[baby-vortec2900]

I am a Colorado fan( even a member of coloradofans.com ) and always have been. But there is one thing that I have never understood. Why did GM not put the 4.2 I6 in the colorado when it came out in 2004, as it is little more then the truck version of the Trailblazer SUV? The 4.2 would have greatly improved the capabilty and both vehichles use basicly the same transmission( or exactly the same, I'm not sure ) So why did GM cut it down a cylinder and go with what is now the 3.7 5 cylinder? It doesn't make much sense to me. Can anybody else help me out?

 

[nsap]

The Atlas 4.2 I6 does not fit in the current Colorado/Canyon.

 

[91 s-10baja]

The Atlas 4.2 I6 does not fit in the current Colorado/Canyon.

Period. done.

 

[baby-vortec2900]

And the 5.3 V8 does?

 

[nsap]

And the 5.3 V8 does?

Yep. The length of 4 cylinders < the length of 6.

 

[CHASLS2]

the 6 banger is a inline engine, it's 2 long to fit.

 

[baby-vortec2900]

So now I guess the question is why did GM decrease the size of the colorado from the size of the Trailblazer enough to where the 4.2 wouldn't fit? It and the Trailblazer do pretty close in fuel economy and the power would definitly be more with the 4.2 then with a cut down version

 

[big swede]

So now I guess the question is why did GM decrease the size of the colorado from the size of the Trailblazer enough to where the 4.2 wouldn't fit? It and the Trailblazer do pretty close in fuel economy and the power would definitly be more with the 4.2 then with a cut down version

Because then there would be even less reasons to buy it because it would be almost the size of a full size truck and would probably get the same mileage with less hp and torqe than the 5.3.

 

[nsap]

Because then there would be even less reasons to buy it because it would be almost the size of a full size truck and would probably get the same mileage with less hp and torqe than the 5.3.

What he said. Keep in mind the Atlas I-6 did not even fit in the engine bay of the GMT-800's (former Silverado, Tahoe, et al.). It will fit in the new GMT-900's though.

 

[baby-vortec2900]

Wouldn't it make more sense to develop the colorado/canyon with the same dimensions as the trailblazer( with the same capabilty ) and offer the cut down 4 cylinder for mileage and efficiency and the 4.2 for its capability and power. They already use the same transmission and are both classed mid sized so not offering a 6 cylinder at all is an obvious void. And what better engine to use then the one that powers the vehichle by which the truck was derived from

 

[nsap]

Wouldn't it make more sense to develop the colorado/canyon with the same dimensions as the trailblazer( with the same capabilty ) and offer the cut down 4 cylinder for mileage and efficiency and the 4.2 for its capability and power. They already use the same transmission and are both classed mid sized so not offering a 6 cylinder at all is an obvious void. And what better engine to use then the one that powers the vehichle by which the truck was derived from

GM developed the Atlas 5-cylinder just for the Colorado/Canyon (GMT-355 vehicles). I assume they did this because they did not want to have the massive engine bay needed for the 6. The GMT-355 is similar to the GMT-360 (Trailblazer, et al), but yet quite different at the same time....hard to explain.

 

[CHASLS2]

GM should have made the colorado the same size as the S10 and at least offered a sporty 350hp + v8 version.

 

[baby-vortec2900]

I think it is too small as it is. Making it smaller then it is now would just defeat the purpose. If you are unable to put a 6 cylinder into a mid sized product, your engine bay is too small. If they made it the same size as the Trailblazer, then you could use what is now the 2.9 as your base motor, the 4.2 as a bread and butter engine for it, and the 5.3 for the high horsepower sporty versions. That seems like a more conventional lineup then the four with a five

 

[bouda]

I think it is too small as it is. Making it smaller then it is now would just defeat the purpose. If you are unable to put a 6 cylinder into a mid sized product, your engine bay is too small. If they made it the same size as the Trailblazer, then you could use what is now the 2.9 as your base motor, the 4.2 as a bread and butter engine for it, and the 5.3 for the high horsepower sporty versions. That seems like a more conventional lineup then the four with a five

No, the 355's are a little on the big side. They would fit a 6 cylinder, just not a strait 6.

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

I think it is too small as it is. Making it smaller then it is now would just defeat the purpose. If you are unable to put a 6 cylinder into a mid sized product, your engine bay is too small. If they made it the same size as the Trailblazer, then you could use what is now the 2.9 as your base motor, the 4.2 as a bread and butter engine for it, and the 5.3 for the high horsepower sporty versions. That seems like a more conventional lineup then the four with a five

The Colorado/Canyon are primarily an Isuzu pickup not a Trailblazer with the back cut off like the old S10 vs Blazer, it is really made for a series of 4 cylinder turbodiesel and the occasional gas engine that are put in them by Isuzu everywhere but North America

 

[FenwickHockey65]

Yeah, the 4.2L Inline-6 in my Envoy's a pretty big engine. Compared to a GMT-355, the engine compartment's way bigger.
It's powerful as hell though. It should definitely make its way into the next-gen Colorado.

 

[nsap]

Yeah, the 4.2L Inline-6 in my Envoy's a pretty big engine. Compared to a GMT-355, the engine compartment's way bigger.
It's powerful as hell though. It should definitely make its way into the next-gen Colorado.

As far as I know the 4.2L is dead when the 360's die.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

As far as I know the 4.2L is dead when the 360's die.

Sadface.

That's a good engine. Sucks my wallet dry, but it's a good engine.

 

[91 s-10baja]

Sadface.

That's a good engine. Sucks my wallet dry, but it's a good engine.

yes it is a good power plant and yes it is sad to see it go.
It won many awards and is quite reliable from what I understand.
My boss has almost a hundred k on his and he tows a twenty plus foot trailer w/ his envoy quite often. Not one problem w/ the engine at all.

 

[baby-vortec2900]

As far as I know the 4.2L is dead when the 360's die.

That was a great engine, but if they cannot find a way to work it into the colorado/canyon they need to replace it with a equally good V6 that will bring the colorado up to speed with its V6 competitors. True the I5 has plenty of horsepower but it lacks a cylinder and the displacement of its rivals. Not saying they should do away with the I5 now that they have developed it, but a V6 would do an excellent job in supplementing it. With the 2.9, the 3.7 and an above 4L V6 would be a killer lineup.