How about an 8 cylinder-8 liter diesel motor. That would freaking rock!

 

Flem:
Don't count the 8.1 out yet. New developments will get this big block to much more respectable 450+HP and 550FT/LB+ figures in an engine thats about 6-8 inches shorter than any LS1 V-10. GM is not going to drop the "BIG BLOCK" name any more than Chrysler dropped the "HEMI". Commercial: "Son That's a BIG BLOCK". If efficiency was the only thing that sold trucks, no one would own a Hummer, they can't make them fast enough!
Raylar

 

what they need to do is addapt the 3v push rod technology they're gonna use on the zo6 c6 to the 8.1. then her cubes will shine through

 

its not that i'm anti BBC i've got one in my 71 burb and a 98' 454 sitting on a stand that going to get stroked to 496 cubes later this summer. the is more left in the BB but the LS series offers more, the new truck motors are going to push the truck hp/toque levels above anyhting that on the market today. and on the diesel front the Dmax is just scratching the suface of its potential.

 

Flem
I still disagree. Diesel technology is getting better and the Duramax is a prime example. However the diesel as we know it may be doomed because of emissions issues. Unless someone comes up with a resonably priced cat sytem that also reduces NOX and particulate emissions, the light diesel will die a controlled slow death over the next 10 years because of economics alone. There is no doubt that truck engines will get better as technology improves, but cost is always a factor as well as how fast they impose the CAFE standards already written into law. The big three look at engine packages in ten year groupings, with those periods extended by new improvements in each package. The cost to develop a new engine series is so incredible and it gets more expensive every year. Trucks are built to haul things, hauling takes torque, torque comes only from long strokes, big cubes or supercharging. As long as trucks are built,motors that develop big torque will be primary as long as they can be emissions compliant and get mandated fuel milage.

 

I feel that the sale of big gas engine powered trucks will continue to decline like they have since the mid 90's.I have owned a 8.1 and a Dmax Silverado HD and I will take the diesel anyday.It is quicker,far more powerful,gets 60% better fuel mileage than my old 8.1 and if hooked up to a 8.1 truck would easily drag it in a pull-off.The big three will do whatever it takes to meet federal standards for diesels.Loaded up 4x4 diesels are big cash cows for them and they're not about to stop making them any time soon.You can bet their engineering people are working on meeting those standards right now.I didn't think that trucks with a 8500 lb+GVW were subject to CAFE standards.

 

the diesel dilemma gets a big help in 06-07 when all the diesel fuel has to be sulfur free, europe already has sulfur free diesel and it allows them big gains in emissions and the ability to use cat. converters.

 

Flem:
The problem with diesels is not how sulphur free the diesel fuel is. Diesels have a problem because they produce high levels of NOX and particulates from burning diesel fuel. Dodge (Cummins) just released their new 5.9 low Nox engine for 2004-1/2 and its a lot better than it was in 2003. The problem is they still have to lower the NOX levels by 90% to meet the mandated 2007 levels. I am sure anything can be accomplished, however the cost is going to be the prohibitive part. When diesel trucks start costing 10-12 thousand more than the big gas engine rigs the sales will drop like a rocket out fuel.
Raylar

 

If you have acccess to, it the new issue of automotive engineering (has the Maclaren-mercedes SLR on the cover.) it has a good article on the new fuel and emission controls for the big diesels from the SAE truck and bus show.