CorvairGeek
Full Access Member
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Posts
- 557
- Reaction score
- 928
- Location
- Boise
- First Name
- Jerry
- Truck Year
- 1978
- Truck Model
- C20 Scottsdale
- Engine Size
- 292 L6, T400
They are plenty durable in this late form, the 307 even has a roller cam, just rather anemic. GM even claimed the wagons had a 5000lb tow rating when properly equipped, IIRC.
I've never heard an official reason, but I can only assume that this anomaly was justified to keep the Olds V8 in production. The only remaining applications otherwise, would have been the remaining Buick/Olds G coupe through '87 & '88 respectively, Buick B wagon, the Olds B wagon and the Cadillac Brougham. Picking up the Chevy in early '86 and Pontiac B wagon (no 1990 model) added a lot of production volume until everything went Chevrolet powered in 1990. This is even more strange when you think about the fact that B wagons continued to be carbureted through '90 when the Caprice sedans went to fuel injection in 1989.
This same anomaly was probably the reasoning behind the 200R4 being built through '90 and even expanded into the Caprice sedan in '88, IIRC, except with the 350 engine. The 200R4 is probably one of the most common for a dual Chevy / BOP bolt pattern.
There was also a possible influence from the beloved CAFE mileage ratings, though it appears this should have been the opposite. Sometime in very late '85 or early '86, the Olds powered cars were appearing with a note on the window sticker stating that a gas guzzler tax may be applicable, even if they had the same mileage ratings as a Chevy powered car. The Olds V8 was considered a domestic engine, while the Chevy V8 was not (Canadian assembly). Gotta love how our congress wrote laws to penalize our own 'evil' industries. This notices disappeared shortly after that part of CAFE was killed, but I do remember seeing these notices myself on new cars on the lot. I've wondered if this reprieve may have influenced allowing production of the Olds V8 to continue as well. We'll probably never know (like so many things) why the General did what they did.
