Discussion:
1.6 Vortec engine woes

We have a Tennant 6600 sweeper at work (2007 model) with a GM 1.6 Vortec engine.
The engine has once again blown a head gasket. This latest makes the 4th time since the sweeper entered service in 2007.
From what I gather reading around the internet, this engine has a reputation as having "2 year head gaskets", and that sure seems to fit.
Another implication that bears out how poor this engine has performed for people who ended up owning one can be inferred by the fact that GM no longer even produces this engine and also that there are no longer available (so far as we can determine) any complete engines or long block assemblies left in market. It seems that all have been sold already.
Just yesterday I heard through a grapevine that a "fix" for replacing the GM Vortec with a Toyota brand engine has been developed and it is in the form of a retrofit kit.
Have any of you heard of this so called kit fix anywhere?
The person who told me of it yesterday is supposed to furnish me with a contact but I thought I would run it past this board as well as a sort of "verification/validation" thread.
  • Posted 29 Mar 2014 02:53
  • By L1ftmech
  • joined 25 Apr'12 - 394 messages
  • Tennessee, United States
Showing items 1 - 20 of 44 results.
sorry BB!
I love technology, until I have to actually use it ha ha!
  • Posted 16 Oct 2014 23:37
  • By daveallan
  • joined 3 Sep'14 - 7 messages
  • Ontario, Canada
Do yourselves a favor & put an active email address in your profile- makes things ALOT easier
  • Posted 16 Oct 2014 08:07
  • By bbforks
  • joined 1 Mar'12 - 1,437 messages
  • Pennsylvania, United States
bbforks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
Customers love technology- until they have to pay to fix it!
g8024a at Ameritech net
  • Posted 16 Oct 2014 08:07
  • By glen_a
  • joined 14 Oct'14 - 6 messages
  • Illinois, United States
oppps g8024a or g8024 I meant
  • Posted 16 Oct 2014 06:52
  • By daveallan
  • joined 3 Sep'14 - 7 messages
  • Ontario, Canada
no, I didn't; I will try to send to you BUT is yours g802a@.... or g802@.... ?
  • Posted 16 Oct 2014 06:51
  • By daveallan
  • joined 3 Sep'14 - 7 messages
  • Ontario, Canada
Did you get the two emails sent to you?
  • Posted 16 Oct 2014 03:43
  • By glen_a
  • joined 14 Oct'14 - 6 messages
  • Illinois, United States
hmmm its been deleted; try mailing me at: alland06 AT h0tmail dot com
  • Posted 15 Oct 2014 05:15
  • By daveallan
  • joined 3 Sep'14 - 7 messages
  • Ontario, Canada
g8024aatameritechperiodnet
  • Posted 15 Oct 2014 05:14
  • By glen_a
  • joined 14 Oct'14 - 6 messages
  • Illinois, United States
[email address removed]
  • Posted 15 Oct 2014 05:13
  • By glen_a
  • joined 14 Oct'14 - 6 messages
  • Illinois, United States
ok, can you put your email address up here so I can fwd the pics
  • Posted 15 Oct 2014 04:53
  • By daveallan
  • joined 3 Sep'14 - 7 messages
  • Ontario, Canada
I would need to see pictures of them and some history.
  • Posted 15 Oct 2014 00:52
  • By glen_a
  • joined 14 Oct'14 - 6 messages
  • Illinois, United States
HI, sort of...I tentatively have them sold, but its not final, yet. what would you be willing to offer for them?
  • Posted 15 Oct 2014 00:39
  • By daveallan
  • joined 3 Sep'14 - 7 messages
  • Ontario, Canada
Dave, Are they available still?
  • Posted 14 Oct 2014 07:36
  • By glen_a
  • joined 14 Oct'14 - 6 messages
  • Illinois, United States
HI, I read this with some interest, as I purchased 2 brand new 1.6L psi/gm's in 2009 for a generator application. (they were supposed to have been standard sae drive arrangements!) so as they are far from sae, I have been sitting on them, still in original crates, in my heated warehouse and am looking to sell. any interest out there?
  • Posted 3 Sep 2014 07:13
  • By daveallan
  • joined 3 Sep'14 - 7 messages
  • Ontario, Canada
none taken bb
my comments are based on my past experiences with engines from back a few years ago.
I know now a days with the changes in the market and how companies are farming out thier sources to other cheaper sources it most likely means the products have also changed, which they have.
Back in the day when they said 'industrial' and 'automotive' there was a distinct difference. I've seen it.

anyway its all good :o)
  • Posted 8 Apr 2014 00:43
  • By swoop223
  • joined 23 Mar'12 - 3,691 messages
  • North Carolina, United States
You've been swooped!
swoop223@gmail.com
BB, do a wikipedia search on Chevy 153 4 cylinder. That would be the engine you speak of.
  • Posted 8 Apr 2014 00:31
  • By L1ftmech
  • joined 25 Apr'12 - 394 messages
  • Tennessee, United States
In response to swoop- no disrespect- but- the 'industrial' engines we have today are mostly modified auto engines. I had a customer with a 6 series Toyota which had a Chevy 4 cyl engine. I forget the nomenclature for the engine but it sounded real new & high tech. I had to replace the head gasket & it was back ordered from every forklift channel I tried. I went to my local NAPA dealer & after some research found out this engine was installed in 1969 Chevy panel trucks along with '69 Novas. So much for 'latest & greatest'.

On a side note- from the dealer there was a choice of head bolts- standard or torque to yield- although there was no choice of head gasket- only one part # for that. I thought that was interesting. Opted for the standard bolts & never had a problem from that point forward
  • Posted 7 Apr 2014 23:48
  • By bbforks
  • joined 1 Mar'12 - 1,437 messages
  • Pennsylvania, United States
bbforks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
Customers love technology- until they have to pay to fix it!
L1ftmech I looked and could not find a copy of the parts break down of the 1.6 from GM sorry about that.
  • Posted 7 Apr 2014 21:43
  • Modified 7 Apr 2014 21:43 by poster
  • By Partsguy5
  • joined 13 Jun'12 - 409 messages
  • California, United States
I agree whole hardheartedly that the torque to yield head bolts are to blame for allot of head gasket failures. I also have found that allot of our "industrial" engines of late are automotive engines found in Europe.

I think your idea of using head studs is great. Curious to hear how you make out.
  • Posted 7 Apr 2014 10:28
  • By bbforks
  • joined 1 Mar'12 - 1,437 messages
  • Pennsylvania, United States
bbforks (at) Hotmail (dot) com
Customers love technology- until they have to pay to fix it!
[ Usually the main problem with bolts once they are initially torqued down is they never really retain their ability to hold the torque value and they keep stretching out so the head may have loosened up over time allowing for the failure(s). ]

I'm with you on that, and several other old timers in our shop have that same opinion.
One of my co-workers builds race engines in his side business and he flat out says that the "torque to yield" head bolts ARE the reason this engine continues to give head gasket problems.
In fact, this mechanic is now checking his sources to determine if a set of HEAD STUDS are available that could replace the torque to yield bolts. The studs (his preferred fasteners for heads on the race engines the builds) come from ARP.
When I began discussing this engine and its history with him last week I learned that he also uses head gaskets from Cometic.

The head bolts have been replaced with new ones each time the head was off.

I'm not really well versed on any possible automotive renditions of this engine that have been marketed here in the US.
In 2012 when the head was off, I dug around on the internet looking for info of potential parts sources and from what I could gather, this 1.6 engine was used in European marketed GM cars and derivatives, but I did not get any impression that it had been used in the US except for industrial and marine applications.
The cool response I got from our local engine parts warehouse did not sound like the engine was on their radar as a potential profit maker.
As engines come and go through the years, I doubt anyone will ever sigh and wistfully say " Now, that little GM 1.6 Vortec sure was a good engine."

Anyhow, this saga is still unfolding and I have no idea yet what fate awaits the old engine.
I will continue to update.
  • Posted 7 Apr 2014 01:20
  • By L1ftmech
  • joined 25 Apr'12 - 394 messages
  • Tennessee, United States

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