Building a Turbo Engine From The Ground Up - GM's 2.7

[Lunentucker]

I'm a couple of months and couple of thousand miles into ownership on the Canyon Denali now.
There have been a couple of minor issues, but I am overall very satisfied with the truck.

One issue was an obviously assembly act of negligence, as the lead wire from a side marker light was left pinched inside the rear fender boxing, and I had to take the liner out to get it freed up so it would reach the connector on the frame rail.
Minor, but annoying.

Mine has the now famous "blinking headlights", and as of this writing, has caused another stop sale for GM while they work on a solution.
I believe they've identified it as a bad control module from a supplier, and now they're working to get corrected modules in the pipeline.

Otherwise, it's been good.

The engine and drivetrain are powerful and smooth. I still catch myself going way faster than it feels, so cruise control is very necessary.
It came with auto start and stop like Jeeps, but with just one battery, and there's a disable switch on the dash, but with no last position memory. No biggie. I've gotten used to hitting the switch just like I did with the JT.

Seeing how the engine was conceived and designed to be a larger bore, high boost gasser gives quite a bit of insight into how just bolting turbos and blowers onto an engine not made for them just seems like a really bad idea.

I'm still casually shopping for a Jeep. Man, I saw an old CJ7 Friday that I fell in live with. Someone had done a heck of a job on that beauty.
My next Jeep, if it does happen, will be very analog.

Sponsored

 

[Spr]

I've had my ZR2 since last November and have just over 2,000 miles on it. Upon delivery, the hood and roof needed repainted due to spots where the metallic flake must've gummed up on the machine and was sprayed onto the truck.


The powertrain is definitely better than the last generation, but the transmission still isn't as smooth as the ZF8. Although my Gladiator was a lemon, its transmission never shifted hard when stopping at a stop sign or jerked into gear on the first start of the day.

Adaptive cruise control has been great the few times I've used it on the highway, granted this is the first vehicle I've owned that has it.


Surprisingly, the ride of this ZR2 isn't as good as the last generation, and I'd wager at times it's a bit rougher than the Sport S Max Tow that I had before this ZR2.


As a software developer, my biggest gripe is the software and infotainment system/instrument cluster.

• It's frustrating that we don't get change logs or patch notes, especially since we can't choose when to install the OTA updates. Similarly, the latest update is annoying since a new permanent button was added to the sidebar that requires an Onstar plan and we can't remove it from the sidebar.
• It's also strange that the tachometer is on the right and the speedometer is on the left without the option to swap their positions.
• I've experienced both screens staying black for several minutes on startup before they display anything.
• Dimming the screens at night makes them harder to read since the black background gets washed out, reducing the contrast between text and the background.

I've been looking at Gladiators online but for everyday driving I prefer the 2.7L since it feels similar to my 94 Yukon and it's 5.7L.

 

[Lunentucker]

I've had my ZR2 since last November and have just over 2,000 miles on it. Upon delivery, the hood and roof needed repainted due to spots where the metallic flake must've gummed up on the machine and was sprayed onto the truck.


The powertrain is definitely better than the last generation, but the transmission still isn't as smooth as the ZF8. Although my Gladiator was a lemon, its transmission never shifted hard when stopping at a stop sign or jerked into gear on the first start of the day.

Adaptive cruise control has been great the few times I've used it on the highway, granted this is the first vehicle I've owned that has it.


Surprisingly, the ride of this ZR2 isn't as good as the last generation, and I'd wager at times it's a bit rougher than the Sport S Max Tow that I had before this ZR2.


As a software developer, my biggest gripe is the software and infotainment system/instrument cluster.

• It's frustrating that we don't get change logs or patch notes, especially since we can't choose when to install the OTA updates. Similarly, the latest update is annoying since a new permanent button was added to the sidebar that requires an Onstar plan and we can't remove it from the sidebar.
• It's also strange that the tachometer is on the right and the speedometer is on the left without the option to swap their positions.
• I've experienced both screens staying black for several minutes on startup before they display anything.
• Dimming the screens at night makes them harder to read since the black background gets washed out, reducing the contrast between text and the background.

I've been looking at Gladiators online but for everyday driving I prefer the 2.7L since it feels similar to my 94 Yukon and it's 5.7L.

On the cruise, at least on mine, you can choose adaptive or regular. That's handy.
Agreed the software is a bit wonky at times. Mine keeps switching from beep alerts to the vibrating seat when I'm backing out of the garage or close to something.

 

[AmosMoses]

I was born into a family of gm workers/ owners but never owned one myself. I hope your engine lasts longer than your interior does

 

[Caveman]

I love the CJs, but they have gotten really pricey! You can still find a square in good shape for okay $. Mine is the next-to-last year of production, but it doesn't even have airbags and every gauge is a mechanical dial. The back seat was an add-on option that I paid extra for at the dealer. It rides on leaf springs front and rear. The 4.0 in it has throttle body injection. Talk about analog...

 

[AmosMoses]

Is forced induction really a good idea for rock crawling or going places where mud will coat the radiator and intercooler? I know timing and fuel auto adjust for variables like that but I wonder if lightweight larger displacement powerplants are a better option for producing power. Do turbo diesels handle this kind of environment better than turbo ice engines?

 

[Lunentucker]

Is forced induction really a good idea for rock crawling or going places where mud will coat the radiator and intercooler? I know timing and fuel auto adjust for variables like that but I wonder if lightweight larger displacement powerplants are a better option for producing power. Do turbo diesels handle this kind of environment better than turbo ice engines?

Good points.
I was just thinking in terms of how some people have added turbos and blowers to the stock 3.6, and how differently that works out to be than a gasser actually build for boost from the ground up.
There's a lot more to it than just bolting on a fan and dropping a tune into the computer.

 

[AmosMoses]

Good points.
I was just thinking in terms of how some people have added turbos and blowers to the stock 3.6, and how differently that works out to be than a gasser actually build for boost from the ground up.
There's a lot more to it than just bolting on a fan and dropping a tune into the computer.

Most definitely. I wouldn't consider adding forced induction to the 3.6. Compression ratio is a factor as well as integrity of the block design, piston and rod strength, retention of the crank etc.

Decades ago I cracked an oem Ford hypereutectic piston on my mustang at test and tune after going from an 8lb boost pulley to a 12. Luckily I was able to nurse it home so I didn't have to get it towed. The good thing was, the ford 5.0 powerplant was the jeep of aftermarket engine parts so upgrading to better parts was easy.

 

[kevman65]

I think this new guy is some GM Troll or Spy..........

 

[Lunentucker]

I think this new guy is some GM Troll or Spy..........

I work for Mini Cooper

Sponsored