GM Vortec engine

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Family Type RPO Name Displacement
(Liters)
122 I4 L43 2200 2.2
LN2 2200 2.2
Atlas LK5 2800 2.8
LLV 2900 2.9
I5 L52 3500 3.5
L5R 3700 3.7
I6 LL8 4200 4.2
Gen. I-E V6 LB4 4300 4.3
L35 4300 4.3
LF6 4300 4.3
LU3 4300 4.3
LG3 4300 4.3
V8 L30 5000 5
L31 5700 5.7
Gen. III LR4 4800 4.8
L33 5300 5.3
LM7 5300 5.3
LM4 5300 5.3
L59 5300 5.3
LQ4 6000 6
LQ9 HO 6000 6
Gen. IV LH6 5300 5.3
L76 6000 6
L92 6200 6.2
Big-Block L19 7400 7.4
L18 8100 8.1

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

[edit] I4

[edit] 2200

The Vortec 2200 (RPO codes L43 and LN2) is a straight-4 truck engine. It is entirely different from the Iron Duke. 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 were built in Tonawanda, New York.

LN2 applications:

[edit] 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.

[edit] 2900

The Vortec 2900, or LLV, is a 2.9 L straight-4 in the GM Atlas engine family. Displacement is increased from the Vortec 2800 it replaces to produce 185 hp (138 kW) and 195 ft·lbf (263 N·m) of torque. First used in the 2007 Chevy Colorado, 2007 GMC Canyon, and 2007 Isuzu i-290.

[edit] I5

[edit] 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.

[edit] 3700

The Vortec 3700, or L5R, is a 3.7 L straight-5 in the GM Atlas engine family. Introduced in 2007, the engine has increased in displacement from 3.5 L in the Vortec 3500 to 3.7 L, producing 242 hp (180 kW) and 242 ft·lbf (327 N·m) of torque. This engine is only offered with the HydraMatic 4L60e automatic trannsmission in the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Hummer H3, and Isuzu i-370 trucks.

[edit] I6

[edit] 4200

The Vortec 4200, or Atlas 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 engine was rated at 275 hp and 275 ft lbs until the 2007 model year when the GMT360 platform received an increase to 291 hp and 277 ft lbs. The Vortec I6 engine was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list every year since its introduction in 2002 through 2005.

[edit] V6

[edit] 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 (the 200 and 229 were known as the V6-90, both were shortened versions of the Small Block Chevrolet). 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 1987). 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. This engines origins date back to 1955, when the original Chevy small-block V-8 was introduced.

All Vortec 4300s use a cast iron block and heads and 101.60 mm (4.000") bore and 88.39 mm (3.48") stroke (bore and stroke dimensions the same as a 350). Connecting rods still measure 5.7" although the rod journal diameter is 2.25". 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:

[edit] V8

[edit] 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 270-350 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.Supercharged aluminum versions said to produce 350 hp were considered for the silverado SS but were shelved. Cost and emissions issues were main considerations.

LR4 applications:

[edit] 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. In Van configuration it produces 230 Net Flywheel Horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 290 Net Flywheel Torque at 2,800 rpm. The engine uses a hydraulic roller cam and high flowing, fast burn style vortec heads. They are identical to the 350s, except for having a 58 cc chamber and 1.84" intake valve.

L30 applications:

[edit] 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 325-335 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. The L33 is an all aluminum block, with higher compression. This application has 310 hp and 335 ft·lbf of torque.

LM7 (iron block, low-emissions) applications:

LM4 (all-aluminum) applications:

L33 applications:


L59 (flexible-fuel, allowing E85) applications:

[edit] 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:

[edit] 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. 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 (Vortec heads have 4 bolts attaching the intake manifold as opposed to the traditional six bolts). The L31 was replaced by the 5.3 L 5300 LM7. The 2002 model year was the final year for the L31 5.7 L small block V-8 whose origins date back to 1955. It is currently being produced for marine applications after some minor changes.

L31 applications:

TBI L31 applications

  • 1996 G-series Vans over 8,500 GVW w/ 4L80E\

Special applications

[edit] 6000

HO 6000 engine in a 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT
HO 6000 engine in a 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT

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:

[edit] 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:

[edit] 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:

[edit] 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 was inexplicably only rated at 380 hp and 415 ft·lbf in the earlier versions of the GMC Denali.

Applications:

[edit] 7400

The Vortec 7400 (RPO L19) 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. The 7.4 L (454 ci) V8 features MPFI (multi-port fuel injection). Among the many improvements was more power for the gasoline engines. The Vortec 7400 big block V8 produces 290 hp (216 kW) at 4000 rpm and 410 ft·lbf (555 N·m) at 3200 rpm.

[edit] 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. The Vortec 8100 is the engine used in the largest Uhaul, their 26' truck.

L18 Applications:

8 Chevrolet Express 3/4 or 1 ton

[edit] See also