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The Quad 4 was a 4-cylinder, 2.3 liter engine GM designed in the late 80's and produced 180-190 hp depending on the level of tune. Impressive numbers on paper when the 5.7 liter V8 engine in the Camaro was barely making 200 hp.

However the reliability problems (head gasket failures, etc) were pretty common for this motor and gave it a bad reputation.

Was it a fundamentally flawed design? Or did GM corner-cut in places that they shouldn't have? Can these motors be made reliable with readily available aftermarket parts?

dlu
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masospaghetti
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I don't see it as a "fundementaly flawed" design at all. One of the first mass-production DOHC 4-bangers, and over about 6 years they only made about a quad-drillion of them.

The early ones were buzzy and shook themselves apart, but later versions added balance shafts. I'm not aware of head gasket failures or other problems beyond what you'd expect for any mass-produced engine.

The demise of the Quad-4, in my opinion, is only due to replacement with the Ecotech, and the newer GDI versions are incredible in their own right.

I am NOT a GM engine fan, but the Iron Duke, the Quad-4, and the Ecotech all represent significant engineering triumphs in their era. (Being a Subaru fan, I have to lean towards the EJ series flat fours with both OHC and DOHC varients, with equal or better volumetric efficiency as a Quad-4, and coming on the scene almost a decade earlier.)

The W41 is still sought after and commands high prices, and there's a subculture of hotrodders who feel the Quad-4 is a modern "Offy", even if it's only the appearance.

SteveRacer
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