GM Vortec engine

From Free net encyclopedia

Family Type RPO Name Displacement
(Liters)
122I4L4322002.2
LN222002.2
AtlasLK528002.8
I5L5235003.5
I6LL842004.2
Gen. I-EV6LB443004.3
L3543004.3
LF643004.3
LU343004.3
LG343004.3
V8L3050005
L3157005.7
Gen. IIILR448004.8
L3353005.3
LM753005.3
LM453005.3
L5953005.3
LQ460006
LQ9HO 60006
Gen. IVLH653005.3
L9262006.2
Big-BlockL1881008.1
74007.4

Vortec is a trademarked name for a line of piston engines for General Motors trucks. The name first appeared in 1986 on a 4.3 L V6 but is now used on a wide range of different engines. Modern Vortec engines are named for their displacement in cubic centimeters.

Contents

I4

2200

The Vortec 2200 (RPO codes L43 and LN2) is a straight-4 truck engine. It is entirely different from the Family II 2.2 car engine, based instead on the OHV 122 I4 originally used by the 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier. It is designed for longitudinal mounting.

The main change from the L43 to the LN2 was its electronic control module. It also uses air injection to improve emissions and loses the "flex fuel" ethanol compatibility.

The 2200 uses an iron block and aluminum 2-valve pushrod cylinder head. Output is 120 hp (89 kW) and 140 ft·lbf (190 N·m). Displacement is 2.2 L (2189 cc) with an 89 mm bore and 88.00 mm stroke. 2200s are built in Tonawanda, New York.

LN2 applications:

2800

The Vortec 2800, or LK5, is a 2.8 L straight-4 in the GM Atlas engine family, derived from the Vortec 4200 DOHC I6 found in the GMT360 series trucks (Chevrolet Trailblazer, among others). It produces 175 hp (130 kW) and 185 ft·lbf (251 N·m) of torque. The Vortec 2800 is standard equipment on the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission built by Aisin, or a GM 4-speed Hydra-matic automatic transmission.

I5

3500

The Vortec 3500, or L52, is a 3.5 L straight-5 in the GM Atlas engine family, derived from the Vortec 4200 DDOHC I6 found in the GMT360 series trucks (Chevrolet Trailblazer, among others). It produces 220 hp (164 kW) and 225 ft·lbf (305 N·m) of torque. The Vortec 3500 is optional on Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon regular and extended cab trucks. It is standard on the Crew Cab Colorado/Canyon, and the Hummer H3.

I6

4200

The Vortec 4200, or LL8, is a 4.2 L straight-6 in the GM Atlas engine family. It has four valves per cylinder and is a double-overhead cam (DOHC) design. Introduced in 2002 for the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile Bravada, the engine is also in use in the Buick Rainier, Saab 9-7, and the Isuzu Ascender. The Vortec I6 engine has been named to Ward's 10 Best Engines list every year since its introduction.

V6

4300

The Vortec 4300 is a 90° V6 truck engine, replacing the Chevrolet 250 in light trucks and 200/229 90 degree V6s in passenger cars. It is based on the 350 in³ (5.7 L) Chevrolet small-block V8. The engine first appeared in 1985 with the throttle-body injected LB4 in passenger cars (light trucks and vans had carburetors until 1988). In 1991, the limited-edition GMC Syclone featured a 280 hp and 360 ft·lbf turbocharged/intercooled LB4 with the first use of multi-port fuel injection on a Vortec V6. The central-port injected L35 (Vin 'W') debuted in 1992, with better breathing for 200 hp (150 kW). Another CPI engine, the LF6, joined the rest in 1996, while the LB4 was retired after 1998. In 2002, GM introduced a new multi-port injected LU3 engine, and a LG3 variant appeared soon after.

All Vortec 4300s use a cast iron block and heads and 101.60 mm bore and 88.39 mm stroke. They are OHV engines with two valves per cylinder and are produced in Tonawanda, New York and Romulus, Michigan. Power output of the new LU3/LG3 engines is 180-200 hp (134-150 kW) and 245-260 ft·lbf (332-353 N·m).

4300 applications:

LU3 applications:

LB4 applications:

V8

4800

The Vortec 4800 LR4 is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 4.8 L (4807 cc) with a 96.01 mm bore and 83 mm stroke. It is a de-bored and de-stroked cast iron version of the LS1 small-block from the Corvette with aluminum cylinder heads. It replaced the 5.0 L 5000 L30 for the 2003 full-size vans. The LR4 produces 270-275 hp (201-205 kW) and 285-290 ft·lbf (386-393 N·m) of torque. LR4s are manufactured at St. Catharines, Ontario and Romulus, Michigan.

The LR4 features electronic throttle control and does not need exhaust gas recirculation due to a new, more-powerful computer. The LR4 shares the same block and cylinder heads as the Vortec 5300.

LR4 applications:

5000

The Vortec 5000 L30 is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 5.0 L. It is a based on the Generation I small-block from Chevrolet. It was replaced by the 4.8 L 4800 LR4 for the 2003 full-size vans.

L30 applications:

5300

The Vortec 5300, or LM7/LM4/L59, is a V8 truck engine. It is a stroked (by 9 mm) version of the Vortec 4800 and replaced the 5700 L31 in 2003. L59 denotes a flexible fuel version, while the LM7 is a special low-emissions engine. The L33 is made for the pickup trucks.

All Vortec 5300s are based on the new Generation III small-block V8. Unlike the all-aluminum LM4 and L59, the LM7 uses a cast iron block. The block and heads are the same as on the 4800 LR4. Power output is 285-295 hp (213-220 kW) and torque is 325-330 ft·lbf (441-447 N·m). Displacement is 5.3 L (5328 cc) from 96.01 mm bore and 92.00 mm stroke. Vortec 5300s are built in St. Catharines, Ontario, Romulus, Michigan, and Silao, Mexico.

LM7 (iron block, low-emmissions) applications:

LM4 (all-aluminum) applications:

L33 applications:

L59 (flexible-fuel, allowing E85) applications:

LH6

An improved LH6 version with Displacement on Demand will push output even higher. It is a Generation IV small-block and features the improvements found on other Gen4 motors. An early batch of fifty 2005 Saab 9-7X SUVs for the Canada market used this engine with the Displacement on Demand feature disabled.

LH6 applications:

5700

The Vortec 5700 L31 is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 5.7 L. It is the last production Generation I small-block from Chevrolet. It is also the last production all-iron Chevrolet small-block V8. The cylinder heads feature combustion chambers very similar to those of the LT1 V8, but without the reverse-flow cooling. As such, the L31 head is compatible with all older small-blocks, and is a very popular upgrade. It offers the performance of more expensive heads, at a much lower cost. It does, however, require a specific intake manifold. The L31 was replaced by the 5.3 L 5300 LM7. The 2003 model year was the final year for the L31 5.7 L small block V-8 whose origins date back to 1955.

L31 applications:

6000

Image:2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT HO6000 engine.JPG The Vortec 6000, or LQ4, is a V8 truck engine. It is a bored version of the Vortec 5300. Displacement is 6.0 L (5967 cc) from 101.6 mm bore and 92 mm stroke. It is an iron/aluminum design and produces 300-325 hp (224-242 kW) and 360-370 ft·lbf (488-502 N·m). LQ4s are built in Romulus, Michigan and Silao, Mexico.

LQ4 applications:

HO 6000

The Vortec HO 6000 or VortecMAX, technically the LQ9, is a special high-output version of the Vortec 6000 V8 truck engine originally designed for Cadillac. This engine was introduced in other truck lines as VortecMAX for 2006. It features high-compression (10:1) flat-top pistons for an extra 10 hp and 10 ft·lbf, bringing output to 345 hp (257 kW) and 380 ft·lbf (515 N·m). LQ9s are built only in Romulus, Michigan.

LQ9 Applications:

L76

See also the automotive L76

The L76 version of the Vortec 6000 features variable cam phasing on both the intake and exhaust sides, though both are linked. It produces 355 hp (265 kW) at 5400 rpm and 365 ft·lbf (495 N·m) at 4400 rpm. Production starts in late 2006.

L76 applications:

6200

The 2007 Cadillac Escalade will debut with a 6.2 L Vortec 6200 (RPO L92) engine. It is an all-aluminum design which, while still a pushrod engine, boasts variable valve timing, a first in a mass-produced non-overhead cam V8 engine. The system adjusts both intake and exhaust timing between two settings. This engine produces 403 hp (301 kW) and 417 ft·lbf (565 N·m) in the Cadillac, but inexplicably is only rated at 380 hp and 415 ft·lbf in the GMC Denali.

Applications:

7400

The Vortec 7400 was a truck version of the Chevrolet Big-Block engine. Introduced in 1996, it was produced for five years until being replaced by the Vortec 8100.

8100

The Vortec 8100 (RPO L18) is a V8 truck engine. It is a redesigned Chevrolet Big-Block engine and was introduced with the 2001 full-size pickup trucks. It retains the same bore centers as the old 7.4 L big-blocks, but stroke was upped by 9.4 mm to reach 8.1 L (8128 cc) for a total of 107.95 mm bore and 111 mm stroke. It is an all-iron engine (block and heads) with two valves per cylinder. Power output ranges from 225 hp to 340 hp (168 kW to 254 kW) and torque from 350 ft·lbf to 455 ft·lbf (475 N·m to 617 N·m). Vortec 8100s are built in Tonawanda, New York.

L18 Applications:

See also