GM To Offer HP3 8100 V-8 Crate Engine in 2003

Durable Big Block Marine Engine Evolves Into Street Performance Engine

LAS VEGAS - General Motors will introduce an automotive crate engine variant of the recently announced high-output Vortec HP3 8100 V-8 marine engine as part of the GM Performance Parts crate engine portfolio. The engine will be available for sale through the GM Performance Parts catalog beginning in late 2003.

"We expect that the Vortec HP3 8100 engine will be selected by a niche group of performance-minded customizers who want high torque and power without compromising durability," said Rick Dunagan, GM Powertrain director of OEM sales and marketing. "Information we gain from marine engine development-where conditions are much more severe-is applied to automotive engine development. The design improvements realized from the development of the Vortec 8100 truck and Vortec HP3 marine engines have been used to make a great crate engine."

With its base Vortec 8100 V-8 truck engine foundation and the Vortec 8100 HP3 V8 marine engine enhancements, the 8.1-liter crate engine combines the reliability, durability and quality of a proven production powerplant with the performance characteristics crate engine customers demand.

The marine HP3 engine announced for production earlier this year and the 496 cubic-inch Vortec HP3 8100 crate engine will deliver more than 525 horsepower and more than 560 lb-ft of torque (final output for the HP3 marine engine will be announced at a later date).

Based on the largest light-truck cylinder block in the GM Powertrain lineup, the Vortec HP3 provides factory designed reliability with street-winning performance. The Vortec HP3 represents the next step in big-block power while responding to growing market demand for increased performance.

Performance features and upfitting work specific to the Vortec HP3 include virtually seamless, precision-matched intake manifold and cylinder head ports for optimum flow characteristics. The fuel delivery system includes a 75-millimeter throttle body with an HP3-specific 400 kPa fuel rail, providing a pressure increase of more than 30 percent over the standard Vortec 8100 production engine. Computer ignition and fuel management parameters are calibrated to provide the best possible performance characteristics across the entire power band. For a complete engine, three key items will be made available in kit form: an electronic control module, electronic throttle control hardware and all necessary accessory drive components.

The Vortec HP3's valvetrain system is performance matched throughout, with a high-lift/high-duration camshaft, premium race-style valve springs, 1.7:1 ratio roller rocker arms, dedicated rocker arm studs, and HP3-specific intake and exhaust pushrods. Performance is further enhanced with a dedicated HP3-tuned harmonic balancer, and individual ignition coils for each of its eight platinum-tipped spark plugs. In spite of its ability to deliver thoroughbred performance, the Vortec HP3, with its 9.1:1 compression ratio, is designed to run on regular (87 octane) unleaded fuel.

"We've incorporated all the strengths of the Vortec 8100 truck engine into the Vortec HP3 crate engine, including the emissions and fuel economy improvements we've made over the years," said Terry Andrzejewski, GM Powertrain Vortec HP3 development engineer. "Then we went back and pushed those strengths to an even greater level. The HP3's impressive performance comes from a naturally aspirated design based on a stock truck engine block."