Lt5

[GreyGoose006]

why did chevy only make the DOHC LT5 for a few years?
it seems that these engines have the potential for huge power and tunability.
were they just too expensive to produce?
not enough demand?
whats up?

[Moppie]

Americans don't understand things like Over Head Cams, and 4 Valves Per Cylinder.
They also seem to be confused by Independant Rear Suspension, and Disc Brakes.

Quite simply why make a complex expensive car when you can make a simple cheap one because the vast majority of your market are too niave to know the difference, largely because you have keep the market very tightly regulated and controlled, and kept technological advanced made over seas, that makes cars better to drive, out of your own home market.
The really scary thing is your so stupid, that while you try and rip of your market, you are so bad at it, you also loose money and post record losses.

[curtis73]

Add to that the fact that the LT5 was made from unobtanium It was a joint venture between GM, Mercury Marine, and Lotus. Expensive, not too well engineered, and it didn't make much power.

And a friendly amendment, moppie... we understand that stuff and gladly purchase foreign vehicles with that technology, but unlike other countries we have not developed in that direction as fast. I like to rather think of it that Americans fear change on such a great level that we must take our change slowly. VERY slowly.

[Steel]

hmm. Is the LT5 related to the LQ1 at all? THAT thing is a monstrosity, a old block with upped bores and DOHC 24 valve head that uses a timing chain to run a dead block cam which then runs a timing BELT to the working cams shoehorned into an engine bay much too small for it, and to top it off, mated to a transmission made out of plastic. And FWD. Bah.

I wish i could have a lumina Z34 body and cushy interior but have a better motor, 5 speed, RWD and a better suspension. That would be cool. I think those luminas are so cool lookin.

[GreyGoose006]

but the LT5 just looks so SEXY.
damn american market.
they are dumbing down all automotive technology to the lowest common denominator. automatic transmissions are 'standard'. OHV engines are the norm, and DOHC, even SOHC is shunned in favor of 100 year old technology.

[GreyGoose006]

but the LT5 just looks so SEXY.
damn american market.
they are dumbing down all automotive technology to the lowest common denominator. automatic transmissions are 'standard'. OHV engines are the norm, and DOHC, even SOHC is shunned in favor of 100 year old technology.

[KiwiBacon]

Originally Posted by Steel

hmm. Is the LT5 related to the LQ1 at all? THAT thing is a monstrosity, a old block with upped bores and DOHC 24 valve head that uses a timing chain to run a dead block cam which then runs a timing BELT to the working cams shoehorned into an engine bay much too small for it, and to top it off, mated to a transmission made out of plastic. And FWD. Bah.

Tell us what you really think.

[Steel]

Originally Posted by KiwiBacon

Tell us what you really think.

Its a great motor right up until the point you have to fix something on it. As per american design - royal PITA. Alternator = drop engine. Coilpacks = under front exhaust manifold. Rear spark plugs = a. cut buts of body or or 2. remove front motor mount and force engine forward. So on and so forth.

[curtis73]

Its not related to the LQ1 Totally clean slate design never used before or since. No parts interchange with any other engine as far as I know.

And on an LT5, changing an alternator was a very simple three-bolt operation taking 5 minutes tops. Same as most V8 RWD vehicles

[GreyGoose006]

well then i want the LT5.
or really, just any DOHC 5.0 - 5.7 L V-8
i'd be REALLY happy with a DOHC EFI 383 V-8

think about the possibilities.
F1 ran DOHC V-10 engines up until this year with enormous success.
this year they switched to a... DOHC V-8.

wonder why they aren't still using pushrods tho?
american car companies have proved over and over that they (pushrods) are the most superior form of engine design. what else can compare to the 100 year old OHV configuration...

is moving foreward really that hard?

[KiwiBacon]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

well then i want the LT5.
or really, just any DOHC 5.0 - 5.7 L V-8
i'd be REALLY happy with a DOHC EFI 383 V-8

Do you guys get the Lexus alloy V8 over there?

Very cheap engine here (used japanese import) which gets shoehorned into everything from toyota hilux to jetboats.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by KiwiBacon

Do you guys get the Lexus alloy V8 over there?

They get them, check out an American Hot Rod magazine, I know 4-5 years ago it was a VERY common swap into a lot of really custom rods.

Its a fantastic motor, really does show how old and out dated the pushrod chevy blocks are.

[Steel]

Yeah, the 1,2, and 3UZ-FE engines are superior in pretty much any way to american pushrod V8's.

I'm sure the new 4.6 liter V8 that toyota is using in the NEW LS is even superiorier. (4UZ-FE maybe?).

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

american car companies have proved over and over that they (pushrods) are the most superior form of engine design.

and that's why the more technically advanced european and japanesem cars don't use them, right?

[curtis73]

Hey guys we're all pretty, so let's not argue

They both serve a purpose. Pushrods are perfectly fine reliable technology. They reduce the need for a big long chain or belt (or three on some vee engines) like the OHCs have. Americans often times choose cost over long term reliability. Otherwise we'd all drive Toyotas and BMWs. Europeans generally choose quality over cost. The other thing in the mix is that most other countries don't get American cars as part of their choice. If you go to Germany, you don't have the option of buying an F350 dually pickup so its a moot point.

I like the fact that we have more choices here, but there's a reason why we aren't moving away from pushrods.. its because they're fine and they're cheap. If it aint broke don't fix it.

The other thing is... since when did Americans know what they want? They don't care if their corvette comes with pushrods or muffler bearings. All they know is, push pedal = go faster. If they can get their fix from pushrods they don't know any different.