StickSS

I am surprised no one at GM came up with this yet. It is time to retire the old 3.8 Buick and 3.1 and 3.4 Chevy V6 motors. Why dont they just chop off 2 cylinders from an LS2 block and make a 4.5 V6. This is how they made the old 4.3 chevy by cutting off 2 cyls. from a Gen 11 350. The new motor would make a ton of power and torque. The gas mileage would probably be the same or better. A good motor for trucks or an Impala maybe. Look how much they would save on parts. Water pumps, accessory brackets, timing sets, oil pumps, front and rear covers an seals and rings bearings, pistons, rods and bolts would all be the same. Anyone else think this is a good idea. I know some engineer from GM is probably reading this right now.

FastCarsSpeedKills

i think the 3.1 is basically going to be dead rather soon. as for the 3.4 and 3.8 i think some engines are going to be 3.5l and 3.9l variations coming soon in midsize cars. i think whatever any of us could possibly think of here on this board or anywhere else.......GM has ATLEAST entertained the idea.

chuntington101

i think it would be a good idea! this engine would make a killeer engine for smaller cars (like we get here in the UK), and even better if they put 24valve heads on it!!!!!!!

thanks Chris.

02WS6Bird

iTrader: (2)

damn good idea

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

Balance problems of a 90 degree V-6 are hard to overcome in this day of super low NVH (noise vibration harshness) requirements. Nice thought though. Kinda along the same line on why GM used the 4.2L inline 6 as a foundation for the 4 and 5 cylinder engines in the compact trucks.

chuntington101

why is it a problem? there are LOADS of V6's at 90 degrees. i dont think it wouls be that big an issue!

Chris.

org

For some reason I don't fully understand, 60 degree v6's are smoother. That's why a balance shaft was added to the 4.3L. I'd think a lot of the LS technology would be usable on a 60 degree v6, though. A problem I've heard mentioned is that smaller cylinders are easier to clean up emissions wise...so a 6.0L v8 is better in that respect than a 6.0L v6, and so on.

Can anybody confirm or deny this?
org

Another_User

I used to watch what the F-body guys were doing when I was modding my 98 S-10 with a 4.3L.

GMC-YA

Actually the LS1 design came from a V6. I think there was an article in GMHTP a while back about it.

Phoenix 5.7

iTrader: (7)

yup, it was originally researched as a V6, but quickly went to development of a v8. hot rod has a LS1 history article and talked about it

firefighter

I was gonna say the same thing the LS1 was based on a replacement for the 4.3L V6 But it would be nice. The LS's make so much power.

30th TA 0219

with power and fuel efficiency of the inline motors currently used, I don't see any sufficient gains for GM by $pending the R&D. I know I drove a I5 Colorado at 75mph with 5 ppl, and the bed filled with an engine, 6 steel wheels, misc car parts, and a 200lb cube that stood 6 in over the roofline, at the evry end of the tailgate, and got 24.5mpg. That would be pretty hard to beat! The smoothness in power delivery of the Inline motors is preety nice too!

Phoenix 5.7

iTrader: (7)

i know the I-6 back in the day was a torque monster, even though it had low hp

bad2000ss

iTrader: (6)

I was also thinking along the same lines but two different motors. One would be a "baby 5.3L (LH6)" aluminum block 6 cylinder for cars. It would come out to 4.0L. Then a "baby 6.0L (LQ4)" iron block 6 cylinder for trucks which would come out to the same 4.5L you talked about.

Something like this could save General Motors a ton of money in the long run not having to deal with 25 different piston or rod combinations. Consolidate their motor line to 10-12 different motors rather than 25+.

Keith

I read in HotRod magazine that the LSx cylinder heads were patterened after a V6. So I guess tey alread thought of the V6 idea.

30th TA 0219

And I gues this was already discussed in post #9 and #10