Runge_Kutta

Presumably, in MY2019 or MY2020, the GM trucks and Corvette will enter a new generation. For Corvette, this means C8. Tradition suggests that this is when the Gen VI small block will be introduced as well as the next generation of automatic transmissions (ten speeds). Here's what I would guess we'll see in the basic Gen VI small-block.

1) Magnesium block with aluminum heads
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehicles...r10_powell.pdf
http://papers.sae.org/2004-01-0654/
http://papers.sae.org/2006-01-0522/

2) A partially hollowed crankshaft
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8533946.pdf
http://papers.sae.org/2006-01-0016/

3) SIDI with limited HCCI operation
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20130087110.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8312860.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7894976.pdf

4) Three-valve per cylinder head configuration
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6505589.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6505591.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6962134.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7523729.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7854215.pdf

5) Cam-in-cam camshaft
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7789054.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7849829.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7866293.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7966983.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8443499.pdf
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8534252.pdf

6) Maximum displacement less than six-liters ~ 366 cubic inches.

7) Cylinder deactivation

Essentially, I'm saying that they will continue to increase the thermal efficiency of the engine by allowing the engine to switch into HCCI mode. Concurrently, they will try to get mass out of the engine. If they can sort out the remaining magnesium block issues, it will drop the weight of the engine by 40 pounds. If they want high output from smaller engines, the engine is going to have to breathe better. That's why the valvetrain needs to change.

I think that they will stay with the high-pressure direct-injection because I get the sense that a low-pressure system coupled with with "air-blast atomizer" injectors do not permit enough control for HCCI operation.

tuxnharley

Wow, interesting stuff, thanks for posting! I wonder what kind of output that configuration could produce........?

Looks like the sbc pushrod ice is a long way from "dead"!

ChucksZ06

I would agree with some of your suppositions but the magnesium block will not happen. These engines are already very light already and they are not the wt problem in new vehicles porkiness.

I think the cam has a chance if it makes a real difference. A lot of these patents are what if scenarios, not, very often, changes that will actually happen. Thanks for info and I am in no way trying to rain on your parade.

Runge_Kutta

http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/no..._11212_600.jpg

Runge_Kutta

Lightweight pushrods strike me as a good idea if you want to get a 3V small-block to high RPMs:

http://www.alsic.com/_blog/Structure.../tag/pushrods/

They don't need to cost 80$-120$/pushrod.

stevebz06

Maybe I'm dating myself, but it wasn't that long ago that aluminum cylinder heads were a big deal. Aluminum blocks were almost inconceivable. I wouldn't be surprised if some of this technology starts filtering in, starting with non-structural engine components. The L98 in the 1980's had a magnesium intake manifold, so it's not like it hasn't been done before.

Reduced mass is not only like getting free horsepower (or almost free) but also better brakes and stickier tires (cornering), not to mention better mpg.

stevebz06

Before I get jumped on, make that mag. valve covers on the L98.

Supermassive

Gonna just go ahead and say that many of these patents are likely for things used in Chevy's racing programs and has little to nothing to do with actual production vehicles. Patent fishing leads to disappointment due to the fact that a lot of the stuff you see that seems exotic..is. this is Chevy we're talking about here, not Ferrari, or Koenigsegeggeggeg (Lol). A magnesium engine block is so far out of the realm of affordability for use in a mass produced car that it's hilarious. Look at the cost of mag wheels, basically round blanks of magnesium machined into a wheel shape. Now think about how much more difficult it would be to make an engine block. Cast magnesium is not even an option for a block, it will likely come out in some form in the racing world then to exotics and maybe, just maybe in 25 years we might see cars that are "affordable" with magnesium engine blocks.

Speculation is fun, but let's be a little realistic here.

stevebz06

Yeah, you're right! I don't know what I was thinking. Just like carbon fiber will never make it into production, either.

SBC_and_a_stick

Ford is building an aluminum truck next year. Magnesium on a Corvette is entirely possible.

1985 Corvette

I believe the valve covers were magnesium but not the intake. I agree with you on the magnesium components. The C6 Z06 cradle was magnesium and the BMW Z4 engine block itself is made from the same material. Someone discussing the material easily hoisted the block up just using their biceps. Amazing stuff.

CarBoy

I personally believe that by the year 2020, Carbon Nano Tube technology(as well as 3D printing) will be very prevalent in all sorts of manufacturing processes. So things like Magnesium blocks might not happen because the tech got bypassed to newer, better things.

Can you imagine a 366 cube V8 block printed out in carbon nano tubes in less than an hour and only weighs say 5lbs

Supermassive

Jesus, I understand magnesium is used in many applications in production vehicles. I rode many motorcycles that used magnesium components. What we are actually talking about is the ENGINE BLOCK being made of magnesium...and within 5 years no less. There aren't even race cars running mag blocks right now, and I hate to say it if it isn't used in racing, there's probably a reason why.

Carbon Fiber has been used in the automotive industry for quite some time, and it's only now cost effective enough to offer in mid tier performance vehicles. Think about that comment a little more next time since CF was first used in racing cars before I was born in 1980. If they start making race engines now, it may take just as long before it's cost effective enough to mass produce. Theres also the issue of the engine block actually catching on fire during operation...spin a bearing in a mag block and kiss your car good bye. They will need to engineer for all the possible failures and then figure out if the weight savings over aluminum are worth it to use in a mass produced car.

I'm not saying it's impossible...just that it's extremely improbable.

CarBoy

Were you replying to a post by the Lord that I missed?

Bill Dearborn

How about Ceramic engines? It can run at higher temperatures so they can increase efficiency and get more power using less gasoline.

Bill

stevebz06

I think that you are forgetting that VW, for one, has already used magnesium in its engine cases, so it has already been done, and quite some time ago.

As for racing applications, there are things called competition rules that restrict what tecnology can be used. Do you think that Rousch Racing would be running a cast iron, pushrod engine if he had the option of OHC, aluminum block or some other light weight material?

This reminds me a bit of what happened when I opined that GM could replace the cat-back exhaust with titanium to put the C7 on a diet and somebody went nuts about how insanely expensive that was and it just couldn't be done on a mass produced car ... just like it couldn't be done on the C5 Z06 ... oh, wait, it was done on the C5 Z06. Never mind.

With drastically higher EPA mileage requirements coming, light weight materials are part of the solution for the manufacturers, unless we come to our senses and realize we're swimming in oil and the planet is probably not on the verge of turning into a sauna, after all.

Supermassive

Look I'm not saying it can't be done. Also that magnesium case VW used in their flat four engine is hardly the same thing as a small block chevy. But I digress...there happens to be one example of a magnesium engine case that worked. The things is, if the technology is worthwhile, do you not think other car manufacturers would have jumped on this bandwagon?

You have 3 of the most technologically advanced cars the world has ever seen coming out this year. The LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918. All of them utilize aluminum engine cases. These are money is no object supercars, yet none of them deemed magnesium engine blocks as that important of an advance in automotive design to be incorporated into cars that are made almost entirely from exotic materials.

If Chevrolet beats everyone in the automotive industry to the punch and offers a magnesium small block V-8, I will actually eat my shoe (with Cholula of course)!

There are plenty of realistic endeavors that Chevy could invest in...carbon fiber monocoque tech would be one area they should look into. Alfa Romeo is offering the 4C this year for $60k-ish with a carbon fiber monocoque passenger compartment with aluminum sub-frames for a car that will weight a hair over 2200lbs. This tech would be even more beneficial in weight savings than a magnesium engine block.

Runge_Kutta

There is a bigger picture here. While the Congress enacted the increasing vehicle mileage requirements, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is working with manufacturers to help meet these requirements. One of those DOE efforts is this:

http://www.uscar.org/guest/teams/28/...ls-Partnership

One of the ideas is to figure out how to apply magnesium to an engine block. Right now, it is not ready for prime time. Besides cost, two big concerns are creep ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creep_%28deformation%29 ) and corrosion. In the last ten years or so, several improved magnesium alloys have been patented to address creep and corrosion. Next, the alloy must be readily castable into an engine block.

Here a better view into how DOE is trying to help the automotive industry meet future requirements

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/index.html
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehicles...als/index.html
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehicles...materials.html