I was talking to someone today on another forum that wanted to know why the Z06 has fewer valves than another car and some of the responses were along the lines of the Z06 being older tech. and that more valves are better. To me that just seems like ignorance and I don't know enough about the technical stuff, so I was wondering if anyone here could give me some good facts to back up the argument that the Z06 is NOT older tech and that it is not inferior to any car that has more valves. If you could either give me info that would be great. Or even feel free to post yourself on the forum here:
http://www.hardforums.com/showthread...hreadid=469448

Thanks

 

Well .. the LS6 is older technology, strictly speaking, but it's certainly not inferior. More valves means more complexity, possibly overhead cams, etc .. all great stuff which adds to the cost and complexity of the engine. The bottom line is performance. When they start waving the checked flag at the car with the most valves, well ... you get the idea.

 

Due to the design of the heads and intake system GM has been able to increase the horsepower per cubic inch to greater than a 1 to 1 ratio.
Advances in engine control technology has also contributed to making power safely and still giving a warranty of 36,000 miles.

Also the engine is almost 350 cubic inches.
Most of the four valve per cylinder engines are a LOT smaller and NEED the added complexity to make as much out of a small engine as possibe.
With that complexity comes more upkeep (more moving parts) and higher repair cost.

The LS1/LS6 engines could be considered "old technology" but they are pretty efficient using just a couple of valves and pushrods per cylinder to make 350-405 horsepower.
AND getting 25-30 Highly Miles Per Gallon.

Remember the old saying: "There's no substitute for cubic inches."

Ask your friend if his engine is still an internal combustion engine.
Yeah, that old technology.....internal combustion.... still using fire.......right?
Hmmmmm.

I've got a 4 valve per cylinder Honda... NEW TECHNOLOGY and it doesn't make NEARLY as much power as my OLD TECHNOLOGY Corvette.
Why is that?

Some folks have watched the "Fast & The Furious" a little too much.

Little boys play with ricers.
BIG BOYS play with Corvettes, Vipers and stuff like that. You know. . . . "old technology".

Best,

 

Push rod technology (one cam, two valves per cyclinder ) is older, but the small block chevy V8 has been refined over the years to where it no longer resembles the old 283s, 327s, and 350s.
This means you have the lighter front end weight with the advantage of more performance. :chevy
Ps: I'm talking stock performance. Some manufacturers add a turbocharger (or two) or a supercharger and this increases the weight (more valves also equals more hardware).


[Modified by tjfees, 12:18 PM 8/7/2002]