GM 2300 engine
| 2300 engine | |
|---|---|
Chevrolet Vega 2300 (140 cu in) 1bbl. L4
|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chevrolet |
| Also called | Dura-Built 140 |
| Production | 1971-1977 |
| Combustion chamber | |
| Configuration | I4 |
| Displacement | 139.6 cu in (2,287 cc) |
| Cylinder bore | 3.501 in (88.9 mm) |
| Piston stroke | 3.625 in (92.1 mm) |
| Cylinder block alloy | Aluminum |
| Cylinder head alloy | Cast iron |
| Valvetrain | Single overhead camshaft |
| Compression ratio | 8:1 |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | |
| Fuel type | Gasoline |
| Oil system | Wet sump |
| Cooling system | Water-cooled |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | GM Iron Duke engine |
The 2300 is a 2,287 cc (2.3 L; 139.6 cu in) inline-four engine produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 1971 to 1977 model years of the Chevrolet Vega and Chevrolet Monza. It featured a die-cast aluminum-alloy cylinder block. The high-tech block features an alloy with 17 percent silicon. During the machining process, the cylinders were etched leaving the pure silicon particles exposed providing the piston wear surface, eliminating the need for iron cylinder liners. The block has cast iron main caps and a cast iron crankshaft. The engine's cylinder head is cast iron for lower cost, structural integrity and longer camshaft bearing life. The valvetrain features a direct-acting single overhead camshaft design.
The tall, long-stroke motor's vibration tendencies are helped by large rubber engine mounts. one- and two-barrel carb versions were offered. The two-barrel version, the L11 option, also included a revised camshaft for a power increase of 20 hp (15 kW). The engine used a 3.501-inch (88.9 mm) bore, 3.625-inch (92.1 mm) stroke and 8:1 compression.
Overheating is a serious concern for the engine, since the engine block is of an open-deck design, severe overheating could cause the cylinder barrels to warp and pull away from the head gasket, causing coolant leaks into the cylinders and cylinder scuffing. Maintaining oil and coolant levels is crucial for the engine. The engine is equipped with an oil pressure switch which grounds out the primary ignition system should the oil pressure fall below 6 psi during operation, thus stopping and preventing the engine from being restarted until the oil level was replenished or the mechanical cause of low oil pressure was remedied. Chevrolet dealers installed a coolant recovery tank, a low coolant warning light and extended Vega's engine warranty to 50,000 miles (80,000 km) to all Vega owners. This proved costly for Chevrolet.
The 1976 to 1977 2300 engine received a new cylinder head design incorporating hydraulic lifters to replace the taper-screw valve adjusters, improved coolant pathways, longer-life valve stem seals, a redesigned water pump and thermostat, and a five-year, 60,000-mile (97,000 km) engine warranty. The engine's name was changed to Dura-Built 140.
1975 to 1976 Pontiac Astre and 1975 to 1977 Chevrolet Monza had the Vega engine as standard equipment. Monza's H-body variants, the Pontiac Sunbird and Oldsmobile Starfire adopted Vega's revised Dura-built 140 engine one year only, for 1976 and 1977 respectively.
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