GM Investing Millions in Plant Upgrades – for V8 Engines

It’d seem not all development dollars at automakers are being shoveled toward electric vehicles. The General has just announced it is plowing $918 million into a quartet of American production facilities, some of which will shore up production of V8 engines.

Specifically, GM says these funds include $854 million in preparation to produce the company’s sixth-generation Small Block V8 engine, setting the company up to continue supporting its full-size truck and SUV programs. A little over two-thirds of the cash is earmarked for Flint Engine Operations where the 6th-gen family of Small Block V8s will be assembled along with the related block, crank, and head machining. During these multi-million dollar renos, the place will continue cranking out the 3.0-liter Duramax.

Elsewhere, Bay City GPS in Michigan will be set up to build cams and connecting rods that’ll support the Flint operations, while Defiance Operations in Ohio is going to see prep work for building a variety of block castings to support future V8 engine programs. Those same programs will be supported by an injection of cash into Rochester operations where intakes and fuel rails for future V8s will be crafted.

Score one for those of us who like an octopot rumble, especially after writing a series of posts about companies that have explicitly said they are halting new development on internal combustion altogether. GM still has their stated goal of transitioning to a zero-emissions lineup by 2035, of course, but at least now we know truck-loving gearheads won’t be stuck with today’s 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines for the next 10 or 15 years. And while we should not expect GM to suddenly start plopping V8s in the Silverado EV, it is encouraging to know the company still has one eye on gasoline power – even if those engines may eventually be reserved primarily for heavy-duty trucks and the like. Those trucks, by the way, are currently assembled right next door to Flint Engine at Flint Assembly.

As one would expect, GM said specific product details, timing, performance, and features related to its next-gen V8 engine are not being released at this time.

[Images: GM]

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