Yes, the Olds diesels were real bad until 1981. Then, as part of law-suit settlement, GM came out with an improved DX-block 350 diesel. The V-6 version of the same 350 was also improved and I assume that's what is in the Olds you're looking at. Same bore and stroke as the 350 with two cylinders shaved off. The injection pump however, was not updated until 1985. If the pump is original - it's reached it's normal lifespan - but it's very likely it was already repaired and updated.
Many of those rigs went to the car-crusher in my area with very little to no resale value. Now, there seems to be a bit of "revisionism" because of people wanting diesels to burn waste deep-fryer oil. If you are buying it simply because you want something cheap to drive - just keep in mind that most mechanics don't know how to work on it. And, even good mechanics are still often clueless when working on the injectors, injection pump, glow plug system, etc. If you are good with diesels yourself - that's a different story.
As far as economics go?? I just sold my 92 year-old mother's 87 Cavalier for $200. Rust-free, 67K original miles, with a four-cylinder gas engine. It got a steady 32 MPG on highway trips. Just a cheap little ugly car I could hardly give away. That Olds diesel if running right can probably get a best of 33-35 MPG on highway runs. With the price of diesel versus gas (today $4.49 versus $3.37), the Cavalier is cheaper to drive. With the cost of repairs and maintenance, the Cavalier is again . . . cheaper.
My point being - if economy is the only thing you have in mind - quite often an older gas-engine car is cheaper overall - if you get a good deal. I know that in my area, good older 2WD cars bring next to nothing. I already mentioned my mom's Cavalier. We also had an 89 Plymouth Sundance sitting here getting eaten by mice. Southern car, not rust, 55K miles on it and it always got better then 30 MPG on the highway. We just gave up on 2WD cars where I live (on top of a mountain) and wound up selling it for $250 - which was the best offer we could get.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Persistence Pays Off - by Sam Grice. About a year ago I was driving down Hwy 36 south of Houston and I saw an old John Deere H sitting in a field with the planters and cultivators still on it. It appeared that it hadn't run in some time, but I stopped and went to the farm house and asked if the tractor was for sale. The lady of the house who answered the door offered no answer, but said that she would talk to her husband and have him call me. I figured he was away at the time. Well I heard from him the next day, and he procee
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
