Demise of the Big Block Engine?

[Terry M.]

Re: Demise of the Big Block Engine?

I have seen a SB Corvair go, and they can really go, if you can keep your shorts clean.

I expect after the publicity about the end of the big block, and the factory claims of a BB Corvair a lot of people will spend a lot of time looking for that BB Corvair. This is how legends are born.

[Ken B.]

Re: Demise of the Big Block Engine?

looks like GM is still selling the 8.1 marine engine for 2010. http://www.gm.com/experience/technol..._HP_Marine.pdf

The news from Buffalo is that marine engines were being stock piled by the industry for the last 2 years.Hope they got enough

[Ken B.]

[John H.]

Re: Demise of the Big Block Engine?

Tonawanda also makes the 3.5 and 3.9 60* V-6's used in the Impala, Malibu, and Lucerne, but none of the articles mentioned that.

[Joe L.]

Re: Demise of the Big Block Engine?

GM must be machining BBC parts some place for all those BBC crate engines. i wonder if 8.1 will show up in the perf parts along with the other BBC ? maybe mercury marine will take over the production.

clem------


As I mentioned previously, I don't think the big block crate engines of the Gen VI variety have been assembled at Tonawanda for a long time. I thought that, MAYBE, the blocks and heads (cast iron variety) were machined at Tonawanda. However, that was contrary to what I was informed when the plant changed over from the Gen VI to the 8.1L.

So, there may very well be an outside firm that machines the block and head castings. After all, Edelbrock casts and machines all of the GMPP big block aluminum heads and Swartz Machine machines the ZL-1 aluminum blocks. So, this sort of work can be done by outside vendors.

[Joe L.]

Re: Demise of the Big Block Engine?

Tonawanda also makes the 3.5 and 3.9 60* V-6's used in the Impala, Malibu, and Lucerne, but none of the articles mentioned that.

John------


That's what I wondered about, too. In fact, I thought that the 3.5L and 3.9L engines were Tonawanda's main product line these days. However, GM also builds these engines at it's Ramos Arizpe, MX engine plant. Also, in one of the Tonwanda articles on the big block, I noted that someone said that Tonawanda had lost a V-6 engine earlier this year. As far as I know, the 3.5 and 3.9 are the only ones they had to lose.

One other thing, though: I believe that Tonawanda has, basically, 2 engine plants that are co-located on the same complex. As I recall, the big block line was part (a SMALL part) of the "main plant". I think this is where the 4 cylinder ECOTEC engines are produced and, maybe, some of the V-6 engines. I think it's the "other" plant that produces the V-6 engines exclusively. So, maybe the folks were only talking about the "main plant" when they said they had lost the V-6 engine this past summer.

At least one thing looks good for Tonawanda: I believe the "bread-and-butter" automotive engine of the future is going to be the 4 cylinders, likely direct injected and/or turbocharged. So, Tonawanda has the right product for the future.