Re: Point/Counterpoint: DOHC v OHV
Unfortunately, I think, it’s “on point” in more ways than one. IMHO, this article is not a good argument for a DOHC platform. First, they had to handicap it by starting with a truck engine for the Coyote, because a truly-comparable Mustang engine is far too expensive to be built vs. the LS3. That’s red flag #1. Then, they acknowledge that the Camaro’s (and Corvette’s) pushrod LS3 produces more power in stock form than the Mustang’s DOHC Coyote in stock form, so they handicap it again by throwing a HP per liter parameter into their testing criteria to save the Coyote’s bacon. Ouch, that’s red flag #2. Does anyone who’s being truly objective really care about HP per liter, as opposed to just the amount of power produced? HP per liter, in a case like this, is nothing more than a BS qualifier, an excuse, vis-*-vis, “Well, maybe my Mustang only has 420HP but it’s NOT FAIR, because your Camaro has more cubic inches!” And just as an aside, the smaller displacement Coyote is a MUCH larger and somewhat heavier engine than the LS3, which begins to shine a light on the potential packaging limitations of a modern DOHC layout. This is important, because if GM designs a Corvette around such a large and heavy engine, then it also needs to consider how that car's dynamics may suffer, especially in this age of rapidly rising CAFE standards, thanks to the greenies.
Please understand that, as I’ve said before, I love the LT5…wouldn’t have owned a Z unless that was fully true. But it seems to me that we’re generally falling into 2 camps here: those who really want GM to move back toward DOHC power for the Corvette, and those who believe that it’s generally not currently viable from a cost perspective. Regardless the final dyno numbers, I think that the entire premise of this particular article does a better job of validating the latter group’s argument.
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