been alright. I currently own a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis and with the multi port injection does ok. Also different gear ratio would have helped.
@rwrench rwrench : That never happened.
I pity kids today, growing up with crappy electric coffins on wheels and rice cookers never knowing the satisfaction of driving a V8 powered car.
I own 2 with 5.0 V8, and I'm good,
Same here.
I owned an '87 Thunderbird that had a 5.0. That car ran very nice
Great video as always...
The 5.0L is the engine I grew up with. It was THE Ford engine...and the 5L is still humming around
Chevy had the 5.0 305 cubic inch
In the 1980s
I still have an 87 mustang with the 5.0 probably one the best sounding engines ever.
@@Firebird400Same here I have a 87 LX 5.0 hatchback and it still run like a champ.
@@bertgrau9246 i had one a 84 chevy 3/4 ton truck. it was a dog. it blew a head gasket the day after i traded for new truck.
@blackandgold51 definitely the 300 str8 six. Tough engine I associate with the F150
I had the exact z28 pictured in ur video red with grey cloth. It was an 1984 though did have the 5.0 HO and also had the Borg-Warner 5speed gearbox. Also with T-tops. Definitely one of my all time favorite cars to drive. I was 19years old.
“5-point-oh liter?” 5 liter works fine....
Having a 305 on '87 Pontiac Formula was not the best,but after a decade later,horsey's were let loose,and the Formula was breathing easier
For all of their horsepower shortcomings the 80's pushrod V8's are legendarily reliable. That's why you still see so many Fox platform mustangs and 3rd Gen camaros rolling around. But the CAFE standards really set back American engine performance. The import guys had been enjoyed efficient smaller displacement engines for years and our auto industry almost imploded trying to compete. I'm glad we're over that now. I still love my 81 Z28 camaro but it is PAINFULLY slow. But my 2013 ZL1 Camaro makes up for it.
I really enjoyed this video. I grew up in the 80's and vividly remember these cars brand new. ... But now I want a Fox mustang 5.0 5-spd.... lol
I was fortunate enough to have the Monte Carlo at time spot 3:12, one of the best cars I ever owned IMHO.
Should've kept the GM divisions
In total agreement!
The quality GM should've offered should've been able to give Toyota a run for the money!!!!
I had several Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs, loved them; great looking and cool. Too bad, RIP
Didn’t make financial sense. They’d already been forced to amalgamate engines and platforms in the late 70s early 80s to save on costs. Then all they had were divisions with badge-engineered vehicles spending money on individual branding to split their own market share. Look how the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable outsold every midsized car made by every GM division in the late 80s and early 90s.. to say nothing about Accords and Camrys from one marque each.
@@Bartonovich52 - In order to 'keep the dream alive' for GM, they needed to stop thinking about teh bottom line and concentrate on product quality and offering GOOD products which would make them money!
One more exception during this period was Cadillac for 1980 and 1981 where the big block V8 that had been around since the late '60s and peaked in size with the 8.2L V8 was destroked down to a 6.0L version. It was this engine that was also the basis for the V8-6-4 engine in 1981. Despite the obvious problems of that engine, Cadillac kept it around until 1984 for the limousine and livery customers. I owned a 1980 Coupe De Ville with the 6.0L back then which I got used when I was in college in 1986. In 1982, Cadillac not only offered the 4.1L partially aluminum V8, they also offered the Buick 4.1 V6 as a no cost option. It seemed like Cadillac was hedging their bets on offering the V6 when they were introducing the new V8, which was understandable considering how horrible the 4.1L V8 engine was in terms of reliability during its rollout.
K
Sevenfeet0 Loved the badging that looked real similar
6.0 liter Caddy was a debored and destroked 500. Actually used the 472 crank as did the 425.
some cars are my favorite cars from the 80's
In the 1980's despite the horsepower drop from the early 70s, the real Improvement in fuel mileage came from overdrive automatic transmissions. My 83 Cutlass Princeton's has 455 Rocket that I built in it when I had a th350 transmission behind it the most I could get was 16 MPG, with the built 200 4r overdrive, I get in excess of 25 MPG. That's the same transmission that was available stock in the Hurst Olds for 1983 and 1984 and the 442 from 85 through 87.