Older American cars constitute the largest reservoir of cheap transportation available today. The only issues with these cars that can really bring about economic hardship are the engines. Each make has its own problems, and some of the problems are easy to fix. Some, however, can be horrendously expensive.
Starting with the most popular brand of American car, the Chevrolet, let’s revue what can go wrong. Not surprisingly, the four-cylinder cars have the most issues with durability. Because these cars were cheap not a lot of money was spent on assembly quality. Even with regular maintenance these engines rarely last more than 100K miles. The good thing is that these cars are totaled whenever the are in an accident,so there are lots of serviceable engines in the salvage yards. This situation pretty much applies to the four-cylinder engines of all other American manufacturers, as well.
Chevrolet’s V8 and V6 engines are more reliable, but can be expensive to repair. Of all these engines, the best are the 90-degree V6s. Although built to the same plan and using the same parts as the V8, the V6 is more durable. This includes the 262, 229, and 200 cubic inch engines.
For GM’s other divisions the call is simple. Buick, Olds, Pontiac, and Cadillac V8s of 350 cubic inches and larger are bulletproof. The only other engine is the Buick FWD V6. They come in 3.0, 3.3, and 3.8 liter sizes. These are sturdy engines, but they need regular oil changes to remain healthy. There are early years when the fuel injection system wasn’t worked out, but they are easily repaired.
With Chrysler products it’s simple. The V8s never break, and the V6s are difficult to work on. The pushrod V6s, which come in 3.3 and 3.8 liter sizes, are the most reliable. The American-built OHC V6s are not bad, though, and will give better gas mileage.
Ford is like Chevrolet in the engine department. Both of the V8s, the OHC and the push-rod version, will give good service for many years. They are cheap to fix and the salvage yards are full of them. The V6 engines in Ford’s FWD cars are remarkably sturdy due to the high degree of precision employed in their assembly.
To sum up, look for a FWD V6 that has had the oil changed regularly. Listen to it run. If it sounds quiet and there are no loud clicking or clacking noises, then it is probably a good bet to go another couple of years.
