GM to make more 5.3 V8s
GM is making two relatively minor investments in the United States, according to today’s releases. First, the Spring Hill plant will get $40 million to push out more 5.3 liter V8s for full size trucks and truck-based SUVs, showing high hopes for both. The engine is used with ten-speed automatic transmissions.
Spring Hill makes three engines, which are used in 13 models; the plant, opened in 1990, has around 3,700 workers. GM put $22 million into the plant last year.
GM is also putting nearly $7 million into the Tonawanda engine plant, $4.4 million of which is capital and $2.3 million of which is earmarked for increasing efficiency. Both investments are designed to improve efficiency. The plant also makes Corvette LT2 engines. Tonawanda is in Buffalo, New York, near the Niagara River.
Clark Westfield grew up fixing up and driving past-their-prime American cars, including various GM and Mopar V8s. He has ghostwritten auto news for the last few years, and lives in Farmingdale, New York.