4.1L V-6 in a Cadillac

[gross707]

There’s a 1982 Coupe deVille on EBay right now whose owner claims that it is motivated by a 4.1L Buick sourced V-6 offered from the factory as an option.  Is this all legit?  And if so, what is that power train like?
Curious,
Gerald

[MaR]

Yes, there were 4.1 V6 powered Cadillacs in that era.

[jagbuxx #12944]

Yes, it also was a credit option, $165 on the 1982 window sticker.
I worked as a service advisor in Texas when the first V6 came thru for the 1981 model year and we were appalled. It did drive well but sounded like an angry sewing machine when pressed hard.
The listed car on eBay looks to be a very nice example with only 26k miles for a reasonable asking price.
A much better choice than a 4100 V8 in my opinion....

[35-709]

The ONLY choice even WORTH considering.

[BJM]

This gives you the only option to purchase the car as the 4.1L V8 has such a poor reputation.  The very fact that it is still here is likely due to the 4.1L V6. 

I would agree with others - you purchase this car because of everything around that V6.  If the car is beautiful, and otherwise a nice car, then just understand it will only be a cruiser.  With all of the inventory of nice Cadillacs from the modern era out there, I just do not include 1981 to 1988 or so in any Cadillac search. 

The 80-85 CdVs are nice looking cars BUT since the 77-79s are so nice looking and in my opinion better looking - I would pass.  That 425 is a well sorted engine.  Just some thoughts

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

  The 80-85 CdVs are nice looking cars BUT since the 77-79s are so nice looking and in my opinion better looking - I would pass.  That 425 is a well sorted engine.  Just some thoughts

I concur with Bryan.  Tri7 with 425 driveline is INFINITELY better than the V6 of this era which are dreadfully underpowered, have a wonky 4 speed transmission and an inherent vibration due to the technological limitations of being able to dynamically balance a V6 at the time. It would be years later before GM (and others) were able to engineer a truly smooth running V6. Oil pressure issues were not uncommon in the 4.1 V6 either.

In short, a big body GM V6 is the embodiment of everything that was wrong with GM in the early '80s as tried to cope with economic uncertainty, volatile fuel prices and increasingly stringent regulations. Utterly unsatisfying to operate with truly miserable performance, I despise them so much I would even rather roll the dice on a clean HT4100. Run.

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

As long as you don't try to pull out in front of an eighteen wheeler, and let the car get up to speed at it's own pace, it's not too bad. I drove it to the Lousiville GN and the driving tour as well, and then home. I haven't had any oil pressure issues that I know of. Doesn't use oil. I think it was about a total of 450 miles over all we drove it. (1981 Seville, 86k).