Both General Motors and Ford are making big inroads into the aftermarket world for high-performance parts, and now GM Performance Parts is taking it to the streets-- literally. The company has put together a mobile exhibit of its offerings called the GM Performance Parts Power Shop, which is travelling the country this summer making appearances at various racing and car-oriented events.
One of the stars of the exhibit is a fully-operational display of the GMPP ZZ572 big-block crate engine - 720 hp of off-the-shelf motivation. The drag racing and hot rod-oriented display also features a brand-new drag racing simulator that promises the "full sensory experience of rocketing down the quarter-mile."
The Power Shop debuted this past weekend at "The Year One Experience" at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
[Source: GM]
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
The Other Eric @ Apr 25th 2006 4:46PM
First Alex:
Show me the research methodology. Any research can be conducted with an end-result in mind and, when done so, the result will be exactly as you intended them to be. Even a first-year marketing student could tell you that.
A little insider information from actual GM buyers:
1. My wife has 2 Master's degrees and, oddly enough, drives a Hummer H3.
2. I have 1 Master's degree and, oddly enough, I drive a Corvette Z06. Which, by the way, gets 30MPG on the freeway. What does your M5 get? Of couse, you don't know because you don't have one and because the BMW website doesn't say.
3. I know it's hard to believe this, but people buy cars and trucks for reasons OTHER THAN YOURS.
The bottom line is that any marketing firm can make any claim that their product is inspired by something people respect. ie: "space-age technology" or "inspired by F1 racing". Those claims mean absolutely nothing. Of course, if you're buying an F1 car or a space shuttle it might mean something. But we're talking about a 720hp motor made for hard-core 1/4-mile drag racing that will kick the living crap out of any M5 out there. If you don't believe me, buy me one and we'll try it out.
Mike @ Apr 25th 2006 5:07PM
For those of you that educated the first alex on statistical methodology and sampling, thank you. I couldn't have said it better my self. The bottom line is that this crate motor is for a very select group. I say good for them for putting in the time, effort and A LOT of money building a car around this engine. By the way, I have owned 4 new GM cars (3 Chevy’s) in the last 6 years. Thanks in large part to my College education and the fairly healthy expendable income I receive because I am an educated and ambitious person. Stay in school and some day you may be able to offer something to the conversation.
That One Person @ Apr 25th 2006 5:18PM
If I had the talent, the equipment and the money...I would stuff one of those bad boys into my 94 Regal and make it RWD. Now THAT would be a sleeper hehe.
If they can stuff a 302 into a Focus...I can put that in my Buick...
rw @ Apr 25th 2006 6:00PM
Where can you buy 720 hp under $14,000? You see that is the point you can't except for this engine.
MikeW @ Apr 25th 2006 6:19PM
Really does fuel injection cost that much?
Ditch the polluting carburetors.
Yeah 77hp/liter, in all its noisy cross plane crank majesty L R L L R L R R.
frank @ Apr 25th 2006 8:17PM
it's pretty lame that every article about Toyota or GM on this site turns into pointless bashing of "tree-hugging Prius owners" and "redneck Chevy owners".
Corey W. @ Apr 25th 2006 10:41PM
They sell kits for adding EFI.
SaveGas @ Apr 25th 2006 10:42PM
...My wife has 2 Master's degrees and, oddly enough, drives a Hummer H3...
Does your wife need a H3 because she is fearful of crushing her precious master degree attaining brain? Or is she just a shortly soccer mom that doesn’t feel “safe” in anything smaller? As a loving husband I think you should downsize to a regular Vette and get her a H2. While you’re at the dealer make sure to get a couple brush guards and other "mommy will destroy you" accessories for the H2. On the way home, make a point to stop by the local Republican campaign office to pick up some GOP paraphernalia for beasts back bumper.
Once home, sit back and enjoy your primitive and economically senseless gas guzzler. Granted if you decide to sell it the next day, expect to lose about 8-10 K off the sticker price. I cannot fathom how such an educated person can make such an ignorant vehicle choice.
I certainly hope gas keeps on going up, tears of joy cascade down my cheek upon thoughts of $5-$6 per gallon of regular unleaded.
SaveGas @ Apr 25th 2006 10:45PM
...My wife has 2 Master's degrees and, oddly enough, drives a Hummer H3...
Does your wife need a H3 because she is fearful of crushing her precious master degree attaining brain? Or is she just a shortly soccer mom that doesn’t feel “safe” in anything smaller? As a loving husband I think you should downsize to a regular Vette and get her a H2. While you’re at the dealer make sure to get a couple brush guards and other "mommy will destroy you" accessories for the H2. On the way home, make a point to stop by the local Republican campaign office to pick up some GOP paraphernalia for beasts back bumper.
Once home, sit back and enjoy your primitive and economically senseless gas guzzler. Granted if you decide to sell it the next day, expect to lose about 8-10 K off the sticker price. I cannot fathom how such an educated person can make such an ignorant vehicle choice.
I certainly hope gas keeps on going up, tears of joy cascade down my cheek upon thoughts of $5-$6 per gallon of regular unleaded.
SaveGas @ Apr 25th 2006 10:51PM
...They sell kits for adding EFI...
Agghh…adding EFI to an archaic earth rumbling engine is like asking a Bush sipping-confederate flag waving-bible belter to drink Heineken and attend a Torah book club. The two don’t simply don’t play nice.
SaveGas @ Apr 25th 2006 10:53PM
...They sell kits for adding EFI...
Agghh…adding EFI to an archaic earth rumbling engine is like asking a Bush sipping-confederate flag waving-bible belter to drink Heineken and attend a Torah book club. The two don’t simply don’t play nice.
gbh @ Apr 25th 2006 11:11PM
"Where can you buy 720 HP for under $14,000?..."
I guess if you need a new "crate" motor, then yeah, this is a good deal.
If you have any ability to assemble parts, shop smart, and do some math, there are DOZENS of ways to easily build a smaller, lighter, and much more modern and reliable plant that can produce more (1000 HP+) for $14K.
If you know how to shop used stuff, you can do it for less.
It only need be 300-400 CID, and will be FAR more efficient than that 572 dinosaur. There's a range of engines that'll work. From idle to 6K you'll have levels of HP and TQ that you'll NEVER be able to use without drag slicks, and you just might get north of 15 MPG when you're not on the boost.
I love to go fast. There are cheaper ways of getting more HP and TQ than that.
rw @ Apr 25th 2006 11:30PM
"I guess if you need a new "crate" motor, then yeah, this is a good deal"
Did I mis read this thread I thought it states it is about a 572 crate motor. Not a junk yard motor. A brand new in the box engine. Whew I just read it again and IT IS about a 572 new crate engine.
gbh @ Apr 26th 2006 1:28AM
RW,
Perhaps I wasn't clear enough...
All I'm saying is you can build more HP, with all NEW parts for less $. Assembled by a pro builder, and have them put it in a box for you, if it makes you feel better. Next time you go to a racing industry trade show, see how many guys actually would touch one of those things.
You can build even more HP, with USED parts for FAR less $.
Please, go buy a 572, then take it apart and mic it out. See what it takes to balance the crank to .25 grams @ 10K RPMs (if it even can, most can't). See what it takes to balance the pistons and rods. See how far off the head volumes are.
All I'm saying is that if you want a bowtie-pattern powerplant, you can do better for less.
Jake @ Apr 26th 2006 2:47AM
Big motors, pushrods and almost free of technology!
Awsome!
Education? Like that makes a difference. Its about how you use what you have. Not where you graduated from.
Most schools teach one to think inside the box.
The above is an example of this.
Albert Einstein did not graduate. Nor did he think inside the box.
Education levels mean more only to those that think inside the box.
Later
Jake.
Campisi @ Apr 26th 2006 5:42AM
For all of you that think these crate motors are nothing more than motivation for the next Pro Stocker, let me provide you with a link to something that may change your tune a bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSuad2uhx4k&search=Top%20Gear
This video is of the Marcos TSO, a british sports car. Why is this relevant, you may ask? The revived Marcos chose to use GM Small Block V8 crate engines for their vehicles. As you can see, this 400+ HP car not only kills in a straight line, but it also handles incredibly. So, the next time you dismiss crate engines as ancient dragster nonsense, go ahead and remind yourself of your folly.
Gary Hutt @ Apr 26th 2006 7:22AM
I would like to know how we schedule the Power Shop to come to an event. UAW Local 14 and GM Powertrain -Toledo sponser the Park 'n' Shine Car show. This show displays 125 new GM products and 2500 custom cars and is held in a 26 acre park located behind our plant. The attendance is around 50,000 people. The date for the show this year is Sunday, September 10, 2006. The Power Shop would be a great addition to our show.
Jim Lepine @ Apr 26th 2006 9:21AM
I was at Road Atlanta this past weekend for the Year One Experience and had a chance to check out the Power Shop. Very cool idea and sure to be a hit with the diehard enthusiasts.
Aaron @ Aug 24th 2006 12:48PM
In response to several of the comments I have read on this blog...
1) The LS series fuel injected pushrod V8 is one of the greatest powerplants built today. The LS7 is a 505hp marvel. It is light weight, has a low center of gravity (in block cam), and is very compact. The LS series motors are an exceptional value, and are capable of over 30mpg depending on the gear ratio and weight of the vehicle. There is nothing antique about the LS engine.
2) The 572 big-block motor that this blog page started with is also an exceptional value. For less than $14K, a racer or enthusiast can get a complete, reliable, warranted engine capable of producing either 620 or 720hp (depending on CR). This is an outstanding value. You will never see the torque numbers this engine produces in a foreigh crate motor. For applications where the 572 would be desired, it is truly an outstanding platform. Scoggin Dickey offers a fuel injected version of this engine for classes that allow it. Numer 26, it isn't always a matter of cost. When replacing a carb app with FI, there is a bit more involved than just swapping the motor or intake. The electrical and fuel systems require modification as well. Adding FI has been a very popular swap since the 1980's.
3) Take a bit of time on Google and find a few articles about the efficiencies of OHV (pushrod) engines compared to OHC. You may be surprised at what you find. Anyone can make a more complicated product, a good engineer makes a product as efficient and mechanically simple as possible.
4) There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction and excitement behind a powerful motor. Most people that are building a powerful car/truck are not building their daily driver, but rather an exciting toy. In our houshold, high horse cars are purely used for show and cruise purposes. We get a lot of enjoyment out of being able to build these toys, and sharing them with others at shows and cruises builds the camaraderie that is rampant in automotive enthusiasts.
5) Find a BMW that outperforms the Z06. At $70K, this car outperforms cars costing two and three times that. Not just in a straight line either. This car outperforms Ferrari. Chevrolet is capable of building world class performance cars.
6) I pay for the fuel I pump into the seven cars and trucks we own. Not you. The day you decide to pay for the fuel and maintanance on my vehicles is the day you can have some input into what I drive.
7) All of our cars are GM, ranging from 1961 to 2002. My wife and I are both college educated. I am an Engineer, and she is a Micro-Biologist. We both enjoy motorsports, and enjoy driving. Neither of us are from the south. The hill-billy references do tend to get a bit old. Same with the yuppie in a Beemer references. The demographic distribution does not support these stereotypes, yet they persist.
8) GMPP, FOMOCO, MOPAR. All of these acronyms reflect performance. Buying performance parts and assemblies from these organizations is an aftermarket decision. If the market exists for the products these divisions sell, then it makes financial sense for them to exist. Edelbrock, Holley, MSD, et. al. exist because the demand for performance is very real. It makes no sense whatsoever for some of you to bash on the big 3 for trying to participate in this large and profitable market.
As for an earlier comment on this site, even as a GM fan, I would still love to get my hands on a good flat head Ford. Or a Max Wedge, 426 Hemi, et. al. Even an old slant 6 has it's wonders. These items are part of our culture, and in some cases can also represent a very sound investment. Take a good look at what classic and antique cars are worth. This market wouldn't exist if these cars were not desirable. For many of these cars the styling, feel, and design represent all that is wonderful about this country.
There is a joy in ripping through a four speed and feeling an engine roar that cannot be replaced by any other experience.
mikeb @ Apr 19th 2007 12:02AM
These engines make this power with over 50% of the torque off idle and the horsepoer increases as rpms do. They will lose to a weaker car because they have huge traction problems. Torque is what moves your car and horsepower is the rate at which this torque is used. Old designs are old because they have prevailed. And there is nothing wrong with driving an econobox all the time and once in a while pulling out the gmpp ramjet 502 and pinstriping the closest wal mart parking lot.