How Do You Feel About GM’s Decision to Put a Flat-Plane Crank V8 in the C8 Z06?

While the C8 Z06 has received universal praise thus far, there are some that aren’t fans of its new powerplant.

So far, the C8 Z06 has elicited nothing less than pure giddiness from the automotive community as a whole, but that’s what highly capable and presumably affordable supercars do to folks. But perhaps the most exciting thing about the C8 Z06 is what powers it – GM’s new flat-plane crank 5.5-liter LT6 that is the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 ever to be fitted to a production car, making 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. It also sounds amazing, to boot, but would anyone have preferred for GM stick with a cross-plane V8 in the new Z06? For that answer, we turn to this interesting thread that recently popped up at Corvette Forum.

For the most part, it seems that Corvette fans are happy with GM’s decision to break with tradition and put a flat-plane crank V8 in the new Z06. “Flat plane happy. Performance tradition is what matters to me!” said Z Fast. “Extremely happy Probably will go down as one of, if not the best naturally aspirated V8 ever built. N/A V8s are a dying breed,” added blipit. Others had a more complex take on the topic, however.

“Flat plane revs quicker in neutral, tunes exhaust port pulses for a few horsepower, and that’s it!” said Ballin’ The Jack. “The negative – nose blowing EU sound, (we are listening to two four-cylinder engines sharing the same exhaust system) unbalanced crank tends to wallow out main bearings (as Ford found out), absolutely no difference in redline (it’s the push rod/rocker/lifter system that lowers the redline, not the crank).”

“Today I saw Chevy will use variable output pressure oil pumps to try to save the main bearings at high rpm. (high pressure oil pumps eat HP). This engine is super expensive with titanium rods and valves. Same physical size as LS/LT engines. As large as this engine is, it is already at its max displacement! I’d much rather have a larger 427 inch displacement torque engine with either push rods or the DOHC heads, and the quiet, dependable, and balanced cross plane crank!”

He isn’ the only one that would have preferred to see a cross-plane crank V8 in the C8 Z06, either. “The sound of the cross-plane crank is too endearing to me,” said Tuckermaclain. “The flat-plane crank sounds soulless. The crank design gives it the sound. I couldn’t imagine never hearing the lope of a cross-plane ever again. It’s the sound I grew up with. The Allison 1710, Packard Merlin, and the Daimler-Benz 601 were all cross-planes. They powered the most iconic piston-driven things ever.”

So far, the responses here have been a mixed bag, with many admitting they’re fine with the flat-plane crank design so long as it proves to be more reliable than other applications (read: Ford Mustang Shelby GT350). But we want to know what you think! So be sure and head over here to chime in with your thoughts and tell us how you feel about the new LT6.

Photos: Chevrolet

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