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 41 - 44 of 44 results.
I do see that Helmar is showing they have 1 in stock. PSI may be sending you back to Tennant as I believe they do OE business with them. I do see that GM still lists the 1.6L under their industrial engine options. Impco also has a division in Canada that dresses the GM engines for OE's.
Just seems kind of strange that they are saying NLA as there are a lot more than just sweepers that used this engine.
  • Posted 29 Mar 2014 06:09
  • By Partsguy5
  • joined 13 Jun'12 - 409 messages
  • California, United States
GM Vortec 1.6L inline 4cyl? industrial?

thats strange
i just did a google search on a vortec 1.6L long block and got all kinda hits , yes industrial engines ready to go
ebay.com
sportsfisherman.com
chicagoengines.com
just to name a couple

might want to also check into 'engine power source' EPS and see if they have anything, they probably do.

ya just need to put some effort into it man ;o)
  • Posted 29 Mar 2014 04:39
  • Modified 29 Mar 2014 04:43 by poster
  • By swoop223
  • joined 23 Mar'12 - 3,692 messages
  • North Carolina, United States
You've been swooped!
swoop223@gmail.com
We did check with PSI and they said that they no longer have any of those and they referred us to Tennant.
Tennant only offers us the option of short block and a head.
We also checked a bunch of websites that claim to offer complete 1.6 Vortec engines, but all those claims turned out to be false. They are just too indifferent to take down their web ads.
We are currently straddling the fence on going that route or doing a complete evaluation of our current engine and head.
The tempting rumor of being able to get rid of the 1.6 Vortec for a (presumably) better brand of engine has caused us to pause while we try to confirm if there actually is a retro kit or if someone has been smoking something.
  • Posted 29 Mar 2014 03:29
  • Modified 29 Mar 2014 03:31 by poster
  • By L1ftmech
  • joined 25 Apr'12 - 394 messages
  • Tennessee, United States
I know at least up until about 3 months ago you could still get new 1.6L. I would check with the guys over at Power Solutions Inc. The 1.6L and 2.4L are pretty much throw away engines it usually cost more to rebuild or repair than it does to buy a new one.
  • Posted 29 Mar 2014 03:19
  • By Partsguy5
  • joined 13 Jun'12 - 409 messages
  • California, United States

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