1978 chevrolet Bel Air

72 luxo · Veteran Member

1978 chevrolet Bel Air

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I had a 79 Impala 305, and it was a really tough car. Took a beating and wouldn't die.
I'd take another in a minute.

67HEAVEN · Poncho Master!

This information is from WIKI:

Bel Airs in Canada

1976-1981

Eighth generation Production 1976-1981
Model year(s) 1977-1981
Assembly Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Platform B-body
Engine(s) 250 cu in (4.1 L) I6
305 cu in (5 L) V8
400 cu in (6.6 L) V8
Transmission(s) 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic
Wheelbase 116 in (2,946 mm)
Related Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Caprice
Pontiac Laurentian
Pontiac Parisienne
Oldsmobile 88
Buick LeSabre
Chevrolet's Canadian affiliate continued the Bel Air as its lowest-priced full-size car through the 1981 model year, and was Chevrolet's badge engineered version of the Pontiac Laurentian with minimal exterior and interior trim.

For 1977, Canadian Bel Airs received the same downsizing as their Impala/Caprice counterparts in the U.S. Bodystyles offered during this period included four-door sedans, two-door coupes and station wagons. Reflecting the smaller size of these downsized big cars was a lineup of generally smaller engines for improved fuel economy with Chevy's 250 cubic-inch "Turbo-Thrift" six-cylinder reinstated as standard power in sedans for the first time since 1973 with the 140 horsepower (100 kW) 305 Turbo-Fire V8 available as an option in sedans and standard on wagons. The 170 horsepower (130 kW) 350 Turbo-Fire V8, available in both models, was now the top option as the larger 400 Turbo-Fire small block and 454 Turbo-Jet big block V8s were no longer available. Standard equipment on Bel Airs during this period included small hubcaps, cloth-and-vinyl upholstery in sedans or all-vinyl in wagons, cigarette lighter, ashtray, automatic dome light for front doors, full carpeting, Astro Ventilation, Delco Freedom battery, variable-ratio power steering, power front disc brakes and Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission.

The 1980 Bel-Air, along with its Chevrolet siblings, was revised with all-new exterior sheet metal, which helped improve aerodynamics and thus fuel economy; the car was also fitted with a new grille, identical to that of the higher-priced Impala. Also that year, the engine lineup was revised with the inline six replaced by a new 3.8-liter or 229 cubic-inch V6 based on the small-block V8 as the base engine in sedans. The new base V8 (standard on wagons, optional on sedans) was a smaller 267 cubic-inch small-block with two-barrel carburetor, while the 305 small-block (optional on all models) got a 15 horsepower (11 kW) increase to 155 horsepower (116 kW) thanks to the change from a two-barrel to four-barrel carburetor. The 350 V8 was now restricted to police-option vehicles. Another new option for 1980-81 was the Oldsmobile-built 350 Diesel.

SOURCE - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Bel_Air

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I live in an area where a particular religious sect has rules about cars that are fancy. Thus, a number of very plain cars were sold here, and there's at least of that style Bel Air around here that I can think of. One is a 6 cylinder too!

Unusual car for the most part, yes.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Find us a two door, them we can get excited....

Chevrolet.Impala.2-Door.Sedan.jpg

67BBSD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

the janitor at my elementary school had a pastel green two door can't remember if it was a bel air or impala-

there was a pastel blue 2-door impala with rally wheels on it out in N.O.T.L. nice car just $1800-I thought about buying it but don't need it-he didn't want it networked and I couldn't seeing buying it to flip seems lotsa people frown on that these days. Anyway-Niagara Parkway just past the Butteryfly place on the left heading to N.O.T.L. from N.F. I remember the guy did motorcycle repairs thats all the info I can remember.

Ken

72 luxo · Veteran Member

Thanks for the info people, really deciding on a 79 impala 2 door, or a 78 Bel Air 4 door. the impala has a 305 sbc and the Bel Air has a 250 straight six. Based on everyones opinion, what engine would provide better fuel economy, you would think the six, but I have a feeling that might not be the case, any thoughts!

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

In a car that heavy, I'd bet that the 305 V8 will almost be on par with a 6 for mileage.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

I bet I have the mileage data for that year, GM dealers had these one pagers for each engine. I'd say the 305 might even be better in this case.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

From 1978 EPA data,

15city   20Hwy   250/ 6
13        19            305/ 8
12        17            350/ 8

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

There you go, with that diference I'd take the V8 every time. You will tire of that six not being able to get out of it's own way.

CDN2PLS2 · Uber Guru

Hey,I had my Full Load "85 Parisienne Brougham across the scales today.4,000lbs even ,with half a tank.

72 luxo · Veteran Member

So the six is no good? I thought it would be better, but the power to weight ratio is the main factor I guess. would a 250 six use a TH350 trans, or would the TH250 be used, what I am saying is, can I swap a chev small block on to a chev 250 six trans?, thanks and what would I need to make a swap to 8 cylinders?

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

The 250 inline six was a strong motor. I had one in a 72 Ventura and it had lots of power. But by the late 70s it was pretty tame, and not as suited to a big body car as it was in its late 60s form. I once looked at a 78 or 79 Bel air with a six, but decided against buying it for the reasons noted.

That said, the 305 of that era was also useless. Aside from the well known problem of flattened cam lobes, it just had no power. I know because it was the one and only weak point of my 77 LeMans sport coupe.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

My one and only 305 was an L-69 in a SS and that engine is in the Small Block Hall of Fame so I suppose I can't comment at all on the run of the mill 305 in a B Body. I did have a 301 4bbl W37 package in a Grand Prix and I loved that engine too and most people think it was a boat anchor. The 250 six is a very good engine for a Nova but I think not in a big B Body.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

In the 60s the inline sixes were more than adequate for the B bodies. Before I swapped in the 283, my 62 Parisienne with the 261 had more power than you would need. Likewise for the 230 and 250 full size cars that I rode in from the 60's - lots of power, and the ability to cruise all day at 70-80 mph with a 2 spd auto trans.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

You are right, my dad would hit 120 mph with our 61 Strato Chief 261 and even our 65 Laurentain which would have been a 230 could top 100. I think though that it is pretty well acepted that the 261 was a special engine on par or better than the 265-283 small blocks.

67BBSD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

its funny when you think about it-everyone wants an 8, ever try to sell a pick up with a six ? yet not so long ago they were all sixes, contractors, coal miners etc... had no complaints. I had a couple 'G' bodies that I felt were underpowered with a 6 but there were nothing to wright home about with an 8 either. Depending on the cars purpose I'm sure it'll be fine with a six-actually kind of interesting when you pop the hood-I'd rather buy a good condition 6 cylinder car than a poor v-8 which so many do.

Elroy · Poncho Master!

my cuzin had a 4 door, used to go deer hunting with the car and when he finally hit one, drove around for a few days with it, was his new hood ornament ,lol!

Velle Addict · Guru

Pictures of the Bel-Air??? We owned a '78 Bel-Air base model, 4 door sedan from 1979 to 1988. Had the 305 with a th350. To this day my father swears it was one of the best cars he had ever owned. Front brakes and oil changes were all that was ever done to that car and it just kept going and going...
The car was scraped in '88 due to the typical door and floor rot that these had from being in the "Salt belt" of southern Ontario.

Ridingman · Newbie

Here's a pic of mine, hope you enjoy. You may view it on youtube by searching 1978 Belair.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Ridingman wrote:
Here's a pic of mine, hope you enjoy. You may view it on youtube by searching 1978 Belair.

Thanks Scott has not been here since last May 2013

72 luxo · Veteran Member

Hey Ridingman. That is a beautiful car you have there, is that the factory paint colour? I love how clean and straight the body looks. What was the factory engine and how many options? Thanks

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

72 luxo wrote:
Hey Ridingman. That is a beautiful car you have there, is that the factory paint colour? I love how clean and straight the body looks. What was the factory engine and how many options? Thanks

he posted once (1) never back see above

72 luxo · Veteran Member

427carl wrote:
72 luxo wrote:
Hey Ridingman. That is a beautiful car you have there, is that the factory paint colour? I love how clean and straight the body looks. What was the factory engine and how many options? Thanks
he posted once (1) never back see above

Himm, I see. I never payed attention lol. I think its pretty cool that my none Pontiac, but Canadian Built 78 B body thread has some members interest. It would be awsome if some factory literature would surface. Like no information whatsoever on google. The 1977-79 Pontiac Laurentian is the Poniac version of this base entry level full size car. Only seen one example and it was for a split second. Here is another pic of mine. I now wears dog dish hub caps instead of 1 of the 3 factory options, wich were full wheel covers like in the pic. The other 2 options were Am pushbutton radio and rear forced air defroser wich btw has its work cut out this nasty winter.