Hey Everybody. Newbie to this site.

[chri0029]

Hi, Everybody. I have been passively grazing this site over the last few months, so I thought it would be appropriate to formally introduce myself. I hope I haven't stirred up any sh*t with any of my posts so far. I guess it's no big secret since I have told some people offline. I need to be careful what I write since I am an engineer at GM. Okay, so I didn't actually work on the current 60*V6 engine because it died a few years ago, but am heavily involved with the newest stuff which I will not say anything about.

I guess what brought me here is all the aftermarket stuff that everybody seems to be doing to their 60*V6's. That is cool since I don't see much of that in my endeavors. I need to put a few more miles on my daily driver before I start really adding hp (thus decreasing the reliability and increasing the garage time). But by what I am reading, it seems the core engine components seem strong enough to add a few ponies. Check out pictures of my ride (I'm currently trying to add it to "My Vehicles"). The thing it's really missing is an extra 100-150 hp which I will add slowly in the next few years as I learn from you guys what to do and what really NOT to do. Otherwise, you can call it basically stock besides a few minor upgrades like K&N air filer, HID lights, and crap like that. After a few small cal mods I might make this summer (shift points, fan recal, possible 65mm TB, etc.) might come possible turbocharging next summer or after.

I added my ride to the 60*V6 garage:

http://60degreev6.com/forum/garage.php?do=user_garage_view&id=13391

[bszopi]

Welcome! Its nice to see another GM guy come out of the woodwork! I know there is at least 1-2 others from up there on here, but they also rarely talk. Might have to PM you about some of my other contact points at GM and see if you know them or not. But any insight you can provide on the newer engines (I know you obviously can't say much, but you may be able to clarify some things we have documented) would be great.

[chri0029]

Yea, we do have to keep a low profile. Work comes before hobby of course. No work means no money for hobbies. I'll chime in where appropriate on the subjects I know a lot about, but otherwise I have to keep fairly quiet. Work does keep me pretty busy these days. Plus I have 2 small kids at home which takes up really the rest of my time.

But seeing sights like this really perks my interest again since most of us were and still are gearheads. Back in college were my fun days between Formula SAE and my fellow engineering gearhead garage side-projects. Our best accomplishment is we took an old Ranger pick-up and sqeezed a 351W under the hood. Although hooking up was difficult, it did make some pretty sweet burnouts.

I look forward to playing around with my current car in the next few years after I get some miles on it. Instead of carb adjustments, it will be mostly cal work. My, how things change!

[86FieroSEv6]

Hello Mr. Engineer, I am Mr. Mechanic and I love you.

As soon as you stop laughing, let me welcome you to the site. I am fairly recent here myself.

[pocket-rocket]

Hello Mr. Engineer, I am Mr. Mechanic and I love you.

As soon as you stop laughing, let me welcome you to the site.

X2, ROFL.

By the way, did someone say Ranger? <.<

I always thought that you can't have too many good thinking minds on a site like this. It's easier to cover ideas better and leave no stone unturned- you normally have less mistakes/surprises on projects when that happens

[chri0029]

I know - I really like the diversity I am reading on the site. From the electrical gurus to the computer (& ECM) hacks to the mechanics to the engineers to the technicians to the lost and more. Who knows, maybe even doctors too to advise on what high g's do to the body for the guys with the top drag slips...

We love mechanics too; we just don't always design things with them in mind.

[Superdave]

Welcome!

I met a few of your fellow engineers from GM a few years ago at a meet in Kalamazoo, MI. They brought along some slightly modified cars from the Delta platform. I know you can't say much but if you had a hand in the LX9 3500 i owe you a beer.

[chri0029]

I'm thinking of showing up to one of the gatherings sometime. If not this year, then sometime in next few. BG seems like a central location, and the drive it not too far. I'm really interested in seeing the different creative methods people have done regarding mounting turbos (where, how). But again I have too many projects and the young kids at the current time keeping me tied down to MI.

Looks like I won't get your beer. The HVV6 is actually the only engine I am not involved with since it's old history. I'm not putting the engine down, but it was a very simple, cheap, and a bread-and-butter engine. Most of the engineering was in the early to mid 90's. Things are different now (better). Remember that you won't see my work for 5 to 10 years. The new 4's are the old 6's. The new 6's are the old 8's. And the new 8's ... well, these will be a super animals for niche performance vehicles in the future. It's all about mpg now.

[Weatheralls Auto]

Hey chris, nice to see ur still around lol.
I have been so busy with my stuff here at the shop haven't had much time to be online.
Chat with you soon.

[bszopi]

Maybe I do need to look into some of the newer engines for the Mustang. I know Ben and I had discussed a 3.6VVT as an option, but the old school pushrod 3500 just seems to be cooler. Maybe not. Good thing I haven't gotten too far into the project just yet!

[chri0029]

Check out the HFV6 (3.6L). It's way more advanced and one of the best engines available today. DOHC & cam phasing. 300 bhp stock. Or even the LNF turbo which is a 2.0L with only a few hp less stock. I'm not sure if you can find these in the bone yard yet. I don't want to be a site basher (especially since I'm new), but the HVV6 architecture is old technology. There's only so much you can do with it.

I'm curious if the 'best' calibrators or tuners on this site can tune the newer engines. So many more variables. I would assume you would need analytical computer aid with all the variables.

[bszopi]

In some respects, I completely agree with you. And as far as bashing the site, I wouldn't be worried about it. We still have people on here using the old iron heads that have basically been the same since 86-ish, and we all know that even the Gen3 heads are miles ahead of them in potential. Sure, we sometimes try to convince people to "upgrade" to aluminum heads, but some old schoolers want to keep carb setups. Without a bunch of custom work, iron is the only way to go, unfortunately.

And as far as the Mustang goes, as of right now, its a relatively long term project, which makes some of this even harder. By the time I get it up and running (5+ yrs), the current HFV6 may be considered "old technology".

[chri0029]

If the self-proclaimed tuners on this site can tune a HFV6 or LNF turbo, can you imagine what hp can be achieved after they get through with it? 300 stock bhp goes up to ....? Of course the 'safety' features and emissions stuff would have to be turned off and you would be eating into the designed safety-factors of the components.

Granted a lot of the stuff on this site involves taking a bare-stock simple HVV6 engine and adding a lot of the higher hp items the HFV6 and LNF already have stock.

[SappySE107]

Granted a lot of the stuff on this site involves taking a bare-stock simple HVV6 engine and adding a lot of the higher hp items the HFV6 and LNF already have stock.

Have any examples of this? I can't think of any.

[Superdave]

If the self-proclaimed tuners on this site can tune a HFV6 or LNF turbo, can you imagine what hp can be achieved after they get through with it? 300 stock bhp goes up to ....? Of course the 'safety' features and emissions stuff would have to be turned off and you would be eating into the designed safety-factors of the components.

Granted a lot of the stuff on this site involves taking a bare-stock simple HVV6 engine and adding a lot of the higher hp items the HFV6 and LNF already have stock.

i managed to get around 320 HP out of a '04 LX9 3500 with a cam, headers and porting, it also got over 30 MPG on the highway with a 5 speed in a 2800 lb car. All OBD1 with a 20 year old computer and code.


Being an engineer myself i can appreciate the work you guys put into things, i can't wait to see what you come up with next.