Workhorse

[Pete & Linda]

What is Workhorse doing now that the 8.1 is dead?

[golden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete & Linda What is Workhorse doing now that the 8.1 is dead?

Wasn't WH bought out by Navistar?

[DriVer]

Workhorse is still up and running. The W20D and the W22D are doing very well in the application that they are designed for. So far excellent owner testimonials. The MaxxForce7 Diesel engine is a formidable mover. I know I personally drove one just a couple of weeks ago.

Navistar did buy Workhorse about 2 years ago.

If you look through the threads I wrote about what might be the next shoe dropping.

The expectation that GM will resume its MDT line is on the radar screen but the returns are a bit uncertain. Should this happen it is expected that a gasoline engine will be needed to power the MDT lineup. If that happens look for a technological engine far removed from the Vortec class of engines we see today.

Look more for a solution along the lines of the Northstar Cadillac engine where cylinders will come on and go off at programmed times to improve performance and extend mileage while cruising. Rumors have this new engine displacing somewhere in the 7 liter range. A gasoline engine will be less expensive for the buying public and will return the performance that we already enjoy with the 8.1L. HP and Torque values as yet undefined however if one looks at the performance tables for these engines you can see that they make a lot of HP in the 6 L range .... now take that up to 7L. Ain't no such thing as too much horsepower.

Keeping fingers crossed ....

[edgray]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete & Linda What is Workhorse doing now that the 8.1 is dead?

They are currrently producing the W-20D and W-22D front engine chassis powered by the Maxxforce 7 diesel engine from Navistar. These chassis are currently available only under the THOR Serrano class A coach in four floor plans from 31 to 33 feet.

The assembly line in Union City, IN also continues to build various commercial chassis for many of the trucks used by delivery companies such as UPS & FedEx, bread and chip trucks, etc.
Ed

[oemtech]

7L Small Block... I bet.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oemtech 7L Small Block... I bet.

How is that a small block?

[speed racer]

Small block like in corvette engine not big block like truck engine.

[Pete & Linda]

???

[oemtech]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer How is that a small block?

The Z06, ZR1 and Camaro SS have a 427 CI small block. 427 CI = 7 Liters. Check the bore and stroke.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oemtech The Z06, ZR1 and Camaro SS have a 427 CI small block. 427 CI = 7 Liters. Check the bore and stroke.

For me the stepping stone into large block began at 7.0Ls. If this engine comes to be, expect it to be somewhere around 7.3L to 7.5L

The primary application for this engine would be to support an MDT line of "trucks" IF that comes on line as well. (I believe that there's too much money on the table and GM will make a move in that direction) What will drive the technology of this engine are the whiz bang features that we have seen in the most technological designs that obsolesce conventional gasoline engines that are in use today. I expect that these engines will be provided without Turbos and Superchargers that add a complexity and cost to an engine that inflate the price directly to the complexity of the hardware.

[Davel]

The term "big block" was used to differentiate the, then new, 396 cu. in. (366-396-427) series from the 265-350 cu. in. engines. It described the larger physical size of the new engine. The term "small block" then came into being. It's a little more complicated now with "small blocks" being built all the way to 433 cu. in. and the LS engine going even larger.

Dave

[stepside454]

Exactly. The LS motors are simialer bore spacings as traditional small blocks , but otherwise completly differant . Cylinder head design is very simialer to chevy big blocks canted valves design . Great engines.
Btw... Traditional chevy small blocks can be built to 454 cubic inches using aftermarket parts.

[pkmesser]

In 1975 I bought a K5 Blazer with the small block, 400 CI engine. It was strong for those low HP days. The siamese cylinders could be a bit of a heating problem though. I had a failure, and built up a 383. (350 block, overbored 0.030, with the 400 crankshaft.) I believe it was stronger. I used the K5 with the original 400 to pull a 30 someodd ft motorhome up to a campground out of Big Pine in the Sierras, at about 9200 ft. We were there with a 18 ft trailer we had at the time. My brother was coming up 395 with a rental MH, (440 Dodge power) It was vapor locking on flat ground at 4000 ft desert floor. He got as far as he could go, and got a message to me, & I went down to meet him. Had him park it in a BLM campground for the night, and tried it early morning when cool. It went less than a mile, and had not even got to the steeper part of the grade. So, had him let it cool off, meanwhile tied on with a tow chain. Let him start it up, with tranny in neutral so he had steering and brakes, and I took him on into camp. Thats a heavy for the time MH, a 5000 lb plus Blazer, with a carburated small block engine. Mopar didn't look too good coming into camp. (Not the normal thing, but the K5 could run on pavement in low range)
Point being, big CI small blocks are not new.

["007"]

With all these engine talking people on here I think its time for me to retire.