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Chevrolet already made your dream car - in the late 60s and early 70s. Then, you could option out a big block Vette with a 427 or 454. The current Suburban uses a updated (and enlarged) version of this basic engine. Side pipes were also an option.

With a 4.37 in stroke, it would take a lot of work to get the 8100 to turn 7000 rpms with reliability. It's more of a torque motor than a rever. Plus it is physically larger and heavier than the aluminum small block, which can be enlarged to as much as 427 ci.

But, there is still a small group of people that would likely pay a premium to once again get their hands on a big block Vette. Maybe if the engine was tuned to move peak power to 5500 rpms, it could make decent power and killer torque. It might not ultimately be as fast as an all-out small block, but it would probably pull very hard at nearly any rpm. And there is something to be said for pavement-melting torque!

 

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Originally posted by StevenJ@Dec 3 2003, 11:15 PM
Yes I know about the Corvette 427s from the mid sixities, the 396's etc, I'm not that slow. I'd like to see a modern version of it however.

* Edit: I meant for the motor to max out at 7000 rpm, redline 6000 rpm, max hp at about 5000-6000 rpm, and max torque at 3000-4000 rpm. Sorry for that bit of confusion.

Hey, no offense meant. I didn't know how aware you were on Corvette history. And the history was key to my point. The big block package probably doesn't have as much performance potential as the next gen small block. But, there is a core group of people who would probably pay a premium for a special edition big block with that "torque all over" feel.

So, we actually agree on that point!

I am still a little confused on your proposed specs, though. You say the engine would "max out" 1000 rpm beyond its redline. Usually, the redline is the maximum designed engine speed - rev 1000 rpm beyond that on a regular basis and something will likely fail.

What an 8100 will be great at is making power all over the place - it won't need to rev too high. A 6000 rpm redline with max power at 5000 - 6000 sounds about right (the truck motor redlines at 5000 rpm in manual transmission form - some development and light weight internals should be able to extend that a little). With the huge displacement and long stroke, I'd expect max torque would be even lower - perhaps in the 2000 - 2500 rpm area. A nice, flat (and high) torque curve would make such a Corvette accelerate hard from any speed in virtually any gear.

Perhaps call it the Mark V engine.

 

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People may rev 502s way beyond 7000 rpm, but the rated redline is 5800 rpm - see http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/perfparts/imag...df/12371171.pdf.

You may not break your engine the first time you go into the red, but repeated journeys there are stressing internals beyond what they were designed for. Great if you are drag racing and tend to do regular rebuilds anyway, but not so great for your street vehicle.

The whole point of a large displacement motor is you don't need lots of revs to get power - look at low high and broad the torque peak is on the 502. That translates into tire melting power a pretty much any rpm.