Comments on: GM and Profitability in the Emerald City http://helian.net/blog/2009/07/13/us-politics/gm-and-profitability-in-the-emerald-city/ The world as I see it Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:50:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Burton Mitchell http://helian.net/blog/2009/07/13/us-politics/gm-and-profitability-in-the-emerald-city/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Burton Mitchell Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:40:01 +0000 http://helian.net/blog/?p=524#comment-168 And did Mr. Goodwrench put the head gasket on backwards? I came from a devoted GM-owning family until my father's 1976 Impala 400 V-8 needed a new head gasket at some 42,000 miles. We had to have the new gasket replaced about 10,000 miles later because of the backwards issue (it might have been installed upside down; I don't recall which). When we got rid of the car at 69,000 miles, it was showing signs of an urgent need for another head gasket replacement. And Mr. G, throw in a transmission gasket while you're at it. At least the engine block turned out not to have been cracked--a common problem with '70's GM V-8's. The repairman stated bluntly that if the block was cracked, there'd be no assurance he'd be able to reassemble the engine after replacing the gasket. Meanwhile, my badly rusted 1968 1.1 liter Opel Kadett still runs--just barely--and is living proof that General Motors does indeed know how to build a good small car. If only the company's management(s) were aware of the fact. And did Mr. Goodwrench put the head gasket on backwards? I came from a devoted GM-owning family until my father’s 1976 Impala 400 V-8 needed a new head gasket at some 42,000 miles. We had to have the new gasket replaced about 10,000 miles later because of the backwards issue (it might have been installed upside down; I don’t recall which). When we got rid of the car at 69,000 miles, it was showing signs of an urgent need for another head gasket replacement. And Mr. G, throw in a transmission gasket while you’re at it.

At least the engine block turned out not to have been cracked–a common problem with ’70’s GM V-8’s. The repairman stated bluntly that if the block was cracked, there’d be no assurance he’d be able to reassemble the engine after replacing the gasket.

Meanwhile, my badly rusted 1968 1.1 liter Opel Kadett still runs–just barely–and is living proof that General Motors does indeed know how to build a good small car. If only the company’s management(s) were aware of the fact.

]]>