best engine???

[chadwick_90]

I don't know much about the other engines but the 3.1 is my favorite lol my first car i had about a year ago was a 1.5 liter Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback ( 85 horsepower) getttin a 3.1 v6 i feel like i'm drivin a corvette haha its nice to have some power.

[john51md]

Just a FYI i have a 91 with a 2.5 as far as reliability, a 2.5 is as good as any engine, and my 91 has roller lifters and the same timing chain setup as a 2.8 or 3.1. So no way i can say this engine is noisey.
Has 250k on engine with only a new timing chain becaue original tensioner wore out and chain snapped. Sure if you want performance a 2.5 in a lumi is not the way to go. But this little iron engine has plenty of torque to run just fine if you are a driver who just wants transportation.
But i agree a 3.8 is the all around best because of its reliability and performance. I once had a Chevy Monza with a carbed 3.8 and a stick shift, great little runner dont remember exactly but i think it was like a 78ish year. Brother had one with a 305 V8, and my 3.8, well lets just say the 305 had nothing on the 3.8

[gw84]

Originally Posted by john51md

But i agree a 3.8 is the all around best because of its reliability and performance. I once had a Chevy Monza with a carbed 3.8 and a stick shift, great little runner dont remember exactly but i think it was like a 78ish year. Brother had one with a 305 V8, and my 3.8, well lets just say the 305 had nothing on the 3.8

How does the 3.8 compare to a 305? Surely the 305 is more powerful. Perhaps a reliability issue between the two?

[LMP]

I think the Series I 3.8 was both reliable and so fun at low end torque, this from the time it evolved to even firing, and until it went to series II. Series II was even more of a performer of course, more of a revver, which series I never was, but somewhat plagued with reliability problems with the intake manifold, and to me this makes it less desirable, because it was an unnecessary evil.

[john51md]

Originally Posted by gw84

How does the 3.8 compare to a 305? Surely the 305 is more powerful. Perhaps a reliability issue between the two?

Well, cousin has a 91 Buick LeSabre FWD with a 3.8 FI and you would think you were driving a V8, be it a small block. not comparing to a 454 now LOL

['97ventureowner]

Time to close this poll and thread that's been running since 2006. Everytime someone votes in it even though they don't leave a response, it gets resurrected.