Shots snapped of "Blue Devil" engine
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Call it what you will - "Blue Devil", "Corvette SS", or just "#%$&ing fast" - but even though we don't yet know the moniker of the upcoming ÜberVette, a clearer picture is being painted of the 650-hp supercharged lump that should propel it past most of the supercar elite. A sharp-eyed and well-connected member of the Digital Corvettes forum managed to have a camera in the right place at the right time, and grabbed three shots of the blown GenIV V8 that is said to carry the SPID designation of LS9.
Most notable is the blower setup, which puts the compressor down low in the valley, with the blower drive snout sneaking past the front-mounted throttle body. Air flows upwards through an air-to-water intercooler (note the yellow caps on the coolant fittings at the rear of the IC), and then drops straight down into the intake ports. The arrangement is similar to that of Cadillac's supercharged Northstar, but this engine appears to be significantly more compact despite providing 40% more output. There's also a bit of bling in the form of valve covers and a intercooler housing formed from polished aluminum, which is certainly more fitting to a $100K vehicle than the usual plastic or stamped steel.
Speaking of GM's luxury brand, rumor has it that a lower-output version of this engine will make its way into the Escalade. That would seem to contradict Caddy's claim that there will be no V-series SUVs.
Is it too early to start wondering when this will be available as a crate motor?
[Source: DigitalCorvettes]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lithous 9:19PM (6/27/2006)
If you follow the thread in the link provided there are a couple people claiming this is not the blue devil engine. So is this the engine or not?
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Tsarmina 9:53PM (6/27/2006)
if you'd put that thing in the Corvette, you'd have trouble not lighting the rear tires on fire.
And how would the transmission handle all that torque?
You would barely be able to keep the car under controll!
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of course it's more compact... 10:14PM (6/27/2006)
As pointed out in "All Corvettes are Red", the C5 Corvette was originally supposed to have the Northstar under the hood. But the Northstar wouldn't fit, so it got the LS1.
The LS1, LS2, LS6 and LS7 are all the same size (except the LS7 has an external oil pump/sump). So of course this motor is a lot smaller than a blown Northstar.
Last year in some Grand Am racing coverage, they showed the motors that were qualified for the series out of the bodies. The LS2 was smaller than the Ford 4.6, Lexus 4.6 (is that right?) and the BMW M5 V8. This despite making the same or more power than all of them. And the LS7 is the same size and produces a lot more power. The Porsche 3.6L was also shown, and seemed to be smaller than the LS2, although it made less power (at least at the time).
Also note that the LS-series pushrod V8s have better weight distribution (less stuff up top) than all but the Porsche motor also. And don't forget they're cheaper too.
It'll be interesting to see what else the Blue Devil has on it, see if it is a lot lighter or has a flappy-paddly gearbox.
What will the Blue Devil be used for? There's no racing series in the world it can race in.
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Carlos 11:12PM (6/27/2006)
I really don't understand this, can someone explain to me why car companies are making cars with insane amounts of power? Though I really like that, I wonder why not research ways to make the car more light weight or the gearing more efficient so it can better use that power? Good example Porsche, there cars, not too heavy on power are pretty freaken fast for being down on power compaired to a Corvette. I'm not hating on the Corvette, it's one of my favorites, just curious as to why not just refine the car into a better sports car instead of making it into a stupid fast semi good sports car?
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Chris 11:27PM (6/27/2006)
Because it takes money and expertise to properly tune a car to make it a great drive, but less money to throw on a supercharger. GM is going bankrupt, so they go for the supercharger/more power route.
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Matt 11:54PM (6/27/2006)
I have been told by a reputable source that this engine is not the LS9 slated for the Blue Devil, but the LSA slated for the Cadillac V Series trucks. The height of the engine in the picture alone should give it away that it would not fit under a Corvette hood.
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of course it's more compact... 12:20AM (6/28/2006)
The Corvette is already very light. Again, read "All Corvettes are Red". The cost of the car (production) was limited, but the engineeers got leeway for making the car lighter because Dave Hill figured making the car lighter increased its value (and thus the selling price) and so they could tolerate an increase in cost for it.
This is how the Corvette ended up with balsa wood floorboards.
The Corvette is already lighter (and smaller) than a Porsche 911.
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/coupes/0412_chevrolet_corvette_porsche_911/
And that's the regular C6, the Z06 is even lighter, sporting a carbon fiber splitter and fenders, and an aluminum frame.
As to the gearing, the previous gen Z06 actually had less top speed than the regular C5, which I feel is a testament to GM not being afraid to sacrifice numbers for more proper gearing for performance. I don't know if this is the case with the new C6 Z06 though, I think that the 25% bump in power would allow it to both go faster and quicker than the regular model.
All in all, I can't believe you call the Corvette only a semi good sports car. I mean wow. The performance of the C6 and Z06 are startling, without even getting into the price/performance.
It seems like Chevrolet is doing exactly what you think would be a good idea. I guess you just didn't notice.
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the chad 1:32AM (6/28/2006)
Umm, what happened to Sting Ray?
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/07/yet-more-on-the-corvette-blue-devil-or-should-we-say-sting-ra/
Or was that incorrect info?
Just thought I'd ask...
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GhostDoggy 7:08AM (6/28/2006)
Shouldn't GM focus their efforts on other things like fixing their business? I mean, ok to the Uber-vette and all, but its not like they are planning on building AND selling a million of these for a profit, right? It will not be their bread & butter so why this defocused effort? Hard to sympathize with their ailing business when they obviously don't give a hoot either.
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Paul 8:14AM (6/28/2006)
4 and 5-
FYI 911 Carrera S curb weight - 3131 (355 hp- 295 tq)
Z06 curb weight - 3132 (505 HP - 470 tq)
Z06 is 15,000 less- enough to buy a daily driver!
You guys are typical GM haters, not that anyone has much of a reason to love GM right now, but give them a fair shake for the things they are doing right.
9 - This is exactly what car companies do to fix their business. They create hype. Chevy is getting some decent (I stress decent, not great they are making significant progress compared to 5 years ago) models to the show room. Can you imagine the foot traffic that would be created by having one of these on site? If they get an extra 100 people in a month just to look at it that would very likely include a few new buyers.
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njshift 8:20AM (6/28/2006)
#9. GM is taking care of their customers. GM has many divisions and among those is a performance division who's job is to make fast cars. That doesn't seem too hard to understand.
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Carlos 11:09AM (6/28/2006)
"All in all, I can't believe you call the Corvette only a semi good sports car. I mean wow. The performance of the C6 and Z06 are startling, without even getting into the price/performance." I'm sorry I stand corrected, it is a great sports car, but what I meant to say was that it could become an even better one.
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naggs 1:11PM (6/28/2006)
carlos, weight reduction can only take you so far because stability at speed becomes an issue for cars that weigh less than 3000 lbs. look at ferraris, even the enzo is kind of a pig. the c6 corvette is one of the best planted and most stable chassis in the world and as is will work perfectly well with 650 hp so they gave it 650 hp. im sure the ss vete will have better downforce, brakes ect but the limiting factor was hp.
so you want them to make the corvette better and more balanced but not add more power? do you want a special edition model with a longer wheelbase? or how about they redesign the entire car to move the engine 1 inch back and down? people with no car design experience saying "i think they should focus on making it better" dont understand that all the "better-ness" was put in from day one leaving them with a car that works perfectly well with 650 hp and they would be stupid not to take advantage of that.
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Someone who actually knows 11:26AM (6/30/2006)
It's amazing how blind the media is, take a good look at that engine. Just as stated on Digital Corvettes, that is a TRUCK engine! Look at the exhaust manfolds, throttle body, FLEXPLATE rather than a fly wheel front accessory drive and overall height of the engine. Unless the new Vette's engine bay grew about a foot and a half in each direction just as the gentleman said on DC it's a TRUCK motor! I guess fact checking is out the window these days lol
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Dennis 7:40AM (8/28/2006)
Wow, does it get 36mpg like my 98 GrandAm did? Other wise my penis does not need the envy!
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Bruce 9:10AM (8/28/2006)
I go along with Dennis.....I'm not short or balding nor a Yuppie....I don't have any serious shortcomings which I need to overcome either, so....I guess this "ego magnet" isn't for me........I'll keep my 1970 454......A REAL car which takes REAL skill to drive....not just being a computer operator....Gee Ma...a REAL clutch and an archaeic beast called an "M21" trans......WOW, belongs in the Yuppie Museum....and to the fool who made the comment about the "truck motor"...DUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHH....so were the 396 and the 454's originally and THEY were (and to some of us still ARE) the greatest motors which GM's Tonawanda plant ever turned out!!!!!!...Now, go back in the bathroom with your Hot Rod magazine and keep dreaming that you'll EVER get within 10 feet of a REAL car in your lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Bruce 9:23AM (8/28/2006)
To the person who was wondering what the Blue Devil will be used for if it can't be raced.....TAKE A GUESS...a limited number of overpriced overpowered vehicles for wealthy, insecure people who think they can "buy" whatever their looks, personality and brains can't give them, to show off and ultimately wreck.....one of their many shortcomings tends to be the "If I can buy it, I can fly it" mentality...the "Yuppie Way".......
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Roger Komendat 11:51AM (8/28/2006)
Buy a hemi challanger. Save your money on a worthless piece of junk. They stopped making vettes in 1962 when they quit making trunks andn taking chrome of the front and rear
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RSCAR 2:18PM (8/28/2006)
#s 16, 17, &18,
You guys make me laugh. Who elected you three to judge others. I'm short, been bald for years and that never slowed me down a bit. I'm also bright and educated and at this point retired and rather rich. I don't need to compensate for anything or impress anyone. Fact is, the people who matter don't judge me and the people who judge me don't matter.
#16, "In the day" I owned, a 67 396 SS Impala, a 68 HO GTO and a 69 429 Boss Mustang, all fun in the day but they are a technological joke. My C-5 Z06 recently spit rubber and smoke all over a 454 Chevelle(nice car but a dog). #18 your remark is almost too stupid to respond to. Fact is, drive a '62 then a C-6 vette, if you say you like the C1 better as a driver, you are a liar or a fool. The 62 is great for memories but it's a buck board that doesn't steer or stop.
#17 Bruce, just because a person is wealthy they don't have to be insecure....how about you go have money or just mouth...and if you don't have $$$ tell me you wouldn't want to be wealthy...what bull shit
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DPC car videos 6:16PM (8/28/2006)
The supercar market better watch out, the regular Z06 gives the supercars a run for their money, the 650 horsepower engine will just destroy them.
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