Look what followed me home

[squaredeal91]

1986 sedan Deville. I wished it was a regular Deville but hey its pretty sweet anyhow. Been sitting 20 years. Will it run? Engine is free turning and Its a GM lol. Put battery in but everything hyper clicks so I looked at all the grounds I could find and cleaned them. Found main battery ground to block busted off. Replacing that now. Be trying again soon.

 

[bucket]

4.9 swap it?

 

[squaredeal91]

Its got the 4.1 in it. I remember changing oil on these occasionally back in 2010 when I worked at the Cadillac dealership.

 

[bucket]

Its got the 4.1 in it. I remember changing oil on these occasionally back in 2010 when I worked at the Cadillac dealership.

Lol, I asked if you were going to swap it. The 4.9 is kinda fun.

 

[bucket]

Also, one of those Sedan Devilles tried to kill me. It was that dark gray color too, and an older one like that.

 

[squaredeal91]

Also, one of those Sedan Devilles tried to kill me. It was that dark gray color too, and an older one like that.

How so?

 

[squaredeal91]

Lol, I asked if you were going to swap it. The 4.9 is kinda fun.

Maybe down the road lol. Its going to be for my oldest daughter's first car.

 

[squaredeal91]

When I turn on the ignition fans come on and everything is hyper flashing lol. Ive fixed and cleaned all grounds on engine i could find. Im going on to ecm grounds now.

 

[Grit dog]

Nice score!
Not to be a Debbie downer but I recall working on those 4100s as a kid. My bosses wife and mother both had one. Early/mid 80s models less than 10 years old and my general recollection is that they were electrically complicated and not so reliable. Both electronics and the engine.
They had a bad rap back then. I can’t imagine the middle aged un-maintained version of them is any better.
Personally if I could get it running well and cleaned up, I’d use the sale funds towards something that wasn’t a series of frustrating repairs waiting to happen.

 

[squaredeal91]

Nice score!
Not to be a Debbie downer but I recall working on those 4100s as a kid. My bosses wife and mother both had one. Early/mid 80s models less than 10 years old and my general recollection is that they were electrically complicated and not so reliable. Both electronics and the engine.
They had a bad rap back then. I can’t imagine the middle aged un-maintained version of them is any better.
Personally if I could get it running well and cleaned up, I’d use the sale funds towards something that wasn’t a series of frustrating repairs waiting to happen.

Might be some solid advice. I am not too thrilled with all the electronics this thing has. I had a 94 once and I sold it before it had electrical problems lol

 

[Grit dog]

Might be some solid advice. I am not too thrilled with all the electronics this thing has. I had a 94 once and I sold it before it had electrical problems lol

Ya GM just “had” to keep Caddy different. Which made/makes no sense because of the brands, Cadillac buyers were the least likely imo to know or notice a different engine. So bad sales ploy imo. Especially in the mid 90s when they could have just used the LT1 powered chassis like the Buick Roadmaster and the Caprice.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Yeah if you can get her purring and cleaned up, kick it down the road and find something that'll be more reliable and easier to work on than that thing. We call those 4100s the 8,6,4,0 for a reason lol

 

[squaredeal91]

I would love to sell it to get a caprice. Ive always wanted one and there nice to drive but not full of electronics

 

[bucket]

Yeah if you can get her purring and cleaned up, kick it down the road and find something that'll be more reliable and easier to work on than that thing. We call those 4100s the 8,6,4,0 for a reason lol

The 4100 was a different engine than the '81 4-6-8 motor though.

I don't remember the specifics of the 4100 issues. Pretty sure it was head gaskets and intake gaskets, along with electronic issues.

It was replaced by the 4.5 and was more reliable.

Then the 4.9 replaced the 4.5 and got even better.

Then the 4.9 was replaced by the Northstar.

 

[squaredeal91]

The 4100 was a different engine than the '81 4-6-8 motor though.

I don't remember the specifics of the 4100 issues. Pretty sure it was head gaskets and intake gaskets, along with electronic issues.

It was replaced by the 4.5 and was more reliable.

Then the 4.9 replaced the 4.5 and got even better.

Then the 4.9 was replaced by the Northstar.

Thank you. Did the 4.9 have a plastic intake snorkel housing? Otherwise did all 3 of those engines basically look the same?
Also this transmission looks to be non electric like an R4?