Could We See Big Block Gas V-8 & V-10 In New Trucks Again

Keep in mind the 6.2 liter V8 is darn close to same displacement as the old V10 (6.8L). More modern and powerful too

The_real_wild1 wrote:
So what is considered a big block anyways? Wasn't there a 392 big block? Same as the 6.4 hemi.

I think the original FE was 332 and grew to 428 at the end of the '60s.

I assume that a lot of you folks realize that the amount of energy in a gallon of gas is LESS than the amount of energy in a gallon of diesel. i.e. "Per gallon, diesel fuel contains about 12% more energy than gasoline, thus when burned in engines of comparable efficiency means that diesel powered vehicles should get about 12% better mileage, which is in the ball park." See this link: http://www.arewetoast.com/energy-content-of-selected-fuels.html

So ... an equivalent state of the art and horsepower gasoline engine BETTER get worse mileage that an equivalent state of the art and horsepower diesel engine in the same vehicle ... or some laws of physics are getting violated somewhere.

Between gasoline and diesel engines of the same horsepower, torque delivered to the drive wheels is all that counts. However, the gasoline engine will have to spin faster (due to less energy per gallon of fuel) to get it's equivalent horsepower converted into the same torque on it's drive wheels as the diesel does spinning at lower RPM. Hence the gasoline engine will need different gearing than the diesel.

I see comments all the time about "how well a diesel engine will pull" over what a gasser will pull (given the same base horsepower). What this probably means is the driver of the diesel likes to not have his engine spinning as fast as he would have to spin a gasoline engine to do the same job.

The fuel industry has of course known this since the beginning of time ... and hence the overall higher average price of diesel per gallon down through the years. Dollars per mile is what counts - not miles per gallon.

That being said, I've noticed that the V10 in our motorhome can be made to hold us right beside diesel motorhomes on mountain grades - but I have to rev it to do it. I've had to get over the nervousness that those high RPMs used to cause! ;)

irishtom29 wrote:
The future of high performence gasoline engines more likely belongs to smaller turbo motors than to large normally aspirated ones. My 1 liter 3 cylinder Ecoboost Fiesta makers 123 HP and 148 torque. Scale those numbers up to 5 liters and you've a great deal of power. Note that GM has jumped on the turbo 6 train with a very powerful 3.6 dual turbo V6 used in a hot version of the Cadillac CTS.

Of course turbo charged big displacement gasoline motors would be useful too.

The Ford V-10 and probably GM's offerings in big block engines have been fuel-injected for years. There hasn't been a "normally aspirated" for quite awhile. You are probably using that phrase to refer to non turbo or supercharged engines.

I definitely agree with your premise, that injecting air is a better and more efficient way to get the most out of an engine (at least the most horsepower to weight ratio).

I'm thinking this thread was initiated by someone that pines for the days of the big block, when they were an excellent power plant for towing. They had gobs of power and ran without problems, for the most part.

I find it hopeful that, in today's market, there is more advancement in motive engineering than in the days of just making year-over-year cosmetic changes to haulers.

I doubt you will see the return on big block V8's or V10's any time soon.
Most likely to see like a 5.0 with turbo boost. Far better towing power and better non towing fuel mileage.
I blame Ford for putting such a bad feelings for diesels with the 6.0 and 6.4, while the 6.7 is better, earlier models had some issues, to that point all the big three had some teething issues with the stricter emissions standards. I believe the big three are over the hump when it comes to emissions issues.
Part of the issues with looking at the $8,000 to $10,000 difference in price the real life of a diesel tuck is not years but decades. Those that want to trade every 2 to 5 years will not be the return on the cost.

My reason for going to a diesel from gas is towing power and fuel mileage. As my daily driver I see about 14 mpg, empty highway about 20 mpg, and 12 mpg towing 11,000#.

The_real_wild1 wrote:
So what is considered a big block anyways? Wasn't there a 392 big block? Same as the 6.4 hemi.

Back in the day, The Chrysler 383 was a big block. My father bought a new '65 Dodge Polara 2 dr HT with the 383 magnum to pull his 19 foot camping trailer. Now I could blow his doors in pulling my 24 footer with my 3.5 EB - times change.

BTW, I loved that Dodge. I so wanted to buy it from him when he traded it in, but I was on active duty and just couldn't swing it. That was a beautiful car!

The future of high performence gasoline engines more likely belongs to smaller turbo motors than to large normally aspirated ones. My 1 liter 3 cylinder Ecoboost Fiesta makers 123 HP and 148 torque. Scale those numbers up to 5 liters and you've a great deal of power. Note that GM has jumped on the turbo 6 train with a very powerful 3.6 dual turbo V6 used in a hot version of the Cadillac CTS.

Of course turbo charged big displacement gasoline motors would be useful too.

So what is considered a big block anyways? Wasn't there a 392 big block? Same as the 6.4 hemi.

Dave H M wrote:
whoa this has gone south. :B

I can remember the day when I drove a diesel, it was a real blast. seemed like the heavier the load the greater the gas mileage. :S

It is amazing how most treads like this turn into gas vs diesel and then continue on down south lol.

Haha

A thread about tires or what color your next truck should be will turn into a gas vs diesel debate given enough time lol.

Dan

whoa this has gone south. :B

I can remember the day when I drove a diesel, it was a real blast. seemed like the heavier the load the greater the gas mileage. :S

It is amazing how most treads like this turn into gas vs diesel and then continue on down south lol.