GM Engines Information
General Motors has manufactured dozens of different liquid-cooled engines for Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Oldsmobile and Pontiac. Past and present powerplants include the inline four- and six-cylinders, the V-6, the long-running small-block V-8, the musclebound big-block V-8, Corvair's flat four-cylinder, the LT and LS series, and today's Vortec engines. GM's Chevrolet was loyal to the six-cylinder engine for two decades before developing the highly popular small- and big-block V-8s.
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History
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Chevrolets were equipped with six-cylinder engines for a brief period after it joined General Motors in 1917. From 1919 through 1928, Chevys were only powered by inline four-cylinder engines. In 1929, the durable and fuel-efficient inline six-cylinder "Stovebolt Six," so named because the bolt heads looked like stove bolts, was introduced, according to antiquechevy.com.
Significance
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Ford developed a powerful V-8 in 1932, but GM's Chevrolet remained with the straight-sixes for nearly two decades due to its 18 mpg capability and long life. The "Blue Flame," named for the color of its engine block, debuted in 1934 and provided 15 more horsepower than the older straight-sixes, according to antiquechevy.com.
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Air-Cooled Detour
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The 1960-1969 Corvair was offered to compete against the popular Volkswagen Beetle. The Corvair was equipped with a horizontally opposed air-cooled four-cylinder engine, but it generated considerably more horsepower than the Beetle with an 80-horsepower 2.3-liter version, according to antiquechevy.com.
New Sizes
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General Motors introduced its small-block 265-cubic-inch V-8 in 1955. It was compact and powerful without sacrificing too much in gas mileage. The big-block V-8 was launched in 1958. The big-block played a vital role in the muscle-car wars of the late 1960s and early 1970s with its massive 396-, 425- and 454-ci engines.
Technological Advances
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The LT V-8 ultimately replaced the small-block V-8. Superior technology in the LT Series included aluminum heads, a reverse-flow cooling system to cool the heads before the block and electronic controls. These new characteristics allowed the engine to run smoother, cooler and more economically, according to superchevy.com. The LS series is the big-block V-8 version introduced in 1997 and engineered for rear-wheel-drive GM vehicles.
Northstar System
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The Northstar appeared in 1991 and was GM's answer to the new European dual overhead cam V-8s. GM's "Northstar system" matched the V-8 with a sophisticated suspension, steering and braking system. The engine was based on the Corvette ZR-1 V-8 that was designed by Lotus, which was owned by GM. It's used primarily in Cadillacs.
The Vortec
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The 275-hp Vortec 4200 4.2-liter was introduced in 2002. The Vortec name is based on GM's technology that creates a "vortex" in the combustion chamber to create a better air-fuel mixture to increase horsepower. It's the primary powerplant used in GM vehicles today. The Vortec 4300 4.3-liter V-6 is used in GM minivans, full-size vans and compact trucks. The compact Vortec 4800 4.8-liter V-8 appeared in the 1999 Chevy and GMC trucks. It was conceived to develop more efficient use of horsepower in a smaller engine. A new balance shaft helps minimize engine vibration. In addition, a flexible fuel version uses 85 percent ethanol, according to novak-adapt.com.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit flickr.com, flickr.com, novak-adapt.com
