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Sad Day... Big Block Gone

btfarm

btfarm

America First!
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No More Big Blocks:mad2: A sad day indeed...

GM Plant Stops Making ‘Big Block’ V-8 Engine

Manufacturing.Net - December 18, 2009

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (AP) -- General Motors' Buffalo-area engine plant is marking the end of the line for a class of V-8 engine that's been produced there for 50 years.

On Friday, the Tonawanda (ton-uh-WAN-duh) plant will stop production of the latest variation of the "big block" V-8 engines.

The V-8 was the plant's longest-running engine line but has accounted for only about 3 percent of total volume lately as emphasis has shifted to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The latest version of the V-8, the L18, has been in production since 1999. Its end will put about 150 employees on indefinite layoff.

The Tonawanda plant's main engine line is the L850, a four-cylinder found in the Chevy Cobalt and Malibu. Earlier this year, the plant ended production of a V-6 engine.
 
I don't know for sure but this probably includes crate motors. What becomes of them? 502, 572? If GM won't then I imagine somebody will find a way to pick up that business.
 
Maybe they were referring to factory production. I am sure that someone will pick up and make a smaller amount of engine blocks to fullfill the needs of the specialty people. Just like the crate motors for racing, etc. If they do not produce them, then they will put more people out of business.
 
they must just mean that plant....unless they plan on putting a duramax in the burb anytime soon....I can't see a burb even getting out of its own way with a v6....let alone towing anything or hauling all the kids and the crap that goes with them
 
I've got a 91 with a Tonawanda 454 in it... it has less than 60,000 miles, so it should last for a while. :D
 
HemisAreSlow said:
they must just mean that plant....unless they plan on putting a duramax in the burb anytime soon....I can't see a burb even getting out of its own way with a v6....let alone towing anything or hauling all the kids and the crap that goes with them
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I think they're counting on the latest generation of the small block to handle the trucks and burbs. 6.0, 6.2, etc.
 
the 8.0 liter is the engine that is done. it is not a popular seller. more issues than there worth. plus they only get about 1.3 mpg:D. they never did convert that block over to the newer generation of technology so it never improved. not a huge market for it once the max came out.
 
The 454 is what they should have kept.

It was a great motor as long as you did not pass a gas station! :thumbsup:
 
stacks04 said:
the 8.0 liter is the engine that is done. it is not a popular seller. more issues than there worth. plus they only get about 1.3 mpg:D. they never did convert that block over to the newer generation of technology so it never improved. not a huge market for it once the max came out.
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I wouldn't go that far. It is a great engine. He averages around 12MPG but has seen as high as 15 on flat interstate driving. Those 8.1's power a lot of boats also, I wonder what they'll do for that now?
 
We did some looking around at work on this. They appear to just be killing the 8.1 production line and they had almost exclusively been used for boats and U-Haul trucks the past couple of years. This isn't going to affect the Hi Po crate motor business. You would think though that they would have to stock some 8.1s for warranty and aftermarket.
 
Glad I got my truck when I did. Looks like I'll have to keep it going until I die now. I love the power from mine. 13 mpg running empty, 10 mpg loaded down.

A lot of the bigger jet boats that run the rivers around here use the 8.1. Their power running up the rapids is impressive (one of the "perks" of the job, there's a few jet boats sitting at our regional office, some with the 8.1 :D )

Diesels aren't that popular in the jet boats. Weight and lack of rpm range are a couple reasons.
 
The 8.1L was a good engine indeed... it will be missed. Its a sad day when people lose their jobs, even sadder when an engine loses its place in the world.
 
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