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Home » Public Forums » GMCsandbox » Chevrolet Citation (Was it that bad?) (So far off topic it is relegated to the sandbox.)
Chevrolet Citation (Was it that bad?) [message #279731] Fri, 12 June 2015 13:15 Go to next message
cbryan   United States
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
Karma: 3
Senior Member
I had a 1980 Phoenix hatchback, the same deal. Didn't order the Citation because it had a vertical radio that I knew I would want to replace. Got the 4 cylinder Iron Duke with it, and exactly half of a Quadrajet. Manual 4-speed transmission that shifted fine in Colorado winters from cold, as it had ATF in the gearcase. Front wheel drive traction was all I needed in Colorado. It never let me down on the road. Oops, fuel pump was close to home. Put in an electric pump afterwards.

I ordered the hush package. I liked the car, it was quiet and comfortable. Sold it at 100K miles, used no oil.

However....The shift forks gave out from inadequate heat treating. Clutch throwout bearing got noisy fast. Repaired once under warranty, and I forgot to mention the throwout bearing to them the first time. Took delivery of it and a roll pin they dropped in the gearcase got picked up and cracked the case. They fixed it again, this time they already had the throwout bearing ordered. (GM paid for the dealership's error.) Fuel pump at 80K. Rear brakes recalled.

Vacuum hoses would not last, you had to keep replacing them, they would crack from the heat. CV boot. Choke pulloff diaphragm was junk, replaced twice. When hoses gave up, the carb would suck fine dirt into the bowl, leaning out the carb. The float level was super touchy. It had a bad flat spot, like 1/2" of accelerator movement. Raised the float level just a bit, no flat spot, and it ran very strong. Kept its alignment, unlike my Monza 2+2, which would change if you hit a pothole. Air conditioning compressor (R4) leaked at the front bearing (ceramic magic seal) from the beginning. Had to continually put in oil with the freon. It cooled very well. A comfortable car. Put in a cruise control from Dixco, vacuum operated, worked a charm. Upgraded it from the many examples in the junkyard, put in a power bench seat in front. The window cranks worked backwards, how dumb! It never failed emissions, passed very well. It got about 23 miles per gallon city, about 31 highway. EPA rated 24/38. Weighed 2700 pounds. I'm actually sorry I sold it in 2003. The Iron Duke engine was breathed on in subsequent years by GM, and you can still get performance parts, but had that fiber gear timing setup, which was just waiting to go out.

Having said all that, the last time I saw a Citation was when they pulled a car out of a reservoir in Kansas last week with a missing man in it. Missing since 1992. The car looked pretty good.

It wasn't that bad. Some good stuff. The V6 had an early throttle body injection setup, as did California cars.

Thanks for the memories, Bob de K!

Carey


Carey from Ennis, Texas 78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
Re: Chevrolet Citation (Was it that bad?) [message #279851 is a reply to message #279731] Sat, 13 June 2015 22:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jerry Sitzlar is currently offline  Jerry Sitzlar   United States
Messages: 206
Registered: February 2013
Location: Lenoir City, TN
Karma: 4
Senior Member
My father-in-law had a Citation, V6 auto, white with red interior. It looked good, a little stiff in the suspension but handled nice. Never any trouble with it. Gas mileage was good. It was his work car and retirement car until the day he died. My mother-in-law had it sold before I could get a shot at it.

Jerry


Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath...... Lenoir City, TN (near Knoxville)
Re: Chevrolet Citation (Was it that bad?) [message #282222 is a reply to message #279851] Thu, 16 July 2015 02:54 Go to previous message
mrgmc3 is currently offline  mrgmc3   France
Messages: 210
Registered: September 2013
Location: W Washington
Karma: 2
Senior Member
Most folks fail to realize that the basic platform underpinning the x-car was stretched and put to further use for 14 years (82-96) underneath the A-cars. The public generally has a bad perception of the X, but the A is thought of more fondly (Celebrity, 6000, Century, Ciera). I think the only real "problem" with X-cars was the brake proportioning issue that got a lot of bad press from what I recall (I had not arrived at GM yet, still in school). Generally auto quality was a bit sub-par in the early 80s.
The A-cars were lauded for quality in later years. The 6000 and OKC plant received top JD power honors for a couple years in the early 90s.


Chris Geils - Twin Cities / W Wa 1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; PD9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, Alcoas, 54k mi
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