Z28x said:
Displacement on demand is easier to do on a Pushrod engines. Starting in 05 some Chevy trucks with the 5.3L and the Hemi V8 in the 300C and Magnum will have DoD.
GM will have pushrod V8s with 3 valves and VVT in the next year or two. The 3.9L V6 going into the 2005 Pontiac G6 is a new generation of pushrod V6 that has DoD and VVT. The 3 valve version will be 270HP. The 3 valve heads are said to add 10% HP the the GM V8s.
Pushrod engine are less expensive to build and lighter and more compact than ohc. The LS6 also gets better gas milage than any DOHC V8 on the market. The GM 3800 series III (which is an old school engine) has been reworked and now meets SULEV standards.
I got a pic of the 3 valve V8, I hope it loads
Not exactly a model of simplicity (or high rpm stability). Although I hear the next Z06 might use this type of cylinder head, so, we'll see. As I said, running multiple valves is an issue.
I really don't see how this configuration is much simpler, lighter, cheaper or more compact than the sohc 3v geometry in the mustang. You save the cost of some length of chain, tensioners and one camshaft. In return, you get pushrods (24 of them), more rocker arm bulk (24 of those) and the lash adjusters reciprocate as well. In ford's design, they are stationary. Friction and reciprocating mass are going to be much higher and overall mass probably isn't much different Those intake rockers and shaft mount have to weigh at least as much as one of fords cam's. And, with all those pushrods all over the place, GM still gets to do the "coil-not-exactly-on-plug" ignition, so throw in 8 plug wires, which other designs do away with. If I'm not mistaken, the spark plug holes are just visible in the picture, next to the forward-upper exhaust manifold bosses. That cylinder head machining seems pretty involved as well. GM's going to have headaches with the tolerance stackups. Overall cylinder head height is probably a bit lower but it is definitely wider in this configuration.
DoD is cool is a cool idea. Although, GM was going to do that on this vette, but decided against it because it cause some chassis resonance issues (you could tell it was running on 4 cyl). That's from the MT article. Although, the vette still gets amazing milage without it.
In the end there is no relacement for displacement, regardless how you actuate the valves. Although, the new 4.6 makes 75 more hp, 15 lb-ft more peak torque, and has 1000 more useable rpm than my 5.0, and it still runs on pump gas and gets the same or better mileage in a heavier car. It also does this while motivating 6% less displacement. I think that's significant.
And, I don't care what anyone says, this is just plain cool:
http://www.wrljet.com/fordv8/427sohc.html