Space Age Inliners! Vortech 4200 info, anyone?

So my (dead dads) old '36 Ford pickup cab is sitting in the back yard, begging for attention. I've been sketching out some ideas over the last few weeks and have some designs I like - I just can't decide yet if I want another street/strip car, or a dedicated race car (I'm leaning toward the racer today - ask me again tomorrow).
Either way, I'm really intrigued by the GM Vortech 4200 inline sixes - they come in the Trailblazer and some other pickups, SUVs, etc, with an overdrive automatic trans. I've been sniffing around online and can't seem to find any hop up info on this drivetrain. Do any of you guys know of a 'site sharing go fast info on this stuff? Or better yet - have YOU done any tweaking on one? I have found some pricing on wrecking yard engines and the money seems reasonable, considering what you get. Problem is, I'm a crusty knuckledragger and am totally stoopid about the PCMs, etc, so I have a big learning curve ahead of me. But I'm willing to try. I just need some info to get started...you know, just enough to be dangerous.....

 

Contact my buddy Jeff (OHChicken) at the Pontiac OHC forum . He's building a 67 Firebird with a blown 4.2 inliner.

 

There was a Hot Rod drag week competitor with one, highly turbo'd, a couple years back. I think it was in a nova?

 

You really don't need any speed equipment for those. My folks had one when they first came out (there were a few bugs in'em as first, so be choosey). Dad kept goin' on about how it had more horses than his '57 chevy with the dual quads (270HP)!

 

Throw the EFI away and build your own intake with 3 Stromies, that'll give it a more traditional look. You might have to build a crank-triggered ignition to replace the OEM unit, but you should be able to hide that better. Just some ideas....

 

Hey! And while we're doing our best to make it WAY SLOWER, maybe knock a couple spark plug wires off while you're at it!

Maybe triple up on the head gaskets to make more of a "traditional" compression ratio!!

 

Exactly. LOL

 

Posies and Rousch have played with this engine Scotty.

 

Hey thanks guys! This is a start. Of course I want to change the appearance (a lot!), without slowing it down - maybe I can hide it under a blower, or a couple of turbos?
Anyway, keep 'em coming, guys - I need all the help I can get...

 

Okay, it's a couple of hours later - amazing how much time I can waste looking for info online (info I know is out there) and fine none...so it's bttt for this thread...

 

I'm on my second daily driver Trailblazer, a 2007. The horsepower has been raised from 270 to 291. No doubt the strongest production inline 6 I've ever driven. The first one was a 7 pass. with 3.73 gears and even though it weighed more than the 5 pass. with 3.42 gears the big one was much faster in the on-ramp wars. Both have been good tow rigs for moderate size trailers. Currently I pull a 7X16 motorcycle type trailer for swap meets with the 2007. It does good.

I keep imagining one of these engines in a 47/48 Fleetline with splits...

Charlie

 

While searching the net for information about hopping up a 292 six, I found a race shop that built the Trailblazer 6. They produced it in various horsepowers. I can't remember the name but if you keep searching, maybe you will find it. I think they were in Texas. It might have been a link from Inliners.org.

 

self racing does alot with those motors....
they have a drag car with one that does 8 something in th 1/4
thats with a carburetors on gas.... no blower... no turbo.... no nitrous....
link... http://www.selfracing.com/engines.htm ...

 

Check with Self Racing Engines in Durant,Oklahoma. I know they are into Inline 6's again in the NHRA Comp Eliminator ranks.
Back in the bad old days the old man always had the fastest inline sixes around here.

 

Okay, now we're cookin'. Self Racing took the aformentioned knuckledragger approach to the extreme, didn't they? (Plugged in a distributor and hung carbs all over it) Intrigueing photos there, but no info - I'll probably call 'em soon.
Thanks Charlie Chops for the 1st person testamonial - just what I wanted. I still think there must be a HAMBer or two who've played with these engines - so I'll bump this again, in hopes that you'll see this...

 

Jangleguy, just saw your other thread up again, kinda twilght zone on the brakes and carbs.

For info on the 4.2L Atlas LL8 (Vortec) Inline 6 join the Inliners international bulletin board (free) and look in "High Performance" There are several people running / installing them currently. There is a group there trying to get a group buy discount on some billet cam blanks to get the price down. Either standalone EFI or the orriginal computer is likely to be the best bet. The OE 'puter is a pain to get to run in another vehicle but for a more 'street' oriented vehicle it is better as you would retain the cam phasing controll. The Exhaust cam changes it's timing (via computer controll) something like 17 or 27 degrees from idle to redline (whatever the exact number, it's a BUNCH), it's why it has such a flat torque curve.


If Self Racing is who I think it is (See it here, Drag week Day 2, gateway Int. 7min 45 sec into the video though , wish my player could fast forward) they do / did have a Chevy Nova or Chevy II wagon that went 8.82 sec @ 155.87MPH in the quarter, but IIRC you could hear the turbo/s throughout the pass (the 'puter I'm on right now doesn't have sound). They also are rumored to have one that turns 12,000 RPM (not a typo).

I am looking at one as a possible mill for our 50 GMC 100. If we went that route, it would likely be pure street, not Hot / Street Rod. But a stock appearing 'grampa cruiser' that goes isn't all that bad either.

Oh yeah, duh, www.inliners.org Other parts of the forum probably have stuff on this engine, but there are a couple threads in the top of the list in Hi'Po.

 

Well....Leo Santucci is at it again.......he is building a vortec engine for the future......already making lots (400) more horse than the current engine(900 or so).....but as we have seen this last two years....its all about the combonation......400 horse will be great.....500 will be better....but ....all the power up top...means nothin....if the car dont move on the bottom....and that seems to be the big delema...how to get the 60 foot down.......but yeah ...the vortecs make bu cu power...good luck.....

 

All I have to say is Wow.

Very impressive.

 

I recall that one ran at pikes peak a few years back in a tahoe. took the class record that year.

 

If I have heard correctly the one/s in the Tahoes that ran Pikes Peak were 4.3 Vortecs in name only. Still, that's alot of vehicle to hustle up the mountain.


Doh!!! I meant 4.2, musta fat fingered that one.

 

The 4.3 would be a V-6. The 4.2 in-line 6 is the platform for the 4 cyl in the S-10 replacement - the Coronado. I think the up engine for those trucks is a 5 cyl but I'm not sure on that.

Charlie

 

Holy crap! Just got home from work and found all this - thanks guys! Guess I know what I'm doin' tonight...the numbers you guys are throwing out are amazing(!), but I'm after some middle ground here: something I can coble together for some WOT dragstrip work, without getting into the expensive machine work (ie: mostly stock short block and head). I think I see some Webers and aluminum fabbing in my future - and it might finally be time for me to learn about nitrous, too...But first things first, there's lots of woodshedding to do...Meanwhile, any HAMBers have any hands-on experience with these things???
Nexxy - I agree, these things are made for those Chevy pick-ups! That was my first thought, when I first saw these, a few years ago. My ultimate fantasy involves TWO trucks: a drag truck and a parts chaser/tow rig, both powered by 4200s! Maybe some day...who knows?

 

Yeah, I have been thinking about trying to con the local GAP outa their truck (saw something about that in another thread, had to go look) and have two similar trucks, one that would go nicely and look the same as the other, which would be an unholy terror! Kind of a Jekyl N Hyde deal. They seem to take boost well. I hear of people hanging a GT42R Garret (built by Turbonetics) onto them (Lotsa air) don't know how much they are actually boosting them on the stock shortblock though. Sounds like you need a 471 and a Bundle-O-Snakes intake (maybe even out of hose like the Ramchargers did with 'The High and Mighty'). That would only leave ignition and the cam servo. So if you're looking for strip mostly, I would expect you would lock the exhaust cam somewhere around 114 degrees (from the intake) and call it good?


Charlie, yes the 4.3 is the V6, I must have fat fingered that, I edited the post to point that out, thanks. I probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

 

Yeah, as of today, I'm leaning toward a turbo set-up. And locking the cams down where I want 'em, but not sure exactly where that is, yet - but I know people who can help me there. I'm still clueless on the ignition.
Funny how excited I can get about a project I have absolutely NO money for. But it's a good time to do this homework. Does anyone know if these things use the old bellhousing bolt pattern? I doubt it. Guess I could whip up an adapter to run a 'glide behind it. This morning I was reading up on the new automatic 6-speeds - they'll handle 525 ft. lbs, but they weigh over 200 lbs! And they're probably not cheap (sure would be great for street/salt duty though)...
Okay, back to reality. But you know I'll be sneaking in a little research at every opportunity - it's what I do...

 

From what I understand the dowls line up with the old SBC bellhousing, but none of the bolts do (an Inliners member stuck a bell housing on and checked the register bore with a dial indicator, it was only .006" off). So longer dowls and and adapter, and a spacer for the torque converter (if you decide to 'stick' with and auto).

 

Jangleguy-

I'm Jeff, the guy Jack is referring to. I have a 4.2 in my 68 Firebird. If you need any help / info on swapping or modifying these, please feel free to drop me a line anytime. There are already a few guys with these in Rods... I'll try to get a few pics of them up.

Here's my setup:

 

Welcome OHCBird I've been curious about these engines for awhile.

 

Anyone know how to contact OHCBird? I sent him a message with some questions, seeing as I am intending on putting an LL8 in my pontiac. If anyone could give him a heads up about the message on his account it would be greatly appreciated.

 

I sent ya a PM, 66Stratochief...

 

Wow! Thanks, everyone... My hair is on fire right now, but I'll be back in a few days - this is fun! OHCBird, you're a ruler! I'll be in touch...
Scotty