Autoblog

Woodworker needs help making business out of car-inspired carvings [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Design/Style

If there's anything more manly than a V8 coffee table, it's a V8 coffee table carved from hardwood. That's exactly what Steve Brandenburg of Lexington, Kentucky spends his spare time crafting.

What started as a melding of passions has garnered Brandenburg recognition at local car and trade shows, in national magazines and even on PowerBlock TV. Now the artist wants to take his efforts to the next level, and he's asking for your help. A Kickstarter campaign is currently underway to help Brandenburg Wood Works get off the ground.

Brandenburg carves all of his creations by hand, without the aid of a CNC machine, and the incredibly-detailed pieces are unlike anything we've seen before. In addition to full-scale small block V8 engines, the artist also whips up recreations of vintage oil cans, wooden spark plugs and wooden license plates (check them out here and in the video below).

Depending on pledge level, contributors to the campaign can expect to receive those goodies as thanks for their support. You can check out the full details on the Kickstarter page. While Brandenburg's immediate goal is to raise enough money to enter the St. James Court Art Show, he also needs more materials, a lathe and a cargo van to transport his pieces.

Continue reading Woodworker needs help making business out of car-inspired carvings [w/video]

Woodworker needs help making business out of car-inspired carvings [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, BMW, Specialty, Racing

We're firm believers in the fact that there are few things on this green Earth that can't be improved with the addition of a General Motors small block. Need proof? Take a peek over Jon Sibal's site for a look at a BMW 1 Series M Coupe powered by a good old-fashioned American lump.

The GC10-V8 is actually a silhouette race car, which means the vehicle makes use of a complete tube chassis which is then covered in whatever sheet metal (or carbon fiber) you like. This machine was built by Global Concept Automobile, and began with a 1 Series M Coupe shell.

The team then applied some seriously-aggressive composite fender arches to cover the vehicle's meaty race rubber. Sibal says the eight-pot at work in the GC10-V8 is good for a blistering 550 horsepower, and that a three-way Ohlins adjustable suspension takes care of keeping the coupe planted on the tarmac.

The racer has already gotten its feet wet in a couple of endurance races around France this year. Awesome. Head over to Jon Sibal's site for more information and photos, and be sure to click past the jump for a look at the GC10-V8 in the pits.

Continue reading This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video]

This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM marks 100-millionth small-block engine built [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Chevrolet, GM

A lot has happened in the last 56 years... mankind landed on the moon, the Cold War ended and General Motors managed to build 100 million small-block V8 engines.

First launched in 1955 with 265 cubic inches of displacement, the small block V8 has seen duty in nearly every memorable machine produced by Chevrolet in the last five decades. In addition to being the bread-and-butter engine in GM's bread-and-butter brand, the small block has also been widely seen in the engine bays of various Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models in the States, as well as in Vauxhalls in the UK, Opels in the rest of Europe and Holdens in Australia.

While the current fourth-generation small-black V8 engine from GM doesn't share much at all in common with its forebears, it's still a tribute to a solid basic design architecture (4.4-inch bore centers, eight cylinders and overhead valves) that has remained a stalwart in power, affordability and efficiency.

The actual 100,000,000 engine will be a supercharged LS9 V8 that would normally be found in the engine bay of a Chevy Corvette ZR1, but this milestone powerplant will be kept and preserved by GM as part of its historical collection. Fittingly, the LS9, with 638 horsepower, is the most powerful engine ever offered by the automaker in a production vehicle.

In related news, GM has announced that its fifth-generation small block, due in the "near future" (perhaps the C7 Corvette?), will be blessed with a new direct-injection combustion system for enhanced efficiency. Naturally, it will still have 4.4-inch bore centers.

There's plenty of cool statistical information in the press release and video after the break, so we suggest you check it out for yourself... especially if you belong to the camp that believes pushrods automatically equal antiquated technology.

Continue reading GM marks 100-millionth small-block engine built [w/video]

GM marks 100-millionth small-block engine built [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM investing $890M in next-gen small block V8s

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, GM

Autoblog builds an LS9 V8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ah yes, the classic small block Chevy. No other engine in history carries as much nostalgia and General Motors looks poised to push its mouse motor well into the future by adding new technologies designed to clean up the mill's emissions and improve fuel mileage. Expect these engines to show up in applications from sportscars like the Camaro and Corvette to pickup trucks and SUVs.

According to GM, all of its next-generation small block V8s will use aluminum engine blocks in addition to being E85 compatible. We can also expect to see direct injection added to the small block's repertoire for improved efficiency and power production. Finally, the combustion chambers will see a redesign that will promote fuel efficiency.

Naturally, an update to an existing engine line requires a suitable investment, and this one is no different. GM will be investing nearly $900 million and will add or retain more than 1,600 jobs in Tonawanda, NY; St. Catherines, Ontario; Defiance, Ohio; Bedford, Indiana and Bay City, Michigan. More details can be found in the press release after the break.

Gallery: Building an LS9 V8 at the GM Performance Build Center

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM investing $890M in next-gen small block V8s

GM investing $890M in next-gen small block V8s originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corvette Racing boss Doug Fehan confirms new 5.5L V8 for Sebring debut

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Chevrolet, Racing

Corvette C6.R GT2 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in August when General Motors introduced the all-new GT2 class Corvette C6.R, it ran downsized 6.0-liter version of the 7.0-liter V8 from the long-dominant GT1 car. At the launch, Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan told us the 6.0-liter was just an interim engine. With revised GT rules on tap for 2010, GM was already planning a brand-new engine for its race Vette.

Unlike the 6.0/7.0, which is a ground-up race engine that only shares basic architectural dimensions with the production small block, the 2010 C6.R's V8 is a new 5.5-liter unit that will indeed be derived from the production engine found in roadgoing Corvettes. In fact, the 5.5-liter race engine will be built at GM's Performance Build Center alongside ZR1 and Z06 V8s.

Fehan has confirmed that the 5.5 is running on the dyno and will make its race debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. We don't have any additional details on the new engine yet, although we were told earlier that it is based on the next-generation production small-block, which we expect to see in the Corvette soon.

Gallery: Mid-Ohio 2009: Corvette GT2 racing

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Corvette Racing boss Doug Fehan confirms new 5.5L V8 for Sebring debut

Corvette Racing boss Doug Fehan confirms new 5.5L V8 for Sebring debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: GM explains tech details of ZR1 LS9 engine

Chris Shunk — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet, GM

Click the image above for more high-res pics of the ZR1

The ZR1 Corvette is one serious piece of American metal, with the athleticism of a track star and the brute power of drag racer. While light weight materials, magnetic damping and 15.5-inch Brembo brakes sounds impressive, the real meat lies under the hood of the fastest ever production Corvette. GM's supercharged 6.2L small block V8 packs at least 620 hp and nearly 600 lb-ft of torque, and its duty is to finally put the Corvette into the supercar club. We were lucky enough to spend some time with Ron Meegan, the assistant chief of GM's small block engine program, and he gave us an engineer's view of the supercharged LS9 engine. Hit the jump to learn why GM didn't use the 7.0L V8 from the Z06, why the Eaton supercharger is so special, and whether or not GM is being modest with the ZR1's projected 620 hp rating.

Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Continue reading VIDEO: GM explains tech details of ZR1 LS9 engine

VIDEO: GM explains tech details of ZR1 LS9 engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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