End of the line for the Big Block

[45Auto]

I guess all that'll be left now are the "slow boats" .......

TONAWANDA, N.Y. ? General Motors on Friday marked the end of the line for a class of V-8 engine that's been in production for 51 years.

The auto maker's western New York plant stopped production of the latest variation of the "big block" V-8 engines. Plant manager Steve Finch called it "the end of a remarkable era."

The big engine was developed in 1958 to keep up with the growing size and weight of American automobiles. Over the years it's been redesigned, with the latest version, the L18, going into production in 1999. Made only in Tonawanda, it powers full-size trucks like the Chevrolet Avalanche and some boats.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKPgfyLt3V825u9DQOIX43JUQrFAD9CLSDOG0

 

[ziggy]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

hum, i just read in trailer boats magazine, dec. 2009. that the 8.1L, 496, will be phased out. but it said that a 8.2L, 502 will replace it...

 

[45Auto]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

I had heard the same thing, but the GM Marine Engines website shows only small blocks:

http://www.gm.com/experience/technology/gmpowertrain/engines/specialized/marine/marine_engines.jsp

Somebody's going to be making engines for the go-fast stuff, wonder who that'll be. Definitely won't be cheap, without the automotive market to support it.

 

[Philster]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

Wow. Saw it coming, but thought it was five years away.

Yep, we are going back in time, when super fast boats were very custom, very local and very fussy.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

The decision is understandable. Big Block engines were put in many of the large RWD sedans, in muscle cars in the era and in trucks. Now that the large sedans have gotten smaller, small block v-8s and v-6s have gotten more powerful and have better fuel economy, that has deduced the demand for big blocks. Same applies to trucks and now days when alot of power is needed, they are going deisel. So, yeah I can see where GM would stop producing Big Block engines. BTW, does Ford even produce a Big Block anymore... and is the V-10 considered big, of is it on a small block design...

 

[ziggy]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

fwiw, looks like mercruiser thinks they're still selling big blocks... http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/engines/inboards/sterndrives/engines.php

496 and 8.2L.

though that same article in the magazine said mercruiser said the 496 was done soon, but not as of now..

 

[rodbolt]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

been hearing rumours of the big block demise for some years.
Volvo sent us a notice that the 3.0 and most versions of the 5.0 and 5.7 motors will not be manufactured for sale inside the US as of jan01 2010.
the only version of the 5.0 and 5.7 will have catalytic converters.
the 8.1 and 4.3 have been EPA exempted until 2011 and 2012.
there are going to be some shake ups,trust me on that.
I did see a catamaran with twin mercruisers using a marinized V10 chysler engine.
I just need 5 more decent years and I am gonna retire anyway

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

hum, i just read in trailer boats magazine, dec. 2009. that the 8.1L, 496, will be phased out. but it said that a 8.2L, 502 will replace it...

Yep, that's correct. And what a step backwards it will be. And more expensive.

I am mad at GM for not finding a way to move the 8.1 production to Mexico, like they have for the 5.0, 5.7, and 3.0. But I am guessing they just couldn't justify the expense for the very few 8.1s that were actually being used in the marine industry. But they still manage to make the 8.2, with an even smaller market? Makes no sense to me.

 

[superpop]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

I would guess someone, probably the Chinese, will offer a clone of these blocks if there is any demand, which I think there will be. A very high percentage of all boats made over the last 20 years used one of the Cheby or Ford blocks, both small and big block so there will be demand for these castings, this pales in comparison though to all the gear heads that will demand new blocks for their hot rods. GM no longer makes a 1969 Camaro but guess what, there is a company out there that will sell you every part you need to built an identical replica of the car. They purchased all of the tooling for this car from GM and they offer this car as a bunch of parts or as a kit. My point is, I think too many people are used to these motors and it is too prevalent to just disappear.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

It sounds like that plant made the 8.1, And I would think the 502/8.2 will be made some place else.

I found a little youtube video of the new 502/8.2L engine with a guy from mercruiser talking a little bit about the new engine while at a boat show, Here is the link to it, It's 3:16 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM7JFBUs8GA

Then here is some general info about the 8.2
http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/500002-mercury-mercruiser-engine-available-in-january

http://marineenginedigest.com/profiles/mercruiser/mercruiser_8-2L.htm

http://www.brunswick.com/news/newsstories/release/2/1324095.php

 

[Fun Times]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

This marine engine kind of looks cool. Anyone know anything about it?

http://www.gm.com/experience/techno...s/specialized/marine/2010_6200_LSA_Marine.pdf

 

[wca_tim]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

Sounds like a good excuse to....

blocks

http://www.worldcastings.com/products/merlin-iii-10200inch-deck-iron-block.html

Short blocks

http://www.worldcastings.com/products/merlin-short-blocks.html

 

[WizeOne]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

Notice the 'conviently located' UPSIDE DOWN oil filter in that 8.2 Mercruiser youtube vid?

 

[Philster]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

At the offshore and power boat sites, the buzz is that Merc is gonna make the blocks themselves. The consensus seems to be the 8.2 (gotta use some displacement to overcome some suffocation from pollution control, so might as well make the big boy). Merc can't go around making different displacements (not economical), so look for the 8.2 in different flavors, such as catalytic converter equipped, typical standard and H.O. versions.

That's the buzz.

 

[45Auto]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

Yeah, Mercury is supposedly going to have a new 8.2L. They talk about it here:

http://www.brunswick.com/news/newsstories/release/2/1324095.php

You can still easily get big, low production volume, expensive marine engines like these Merlins:

http://www.worldcastings.com/products/engines/big-block-chevrolet-engines/

But the big block factory bow-riders, cruisers, etc (not talking about the big-dollar hot rod stuff) are going to get significantly more expensive due to new federal requirements (catylytic converters, etc) and the loss of the automotive market.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: End of the line for the Big Block

Notice the 'conviently located' UPSIDE DOWN oil filter in that 8.2 Mercruiser youtube vid?

My 7.4 MPI has the oil filter mounted the same way. It is very convenient. No mess and no hassle to get to. You'd think it would make a mess when you remove it, but if I poke a hole in it, then pump the oil from the block, it comes off empty.