These engines get an unfair bad rap! The biggest problem was maintenance -- the long timng chain needed more maintenance than a conventional engine, and the entire valve train was different. Mechanics simply didn't know what to do with it! I must admit that it was underpowered when stuck in a heavy duty truck like the M-715 and Wagoneer. Kaiser could have rectified that and other minor problems early on, but it wasn't economically feasible. They simply weren't selling enough vehicles! The proof that the engine itself isn't bad comes from Argentina. Kaiser negotiated a deal with the Argentine government to build cars in Argentina. The 230 Tornado was moved down there -- they wanted as much of the car built in Argentina as possible. Kaiser bought body dies from AMC to produce the Argentine Torino in the Kaiser plant, and assembled knock-down kits of the bigger AMC cars (as well as continued making Jeeps). In 1969, a Torino won it's class in the 24 hour race at Nurburing, Germany, WITH A 230 OHC TORNADO! The Tornado was built through 1982 in Argentina, and put out a maximum of 178 hp in production trim w/3 Weber 45 side draft carbs. They even destroked it to 180 inches. Of course the Torino weighed less than the big Wagoneer/M-715, just over 2,500 lbs. roads are rougher and service further between in Argentina, at least at that time, but they were used to dealing with European cars, and OHC was nothing new. A big limiting factor in the engine design is the single cam lobe for intake and exhaust. Still, the Argentines managed to get around this -- the Torino was a favorite amongst racers through the 70s, and there are still a few racing in Argentina today.
