I was reading up on the new LT1 and noticed that, not only is there no P/S pump (no surprise) but the alternator and A/C compressor are both on the right side of the engine. I can't help but wonder if GM did that to offset the drivers weight. Or is it simply because, after deleting the P/S pump the other stuff was left on the right side of the engine? I would think, on a clean-sheet design (yeah I know, based on the LS3) they put those there on purpose.
Less brackets?
Room for the EPS rack?
Either packaging or for assembly purposes. Thats why they do anything like they do it.
Packaging? Less weight? Belt routing? They're going to be making a LOT of these so I suspect that something very minor like a shorter belt that is going to cost them $.03 less per engine would make sense. Pennies are just smaller pieces of dollars after all.
I bet I know the answer, and it's too simple.
The starter is on the passenger side, so the battery is also on the passenger side to keep the cable run short. (Starters and batteries are almost always on the same side of the car, which is why old A-bodies had two battery wells, since Pontiacs had the starter on the driver's side where it made the exhaust manifold and clutch linkage a PITA) So they probably kept the alternator over there to keep it close to the battery.
The A/C would be the same scenario - evaporator is on the passenger side, and the lines to the condenser and rear A/C (if applicable) run down the passenger side, so keep the A/C compressor over there.
The passenger side of the engine is the side that is set back -- that is; the #1 cylinder (driver's side front of car) is closest to the radiator. The #2 cylinder is the second throw on the crank which means the passenger side cylinder head sits a bit further away from the radiator. By putting the accessories on that side, they can be place a bit further back which reduces the overall size of the engine package. As someone said earlier - it's a packaging choice. Power steering is electric - either electric rack, electro-hydraulic pump or electric motor on the steering shaft.
Room for the twin turbos and intercooler, and RHD for export.
Yeah, you guys are right. I was hoping it was as cool as weight distribution but I don't think so.
It's kinda like if you found out the girl you were dating wore a thong. That'd be hot, right? Then you find out it's because granny panties irritate a rash she has.
DrBoost wrote: Yeah, you guys are right. I was hoping it was as cool as weight distribution but I don't think so.
That would be a great internet rumor you could start. Go post it on Jalopnik or something and see how far it goes.
they had to put the stuff somewhere- on the Caprice LT1's in the 90's, everything that was driven by the belt- alt, AC, PS pump- was also mounted on the passenger side, with an electric AIR pump mounted all by itself on the driver's side.
Spot for the supercharger
I'll bet the placement of the accessories varies by application due to packaging reasons, like it does with the Gen III and IV engines.
In reply to novaderrik:
And that infernal dizzy cap under the water pump that always leaks....
Placement will likely vary with application -- when/if other applications occur. Right now it's just the 'Vette. And with fuel mileage regs doing what they're doing, I doubt we'll see many different applications. Most manufacturers are headed to smaller displacement/boosted mills to achieve power goals while hitting ever higher fuel efficiency targets. Even the C7 'Vette was rumored to be headed to a twin-turbo V6 for those reasons. But they, rightfully, thought the 'Vette needed to have a V8.
"I was hoping it was as cool as weight distribution...." Well, actually, it was. When you package everything in a tidy fashion it allows more flexibility with engine placement - which helps weight distribution. So you may go back to imagining the thong without the rash.
By the way, tidy packaging also helps with aero -- the engine is shorter which helps get the body work at the front of the car lower. So better weight distribution and aero is kind of like no thong at all.
MichaelYount wrote: By the way, tidy packaging also helps with aero -- the engine is shorter which helps get the body work at the front of the car lower.
But pedestrian safety regs require there to be a certain distance between the top of the engine and the underside of the hood, which takes away from all that hard work they did.
Still helps - get the engine shorter and it can sit lower and the hood can sit lower while maintaining the required dimensions. The tougher one to deal with is bumper height....
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