My uncle just got a 89 Toronado trofieo? the high end one, with everything you could ever want. Dimmer rear view mirror, power seats, keyless entry, acc, and the good speaker package (P/O bipassed the equilzer for a new H/U that looks stupid) Its got some Issues, and I'm wandering if anybody can help...

It howls when you get on it, and theres a power increase... I'm not sure if its engine noise, or driveline, but I'm leaning towrds driveline.

Its LOUD in the car, and noticibal from the outside.

Also the door panals are shot, and GM doesnt make them, and I cant find any on EPAY... Its accually pretty torn up on the drivers side, which is vinal and scratches your arm...

Can anybody help on the howeling? We dont do FWD cars, but he thought it was a slipping CV joint? That doesnt make sence to me because it makes more power.

Also, if anybody has a lead on GM door panals for a trofieo, PLEASE let me know
Thanks alot
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

CV joints don't slip. They work or they don't; however they can make some noise on the way out. Usually they click around corners. I've never heard one howl, but I suppose it's possible.

Wheel bearings are probably a lot more likely to howl.

It has 150k on it... I'll let him know about the wheelbearings tomarrow
any other suggestions?
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

ive got to see a pic of this thing man

Why u want pics?

He bought it for $500, it a no rust, hold for a little spot above the windshield... The p/o hit something with it, just enough to siderweb the frount bumper, and bend the light bracket funny... Passenger side light flips up, then about 3 sec later, the drivers side goes up.

Interior is nice, except the door panals... 4 or 6 way power seats in frount, all are leather. Automatic climate control, power windows... Great little car for $500... after new tires and a windsheld, its at about 850

Its SLOW, and HEAVY... I dont like it
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

ive never seen an 89 tornado .. ive seen the one jay leno has.. he fixed it.. i.e. made it rwd

I had 2 Toronado Trofeos way back when they were in their prime. Had a "black cherry" 1988 with matching interior then a maroon 1989, also with matching interior. The 3800 V6 is a great engine, it is reliable and can return respectable fuel economy.

Obviously I didn't keep the 1988 very long, but drove the 89 until 2001. It had 240k miles on it then...and it is still being driven. It looks pretty beat, but from what I can tell, it still runs good.

For the door panels, I had an upohlstry shop make new armrests for each door panel. The material they used was a very flexible vinyl/leather and it held up well.

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Lance Allison
Lance@LanceAllison.com

Current:
11 MB S550 4Matic, 55k miles, Designo Black/Black
14 Ford F150 XLT Lariat Crew, 73k miles, 5.0
Coyote V8 4x4. Black/tan.
09 GMC Envoy Denali, 5.3 V8, 4x4 SWB. 38k miles,
Jewel Red/Med Gray.

Gone:
87 MB 300SDL, 320k miles, Astral Silver/Blue.
98 VW Jetta TDI, 488k miles, Classic Green/Gray.
85 Olds 98 Brougham FWD, 4.3 DIESEL V6, 80k
miles, 3x Gray.

MBCA Member, Chicago Region

good luck finding any GM parts for that car...GM doesn't support older cars worth a hoot, especially low production models.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Not my car *cough*problem*cough* They only made 12000 some...

HOWLING is the main consern, a family friend owns an interior shop and could easly do a cheap repair for it. Its a winter beater, nothing more, nothing less
~Nate

__________________
95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

Yeah, there were not many made in 1989. Yeah, they were called Toronado Trofeo' and where rather expensive when new. Do you remember when they came out? The commericals were singing "Trofeo', Trofeo'", then at the end the people would sing something like "this is not your fathers Oldsmobile - this is the new generation of Oldsmobile". I faintly remember, because I was just entering my teens in 1989. They were trying to market this car to the younger set- like 30s-40 year old people, instead of the 50-80 year olds that the larger models were selling to.

Its possible that noise is the power steering pump, but I cannot say for sure without more details on the sound, but it is not the CV joints.

I had two Toronados - one was a 1971 - it was a huge and heavy car (about 4600 pounds), but it was FAST anyway. It had a 7.5L 455 rocket engine with 375 horsepower! This was one of my first cars - I think it was 16 when I owned it- that was in 1992 and they were even rare then- very rare these days.

The other was a 1981 Toronado - it was slower and lighter. It had a 307. It initially had tranny troubles - I had to have it rebuilt. Sold it to one of dads friends - he wrecked it later. That was about 1993-1994.

My grandmother had a 1974 Toronado that she bought new. I think it was like $9,000 car in 1974. It had the rare factory dual airbag option that was optional some 74-76 GM cars. Only 10,000 or so were equipped with them.

I think the one that Jay Leno has is the first generation model- probably a 1966-67 model- their are still plenty of these around. The 71-74 models are the hardest to find these days.

To the person that wanted a photo - here is link to a photo of one listed on E-Bay: http://i12.ebayimg.com/02/i/05/ff/ae/4d_1.JPG

yeah, its heavy and slow... If It had a rocket, I doubt my uncle would let my cousin, whos totaled 2 $$ cars during his year of driving, drive it... I'd buy it though

Great car for the money though
~Nate

__________________
95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

For the howling noise check that the previous owner didn't modify the air intake (filter and pipe).

For the door panels, try a bone yard.

My first car was a 1979 Toronado with the 350 4 barrel. It was a very solid fast car that could handle well in the snow. They sure don't make them like that anymore.

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Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

wow ugly.. i was thinking of the one jay leno has.. kinda looks like a cougar

Yeah, last year for the 455 in the Toronado was 1976 if I recall. Beginning in 1972, the horsepower declined every year, little by little. In 1973, even less HP, and larger bumper systems (as on ALL USA sold cars in 1973) added weight.

1979 saw the downsized model, then downsized again in 1986. The first generation was from 1966-70, then gen two was 1971-78, then the downsized 79-85 models, even smaller 86-up models. Sometime either between 90-92, it say another slight restyle, which was much nicer than the 86-89 model.

I've owned a 1990 Olds Trofeo, 104K, paid $4000 in 2000 for it. It was a nice ride, 3.8 liter, but while there was no apparent rust to the body eye, much rust was occurring to the rear axle and suspension system which by the way is lifted by a small air-compressor, mounted above the rear axle (prone to fail) I found that this car was just another typical GM production (said to be rare) but isn't worthy!

I like my MB 1000 time better!