is a '99 catera worth $600 ("needs timing belt")?

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/3121554314.html

$600 OBO

In Michigan,I tend to treat any rolling shell that isn't a rust bucket as worth that kind of money.

...and they're interference engines AFAIK, so it probably needs more than a timing belt.

DeadSkunk wrote: ...and they're interference engines AFAIK, so it probably needs more than a timing belt.

so probably a parts car at this point. i think i'll pass.

Should be the same/similar engine as the one in a Saturn L300. Weird 54-degree SAAB V6.

That said, these cars are proto-GTOs and I've said too much already.

It appears to be rwd. It would (like everything) make a good LSx swap.

SkinnyG wrote: It appears to be rwd. It would (like everything) make a good LSx swap.

yep they are rwd and its not an awful swap. i was actually looking for a clean catera to put my 5.3 into when i stumbled upon my impala.

SkinnyG wrote: It appears to be rwd. It would (like everything) make a good LSx swap.

It's the same chassis as a Monaro. The factory already did it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_VT_Commodore

Knurled wrote: That said, these cars are proto-GTOs and I've said too much already.

This. The Catera is based on the Opel Omega B-Chassis, same as the VT, VX, VY, and VZ Holden Commodore and Monaro. So an LS1 and T56 would probably bolt in with OEM GTO parts. Lived in Aus for a while and got to drive my boss' LS1/6spd VY Commodore SS very hard a few times, it was a genuinely great car.
Idled through paralytically bad city traffic in Melbourne for hours with A/C on full blast, carrying 4 adults in comfort, docile and easy enough to park with surprisingly good fuel economy.
And then you can go throw it sideways in a parking lot (which it does at will, anytime you want) and it will basically stay there, tires smoking, as long as you want.
For someone like me who usually has slow, fun, inertia type cars, it was easy to reel in and control as well. Or you could not drive it like a hooligan and it was really quite fast.
The brakes weren't stellar, and I noticed that a lot of the Commodores I saw that looked like they were tracked had BBKs. Anyway, a great car. Best/craziest boss ever, I have STORIES about that car, lol. I've had plans of putting a v8 in one of these ever since I got back to the US, but I've got an E30 right now.
Someone buy this and put a 5.3 with a blower/t56 in it.

Dream 400,894:

1st gen Catera, 4.8L LSx, Corvette spec TH700R4 with shift improver and 4.3l torque converter, mellow exhaust, 18" CTS wheels and an Aussie limited slip rearend.

That would be a hell of a start ;)

The Catera/Omega B is ~2 inches narrower than the GTO/Monaro and has a steering box rather than R&P

LSx fits with GTO oil pan. Supposedly using a combination of GTO and CTS-V engine pads and mounts it drops right in. Most of the headers are custom. Opel did have some factory jobs. GTO manual pedals fit for us third pedal guys

I was actually just about to ask to learn me Catera's as theres one local I'm considering for winter beater duty.....lol

And my question of lsx was answered as well....lol

Lingenfelter had parts for the LSx swap a few years ago...it can be done.

I didn't realize those where RWD...and cheap. How reliable are they?

In reply to Grtechguy:

See original post.

That seems to be the issue...overheating, timing belts, sorta ran-ish when parked...etc.

My understanding is they are slightly above "horrible" on the reliability scale. Everything is failure prone and expensive. But that's just hearsay.

One of the common failures is the oil->coolant oil cooler. It leaks causing oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil, so the car is diagnosed with a bad head gasket and junked. You can then bypass it and use a standard oil cooler - with much work - and end up with a working car for cheap. But everything else will break eventually.

Their sales line for it was "the Cadillac that zigs." Jay Lamm (of 24 Hours of Lemons fame) reviewed it when new and called it "the Cadillac that sucks." He hated it.

dculberson wrote: My understanding is they are slightly above "horrible" on the reliability scale. Everything is failure prone and expensive. But that's just hearsay.

Some friends of mine have one... Everything is in disrepair, but 4 teens have beat on it and it still goes. I think that it remains useable more out of habit than anything else. It is a massive pile.

Damn did I pick the wrong thread to stumble into.... /me runs off to CL

dculberson wrote: My understanding is they are slightly above "horrible" on the reliability scale. Everything is failure prone and expensive. But that's just hearsay. Their sales line for it was "the Cadillac that zigs." Jay Lamm (of 24 Hours of Lemons fame) reviewed it when new and called it "the Cadillac that sucks." He hated it.

The parts are really expensive due to lack of anything else like it.......its like getting certain things for the GTO/G8, except for the whole damn car....

I'm contemplating one locally, but I'd rather have a truck...lol

a good friend runs a repair shop, so he sees the worst of every car. he calls them "caterrible"

dculberson wrote: My understanding is they are slightly above "horrible" on the reliability scale. Everything is failure prone and expensive. But that's just hearsay.

You can say that about EVERY European car, though.

In reply to JFX001:

They sold those parts to a guy (for a large fee) on the Cadillac forums. I think it changed hands a few times . . .

There was a guy out West that threw a SBC in a Catera. He indicated all he needed as a front sump oil pan and some OTS shorties from Sanderson to make it work.

In reply to Strike_Zero:

I vaguely remember that. Wonder who has them now?

A few guys ended up with kits that Lingenfelter had.

Here are the pics to one them: https://picasaweb.google.com/102026879746523267985/LingenfelterConversionKit?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIHdpveY8tfdUw&feat=directlink#

Last I heard he had it for sale: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-catera-cimarron-forum/199335-catera-v-8-conversion-kit-omega-2.html#post2929623