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Is the Pushrod V8 on its last leg?

What is the world coming to?
Posted May 2 2008 05:36 AM by MFicacci 
Filed under: Super Chevy Comments

LS1

       Many people around the office (and I won’t name names) have inferred that both in the 60’s and now, General Motors and Chevrolet have made horsepower “the hard way”. By this, they are inferring that “the hard way” is the 16-valve, pushrod, V8 that we all know and love. Ford went to overheads cams, 4-valves, 3-valves, and everything else under the sun, in order to free up valve-train loss, and maximize combustion efficiency.


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ZR1

       The LS-series of engines is the best of the best in General Motors horsepower, fueling the Corvette, G8, Camaro, and Trailblazer, but after all, still fits the mold of “the hard way”. With EPA standards getting worse everyday for factory horsepower junkies, and fuel prices skyrocketing, what should we (big displacement lovers) do?

       I want to know what you guys think. Is it a noble cause to keep pursuing the pushrod V8, or is it time to look into other means of horsepower? What do you guys think about the 4.4-liter supercharged V-series from Cadillac. 470 horsepower, good fuel mileage, easily tunable. It is finally time to move to small displacement with a power adder? Should I dig a hole and jump in?

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Reader Comments:
1. It should be noted that Mr. Ficacci is referring to the Ford contingent that shares our office space in New Jersey, and their opinions are not those of Team Super Chevy.

Bottom line is the Mod Motors from Ford are lumps. Despite have long strokes, they make no torque. That's why Ford had to put a supercharger on the 4.6 and 5.4 V-8s—to make the kind of power that a 6-liter LS2 makes WITHOUT a blower. And the LS engines still get better fuel economy.

Now the Corvette is coming with a supercharger and a 6.2-liter engine and the Ford guys are crying. Boo hoo. The ZR1 should be an easy 10-second piece out of the factory and a low-10-second car with the usual tweaks (blower pulley swap, exhaust, drag radials.

I say keep the LS engines and pushrods until someone can show a better way. And for those who want less displacement? Maybe a 5.3 LS with a turbo. That wouldn't be bad.

Jim Campisano    - Posted May 2 2008 06:32 AM

 
2. The Ford modular engines are more inefficient and costly than the LS-series GM engines. Physically they're bigger, so you need mroe space int he engine compartment to fit them, they make less power (including ever important bottom end torque) and actually cost more to produce than the LS engines.

The argument that making power with a pushrod motor is doing it the hard way is absolutely ignorant. A well designed pushrod motor with a properly proportioned bore and stroke is an efficient and cost effective motor to build. Look at how many more vehicles oyu can install an LS engine in compared to the balloon like modular motor.

The best course of action is to go small with the displacements, whiel still keeping the power levels up with more powerful ignition systems and power adders like turbo and blowers. Remember when the old 215 cid all aluminum V-8 came out in the Tempest in the early 60s? Right idea, just way ahead of it's time. Look at what Range rover did with that engine for almost five decades!

55Guy    - Posted May 2 2008 12:07 PM

 
3. And do we even want to talk about the Chrysler garbage out there?! The new Hemi is a gas burning pig, and their OHC 4.7L V-8 was a poor replacement for the good old 318 LA/Magnum V-8.

55Guy    - Posted May 2 2008 12:09 PM

 
4. I think that the LS is a good way to go unless someone can come up with a less deplacement engine with lots of horses and good mgp, but until then i would keep goin with the LS.

lilmagoo    - Posted May 6 2008 07:37 AM

 
5. The thing is, just like GM did with the Gen I small block back in the 70s, you can pretty much have any displacement you want with the LS series. You could have a 262, or even a 221 CID LS motor with no problems.

If I remember correctly, the smallest Gen I small block you could build with factory parts is a 230 CID engine.

55Guy    - Posted May 9 2008 10:13 AM

 

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