Engine blocks and GM plant closings

[C_Spray]

So what does Mercruiser, Crusader and others buy from GM for their marinized products, Complete engines or long blocks or short blocks ? I know the internals get some changes but what do they start with ?
ed

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but hasn't the classic 396/427/454/502 big-block been out of GM's street line-up for almost a decade? The 496 (an entirely different engine) replaced it a long time ago. The high-performance crowd that uses the old-school engine has been doing quite nicely without domestic GM output since then.

The bottom line is that someone will fill the market IF there is enough demand for it.

 

[Steve Miklos]

Mercury?

I think the real question is will Mercury make it through this? We have not bottomed yet and except for sterndrives the market is full of manufacturers. I expect the goverment would pass on funding Mercury so at least the UAW will not end up with it.
Genmar filed just this week.
Steve

 

[Ratickle]

I think the real question is will Mercury make it through this? We have not bottomed yet and except for sterndrives the market is full of manufacturers. I expect the goverment would pass on funding Mercury so at least the UAW will not end up with it.
Genmar filed just this week.
Steve

I still cannot believe the courts are aloowing that to happen. We give the UAW and Fiat billions to take Chrysler off our hands??????? And circumvent US Bankruptcy law to do it. What stupid moron crap:boxing_smiley:

 

[pullmytrigger]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but hasn't the classic 396/427/454/502 big-block been out of GM's street line-up for almost a decade?

yes but theres almost a dozen versions of that engine still available through GM Performance Parts......their still making them

 

[C_Spray]

yes but theres almost a dozen versions of that engine still available through GM Performance Parts......their still making them

But where, and in what volume? The quantity of those engines being sold is almost non-existent compared to 496 production. Those are the only marinized assemblies going out GM's door. So, in a way, we've been without production of our "traditional" big blocks for some time now.

The loss of 496 production might not hurt us high-performance types a lot, but it would be a MAJOR blow to the mainstream recreational boating market.

 

[MacGyver]

My long term guess is Merlind and Dart blocks will be it. But you never know. I can see, as smart as these morons are, semi's with V6's to get better mileage....

Don't most semi's run straight 6's already? :leaving:

 

[scarrab30]

macgyver, 95% of road tractors are inline 6's. The inlines seem to last longer and have a flatter torque curve, plus do alot better on fuel consumption.Ill take a inline anyday over a V. after 33 years in the biz I've driven alot of them good and bad. Brian

 

[TCEd]

What is the difference between a stock 496 and 502 ?

 

[davemyjr1]

But where, and in what volume? The quantity of those engines being sold is almost non-existent compared to 496 production. Those are the only marinized assemblies going out GM's door. So, in a way, we've been without production of our "traditional" big blocks for some time now.

The loss of 496 production might not hurt us high-performance types a lot, but it would be a MAJOR blow to the mainstream recreational boating market.

The 496 is almost gone from the vehicle side anyway, it is being replaced with the 6.0 or 6.2? GM does not marinize anything, merc or crusader or whomever is selling the package does. The BB is still used in huge volumes in the off highway market, mainly generators, to the tune of 50,000 engines a year.

 

[sledge]

The BB is still used in huge volumes in the off highway market, mainly generators, to the tune of 50,000 engines a year.

Clarify that...is it mostly/all Gen VII 496/8.1L or is there any Gen VI 454/502 production? Most of the industrial units are 8.1L that I've seen.

Aren't most of the iron foundries in mexico these days?

 

[davemyjr1]

Clarify that...is it mostly/all Gen VII 496/8.1L or is there any Gen VI 454/502 production? Most of the industrial units are 8.1L that I've seen.

Aren't most of the iron foundries in mexico these days?

The foundaries and GM assembly for off highway are done in Mexico excpet for the 496, which will probably end up there too since it is all but gone for the on highway market. They still use the 454 industrially because the majority of the industrial market runs these engines on dry fuel (LP,NG) and the 8.1 had major problems holding up in those conditions. The 454 was always available from GM with hardened valves and seats. The 454 is still availalbe as a brand new short/long block from GM as well as the 502 and the 502/502, at least through Crusader anyway.

 

[Excalibur Racing]

I believe GM does make marine engines, I rember seeing a supercharged 6.2 for marine use from GM.

 

[Excalibur Racing]

Yep, go to GMPOWERTRAINE.com

 

[Excalibur Racing]

no E

 

[davemyjr1]

Yes, like I said I believe they are replacing the 8.1 with the 6.0 and this 6.0SC will replace the 8.1HO I guess? I would be willing to bet that those output numbers will change once crusader or merc offer it though since they will not use the GM control platform, they will supply there own computer. There is a possibility it would even go up until they are required to be emissions compliant.