More info than meets the eyes

Surprised no one caught this:
http://www.auto.com/industry/gm19_20021119.htm

"General Motors Corp. will invest $80 million in its Saginaw Metal Casting plant to produce a new all-aluminum V8 engine block beginning in the second half of 2006.

The investment will protect 191 of the 2,400 jobs at the facility, said Mike Williams, manufacturing manager for GM Power Train Components and Casting.

The plant will produce 1,500 to 2,000 of the aluminum engine blocks daily, or 360,000 to 480,000 annually, said plant manager Rick Sutton.

The engine is more powerful and fuel-efficient than the iron-block Generation III V8 it will eventually replace. GM says the engine will produce more than 450 horsepower :eek: . Displacement will probably range from 5.3 liters to over 6.0 liters.

The Saginaw plant bested competition from low-wage countries including Mexico and Brazil to win the program, Sutton said. "That's an enormous accomplishment," he said, citing the plant's higher wage structure.

"These are the kinds of jobs we want to keep in Saginaw," he said. The new engine block should create some nearby jobs for suppliers who will get the finished blocks ready for assembly at GM's Romulus engine plant. The engines are used in pickups and SUVs. A slightly different version of the aluminum V8 will go into production for GM passenger cars for the 2005 model year. That engine will power the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XLR Roadster and other high-performance and full-size rear-drive cars :eek: .

Saginaw will not supply the cylinder blocks for passenger-car versions of the new V8.

The Saginaw plant will use a new process called precision sand casting to produce the blocks. The process allows the block to be lighter and built to more exacting specifications, Sutton said.

GM plans to eventually convert the Saginaw plant entirely to the production of aluminum components. GM will receive tax abatements from state and local government to offset the $80-million investment."

According to this article:
1. C6 will have 450hp out of possibly a 6.0 liter engine
2. This engine will replace the LS1/Vortec engines in 2005
3. Corvette & XLR will not be the only high performance cars to have a V8 (GTO won't be the only one).
4. Although XLR is mentioned, this plant will only make components of it's engine, not the engine which means it'll likely still be Cadillac's Northstar (wanted to point that out before someone came up with something crazy.

I've always said, you can find out more about what's going on behind the scenes following the plants than you can knowing the big guys.

wicked.your the best at finding this stuff.:bow:

Heres more from a different area:
http://www.auto.com/industry/iwira21_20021121.htm

"General Motors Corp. may spend as much as $300 million on an expansion at a Michigan factory to build new six-speed, rear-wheel-drive transmissions.

The world's largest automaker will decide in the next few months whether to make the investment at the Willow Run transmission plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, spokeswoman Darla Park said. The transmissions probably would be used starting in 2005, she said.

The state of Michigan yesterday granted General Motors a $17.1 million tax credit covering a 20-year period for the proposed expansion. The company also has received a tax credit from the local government in Ypsilanti, Park said.

The new transmissions probably would be for "performance vehicles" starting with the 2006 model year and large sport-utilities beginning with 2007 models, she said. The Detroit-based automaker wants to expand its lineup and win back U.S. market share. General Motors had a 28.1 percent of the market last year, maintaining its share for only the second time since 1990."

Makes you think doesn't it?! I wonder what they really have planned??

so are those auto or stick.my guess would be auto.

Finally some news of interest. :alert:

and i thought i was the only one who looked at this section of the board at least 3 times a day

Originally posted by number77
and i thought i was the only one who looked at this section of the board at least 3 times a day nope i check it all the time,more on the weekends.

Originally posted by guionM
That engine will power the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XLR Roadster and other high-performance and full-size rear-drive cars :eek: .

[/B]
This line makes me take the rest of the predictions in this story with a grain of salt.

There is no way that Caddy would ever let it's XLR be powered by a smallblock Chevy.

Originally posted by Z284ever
This line makes me take the rest of the predictions in this story with a grain of salt.

There is no way that Caddy would ever let it's XLR be powered by a smallblock Chevy. why not the CTSv is getting it and the XLR is built on the same platform as the vette so in a few years they update it and to save cost they put the same motor as the vette.

Originally posted by 97z28/m6
why not the CTSv is getting it and the XLR is built on the same platform as the vette so in a few years they update it and to save cost they put the same motor as the vette.

Sorry I agree with Z284Ever. The XLR is different because it will be Cadillac's flagship, and as such they will want a high performance Northstar. It's just one of the justifications of charging $70k as opposed to $45k for the Corvette.

Does anyone think this is the twin cam in block engine?

I think it's odd that GM would show it off and brag about its wonderful specs and then not produce it. It seemed pretty well developed.

Originally posted by Z28Wilson
Sorry I agree with Z284Ever. The XLR is different because it will be Cadillac's flagship, and as such they will want a high performance Northstar. It's just one of the justifications of charging $70k as opposed to $45k for the Corvette. i see GM downsizing to one style of v8s with several variations.

Finally the first real concrete info on the C6! 450hp and a small weight reduction should make it a Viper killer. Lets hope the Vette continues to stay in the 40k-50k dollar range. Interesting stuff indeed.

Originally posted by 97z28/m6
why not the CTSv is getting it and the XLR is built on the same platform as the vette so in a few years they update it and to save cost they put the same motor as the vette.

The CTSv getting the the LS6 is purely a marriage of convenience.

Caddy was afraid that the original powerplant for the high perf CTS..the upcoming high feature V6 3.2l turbo with about 320 hp...might not have the oats to give the CTS world class performance....and the Northstar wouldn't fit the CTS's engine bay.

Believe me...every version of the Northstar will fit in the XLR.

they are making 1 part here 1 part over there and before you know it there will another part here and another part there once you but all the parts you will be able to build your own new Camaro:D

Originally posted by Z284ever
This line makes me take the rest of the predictions in this story with a grain of salt.

There is no way that Caddy would ever let it's XLR be powered by a smallblock Chevy.

I agree Z, that's why I also posted:
"4. Although XLR is mentioned, this plant will only make components of it's engine, not the engine which means it'll likely still be Cadillac's Northstar (wanted to point that out before someone came up with something crazy)."

I figured someone would eventially misread the article. It mentions that this plant will make components not the actual engine for the passenger car line.

I hope all this cool stuff is for a Camaro!!

Man that news gave me good vibes. Camaro shall drive again!!!!

Originally posted by guionM
I agree Z, that's why I also posted:
"4. Although XLR is mentioned, this plant will only make components of it's engine, not the engine which means it'll likely still be Cadillac's Northstar (wanted to point that out before someone came up with something crazy)."

I figured someone would eventially misread the article. It mentions that this plant will make components not the actual engine for the passenger car line.

Oh, I got that part.

This is the line in the story that makes me suspect everything other than the plant info:

"That engine will power the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XLR Roadster, and other high performance and full size rear wheel drive cars."

The engine they are talking about is the GENIV smallblock.

I think the chances of a smallblock in an XLR are about even with the chances of a Northstar in a Camaro. :eek:

See --- I tried to tell you that performance wasn't dead....

Oh well, I'll just, (as one poor unfortunate told me to do once....)
go and shut my pie hole.............................................. ...

Yeah but we want that performance to be a Camaro, you know the car that competes with the M*****g?! :) ;)

Originally posted by IZ28
Yeah but we want that performance to be a Camaro, you know the car that competes with the M*****g?! :) ;)

I'm with you IZ28. I love hearing about future GM performance, but my automotive world revolves around the Camaro.

PS
It's okay to say Mustang.

LOL, no its not. :D The Camaro is the most important performance for GM in terms of sales and market. It can be the way it was again, look at the M*****g, look at the 1st-Third Gens. Let us know something at least already.

I got a e-mail yesterday that pretty much reinterated that GM will have at least 2 (non Cadillac and he wasn't refering to Corvette) rear drive performance cars in 2005 as 2006 models.

Didn't name any specifics, but my wild pie-in-the-sky guess is a Chevy sedan, a Pontiac coupe, Pontiac Bonneville's and Park Avenue's replacement.

Originally posted by guionM
I got a e-mail yesterday that pretty much reinterated that GM will have at least 2 (non Cadillac and he wasn't refering to Corvette) rear drive performance cars in 2005 as 2006 models.

Didn't name any specifics, but my wild pie-in-the-sky guess is a Chevy sedan, a Pontiac coupe, Pontiac Bonneville's and Park Avenue's replacement.

If true, I think one is a given... GTO.

Perhaps the 2nd would be Solstice?

Originally posted by Darth Xed
If true, I think one is a given... GTO.

Perhaps the 2nd would be Solstice?

I have a feeling that Pontiac is going to expand beyond GTO, I don't see them investing in making a one trick pony here. That's why I suspect Pontiac is getting an entire coupe line. Someone at Pontiac mentioned that possibility about a year and a half ago, and nothing's been heard since. As for Solstice, I don't believe these engines & transmissions are going to those cars.

What stups me is as far as I can tell, unless there is somthing I'm missing, I don't know where GM is going to make these RWD cars, unless they are hiding these plans buy aiming to produce these RWD cars at a factory that also makes FWD models (a move that Ford is doing at their Chicago plant).

Originally posted by guionM


What stups me is as far as I can tell, unless there is somthing I'm missing, I don't know where GM is going to make these RWD cars, unless they are hiding these plans buy aiming to produce these RWD cars at a factory that also makes FWD models (a move that Ford is doing at their Chicago plant).

Ya, it's hard to predict who would have the room/capacity to build these cars down the line, but based on today, who has extra room?

I know my local plant (Lordstown, OH (Cavalier/Sunfire)) has a lot of extra space where the old Van Plant was... as far as I know (I havent been inside in a long tme) they are just using that space for storage... I suppose if they really wanted to, they could utilize this space again. This is 100% pure unfounded speculation though. ;)

I know of a pretty large plant a little north of me that's currently setup to produce RWD cars but isnt producing anything...

Originally posted by Chuck!
I know of a pretty large plant a little north of me that's currently setup to produce RWD cars but isnt producing anything... ummmmmm.interesting.

Originally posted by Chuck!
I know of a pretty large plant a little north of me that's currently setup to produce RWD cars but isnt producing anything...

I too know a plant north of me that was set up to build RWD cars...in Quebec, Canada. :(

Originally posted by Red Planet
See --- I tried to tell you that performance wasn't dead....

Oh well, I'll just, (as one poor unfortunate told me to do once....)
go and shut my pie hole.............................................. ...

Watch it there my martian friend! :D

All these plants and upcomming vehicle releases are viscious facts and no self-respecting nihilist motorhead's going to be swayed:death: :dead: :confused:

On the real side...good to see you lurking!


I have some offers to judge car shows for you. Your popularity could skyrocket!:cool::eek: :bow:

Here's another look back.....

Originally posted by Joe K. 96 Zeee!!
Here's another look back.....

Wow I forgot about that.


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Red Planet
See --- I tried to tell you that performance wasn't dead....

Oh well, I'll just, (as one poor unfortunate told me to do once....)
go and shut my pie hole.............................................. ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That would have been ME. And I still stand by it.

Originally posted by hp_nut
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Red Planet
See --- I tried to tell you that performance wasn't dead....

Oh well, I'll just, (as one poor unfortunate told me to do once....)
go and shut my pie hole.............................................. ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That would have been ME. And I still stand by it.

:confused: First, I don't remember what caused you to say such a thing, and second, why you would still stand by it.....

That article threw me on a loop. Is the base c6 getting a 450hp 6.0? or is this the z06 (which i thought was getting 500). I'm asking because the Ls2 was supposed to put out 400hp (on paper atleast).

Remember, this was written a while ago....well before we had official figures for the Corvette LS2. The most recent figure of 400hp stands till someone can get one on a dyno.

Originally posted by Z28Wilson
:confused: First, I don't remember what caused you to say such a thing, and second, why you would still stand by it.....


Oh we oughtta probably let it drop. But to make a short story even shorter. We were bitchin about why we don't get LS1 caprices and Monaros over here, and RP was basically making all of us Aussie LS1 car fans feel bad.

Wow, when I first started reading this, I was thinking "C6, 450hp...we know its 400..."

Then I saw the date at the bottom :D I've been on this board for over a year before that, and yet I never saw that post...I woulda remembered :)

Isn't this new aluminum block the GenIV slated for the SUV's, Pickups and passenger cars?I was under the impression that when GM phased in the GenIV, all vehicles would get aluminum blocks.

The current 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 GenIII engines are all iron blocks. The 6.0 started out with iron heads also. The 5.7 LS1 was Chevy's first new aluminum small-block. Aside from not having the production capacity to support Pick-up applications, the design hadn't been proven in a truck application.

Moving to aluminum blocks across the board greatly simplifies GM's small-block engine family. All using the same architecture, materials, and mfg process.

Also makes their pickups that much lighter than Dodge or Ford!

Speaking about a blast from the past! :eek:

Great to see things panning out as planned. Who knows? Maybe the LS2 actually does produce that 450 hp mentioned in that article. ;)