With several other engines at Chevy running DI to increase power and torque as well as boosting mileage, when are we gonna get it in a V8 version? What's the hold up? It would gain an extra gallon or two on the highway and give us more power, win win situation. Anyone know of the holdup? Is it cost? Development problems? etc...?

 

As far as I know, the Gen5 smallblock is/was supposed to have direct injection. Last I heard, development of this new generation is on hold while GM figures out the money situation. Given that the LS3 is as good as anything anybody else has to offer, I would guess that this program is relatively low on the prioritized list of programs to reactivate. I hope I'm wrong!

I suppose it's possible to do an aftermarket direct injection conversion, but as far as I know the parts don't exist to do it to a Gen3/Gen4 LS engine.

Like you, I'm anxiously awaiting the next round of small-block V8s from GM. The combination of direct injection, VVT, and DOD will make for some very efficient yet very potent engines.

 

The hold up is cost. DI requires a redesign of the heads(which has been done). We won't see it until GM switches all smallblocks to Gen V. That's the only cost efficient to do it.

 

You'll first see it in trucks or maybe the Vette first, then make its way to the rest of the cars with V8's. I'd say about 2012 or 2013.

 

Is that MY 2012? That would mean just two years of the LS3 SS.

 

That's how it goes. Remember the '01 LS6? GM can throw some new stuff in the mix very abruptly. From a business perspective I would expect them to continue business as usual through the end of the C6 life cycle. The LS3 is awesome. GM may debut the new DI, VVT V8 in the C7. The Camaro will probably get it (or a "de-tuned" variant) a year later; perhaps in Z/28 guise?

Anyway, the "LSX" designation seems to be exhausted, right? LS1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, (8 was supposed to be the Z/28 iteration of the), 9. They have even resorted to letters: A (Auto Application = CTS-V), T (Truck application).

Considering CAFE, etc. the time is ripe for a new family of smallblocks to emerge. Here's to hoping AFM becomes obsolete!

 

maybe in the c7? direct injection in the ls motor would be absolutely nuts. power around the 475 range? 500ftlbs torque? crazy.

 

^I agree. This is just my mind running wild here, but I'm thinking they may go down in displacement to offset the much improved efficiency of this new family of smallblocks. Which in and of itself would further enhance MPG.

Maybe the last year of the C6 we will see a "LS3 DI" (since the architecture is already there) in a rev matching downshift M6, "C6-SS" (using Z06's aluminum frame, etc.) before launching the new smallblock for the C7? Ain't it fun to dream?

 

i could see that happening though. the ls motor was introduced in 97 in the c5 and didnt hit the camaro until 1998. i bet the DI motor will come in the c7.

 

The Gen5 small block will almost certainly be introduced on either the Corvette or the Escalade, and then it will trickle down into other trucks and cars (including Camaro) sometime after that. In '98, GM didn't have any other performance cars, so Camaro/Firebird got the LS1 just one year after Corvette. Now, we have three different versions of Corvette plus the CTS-V. It's hard to guess at how the new engines will trickle down through those ranks before it reaches Camaro.

 

there hasn't been an LS5 since the early 70s...

My hope is that with the introduction of DI along with VVT and AFM, Powertrain will be able to downsize the engine while keeping similar power and torque levels.

I believe that the current LS3 downsized to 5.0L could produce right around 350 horsepower. OK?

Well, the 3.6L V6 got a ~15% power boost with direct injection (which allows a higher compression ratio.)

Add that ~15% to the 5.0L making ~350hp and you get over 400 horsepower

There is a LOT more to it than that, but I'm just hoping....

Who here wouldn't love to see a 5.0L 400 horsepower LSx? That's pretty much what the Ford camp is trying to get into the Mudstain.

 

what happen to that 6.2l engine they had with DI they put in an Escalade or something?

 

It was a one off. Like a concept.

 

Any updates on this?