[V8] 90 V8 vs 89 200TQ

[RockinV8Q at aol.com]

I decided to peek my head in here for a moment....
 
 I built the 200q32v Avant and due to my move to Ohio and the Avant  now 
being in Cincy I get to see/drive/work on it every few months. Actually had  it 
here 2 weeks ago for work.
 
 On the good side other than the normal type 44 issues, hydraulic  leaks, 
ignition switch failure, its been problem free.... Oddly the  notorious V8 hot 
running issues don't happen with the avant. I put that down to  the Electric fan 
setup on the car.
 
 On the bad...
 
  Cruising around town is nice but 3rd gear is horribly mismatched for  the 
3.6 torque band... It you intend to do any decent acceleration through 3rd  you 
have to wind 2nd all the way out. It reminds me of driving a 12v auto 100/A6  
in that you have to beat on it to have any fun.
 
 I've owned a 10v 200q, V8's, and currently a 200q20v...as well as  worked 
on/drove many examples of each. Other than the CIS injection the 200q10v  has 
few disadvantages vs a 3.6 V8 that cant be addressed and  upgraded during normal 
upkeep. Careful searching out key suspension parts  and spending a few hours 
over a couple of weekends with tools in your  hands can yield dramatic 
improvements in the car for very  little more $$ than is required to upkeep the V8 
properly. I  say "properly" because I can't count the # of times I've heard the  
statement "My V8 is in perfect condition" only to find dangerously worn 
shocks,  struts, lower control arms, rear camber links, tie rod ends, rear thrust  
bushings, etc etc etc. One very low mileage 93' V8 (~70k), absolutely pristine 
 inside and out, needed every single bushing and joint on the car replaced. 
That  owner told me his car was perfect but he was disappointed in his new Boge 
 Turbo Gas struts and shocks.... he was thrilled with them after the  
suspension rebuild.
 
Anyway, that's my $0.02,
Keith Tackett
Gruppe 1 Tuning
937 327 3935
 
 
 
 
 





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