GM Investing Millions in Plant Upgrades – for V8 Engines

by Matthew Guy

Published: January 20th, 2023

gm investing millions in plant upgrades for v8 engines

It’d seem not all development dollars at automakers are being shoveled toward electric vehicles. The General has just announced it is plowing $918 million into a quartet of American production facilities, some of which will shore up production of V8 engines.

Specifically, GM says these funds include $854 million in preparation to produce the company’s sixth-generation Small Block V8 engine, setting the company up to continue supporting its full-size truck and SUV programs. A little over two-thirds of the cash is earmarked for Flint Engine Operations where the 6th-gen family of Small Block V8s will be assembled along with the related block, crank, and head machining. During these multi-million dollar renos, the place will continue cranking out the 3.0-liter Duramax.

Elsewhere, Bay City GPS in Michigan will be set up to build cams and connecting rods that’ll support the Flint operations, while Defiance Operations in Ohio is going to see prep work for building a variety of block castings to support future V8 engine programs. Those same programs will be supported by an injection of cash into Rochester operations where intakes and fuel rails for future V8s will be crafted.

Score one for those of us who like an octopot rumble, especially after writing a series of posts about companies that have explicitly said they are halting new development on internal combustion altogether. GM still has their stated goal of transitioning to a zero-emissions lineup by 2035, of course, but at least now we know truck-loving gearheads won’t be stuck with today’s 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines for the next 10 or 15 years. And while we should not expect GM to suddenly start plopping V8s in the Silverado EV, it is encouraging to know the company still has one eye on gasoline power – even if those engines may eventually be reserved primarily for heavy-duty trucks and the like. Those trucks, by the way, are currently assembled right next door to Flint Engine at Flint Assembly.

As one would expect, GM said specific product details, timing, performance, and features related to its next-gen V8 engine are not being released at this time.

[Images: GM]

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Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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6 of 19 comments

28-Cars-Later on Jan 20, 2023

Tonight at 11, GM hedges it's bets because it doesn't believe its own bullsh!t.

7 Reply
- NormSV650 on Jan 22, 2023
  
  Except the news is they are actually investing in those factories making EV parts too!
  
  Like
El scotto on Jan 20, 2023

GM wants more market share? Put the Corvette engine in everything they can. Sadly the ghost of Alfred P Sloan haunts the Rencen and fills the nightly dream of every GM executive. -eerie ghost voice- GM's only competition is Ford and Dodge; only the most expensive GM cars get the best engines -ending with more ghost sounds-.

V-8, V-12, go to the museum and get inspired by the Cadillac V-16 and understand you should build and sell to everyone the best engines possible. GM executives still don't get it? Haul their oversized butts to Birmingham MI and let them see the high-end dealers. Loudly and slowly explain that yes those peoples grandparents drove Cadillacs and the buying public has moved on.

Sadly GM will be a Chinese company after their next bankruptcy. Except for the DoD contracts, the Chinese can't have those.

I still think a CTS would have made a heck of a Bonneville.

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- See 2 previous
- Jeff S on Jan 20, 2023
  
  I have been thinking that GM will eventually become Chinese. Musk should have bought GM instead of Twitter he could have really done something with GM and could have used the plant capacity.
  
  Like
- Lou_BC on Jan 21, 2023
  
  "Put the Corvette engine in everything they can"
  The Hellcat approach. All kidding aside,
  If one compares the 5.3 to the 6.2, there isn't a logical argument to chose the 5.3 except for price.
  I'd probably chose the 3.0 inline 6 diesel. After driving my little truck for 6 months, I'm hooked on little diesels.
  
  1
- Analoggrotto on Jan 21, 2023
  
  Yes a V8 Volt and Bolt is just what we need. They can even include yellow lip spoiler protectors.
  
  1

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