Here are the details
with a high-lift and high-duration camshaft; premium race-style valve springs; 1.7:1 ratio roller rocker arms; dedicated rocker arm studs; and HP3-specific intake and exhaust push rod. Performance is also enhanced with a dedicated HP3-tuned harmonic balancer, and individual ignition coils for each of its eight platinum-tipped spark plugs.
"We've incorporated all the strengths of the Vortec 8100 truck engine into the Vortec HP3 marine engine, including the emissions and fuel economy improvements we've made over the years," said Terry Andrzejewski, GM Powertrain Vortec HP3 8100 development engineer. "Then we went back and pushed those strengths to an even greater level.
"What's impressive is that the HP3's performance comes from a naturally aspirated design based on a stock truck engine block. So it offers the performance of a marine racing engine with durability of a recreational marine engine, attributes that are unparalleled in today's market."
The Vortec HP3's performance and durability is derived from an impressive list of features. Key features include:
* Specific machined steel camshaft and crankshaft timing sprockets
* Five bearing crankshaft with four-bolt, cast iron bearing caps
* High volume oil pump with weld-reinforced shroud, pickup tube and
screen assembly
* Double roller timing chain
* Coated cast aluminum, 8-quart oil pan with full baffle
* Port and starboard 12mm drain plugs
* Sintered, powdered metal exhaust valve seat inserts
* Crankcase ventilation integral to intake manifold (requires no PCV
valve)
The new Vortec HP3 engine also will be available with a remote oil cooling system with all connections and system wiring, a dedicated marine fuel system, as well as a specific performance marine alternator, starter, flame arrestor and 142-degree Fahrenheit thermostat.
Even though it is built to deliver thoroughbred performance, the Vortec HP3, with its 9.1:1 compression ratio, is designed to run on regular unleaded fuel available at marina gas docks.
GM Powertrain has tasked Innovation Marine in Sarasota, Fla., to add the performance enhancements to the Vortec HP3. Because of the HP3's race boat and recreation boat dual personality, GM Powertrain expects to see considerable demand for this performance marine engine once production begins.
"The new Vortec HP3 will be available to our existing OEM marine engine distributors," said Dunagan. "From the start, the focus with the Vortec HP3 has been to meet market demand for more power from the factory. The Vortec HP3 clearly achieves that objective while increasing product value for our customers."
GM Powertrain engineers also pointed out the synergistic benefits of developing both automotive and marine engines. Information gained from automotive engine development is applied to marine engine development. In turn, information gained from marine engine development, where conditions are much more severe, is driven back to automotive engine development for improved product quality. The new Vortec HP3 was built on the strengths of the Vortec 8100 truck engine. Design improvements realized from the development of the Vortec HP3 marine engine will be used to further improve the quality and performance of the Vortec 8100 truck engine.
