Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
02-11-2010, 08:04 PM
#51
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 85 Trans Am, BMW 328is, Porsche 944
Engine: V8 5L carb
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
I had a V6 Firebird SE with a manual and it was great and I grew up in huge V8 automatics and didn't miss the 8 a bit. When I got the 305 8 I was not that much more impressed than with the 6. Sure, you can tell but the difference is not earth shattering, but neither is that 305. I also drove the Duke a friend had in her brown Firebird. I couldn't tell you if it was good or not as I had to drive it for her in snow and maybe went about 25mph at best. It started fine though!
Anyone up for a fake video to put on YouTube doing an engine swap to an Iron Duke in a F-body? I can see the comments now.
Anyone up for a fake video to put on YouTube doing an engine swap to an Iron Duke in a F-body? I can see the comments now.
Last edited by Cal Trans; 02-11-2010 at 08:13 PM. Reason: spelling
02-12-2010, 10:21 PM
#52
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '86 SC
Engine: 2.8
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
my communist comment was meant as a joke, but it wasn't all that funny. i apologize if i have offended any one and i will try to be more aware in the future.
02-13-2010, 04:05 PM
#53
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1984 Trans Am 15th anniversary
Engine: L69
Transmission: 700r
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
The iron duke is by no means a "worst" engine. I'll be the first to admit they should have not been put in thirdgens. One thing is certain about the 2.5 is that it was a bulletproof reliable motor.
02-13-2010, 07:18 PM
#54
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: NH, USA
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 15th Ann. T/A
Engine: 350 Goodwrench
Transmission: T5 (Not factory, possibly rebuilt)
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
As a performance engine, yes, it would have been horrible and stupid.
However, a 90 horsepower 4 cylinder motor is generally NOT being made for the purpose of a Performance or High Output engine... that seems pretty obvious, to me.
However, a 90 horsepower 4 cylinder motor is generally NOT being made for the purpose of a Performance or High Output engine... that seems pretty obvious, to me.
02-13-2010, 10:05 PM
#55
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Traverse City, MI
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 91' Firebird
Engine: 3.1 LH0 V6
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
I think we can agree that while the Iron Duke wasn't a "worst" engine, it may have been one of the most vehicle inappropriate when in an F-body.
02-15-2010, 07:19 AM
#56
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dayton OH
Posts: 266
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Many
Engine: Several
Transmission: Automatics
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
of course.
02-15-2010, 07:55 AM
#57
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
A lot of the more interesting "musclecars" have been ones without a conventional V8 in them.
The SOHC Lemans is one car I would own in a heart beat! All the style of the GTO with most of the power but in a package that'll wind out to 7 grand happily and handle if not like the GTO's original namesake then atleast better than proabably any other mid sized american sedan of the decade.
02-15-2010, 08:33 AM
#58
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mesquite, Texas
Posts: 4,009
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
Car: 89 rs, 86 Trans Am
Engine: RS-V6... Trans Am-LG4
Transmission: RS-T5... Trans Am 700r4
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
Everyone I've ever known with a V6 or 4 banger car that had an option for a V8 wishes they had the V8. This is almost without exception. This doesn't mean that they don't like their cars, but they damn sure would have the V8 if things had worked out the way they wanted. The only people who want the worse engine usually only does so because they don't understand that typically with GM vehicles, the smaller engine usually doesn't get significantly better fuel mileage. They think that the same car with the V6 equals better gas mileage than the V8 equipped car.
I specifically shopped for a particular car. A V6 with a 5 speed.
Why? because I've had the v6 before, and I know them to be exactly what they are, good engines (if not ragged out) that get good MPG, PLUS they are easy to work on, and you can get them cheap. I picked up a really nice RS for $900, and am enjoying the heck out of it. I don't get a rat's butt that It's not fast. I dn't plan on racing or driving significantly faster than highway speed limits, so why do I care that it can't go 150MPH and have a 1/4 of less than 10 seconds?
I drive it because I like the way it looks, period.
02-15-2010, 05:15 PM
#59
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: sasebeo, Japan
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 84 trans am
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
the guy who wrote that article also wrote another artical saying the new challenger wouldnt sell
11-17-2012, 03:34 AM
#60
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 92 Firebird--02 Grand Prix GTP 2Dr
Engine: Poncho 400--3.8 Supercharged
Transmission: T56 6 Speed--4T65EHD
Axle/Gears: Open 10 bolt 3.42--Internal 2.93
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
personally...id love an iron duke fbody, i think itd be unique and refreshing
11-17-2012, 10:28 AM
#61
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
I don't know why some of you guys think the iron Duke shouldn't be in there. Its a 90 horse motor in a 3200+ car! That is crap! He's talking about the performance, that's why its in there. There are lots of motors that last along time but don't really have performance value. Like the 305 lol
11-18-2012, 08:39 PM
#62
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
Going from the Iron Duke to the 2.8 felt like getting into a 455 Buick GS Stage 1 by comparison, that's how major the performance difference was. So with all due respect, this award is probably very well deserved. That engine should have never been in a Camaro or Firebird.
11-19-2012, 08:00 AM
#63
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: LB9
Transmission: 700r4
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
MY old boss used to own one. 1982 Camaro, 4 speed, blue on blue, with posi (because "hey I had to drive this thing in the winter"). Was a cheap window sticker, about $7800 brand new If I remember right. At the time it was what he could afford, and it was way cooler then a Cavalier, and didn't cost that much more. Made sense to me when It was explained that way.
11-20-2012, 05:01 PM
#64
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 92 Firebird--02 Grand Prix GTP 2Dr
Engine: Poncho 400--3.8 Supercharged
Transmission: T56 6 Speed--4T65EHD
Axle/Gears: Open 10 bolt 3.42--Internal 2.93
Re: Time Magazine votes "Iron Duke" one of 50 worst cars ever
oh trust me, im not confusing it for a performance monster in any aspect. i just think its a cool (wierd definition of cool?) piece of history of the f-body family lol
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Linson
Auto Detailing and Appearance
40
08-21-2015 02:12 PM
