Vortec 8.1L (496) vs. BBC
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 569
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From: SLC, UT USA
Vortec 8.1L (496) vs. BBC
A little confused here and I want to ask some questions before I spend some $$.
In the last couple of years GM released the Vortec 8.1L engine. Is this just a stroked 454 in a GEN VI block?
My primary concern is if other BBC parts are interchangeable, such as cranks, heads...
Someone told me that they thought the 8.1L used an additional head bolt and a different head bolt pattern, is this true?
Anyone know if the 8.1L is a BBC or is it a different animal?
A web site would also be very helpful.
Thanks
In the last couple of years GM released the Vortec 8.1L engine. Is this just a stroked 454 in a GEN VI block?
My primary concern is if other BBC parts are interchangeable, such as cranks, heads...
Someone told me that they thought the 8.1L used an additional head bolt and a different head bolt pattern, is this true?
Anyone know if the 8.1L is a BBC or is it a different animal?
A web site would also be very helpful.
Thanks
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Wi
Re: Vortec 8.1L (496) vs. BBC (dsagers)
Some parts will interchange, but it is a different animal. I'll paste some info:
The 2001 truck line includes a new 8.1 liter 496 cubic inch "8100" big block. The bore will remain at 4.250", but the stroke will be increased to 4.370". The firing order is also new 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 and features individual ignition coils mounted near the spark plugs, similar to the LS1 Gen. III smallblocks. CR is 9.1-1 and it uses Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI). All 8.1 liter BBC production motors come with an internally balanced crank, four bolt main caps and redesigned heads with equal length port runners. The 2001 model 8.1 liter BBC uses a roller hydraulic cam and makes 340HP @ 4200 rpm and 455 ft./lbs. @ 3200 rpm. You'll be able to get either an Allison 1000 5-speed auto trannie or a new ZF S6-650 six speed manual gearbox with this new big block. Both trannies are built for a maximum of 520 ft./lbs. of torque.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vortec 8100 (L18) is essentially a new engine. Nearly 80 percent of its parts have been redesigned. Yet, its foundation is one of the most celebrated engine comonents in automotive history, GM's Big Block V8. The Big Block even competes against diesels n highly demanding marine and industrial applications - in essence giving Silverado and Sierra HD customers a lot more truck engine for the money than they realize.
The new Vortec 8100 shares its predecesor Vortec 7400's value and bore centers and bore diameter. But its stroke has been increased by 9.4 mm (.37 in) for a higher displacement and more power.
The Vortec 8100's 200,000-mile (322,000-km) durability testing includes rigors that no other gasoline engine in its class have been put through; they include running at wide-open throttle for 300 straight hours.
It's low maintenance design requires only normal oil and filter changes during the first 100,000 miles (160,000 km). Oil changes are based on actual need. The Powertrain Control Module records engine temperature and length of operation at a given temperature, the indicates the need for an oil change with an easy-to-read "Change Engine Oil" LCD message in the Driver Message Center. The driver is also alerted to "Check Engine Oil Level," when necessary.
The Vortec 8100's rigid cylinder block uses four-bolt main bearings to optimize crankshaft rigidity. The nodular iron crank is internally balanced and counterweighted to minimize internal stresses and bearing loads. The bearings are produced with a new alloy (A260) that increases their life and eliminates the use of environmentally hazardous cadmium. An elastic material called Vamac is used in place of rubber to suppot the crankshaft's torsional rigidity: it increases both damping capability and durability. A change in the firing order (to 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3) reduces main bearing wear and stress on the crank by seven percent.
The 2001 truck line includes a new 8.1 liter 496 cubic inch "8100" big block. The bore will remain at 4.250", but the stroke will be increased to 4.370". The firing order is also new 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 and features individual ignition coils mounted near the spark plugs, similar to the LS1 Gen. III smallblocks. CR is 9.1-1 and it uses Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI). All 8.1 liter BBC production motors come with an internally balanced crank, four bolt main caps and redesigned heads with equal length port runners. The 2001 model 8.1 liter BBC uses a roller hydraulic cam and makes 340HP @ 4200 rpm and 455 ft./lbs. @ 3200 rpm. You'll be able to get either an Allison 1000 5-speed auto trannie or a new ZF S6-650 six speed manual gearbox with this new big block. Both trannies are built for a maximum of 520 ft./lbs. of torque.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vortec 8100 (L18) is essentially a new engine. Nearly 80 percent of its parts have been redesigned. Yet, its foundation is one of the most celebrated engine comonents in automotive history, GM's Big Block V8. The Big Block even competes against diesels n highly demanding marine and industrial applications - in essence giving Silverado and Sierra HD customers a lot more truck engine for the money than they realize.
The new Vortec 8100 shares its predecesor Vortec 7400's value and bore centers and bore diameter. But its stroke has been increased by 9.4 mm (.37 in) for a higher displacement and more power.
The Vortec 8100's 200,000-mile (322,000-km) durability testing includes rigors that no other gasoline engine in its class have been put through; they include running at wide-open throttle for 300 straight hours.
It's low maintenance design requires only normal oil and filter changes during the first 100,000 miles (160,000 km). Oil changes are based on actual need. The Powertrain Control Module records engine temperature and length of operation at a given temperature, the indicates the need for an oil change with an easy-to-read "Change Engine Oil" LCD message in the Driver Message Center. The driver is also alerted to "Check Engine Oil Level," when necessary.
The Vortec 8100's rigid cylinder block uses four-bolt main bearings to optimize crankshaft rigidity. The nodular iron crank is internally balanced and counterweighted to minimize internal stresses and bearing loads. The bearings are produced with a new alloy (A260) that increases their life and eliminates the use of environmentally hazardous cadmium. An elastic material called Vamac is used in place of rubber to suppot the crankshaft's torsional rigidity: it increases both damping capability and durability. A change in the firing order (to 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3) reduces main bearing wear and stress on the crank by seven percent.
