Corvette / Truck engines

Evolution1980 · 05-09-07, 12:07 PM

So I'm driving home the other day and I saw a billboard advertising a new Toyota truck with a 314hp engine or something. Two things came to mind...

1) Marketing towards the ignorant is growing at an uncomfortable rate. HP on a truck? Who really cares? I always thought torque was the defining characteristic of a good truck engine. ('Course, I think torque is more important on cars as well, but that's neither here nor there right now.)

2) Seeing the HP number listed (and thinking of torque as well), I wondered why GM never(?) put any of the LSx engines in any of the trucks. They certainly have the HP and Tq numbers. Are they that much more expensive to produce/maintain/whatever than the current engines that are used in the V8 trucks?
(And how come I don't see more people doing these conversions? Is it simply because I haven't looked???)

U.P. John · 05-09-07, 01:02 PM

I would guess that the LS series is much too reliable for GM. Most trucks purchased for work use/heavy duty/high mileage start showing their liver spots at about 100,000 miles. Then GM knows they've got you where they want you - either big repair bills or maybe a new GM truck with an old small block in it.

The LS's would be in much better shape, and as you stated, they cost 'em more, too.

We don't want to mess with that markup, do we???

Evolution1980 · 05-09-07, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U.P. John

Most trucks purchased for work use/heavy duty/high mileage start showing their liver spots at about 100,000 miles. Then GM knows they've got you where they want you - either big repair bills or maybe a new GM truck with an old small block in it.

I dunno... I don't think that attitude is as pervasive anymore considering how they aren't the only game in town and/or the only reputable mfg in town. One could easily switch over to a Ford truck or an import such as the Toyota Tundra, which could cause GM a lost customer in not only their truck sales, but in car sales as well down the road. "Hey, I love my Toyota Tundra. I bet their cars are built just as well." Using Toyota as an example, that's neither a hypothetical nor an assumption as shown by their current rating in the auto industry. (Getting off topic there, sorry...)

Back to why the General doesn't use the LSx blocks in their trucks...

U.P. John · 05-09-07, 01:35 PM

I respectfully disagree. GM wants NEW customers. They're not interested in all in going the extra mile for the customers driving the vehicles they sold with the old 3 yr/36,000 mile warranties.

One case in point - Onstar analog vs. digital

Not an engine issue, but they ARE willing to kiss off people who've been Onstar customers for years.

Solution: upgrade active customer's systems and keep them on the monthly remittance list?

Nope! Either buy a new vehicle with the digital system or leave us alone.

I'm getting very tired of GM's business practices. If they don't want to keep me around when things are bad, then why would they care when (and if) they get back in the game???

toms94 · 05-09-07, 05:26 PM

I also have a 99 Silverado 1500 Z71 with the 5.3 engine. On a Chevy Truck forum I asked the same question. The return answer that I got was basically the 5.3 is the LS series engine and that the 5.3 is better in the pickup than the LS1 would be. They (the responders on the forum) say that the LS1 has it's torque and power higher in the RPM range than the 5.3 and say my pickup would be much doggier with the LS1 in there.

Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just reporting what I was told. Personally I thought an LS1 in my pickup would be the cat's meow.

Tritium007 · 05-11-07, 12:50 PM

I personally prefer the 300 hp, 6.0L gas guzzler in my 2500HD. Of course, the 4.10 rear end makes the difference to me. I can jump out front at a light and the way the tranny is geared, it will stay out front... OR I can pull just over 10K lbs. and have a pretty good excuse. I think they should just put that honker in all their trucks. Just my $0.02.

Tom73 · 05-21-07, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toms94

I also have a 99 Silverado 1500 Z71 with the 5.3 engine. On a Chevy Truck forum I asked the same question. The return answer that I got was basically the 5.3 is the LS series engine and that the 5.3 is better in the pickup than the LS1 would be. They (the responders on the forum) say that the LS1 has it's torque and power higher in the RPM range than the 5.3 and say my pickup would be much doggier with the LS1 in there.

I agree, the LS series engines is the only small block V8 that the general is currently using in production vehicles. They may be different materials (iron vs alumn) and different head config (port/valve sizes) but still the same basic engine.

tom...