Gminside News

[Tru_Ice]

Quote from GMINSIDENEWS site about the new Silverado SS, and they refer to the next Corvette having only 405 hp (base).

"It is no secret that GM has a GenIV small block in development to replace the current 4.8L-6.0L V8 OHV engines. It was stated at the Traverse City meetings that the next Corvette will have a base engine in the 6.0L range making about 405HP (more on the Z06 in a later article), doing away with the 5.7L displacement. Seeing as how the Silverado SS currently uses the GM's most powerful 6.0L (345HP) engine it would be natural progression for it to use a similarly high rated version of the upcoming 6.0L. I expect power will be in the ballpark of the Corvette's 405HP (The standard cab Silverado SS had a 6.0L 395HP V8), but have a more truck like torque curve. Expect GM's new Gen IV small block to leave many full size truck buyers going "What Hemi?" as power will increase across the engine line. Thrifty people need not worry, GM's awesome Displacement on Demand will be available across the V8 line, allowing the new engines to also achieve higher fuel economy than thier predecesors. It has been rumored GM is considering a Standard Cab 2WD version of the SS, however, they are luke warm to the idea of chasing Ford's Lighning. The current Lightning, which sells at a clip of 7,500 has been a major image success for the strapped auto maker while contributing little to the corprate bottom line. With GM shifting it's focus to developing cars, it is very unlikely they will outlay the cash to certify a powerplant in the Silverado that can compete in the miniscule 500HP super performance truck market the Lightning and Ram are headed. The idea is to build a high end truck that has all the usability of a standard Silverado, but has a bit more punch for people wanting it. GM would like you to think of the SS as a truck you can tow a boat with, yet still be faster than 95% of the truck population out there. Expect this new Silverado SS for 2005 or 2006. As with anything involving GM, things change frequently, so stay tuned to GMInsidenews for all the latest updates. "

 

[Tru_Ice]

I dont think 405 is enough, what do you all think?

 

[LongTimer]

Funny. A year, maybe 14 / 15 months ago I would have jumped at a C5 Targa with 405HP. But, now even the lowly Mustang is putting out 390HP AND you KNOW Ford isn't sitting on their development hands. It's just a matter of time before a detuned GT40 500 HP engine is slipped into the pony crap, I mean money car, I mean pony car.

I hope the vette engine guys have set the 435HP mark as a target. It is a significant number for Corvette. Yes, I know SAE vs whatever. They are different levels of output, but none the less the 435 number recalls some pretty important vette history, and those old 435HP cars are worth big bucks today. It would be masterful marketing - oh, and it would run like hell too as a bonus!!!

 

[LMN8R]

LT, hope you're right, but I bet it ends up as either 400 or 405. Just a hunch, no facts to back it up, but it seems like they always end up just a little bit lighter on hp than we expect/want.

The exceptions, of course, would be the midyear cars, the early C3's and the ZR-1. Maybe they're due.

 

[CFour]

I was told 410Hp

 

[JBsC5]

I imagine I have 410 hp at the flywheel in my z06..

Its pretty impressive although after awhile we all want more..

Same will occur with the C6.. :lol:

Its just the nature of the beast..

We always want more!

 

[invinceablevett]

longtimer I agree with you when you stated that 15 months ago you would have been content with 405 hp.It seems to me that every car or suv/truck is getting very close to the 400 hp mark.I think the c6 should now get 450 hp.....you know what? make it 475hp.Ya that's better!I have a feeling that those mustangs will be right up corvettes' butts in the very near futur.By the comments I read from management it seems to be 405hp base.Will that be enough?I don't know.I sure hope it goes like heck and freaks evreyone out of their underwear.I for one,am seriously thinking of purchasing a c6 but a few extra hp wouldn't Make me rush out and buy one.I would prefer a little more luxury(better leather,a little more storage room and round lights in the rear.)....don't get me wrong horsepower is what we need foremost.

 

[LongTimer]

LT, hope you're right, but I bet it ends up as either 400 or 405. Just a hunch, no facts to back it up, but it seems like they always end up just a little bit lighter on hp than we expect/want.

The exceptions, of course, would be the midyear cars, the early C3's and the ZR-1. Maybe they're due.

You're probably right- especially if they told Cfour 410HP. But I have to say that when the ZR-1 was first released at 385HP, I was crushed because all the predictions were for 400. True, they took it to 405 later, but initially it disappointed me.

 

[Michael Malone Smith]

My question is are they really what they state. Most all stock 96 Grand Sports are dynoed at 350 something but were stated at 330. I have a 99 Mustang cobra thats rated at 330 like my Grand Sport and I'll tell ya the GS would eat up my Mustang. Anyhow, the question is , is 405 really 405?

 

[DRTH VTR]

I assume that most of you know this already, but here is my $0.02 anyway.

Horsepower can be a bit misleading, as it is related to RPM. An engine capable of high revs has a relatively higher horsepower rating. The Honda 2 seater sports car is an example.

Torque seems more important to me on a street car. This is not directly related to engine speed. That same Honda sports car is pretty anemic below about 5-6000 RPM. What are the predicted torque characteristics for the LS2?

 

[LongTimer]

I have a 99 Mustang cobra thats rated at 330 like my Grand Sport and I'll tell ya the GS would eat up my Mustang. Anyhow, the question is , is 405 really 405? [/B]

I hope this isn't my Chevy-lover emotion showing, but over the years it seems to me that Ford, more frequently than either GM or Mopar, has OVER rated their HP ratings, where GM tends to be on the mark or UNDER rated their HP ratings. I am NOT saying the above is true across the board. I am saying that when their IS a significant difference the above is the pattern that I have noticed.

You should get both cars dynoed and share the HP numbers with us, torque too.

 

[LongTimer]

What are the predicted torque characteristics for the LS2?

I've seen nothing / no one anywhere who is willing to guess at the torque numbers - Runge might have posted something I missed (some of his posts really challenge my very limited engieering knowledge). Regardless, most sources are stating the LS2 will be a 6.0 liter and the LS7 will come in at 6.4L (per GM RPO). I've never seen a vette engine increase CID without increasing torque, and we all know how much the vette engineers love torque, so I'm sure that the LS2 will show marked improvement over the LS1 - which is no slouch.

 

[Edmond]

I hope this isn't my Chevy-lover emotion showing, but over the years it seems to me that Ford, more frequently than either GM or Mopar, has OVER rated their HP ratings, where GM tends to be on the mark or UNDER rated their HP ratings. I am NOT saying the above is true across the board. I am saying that when their IS a significant difference the above is the pattern that I have noticed.

You should get both cars dynoed and share the HP numbers with us, torque too.

LongTimer,

Didn't Ford catch a lot of flack for the Cobra a few years ago because they were something like 20-30hp less than advertised? I think that GM underrates just in case.

But there is more than hp than making a car go fast. I think increasing power would be the "simplest" way. But it looks as if GM is also trying engineer the vehicle to better take advantage of the existing power to make the car go faster: gearing, weight transfer, vehicle curb weight, aerodynamics, etc...

 

[LongTimer]

Yes Edmond,

That was the most recent time that I recall a Ford HP Flap. Several times in the late '60s / early '70s muscle car days I recall seeing complaints about their big blocks not churning out the advertised HP. I can't site the magazines, it's been too long.

I remember thinking at the time, about the L-88s and ZL-1s and the Z-28s (orig 290HP - ha, ha) that were being rated at lower, less-than-optimum HP RPM for insurance purposes. This while some Ford 428, or 429, I just can't recall, was dynoed and calculated to be some 15-25 HP lower than the brochure indicated.

If any one doubts the importance of Torque, just take a 240HP S2000 to a stop light and pop the clutch at about 2000 RPM and run it to 60 - 70 MPH. Then do the same with an early ('85-89?) L-98 vette which were also rated in that vicinity of HP. Come back and tell us which run was more fun.

BTW diesel power which is, of course, very strong on torque, but NOT HP can't match the fun factor of either of the other two power plants.