I was thinking about this a couple of days ago and with GuionM's thread about the I-5 I decided to post and ask.

We know that the 5.7 Ltr engine has it's days numbered. This will leave us a 6.0 and perhaps a 6.6? (still speculating) but since the Monte and Impala are both going to move to RWD V8's I'm wondering what engine options would they have and if there would be various levels? Definitely they would have some variant of the HF V6's but what about V8's and would they use the same 4.4 from the Bonneville (from the Aurora?) or would they go to 4.8 and 5.3 ltr versions of the LS1. Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

Just guessing here.

RP has already hinted several; times that there will be two engine families for Camaro. As you mentioned, the 5.7 may be nearing the end of it's life . For performance applications it looks like 6.0 will be used. A 6.4 may be reserved for Z06 only though.

I would also expect a tamer 5.3 to power some of the new RWD sedans that are currently in the pipeline.

I wouldn't be so sure about Chevy using the HF V6 though.....it may be reserved for Caddy, Buick, and maybe some Pontiacs.

As far as Camaro goes....I'm betting on the 6.0 genIV LS2 and the HV 3.9 V6.

 

Hmm interesting, but if the 6.4 or 6.6 whichever.. is reserved for the Z06, would the CTS-V and GTO get them as their engine/options?? (What about their 5.8 ltr engines)

Also how big is the 5.3 in car applications? I know there was a rumor of a Monte Carlo running around Detroit with that engine but don't recall if it fit snug...

 

Not sure about the GTO....but I believe the 6.4 (LS7) will go in a future CTSv.

 

If you are refering to the FWD MC....it fits just fine. The problem is, a GENIII V8 has too much low end torque for that application. Forget about all the rumors you've heard that this package wasn't released because of crash testing......it was all an issue of torque management.

If we ever get a a W-body V8.....expect it to be heavily torque managed.

 

We don't even know if the Monte is going to be around when the new RWD's are produced, they haven't mentioned the Monte Carlo name with the new production. They've only confirmed the Impala (And the GTO right?).

Anyway, I'm putting my money on that LS6 6.0 LTR that was shown in the SS concept as a base engine for the C6, '05 or '06 GTO High Performance vehicle, and the base engine for the next gen Camaro in the high performance application, whatever it will be called (Z28/SS....not in the insurance saver base model of course )

 

my money is also HFV6 as far as v6s and on the Ls2 6.0l and ls7 z06 ? capacity,

also the first sedan/coupe variants of holden's AWD system will appear with the VZ model next year, at the moment they are busy releasing the first gen3 AWD wagon- see below

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/...state=Home_adv

 

I often wonder how much power the 5.3L aluminum block slated for the SSR could be pushed to... especially with a 6-speed manual behind it and inside a 3000-lb RWD chassis.

 

Bonneville GXP is still going to get the 4.4 V8 in 2004, right?

 

Yes.

But the Aurora based V8 works better in a FWD than the cheaper, more compact, cam in block smallblock Chevy....because it has less "tip in" torque.

 

...also, I don't think the GXP's V8 would fit in a W-body.

 

As I've said before, don't be so quick to assume it's the Impala that's going to be RWD, and the Monte Carlo will still be around. Sure, it's very possible, however:

* As was mentioned, the pushrod V8 fits just fine in the W (soon to be mid-lux) body. Jon Moss easily did it a few years ago, and as Z284ever pointed out, the only issue was torque steer.

* The plants currently producing the W car seem likely to be continuing for the forseeable future.

* GM's announcement for the Impala is that it will have a V8 in 2005. It said nothing about RWD.

* GM just finished modifying the W to become mid-lux. Impala was scheduled to convert mid-lux the year after the Grand Prix & Regal. First the MC was scheduled to be a part of that also, then that project was cancelled.

The only thing honestly known is that Pontiac & Chevrolet will have RWD sedans in 2007, Impala will have a V8 in 2005/6, and Monte Carlo probally won't be redesigned on a mid lux.

Personally, and this is just an opinion, I believe the Impala will be put on mid-lux in 2005 (with a V8 as opposed to the Grand Prix GTP's SC V6), Chevy's RWD sedan will be slightly larger on the outside, much larger on the inside than the Impala (just like Holden's Caprice), and Monte Carlo will be phased out completely and/or replaced with a 2 door sports coupe version of this large RWD sedan.

As for engines, on one hand a good guess would indicate the 5.3 V8 for sedans & the 6.0 for performance models. But would GM certify 2 of the same basic engines for this chassis (they wouldn't do it for the 4th gen), and if fuel economy is simular why would they?

 

Bonneville: The 2004 Bonneville GXP goes on sale in early 2004, becoming Pontiac's first model under the GXP performance brand.


It features a 4.6-liter, 32-valve, double overhead cam Northstar V-8 engine with an estimated 275 hp and 300 pounds-feet of torque.


See my other post about interesting GM stuff, it is really worth a read.

 

It has less low-end torque because it's smaller, not because of the whole pushrod-vs-OHC deal. Play around with valve timing events, and it'd be easy to create similar powerbands for both engines.

And if the whole low-end-torque thing is really an issue, there's plenty of engineering solutions to it. With ETC (throttle-by-wire), the sky's the limit. But I don't think it's an honest excuse.

I think the real problem is finding an inexpensive and efficient transmission that can take the power of even a mild GenIII/IV V8. We know the 4L60 ain't up to the task, and the 4L80 is too bulky and heavy, sucks too much power, and is probably too expensive to consider for high-volume use. If the new 6sp transaxle is built to handle modern power levels, I bet the "excessive tip-in torque" excuses stop really f'in' fast.

I'm not particularly concerned about the exact displacement of upcoming GenIV engines - a quarter-liter one way or the other really doesn't affect me as much as the upcoming technology. Will they have variable valve timing/lift? Two cams in the block? Cylinder deactivation? Splayed valves? Variable intake tracts?

 

Good point. The 4.8 V8 has almost as much power as the 5.3 (at least in "truck" trim) yet it gets better fuel economy. However one would think that DisplacementOnDemand will make just about any V8 fuel efficient... although I suspect we'll primarily see it in trucks when it initally rolls out.