Interesting YouTube Video History of the 1985 Eldorado Biarritz Convertable

[DHeins]

Check out this March 2024 link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdpfvBo0Uag 

This guy knows his stuff about the history of the 85 convertible. (Smokuspollutus would love this guy as he hates the 4.1L and swapping out the engine.)

That aside, his overview of the trim and construction of the Eldo is superb. He explains over 900 of these models have recently been exported overseas.  Shocking to think of the 2200 some built that year only half are still here in the States.   

[bcroe]

He is planning a premium burning 403 (probably
bored to 409) with a carb for it.  A stock low
octane 403 went into mine, and every other car
here. He knows how to make them pretty, not so
sure he knows the intimate mechanicals.  The
trans on those is at an age where the first
overhaul must happen. And there are plenty of
failures of the final drive (Stripped gears at
100K here, factory fault). 

Perhaps they are exported for a big profit.
Bruce Roe

[TJ Hopland]

A built 403 does seem like a bad idea with the 325 driveline.   When that was designed they were dreaming that someday they would get a 200hp motor?

[James Landi]

Oh yes... as some of you know, my conversion was an annemic Old's Cutless engine... perfect match for an undersized drive train.  That guy is looking for trouble with that big mill.  Thanks for posting Mr.  Heins. And yes, when I put my 1984 Biarritz up for sale on Ebay in 2006, a potential purchaser hailed from Morocco, and the price was pushed to 16,900.  A collector from Naples, Florida "won" the bidding contest.  James

[bcroe]

I suspect the 82-85 4 speed overdrive TH325 is not
as strong as the 79-81 3 speed used with 350/368
engines and usable on a mild mannered stock 403. 

The 403 gives a lot of torque running on the
cheapest unleaded, but is not built for a lot of
souping up.  It is the engine that should have
gone into the Seville, but came a year too late. 

Eventually I did manage to shoehorn in a TH425
switch pitch in my 79E, along with its bulletproof
final drive.  A 455 or 500 could be fitted to this
trans, but I see no need to do so.  Seems like
parts for the TH425 ar less of a problem, sharing
so much with a TH400.  Bruce Roe