Hope I don't get that bloody Alzheimer's disease... Knock on Wood.... Who's at the door?

Cheers

More info re the L76 and holden plans in Carsales. Maybe I've made a good decision at long last.

Words - Mike Sinclair - date Feb 2007

Holden's Pontiac link will bring fuel economy benefits for Aussie buyers

The launch of the Holden Commodore as a Pontiac into the US market (for more click here) will have an almost immediate effect on local models. That's the news behind the news of Holden's 'coals to Newcastle' export coup.

The US-market VE Commodore, the new Pontiac G8, will be offered in both V6 and V8 variants when it goes on sale in the USA early in 2008. The V6 will closely follow 'our' SV6 in specification; however, the G8 GT (Pontiac's V8 'hero' model) will be equipped with a different V8 engine to its Commodore SS doppelganger.

So what? The engine the G8 GT gets is GM's L76. Though the 6.0-litre V8 shares its 270kW output and much of its componentry with the engine fitted to local Holdens (in GM-speak dubbed, L98), it also gets GM's cylinder deactivation system. This system allows the engine to run on just four cylinders when cruising, idling and at other times when full power is not needed.

GM calls the system Active Fuel Management (AFM) and according to the company's own PR blurb it can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 12 per cent. A similar system is offered by Chrysler on its current HEMI V8-engined 300C.

At the launch of the G8 today, Holden's Vehicle Line Director Jon Dennis told CarPoint/Carsales that the development work carried out on the G8's L76 engine and its AFM calibration would directly affect local specifications. Indeed, he stated it would see Commodore variants benefit from the fuel-saving technology sooner.

According to Dennis, fine tuning of AFM for local conditions and fuel was still underway. While he would not comment on Holden's timetable, he did confirm AFM would definitely be made available to Australian buyers -- a fact reiterated by Holden boss, Denny Mooney, at the announcement.

Independent of Dennis' comments, however, CarPoint/Carsales sources have confirmed that AFM may arrive as early as the 2008 model year in both Holden and HSV models.

Could the minor facelift expected for VE before the year end, and the launch of the VE ute correspond with the arrival of AFM? We wouldn't bet against it...

See: http://editorial.carsales.com.au/car...w/2351856.aspx

Great news! So the current L76 engines that are being snapped up would only need a software 'tweak' to enable AFM? Otherwise it might be worth waiting until the local L76 has this feature out of the box.

Sambo, the L76's have the hardware and software but it is switched off in the PCM. I don't know if ALL the hardware is there for the DOD. I know the VVT hardware is not there at all.

The current L98 doesn't have any of the hardware but does have the software in the PCM.

That media release just confirms the suspicions around the marketplace. ie. Holden will be introducing the DOD and maybe the VVT in 2008.

The quest for better emissions and mileage from large engined cars is behind all these moves.

However. another problem for Holden Australia is "Will Australians accept their V8 sedan sounding like a 4 banger on the highway". I'm told there are all sorts of testing being done on exhaust systems.

Cheers

Sounds to me if we want the power on tap then that's the price we'll have to pay (no burble on the highway). What gets me is that we're shying away from the Kyoto agreement but have some of the tightest emissions controls in the world. Go figure!

What upsets me more so Sambo is that Governments and industry dont follow the same rules. Industries get exemptions. Much of our local public transport doesn't comply at this point in time. Don't get me going on the diesel electric trains we have spewing tons into our atmosphere every time they pull away from a station.

It's the same with this lack of water problem we have. Last night one of the public affair shows detailed some industries using megalitres of water per day and pay bugger all for it. I know we need industry for jobs but I'm also aware of the huge profits these companies are turning over.

I appreciate we all have to do something but the imbalance is hypercritical.

My rant for the day. ;) :LOL:

Actually Sambo, in researching this DOD thing, my mind got to wander on the possibilities to cobra owners.

Hows about an L76 DOD enabled powered cobra fitted with a T56 using a 3.31 diff and side pipes?. Cruising the highway at 100klm in sixth the thing would fire on the left then you'd havta wait an age for it to fire on the right side. It would sound like a ferguson tractor. :CRY:

Pete (PCC) would love it. Rather than his neon lights he could inject aero smoke making fluid into the pipes and lay down dotted smoke trails. Knowin him tho, he'd use the colored smoke for more effect. ;) :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Only kiddin Uncle Pete ;) :JEKYLHYDE

Interesting concept! However from what I've been reading in my few months on this forum, how many of you lads are going to leave the engine standard once it passes rego? First job, knock out that damned DoD! :)

Ermmm.....all of us. :rolleyes:

Us cobra fellas don't do things like that. ;)

never :p

Geez Lez, there must really be something in the water up there, firstly ya contracted Chebbie disease, now ya want a four banger in ya Cobra :eek:

Isn't that why Pete left the motherland, to escape the Pinto powered Cobra's :LOL:

Yeah, trouble is Dave, we let him into the country to reek havoc designing our our roads, tunnels and water storage systems. ;). We're lucky he had nuffin to do with designing the coathanger or there would have been no celebrations yesterday.

I reckon we shouldn't let em in unless they have direct genetic links to convicts. :rolleyes: :o :o

Les,

Well done , with a bit of work that motor will make heaps of torque and power.

If you are looking for a flywheel and clutch make sure you check out the Textralia. It will handle anything you can throw at it but is easy to drive in traffic .

Check out the LS1 site for info and testimonials.

Regards,

Phil:)

Thanks Phil, I'm pleased with my decision.

Certainly the Textralia is the choice of flywheel and clutch and is already on order.

As far as the engine goes. I view it as a late model LS1 with a few more cubes and little more torque. Whilst not an LS2, a change of cam should see it approaching close to LS2 performance.

I think it will perform beyond my expectations.

Cheers

Now for some extra sticky tires Les! :D

You betcha Sambo. I'm currently using 295/50/15 on the back with Yoko 352's.

The yoko's aren't all that sticky but will do for rego and run-in then I'll see whats about.

Cheers

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but it seems that has been done already:p

It seems my name has been taken in vain - well my job!!

Les, I am not a designer but a Contractor i.e. I build (or someone else does and I mop up any mess so to speak).

And secondly, the coat hanger was designed by an englishman. Look up the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle (UK) and you will see the exact bridge as the Sydney one, but smaller which was built prior to the ozzie one. Your fella made it work i.e. got your parlimentary gents to go ahead with the bridge and then monitored progress on an hourly basis. Not an easy job, but as usual a POME was instrumental in its design - Bring back the Empire!

And now back to the thread...........

Les - shame on you again:p :p :p :o :p

Hey Uncle Pete, I've been awaiting your response. :)

So.....Let me get this right.

What you are saying is that like that american fella who took an english AC and turned it into a Cobra, we did the same thing but with the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle (UK).

So does that mean that the worshiped coat-hanger is nothing but a replica?.

Why didn't your tell me on sunday?, I could have given Morris Iemma some flak to brighten his day. Anything to put $hit on our NSW cousins. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Not quite Les,

I think the Tyne bridge was a replica of the Hells Gate Bridge in the USA.

Does that mean the Coat Hanger was a replica of a replica - maybe like a few Cobras;)

Oi, I was embellishing the reputation of the "Empire" and the abilities of the "Pome" and now you go blow it all away. ;)

Bugga!!, you know how sensitive this real verses replica debate is. :CRY:

In any case, I don't think our NSW cousins are gonna invite you to the next group cuddle for calling their bridge a replica. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

How many replicas are bigger than the original anyway? :)