How does WH with 8.1 do in super c 34f

Shotgunjim · 12-16-2010, 09:14 AM

Saw one for sale and wondering about feedback also with 06 Gulfstream6340. Thanks Jim w.

DriVer · 12-16-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shotgunjim

Saw one for sale and wondering about feedback also with 06 Gulfstream 6340.

Jim, The engine does very well and it should power a Super C quite nicely.

The Shadow · 12-17-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shotgunjim

Saw one for sale and wondering about feedback also with 06 Gulfstream6340. Thanks Jim w.

It handles that size nicely and has much better towing capacity than the diesel Kodiaks. BUT, don't count on getting outstanding mileage. Our 32SS got 7.6 mpg towing a Tahoe, and with any kind of wind it would drop right off and under 7 and even down to 6 in heavy winds Not towing and going at a consistent 55 you can get 8.5+. The 07's and later had the six speed Allison whereas some early 07s and all prior were 5 speeds. We also found ours to be very noisy.

There is a Kodiak Chassis Class C group on Yahoo and you can get a lot of info as there are several gasser owners in the group (over 300 members).

KodiakChassisClassC : Kodiak Chassis Class C Motorhomes

I'm sure they will let you in.

rough road · 12-21-2010, 07:14 AM

Has the engine been discontinued, if so does anyone know why ?

The Shadow · 12-21-2010, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rough road

Has the engine been discontinued, if so does anyone know why ?

Yes, production was stopped this time last year. As I recall, it was made in Tonawanda NY.

I assume GM felt the ROI on this product wasn't adequate.

I also assume some MH manufacturers (DriVer can probably elaborate or correct this assumption) built up a stock of the 8.1L engines that they are using now. Others such as Winnie are now, I believe, using only Ford engines for their gassers since they have depleted their supply of 8.1L engines.

mikron · 12-21-2010, 07:24 AM

I understand they are coming out with a new model to go against the new Ford v10. I was told that from an RV dealer.

The Shadow · 12-21-2010, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikron

I understand they are coming out with a new model to go against the new Ford v10. I was told that from an RV dealer.

I've yet to see any announcements on that from GM. Perhaps DriVer can elaborate.

A few years ago the story going around was that GM was going to replace the V8 8.1 with a V10 but that story died out.

Don

DriVer · 12-21-2010, 09:13 AM

One of the reasons perhaps the key one is that since GM ceased production of their entire Medium Duty Truck line that the need for a BIG block gas engine on GM's part was not there. Although OEs like Mercruiser and Workhorse (others) would have bought a number of engines, there just were not the numbers that could sustain an engine plant, personnel and the parts infrastructure required to build engines on a daily basis.

New emission requirements are also a concern and those would have to be met. Making any kind of a change on an engine requires a lot of resources and those I expect are just not available since the restructuring of GM.

Currently the Ford V-10 is the only large block gasoline engine available in the RV Industry. Absent that engine there would not be anymore large (20.5 to 26K GVWR) gasoline powered Class A motorhomes. Ford is going to be hardening the valves and seats in the V10 to make it compatible for use with LP fuel. This will increase the fueling options from unleaded regular gasoline to Flex Fuel (E-85) and LP.

rough road · 12-21-2010, 03:47 PM

A lp powered coach, that would be neat-would cause some routing issues, but I would buy one.

JimM68 · 12-26-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer

Currently the Ford V-10 is the only large block gasoline engine available in the RV Industry. Absent that engine there would not be anymore large (20.5 to 26K GVWR) gasoline powered Class A motorhomes.

I had heard gm was retiring the old big block (first produced in 1965...) in favor of the current gen4 small block.
The numbers stack very nicely, and that "big" small block is not only a beast, but it is tremendously efficient.

Vortec 8.1 502 cubic inches, 340 HP, 455 ft lbs.

Ford 6.8 V10, 415 cubes, 362 HP, 457 ft lbs.

Vortec 6.2, 378 Cubic inches, 402 HP, 417 ft lbs

Also worth noting that current production Gen4's come as big as 7 liters and 505 HP (or 650 with the supercharger...).

I'd think the 6.2's specs compare very well with both the 502 and the V10, and that the parts exist to build one heck of a motorhome engine...

Maybe a 7 liter, blown and intercooled setup with 450 HP, and 500 Ft lbs of torque available from idle on up?

DriVer · 12-26-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimM68

Vortec 8.1 502 cubic inches, 340 HP, 455 ft lbs.

Point of Order!

The 8.1L Vortec is a 496 cu in engine.

Here's hoping that there's a solution on the Horizon! The best hope would be for a 6.x L engine and I've been hearing rumors about a "Supercharger" (blower), and 6 bolt mains. The caveat about BIG block engines is that, there's no substitute for twist at low RPM. A small block will not deliver the low end torque that you get when you take your foot of the brake pedal. On an MDT or other large vehilce, that was always a default benefit of having the beast.