Does vortec engine mean good?

Hi, I was looking at a minivan - astro or safar. Is the 4.3 Vortec a
good engine? I just see it as a plus in the ads and wanted to know.
Especially since they are higher in miles (at least the ones I can
afford). Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortec

More or less just a trade name.

Steve

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi, I was looking at a minivan - astro or safar. Is the 4.3 Vortec a
> good engine? I just see it as a plus in the ads and wanted to know.
> Especially since they are higher in miles (at least the ones I can
> afford). Thanks.
>

Steve Mackie wrote:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortec
>
> More or less just a trade name.
>
> Steve
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>Hi, I was looking at a minivan - astro or safar. Is the 4.3 Vortec a
>>good engine? I just see it as a plus in the ads and wanted to know.
>>Especially since they are higher in miles (at least the ones I can
>>afford). Thanks.
>>
>
>
>
That's what I thought. However, I have seen a very similar name on
other brands now (something like Vtech). Is GM licensing the technology
to others or is that just someone else using a similar name for similar
technology.

I am under the impression that this is GM's method to ensure lots of
turbulence in the combustion chamber. Is this right?

> That's what I thought. However, I have seen a very similar name on
> other brands now (something like Vtech). Is GM licensing the technology
> to others or is that just someone else using a similar name for similar
> technology.

VTEC, if that is what you are refering to, is a whole other ball of wax.
VTEC is purely a Honda trademark name, but does mean something; Variable
valve Timing and lift Electronic Control. The actual non-trademark acronym
would be VVT; Variable Valve Timing. Learn all about the differecnt types
and associated trade names he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VVT

> I am under the impression that this is GM's method to ensure lots of
> turbulence in the combustion chamber. Is this right?

I doubt it's nothing more than a trade name, period. Like the way GM says
"Ecotech" or Ford says "PowerStroke" or the way Chrysler now uses the term
"Hemi." Doesn't really say anything about the engine, it's just a name.
(Before this causes a ruckus, look it up. They are no longer true "hemi's".
They are as much of a Hemi as my '95 GM 3.4L DOHC is.)

Steve

Steve Mackie wrote:


> (Before this causes a ruckus, look it up. They are no longer true "hemi's".
> They are as much of a Hemi as my '95 GM 3.4L DOHC is.)
>
> Steve

If there are "degrees" of Hemi-ness, then the 426 Hemi wasn't a "true"
one either since the spark plug wasn't quite central and the valve
angles weren't symmetric about the axis of the cylinder, and the last
"true" Hemi was the 1957 392 Hemi.

The modern 5.7 Hemi is "more" of a Hemi than any quad-valve DOHC engine,
though. Quad-valves are pent-roof chambers.

> > (Before this causes a ruckus, look it up. They are no longer true
"hemi's".
> > They are as much of a Hemi as my '95 GM 3.4L DOHC is.)
>
> The modern 5.7 Hemi is "more" of a Hemi than any quad-valve DOHC engine,
> though. Quad-valves are pent-roof chambers.

True, I should have thought it over before typing. My point was, which I
think was conveyed, is that the new 'Hemi' name is more marketing than
design. And as pointed out by a previous poster this is not 100% true of the
'Vortec' brand as I stated earlier.

Steve

"Steve" > wrote in message
...
> Steve Mackie wrote:
>
>
> > (Before this causes a ruckus, look it up. They are no longer true
"hemi's".
> > They are as much of a Hemi as my '95 GM 3.4L DOHC is.)
> >
> > Steve
>
> If there are "degrees" of Hemi-ness, then the 426 Hemi wasn't a "true"
> one either since the spark plug wasn't quite central and the valve
> angles weren't symmetric about the axis of the cylinder, and the last
> "true" Hemi was the 1957 392 Hemi.
>
> The modern 5.7 Hemi is "more" of a Hemi than any quad-valve DOHC engine,
> though. Quad-valves are pent-roof chambers.

The heads off a current Chrysler "hemi" look like Ford Cleveland heads to
me,

Ed

Steve Mackie wrote:

> I doubt it's nothing more than a trade name, period. Like the way GM says
> "Ecotech" or Ford says "PowerStroke" or the way Chrysler now uses the term
> "Hemi." Doesn't really say anything about the engine, it's just a name.
> (Before this causes a ruckus, look it up. They are no longer true "hemi's".
> They are as much of a Hemi as my '95 GM 3.4L DOHC is.)
>
> Steve
>

But isn't the hemi revival engine still more of a hemi than a wedge?
Don't the valves come in on opposite sides of the chamber, instead of
being in line like most wedge heads? I am under the impression that
MOST engines today are wedges with squish, to add turbulence and lower
octane requirement. Don't have one of the new hemis, but I would
suspect if it is close to a real hemi shape it would have a higher
octane rating that wedges.

Don Stauffer wrote:

> Steve Mackie wrote:
>
>> I doubt it's nothing more than a trade name, period. Like the way GM says
>> "Ecotech" or Ford says "PowerStroke" or the way Chrysler now uses the
>> term
>> "Hemi." Doesn't really say anything about the engine, it's just a name.
>> (Before this causes a ruckus, look it up. They are no longer true
>> "hemi's".
>> They are as much of a Hemi as my '95 GM 3.4L DOHC is.)
>>
>> Steve
>>
>
> But isn't the hemi revival engine still more of a hemi than a wedge?
> Don't the valves come in on opposite sides of the chamber, instead of
> being in line like most wedge heads?

Yes and yes, which is why it IS technically a Hemi in spite of the
elliptical chamber shape.

I am under the impression that
> MOST engines today are wedges with squish, to add turbulence and lower
> octane requirement. Don't have one of the new hemis, but I would
> suspect if it is close to a real hemi shape it would have a higher
> octane rating that wedges.

They worked hard on the details of the head and piston crown shape, as
well as adding dual plugs, to allow it to run on regular gas at the same
compression as a wedge head. There are many paths to the same
destination, more than one way to skin a cat, etc. :-)

"Steve Mackie" > wrote in message
...
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortec
>
> More or less just a trade name.
>
> Steve
>

Indeed it is more than just a trade name. The Vortec name specifically
refers to the cylinder heads.

This article explains it pretty well:

http://www.chevymania.com/tech/vortec.htm