Chevrolet Vega Durabuilt Engine

[grandpatom]

Hello from Colorado, Can anyone provide the mechanical design changes made to the Chevrolet Vega engine that prompted General Motors to designate it the "Durabuilt" engine late in the car model production years? I believe that the "Durabuilt" engines offered an extended 60,000 mile factory warranty and were painted orange to allow mechanics to visually identify them.

Any "Durabuilt" engine information from GM factory literature would be greatly appreciated.

[cos2482]

There was a somewhat well written article in the first Hemmings Classic Car magazine by Ray T. Bohacz called "The Aluminum Wonder" It seemed to capture the 71-75 motor well but went on to some false and misleading facts towards the end. The final chapter of the Vega motor known as the "Dura-Built" was completely ignored. I promptly sent the editor a reply by e-mail, letter and handed a copy to the folks at the Hemmings tent during a car show at Bennington, Vt. I never received a response of any kind. A copy of my letter explains most of the improvements but there is a "Death Valley Dura-Built" brochure from Chevrolet published sometime in the fall of 75 that explains all. I also believe were a few video clips/commercials of the Death Valley challenge available at one time or another.

My letter to the editor,
September 7, 2004

Richard Lentinello
rlentinello@hemmings.com
c/o Hemmings Classic Car
P.O. Box 196
Bennington, Vermont 05201

Dear Richard:

As the owner of a few Chevrolet Vegas, I was excited to find and read “The Aluminum Wonderâ€

[marco_1978_spyder]

I have the death valley video story on VHS and DVD.

[marco_1978_spyder]

Also, thats a well written letter.

I'm surprised they wouldnt even offer to print it, or offer any corrections.
To bad they need to be sheepish instead of strong and honest.

I think that they need to put the vega in certain lights...

Its like "see, were cool too, we pick on the vega"

in life theres always the 'big boys' who exist by always having someone smaller to pick on.

For automotive 'big boys' the car thats slated for there sneers is the vega.
Its been engraved in there memories and its also the smallest.

They always pick on the runt (never someone there own size)

[vegatex]

I've had experience with quite a few original '76-'77 Vegas-- I've owned three, and driven a couple more. The funny thing is, for all the bad engine reputation the Vega has, all the cars with Dura-Bilt engines still ran pretty well once you got them started! It's a shame GM finally got it right in the last two years of production.

Dave

[cos2482]

Did you know that Germany (Porsch, Diamler-Benz and BMW) is the leading producer of the all-aluminum performance blocks based on "Vega 390 Alloy Technology".
http://www.ncccoat.com/PDF/MercuryNCCSA ... papers.pdf

[marco_1978_spyder]

It's a shame GM finally got it right in the last two years of production.

Dave

A sentiment echo'd by the owners of Corvair's, & Fiero's as well.



I

[vegatex]

We can add the new GTO to that list...

Dave

[bsvega33]

Were the liners cast into the block or pressed in? Shouldn't a 140 block with liners have a different casting number? Can anyone tell me what a suffix TO322 CBA block would be? I was told it was Durabuilt and I don't want to take the head off to look. Thanks.

[cosvega76]

There was never a factory Vega block with liners. I think GM offered a reman block with liners, but those were the usual press-in. If you have a complete engine, probably the easiest way to tell if it is a Durabuilt is that the oil filler cap will be a twist-on, on the top of the valve cover. The older Vega engines had a push-in oil cap on the side of the valve cover. Of course, the Durabuilt has hydraulic followers vs. the older solids.

Chuck

[BillPappy]

It's a shame GM finally got it right in the last two years of production.

Dave

A sentiment echo'd by the owners of Corvair's, & Fiero's as well.



I

Actually. the last 2 years of the corvair was just plain bad... GM all ready gave up on the car. Cars was built by workers that did
not give a HOOOT. Very few 69 cars still left. only 6000 made that year. If you find number 6000 you would be one Rich MOFO.

As far as LM go. The 66 and 67 are the best and workmenship the 65 runs a close race.. The EM vairs would be the 63 and 64
the 64 haveing the upgraded rear cross over springs that stopped the wheel tuck that Nader cryed about..
The Cave man 60 500 is a breed all its own.. Not sure to call it a Vair or not

[marco_1978_spyder]

I think I remember reading somewhere that the last corvair to roll off the assembly line was painted olympic gold and kept by GM.

I think thats from my Standard Catalog of Chevrolet.

[Blueberry Funk]

I've heard that the final years of Corvair production (particularly the 67s and 68's and the handfull of 69s) provided some good cars----more reliable than earlier ones. And yes, same goes for the Fiero. Don't forget some other GM failures that improved too late: The diesel engine and the Quad 4 engine. The early diesels failed in large numbers---I think the engine blocks cracked or something, because GM converted the 350 gas engine without strengthening it to withstand the vibration of diesel power. They finally made improvements and the later ones apparently ran/run forever. On the Quad 4, there were monumental head gasket and head failures on the first few years of production. After that, they settled down and the later ones are supposedly very good.

[vegavairbob]

Hello from Colorado, Can anyone provide the mechanical design changes made to the Chevrolet Vega engine that prompted General Motors to designate it the "Durabuilt" engine late in the car model production years? I believe that the "Durabuilt" engines offered an extended 60,000 mile factory warranty and were painted orange to allow mechanics to visually identify them.

Any "Durabuilt" engine information from GM factory literature would be greatly appreciated.

LINK to Chevy Vega Wiki- Dura Built engine section http://chevyvega.wikia.com/wiki/Chevrol ... -built_140

76 140 Dura_Built engines were orange as were all '76 Chevy engines
'77 140 Dura-Built engines were blue as were all '77 Chevy Engines