School me on the 2.6 LY9

[Frizzle Fry]

Hey guys, new member here, long time gear head and vBulliten forum member. I have a 2100 lb car ('66 Sunbeam Minx) that I've decided to swap a 60V6 into. I was leaning toward a 3.6 but I recently ran across the export LY9 and thought it might be worth considering because it actually appears to be physically smaller. I do like the idea of going with all aluminum block/heads like the 3.6 and from what I can tell it looks like the 2.6 has an iron block. But 180HP from a 2.6 factory is not to shabby! I know the 3.6 makes more power and has more potential but I don't need to over power this car (if there is such a thing), and I am interested it getting good mileage, thus the leaning toward the 2.6 idea. The last reason, and it's a relevant one, is that the 2.6 just looks better/cleaner. Since this is going in a classic it would be nice to have a clean engine instead of a jumbled mess.

So what can you tell me about the 2.6? Is it really smaller dimensionally? Weight? Performance? Relative Efficiency? Iron block? Good, bad ugly? Would it be hard to get parts for being that it was an export only offering?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[bszopi]

Where did you see this engine? The only thing I can find anywhere is the LP9 2.8L engine.

[Frizzle Fry]

Where did you see this engine? The only thing I can find anywhere is the LP9 2.8L engine.

Well, I can't copy/paste a link right now (on iPhone), but if you google ly9 v6 you'll see it.

[SappySE107]

Export only 2.6 181 hp, 2004. Thats all I found on it.

[IsaacHayes]

Is it VVT? Certain things may prove difficult possibly. I didn't find the specs on it yet so I don't know. Is it a pushrod or OHC? A LX9 3500 is 200hp and would be nice for that car. Or a 3900 even (has variable intake and cam though). Even with a bigger motor with a lot of power, if the car is light weight, and you keep the RPMs down your MPG will be good still. That's how the LS1/LS6 camaro/firebird/corvette got 30mpg on the highway with the 6spd.

[bszopi]

Well, I found some info on it that places it all the way back to 1992, and it is an MPFI engine. From everything I can find, its not a 60V6, although I've never seen it listed as a 90V6 either.

EDIT : Ok, so I found that a 2.6L LY9 was offered in the European version of the Cadillac CTS in 2003. That is about all the info I can find on it.

[Frizzle Fry]

It is a DOHC. Not sure if it's VVT. That would be nice. If not I'd probably be swayed toward the 3.6. Is the 3.6 the only aluminum block other than the bow tie block?

Here are pics of the 2.6 I've found. It certainly appears to be a 60:

[SappySE107]

There is a VVT 2.8 that is just a smaller displacement 3.6.

[Frizzle Fry]

There is a VVT 2.8 that is just a smaller displacement 3.6.

I have seen those. It appears that there is no efficiency advantage for the 2.8, just less power. Any idea if it weighs less or is dimentionally smaller?

[Frizzle Fry]

Is it VVT? Certain things may prove difficult possibly. I didn't find the specs on it yet so I don't know. Is it a pushrod or OHC? A LX9 3500 is 200hp and would be nice for that car. Or a 3900 even (has variable intake and cam though). Even with a bigger motor with a lot of power, if the car is light weight, and you keep the RPMs down your MPG will be good still. That's how the LS1/LS6 camaro/firebird/corvette got 30mpg on the highway with the 6spd.

Any reason to go with a 3500 or 3900 vs. the 3.6 other than price?

[IsaacHayes]

They are physically smaller b/c they are ohv.

[Frizzle Fry]

They are physically smaller b/c they are ohv.

I see. SOHC I'm assuming. So are the exhaust ports physically farther apart from the outside of one bank to the other? Or are the heads/valve-covers just bigger? Room for the exhaust is my concern. Also, is the 3.6 the only aluminum block besides the bowtie block? Sorry for all the newb questions. I'm a long time SBC/BBC/LSX builder, but this will be my first delve into the V6 world.

[IsaacHayes]

Over Head Valve. Not OHC. Pushrod motor. 1 cam in the V of the block. Valves are above the cam, hence OHV. Think SBC for the 3900 and 3500's.

BTW 3900 has same bore as LS1. There is a thread about that on here recently.

I don't know much about the DOHC's other than they are bigger :P Huge heads.

[pocket-rocket]

I don't know much about the DOHC's other than they are bigger :P Huge heads.

That flow a ton of air.



And that be from the old school DOHC, the LQ1. Look at all of that beautiful valve area

[Joseph Upson]

The 2.6L in the picture appears to be the Cadillac Catera motor or the European version unless it started out as a 2.6L in the Cadi and then was increased to the 3.0L I'm familiar with. It also appears to have the Australian bolt pattern on it which should be the same as that found on the turbo Sunbird motors.

Not sure how much if any real difference in design there is between the two as a result, but the 2.8L DOHC from the Saab and early Cadi CTS has VVT on intake valves only as opposed to intake and exhaust on the 3.6L.