gene0809

By CAROLYN THOMPSON
Tonawanda, N.Y. (AP) -- General Motors on Friday marked the
end of the line for a class of V-8 engine that's been in
production for 51 years.
The auto maker's western New York plant stopped production
of the latest variation of the "big block" V-8 engines. Plant
manager Steve Finch called it "the end of a remarkable era."
The big engine was developed in 1958 to keep up with the
growing size and weight of American automobiles. Over the years
it's been redesigned, with the latest version, the L18, going
into production in 1999. Made only in Tonawanda, it powers
full-size trucks like the Chevrolet Avalanche and some boats.
Its end puts about 150 employees on indefinite layoff.

Zymurgy

talon90

Doesn't affect Corvette.

Sunset 05

kills the possibility of a big block vette

dvilin

nwc6

8.1 Vortec was a stout engine. I had one in a river jetboat..Hamilton jet had to redesign the impeller because the engine has so much torque it would cavitate the standard "big block" impeller. The standard impeller would hold a HO 454@390hp with no problem. It wasn't too bad on fuel, about 9 gallons an hour at 3100rpm cruise..

The Clevite Kid

Big block engines are only needed for trucks, and if a truck needs a big block, it should have a DuraMax Diesel instead.

That's me in my avatar, changing the number 8 injector on my Chevy Diesel pick-em-up truck .

mike100

Bummer for boat guys and resto-mod truck stuff.

not08crmanymore

Corvettes have been small block since what,The 70's??

nwc6

Fixt..

EuroRod

Wow. Now I wonder what the boat manufactuers will do? There are thousands of BB chev based mercruisers out there. There must be at least 400 just in my marina. Actually, I can't think of any marine gas power that uses a BB, that is not Chev based? Ford and Chrysler made some back in the 60's, and maybe the 70's, but nothing lately. Ford SB still power some ski boats, but other than those,..??? Think I'll start looking for a couple of spares? Damn.

WannagetaZ06

I think that Merc Cruiser has been making their own big block engines for quite a while... I know that is what is in our Searay - Twin 8.1 (496 ci) - but with only 375 horse power each - output.

nwc6

I believe Merc was buying long blocks from GM, marinizing them, (exhaust manifolds, cooling system, (Freshwater or Closed loop), and painting them black.
Ford was making the 460 until about 1998-1999 somewhere in there. GM had the 454. Which switched to the 496 (8.1) in 2001.

MCSSLT1

I'm sure its not the end of the 496. As far as not putting it in production vehicles any more I guess it makes sense. I think they should offer a small diesel option instead of the big gas motor. Lets face it. If you need a motor that big in a truck you SHOULD be buying a diesel.

I'm sure it will stick around in the boats though. I hope it does at least. The 496 is a great motor. I would love to re-power my dad's boat with two 496 HO's (425hp). Currently it has twin 454's (350hp).

tomc8at

Rut-Row

nwc6

This might make a suitable replacement;http://www.gm.com/experience/technol...LSA_Marine.pdf

70454

The story affects those of us that have big block GM Vettes. It's interesting to know the engine plant that built my 454 is going under.

MCSSLT1

The point is some people on this forum are just outright rude.

There are so many times i wish this board had a user rep rating system like some of the other boards I use.

Zymurgy

Well, excuse me! I was asking a valid question. This is the C6 General forum, so I did not see what it had to do with us.

Thanks, I can understand that. Still not sure why this belongs in C6 General though.

MCSSLT1

Its just a general GM article. There are tons of these that pop up all the time. At least its GM related.

Besides would you rather read that article or another thread that says. How does a Z51 ride or is the GS worth it thread?