GM Dropping 6.0-liter V-8 From Conventional Half-Ton Pickups

According to GM's 2010 Fleet Guide, the company is dropping the naturally aspirated, 367-horsepower, 375-pounds-feet-of-torque, 6.0-liter V-8 L76 Vortec engine from its Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 half-ton pickups. We reported in that the 6.0-liter would be phased out after six-speed transmission and 6.2-liter V-8 production ramped up.

GM will continue to produce the 332-hp, 367-pounds-feet LFA version of the 6.0-liter V-8 for use in the gas-electric Two-Mode Hybrid Silverado and Sierra light-duty pickups. The standard 6.0-liter will also continue to be available in GM's heavy-duty pickups as the only gasoline engine.

Conventional engine choices for GM's 2010 half-ton pickups include:

• Vortec 4.3-liter V-6 with 195 hp
• Flex-fuel Vortec 4.8-liter V-8 with 295 hp (new)
• Flex-fuel Vortec 5.3-liter V-8 with 315 hp
• Flex-fuel Vortec 6.2-liter V-8 with 403 hp