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[feeutfo]

Surely you wouldn't build a production line and get that close to launch without bugfixing a car - after all, last minute changes to the design would be a PITA to retro-fit to a production line?

Yeah I didn't think that through did I! They already had a production line going, they just had to integrate another model into existing.

Can't have been hard, they had the chassis and engine already, some manifolds, drive train, extra cooling for pas etc.

[aaronjb]

Surely you wouldn't build a production line and get that close to launch without bugfixing a car - after all, last minute changes to the design would be a PITA to retro-fit to a production line?

Its potentially possible, if it was going to be a limited number for prestige, that the V8 ones would be hand modified, due to the large number of differences beyond the engine/box/front subframe.

Fair point.. I'd imagine that would also be a very costly process? My money is on the bean counters cancelling it (expensive development & manufacture vs. limited production and few sales - and GM isn't Bugatti) rather than some mechanical problem..

[TheBoy]

Surely you wouldn't build a production line and get that close to launch without bugfixing a car - after all, last minute changes to the design would be a PITA to retro-fit to a production line?

Its potentially possible, if it was going to be a limited number for prestige, that the V8 ones would be hand modified, due to the large number of differences beyond the engine/box/front subframe.

Fair point.. I'd imagine that would also be a very costly process? My money is on the bean counters cancelling it (expensive development & manufacture vs. limited production and few sales - and GM isn't Bugatti) rather than some mechanical problem..

Its not uncommon for limited run cars to be hand modified, or for some optional extras (or even standard features!) to be retrofitted at end of line.

For example, no Rover 600 had A/C fitted on the production line, although a significant proportion had 'factory fitted' A/C. They were redirected to a building were a load of blokes retrofitted it to a finished car.

[2woody]

I'm fairly sure it was to do with internal GM politics.

GM Europe obviously wanted a "flagship" car, but they have convinced themselves that Europeans want quiet, comfortable "grown-up" cars with lots of toys.

Despite the Holden Commodore being available in Australia, I can see Opel developing the Omega V8 as just such a car in the knowledge that it would be much easier to make the car they've got, just with a different engine than to "Lard-ise" a Holden.

Probably got resolved when GM USA stepped in and made a compromise to import the Monaro only.

I certainly don't subscribe to the cooling theory - the only thing wrong with the V6 cooling system is the thermostat operating temperature - and that's done for emissions reasons. The Holden engine bay is massive, but sealed at the bottom, yet the radiator is the same size as the Omega.

[feeutfo]

Certainly not the cooling of the cooling system, but the cooling of the rear manifold outlets from the head cant be great? And associated area?

The flat on the rear cylinder "primarys" is telling, and looks restrictive...?