All swaps are not created equal. Some are weird for the sake of being weird. Some are entertaining because they are so wrong, and some, like this one are just plain interesting and different. The car is a 1981 Chevy Citation X-11 and the engine which was plugged into it is a 4.9L Cadillac V8. The transmission is the same four speed that was likely hooked to the V6 which was in the car when it was built. Citations on their own are strange little cars and the 4.9L engine is a bit of a strange duck as well. That being said, the two merged together are probably fun as hell. For reference the 4.9 should make about 200hp and 275 lb-ft of torque.
The “high technology” family of Cadillac engines showed up on the scene with the 1982 HT-4100 model and it was pretty much a disaster. The V8-6-4 engines did not have the technology to make the multiple displacement system work and the 4.1 was rushed into service to replace that mess and ended up creating a mess of its own. Prone to stuff like intake gasket failures, the mill was revised to a 4.5 model and that really improved the quality, power, and reliability. Lastly was the biggest rendition, the 4.9 which is what this car has in it.
The X-11 Citations were more than a sticker package. While they only had 135hp or so from a few different versions of the 2.8L V6 engines that powered them, they got performance exhaust systems, upgraded suspension components like bigger sway bars and the gearing in the 4-speed overdrive transmission was more performance oriented as well. Pigs as they were, Chevy was at least trying and Citations actually fared very well in early 1980s SCCA showroom stock racing.
This car looks pretty clean. Yea, the brown paint is depressing looking and the driver’s seat is worn but you’ll hear the engine fire up and it sounds pretty sweet. The swap looks really cleanly done and like the engine should have been in there from the factory.
Don’t get us wrong, we’re not running over the buy this car but for $2,500 you could have yourself a really unique little rumbling hotrod that may shock an unsuspecting victim now and again.
Check out the video, then the photos, then hit the link for the CL Ad below!
CL Ad: Caddy 4.9L V8 Powered 1981 Citation X-11 for sale!
for $2500 bucks Id rock it
No. F***ing. Way. Every single remaining X-Car should be rounded up and crushed. Miserable excuse for a car.
X2.
$2500 for this? With that power train? Ridiculous.
But a perfect excuse for a bad ass sleeper.
If this was converted to RWD, it would be bad assery in a whole new way!
Wish I had the money. But, I have an 81 X11 cowl induction fiberglass hood, cowl induction air cleaner, rear spoiler and custom alloy wheels. Would dress this one up nice.
standard swap, not strange.
very easy to do. as the Fiero guys have already sorted this swap out with mounts, harness,ecu ect
Is the car still available? I had an X-11 in high school.