7.4 Vortec Engine Specs
by Vern Hee
The 7.4-liter engine is known as the General Motors 7400, which was a Vortec-designated engine built from 1996 until 2001 as a truck engine. Vortec technology was first introduced by GM in 1986 in a V-6, 4.3-liter engine called the 4300. The word "vortec" comes from the word vortex. The idea was to create a fuel-efficient engine that incorporated an air-to-fuel combustion system which would ultimately increases horsepower. GM returned to big-block engine style, with the 454-cubic inch size, in search of power.
The 454 and the 7400
The muscle car era was long gone when the 7400 series was developed. The Vortec 7400 was based on the 1995 version of the 7.4 liter Chevy 454-cubic inch V8 big block that was rated at 230 horsepower. The Vortec version increased horsepower by 60 horsepower for the GM line of trucks. The 7400 refers to the engine size in cubic centimeters and this easily translates into 7.4 liters. This engine series ran from 1996 to 2001 in Chevy and GMC heavy duty line of trucks like the Chevy and GMC Suburban. The 7400 series was retired in 2001.
7400 Vortec Stats
The 7400 Vortec V-8 GM engine has 454-cubic inches and was rated at 290 horsepower at 4,000 rpm. It had 410 torque at 3,200 rpm. The engine has a bore and stroke of 4.24 inches x 3.99 inches. The valve train has an overhead valve, ohv, configuration with two valves per cylinder. The engine has multi-port fuel injection for induction of fuel.
Applications
The 7400 reigned for five years and equipped 26-foot U-Haul trucks in commercial applications and was the primary powertrain for GM line of trucks. It appeared in the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Suburban and the Chevrolet Express. All the GM products in 1996 were applauded by the public because of the new line of power trains that increased horsepower. The 7.4-liter, 7400 454-cubic inch engine provided the same 290 horsepower across the board for all GM products. Then in 2001, GM discontinued the 7400 and the 454 configuration in favor of the last big block produced, the 8100 496-cubic inch engine rated at 340 horsepower at 4,200 rpm with 455 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm.
References
Writer Bio
Vern Hee started writing professionally in 2009. He works as a reporter for the "Pahrump Valley Times." Hee taught elementary school for eight years and worked in the landscape construction field for 20 years. Hee holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California Berkeley and is a veteran of the United States Navy.
