mini zr-1? 4 cam 24 valve 300 hp

[BOB HDZ]

has any one seen the new mini?

[Aurora40]

Are you talking about the GM corporate "high feature" OHC V6? I don't think it has any real relationship to the ZR-1.

[BOB HDZ]

yea there putting these in the new camaro base car. and cadillac

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

Are you talking about the GM corporate "high feature" OHC V6? I don't think it has any real relationship to the ZR-1.

Yeah, but I think Bob's point was the DOHC approach, and not so much the LT5 specifically, yes? W/ the new fuel economy regs on the horizon, it seems apparent that GM was going to have to consider a return to a 4-valve DOHC config to get any kind of performance from small displacement/efficient motors. Whenever doing a side-by-side comparison, the multi-valve, OHC config kicks butt. I drove a little Aveo for a bit; had a 4 banger w/ a DOHC/16 valve in it - damn thing surprised the hell outta me - would really scoot!

I'm betting we'll see more OHCs or DOHCs in the future from GM and others. Ford (for one) has really pushed that OHC concept out quite a bit - even pick-up trucks have 'em. When a N/A 4.6L Mustang makes ppl at an "all Corvette" drag event sweat bullets where none of the Vettes are packin' less than 5.7L pushrod motor, or Pete rubbin' shoulders with 10 seconds using a N/A 350 LT5, it seems to the casual observer that the only way to get comparable power from a 2-valve pushrod is to go to the cubic inches well again.

I'm not making a point except to say that it seems like stubborn tenacity to look a better technology in the face and continue to "drive a square peg in a round hole" (so to speak) with push-rod motors - especially in their flagship car; the Corvette. Ponder what 6.2L Northstar motor might make...for example

Just rambling.

P.

[tomtom72]

I was watching one of the episodes of that Ultimate Factory series over the weekend and almost fell over when they showed the new base V6 for the camaro.

Watching them build the motor; I thought I saw some genetic connections to our LT5's. I could be wrong.

Made me think what would direct injection do for an LT5?

To Paul's point of the square peg in the round hole....looks like hind sight may be 20/20 in the "it's to expensive to mass produce " vein. Where would the GM DOHC development be by now if a different decision was taken back in the late 80's.....they beat Ford to the punch and then gave up.

[scholtmj]

I don't think it'll be too long before GM creates a direct injection V8 with DOHC and cam phasing. Everything is already made, they just have to put it together and package a lightweight car around it. C7 Vette?

[BOB HDZ]

i think that will happen to !!!

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by scholtmj

I don't think it'll be too long before GM creates a direct injection V8 with DOHC and cam phasing. Everything is already made, they just have to put it together and package a lightweight car around it. C7 Vette?

GM has already dropped this idea. They had the opportunity to redesign the Northstar and decided not to. The current Northstar will likely fade away soon too, as soon as they drop or replace the STS and DTS.

I guess I'm not following the point of the thread. GM had DOHC motors before the ZR-1. Oldsmobile's Quad 4 came out in the 1980's. They've had DOHC V6's since about 1991 with the 3.4L "Dual Twincam" and then the shortstar Olds V6. There was also a euro DOHC V6 which I believe the current "high feature" engine was derived from. The latest 300hp version is just an evolution of that.

It's not some huge change in direction for GM, unless you mean installing it outside of a Cadillac. That might be more a factor of there being no other decent V6 anymore. GM killed the Buick pushrod motor, so what else would you put in a car as heavy as a Camaro or G8? That crappy narrow-angle pushrod V6 wouldn't cut it power-wise. Nor cost-wise when you consider a base Camaro still stickers for 23 large. By comparison with previous gen Camaro, you could just about buy a stripper Z28 for that much.

[LGNDLT5]

[quote=tomtom72;76365]I was watching one of the episodes of that Ultimate Factory series over the weekend and almost fell over when they showed the new base V6 for the camaro.

*Just got my '10 "LLT-V6" Camaro, absolute screamer! Not as quick as my '91 Z but that is just a few mods away. This motor seems to respond well to basics exhaust iat relocation etc. But the best will come after the ECM software access gets solved. Just a few basics on this V6: Forged crankshaft, 6 bolt mains, Direct injection, polymer coated pistons, etc.*


Watching them build the motor; I thought I saw some genetic connections to our LT5's.

*No real LT5 heritage that I am aware of. Actually, this engine was developed by Holden and produces in the 380+ hp range with a tweaked "open" engine management computer. Check out the CAMARO5 forum you would be amazed.**

Made me think what would direct injection do for an LT5?
Good Question.

[bb62]

Paul,

I think you are overlooking a key set of variables in why the LS series of OHV engines were selected and have been countinues over the past two Corvette generations.

1. Vehicle aerodynamics - a lower profile engine (i.e. LS versus LT5) were a lower profile allowing for significantly better aero characteristics. This in turn leads to better fuel economy.
2. Manufacturing - far easier decking in the vehicle assembly process.
3. Power density - HP per weight of the engine and HP per package size of the engine. The weight savings also affected overall vehicle weight the potential effect on acceleration.
4. Cost - self explanatory in the case of the LT5. But Chevrolet did put a lot of cost into the LS (from a design standpoint). But with the ability to amortize the cost over many more units (trucks included) the variable costs could be contained fairly well.