Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Reid
I'm beginning to think they're (301) indestructable. My son has one with about 130,000..a '78 model. I noticed about 6 months ago that the oil was milkshake looking. Oil pooling in the breather. Dipstick covered with some type of grit like rust. Warned him that any day it was going to go. It's been 6 months and the thing runs like a Singer sewing machine. No smoke or steam, no knock, no valves tapping....Nothing but smooth...and he drives it a LOT. I'm still waiting for my "I told you so" moment but it hasn't come.
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I've got a nearly identicle testimony, Greg.
I had a '78 Grand Am, Y code 301. At about 140K, or a little before, I had noticed the upper half of the dipstick getting rusty just as you discribed. No milkshake oil, but there was a small bit of yellow residue at the very top of the dipstick, and I had oil contaminating the air filter via the valve cover breather.
One day I desided to drain about a quart out of the pan to see if there was any coolant in there, after letting it sit over night (so the heavier coolant would settle to the bottom). Well I didn't see any sign of moisture, but then I had the drain pan in the direct sunlight, and noticed a faint sparkling copper substance, all through the semi-transparent oil. It dawned on me that it must be from engine bearings, and I panicked a little. I decided it wasn't worth the investment of a rebuild for the 18-25 mpg, plus it was my only transportation and I had a 20 mile commute. So I looked for a car with optimum mpg, and sold the Grand Am to Diamond Jim.
I told Jim it would be risky to drive it from White County to Atlanta, since I thought it might spin a rod bearing at any momment. So Jim rents a trailer and hauls it home.
Four years later I find out Jim still hasn't pulled the 301, and he's been driving it around on a semi regular basis.
The confounded thing even made an excursion to Savannah last year.
I know of another '78 Grand Am owner in GA with over 300K (one rebuild) on his 301.