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Chevrolet L18 specs: 496 ci (8.1L) 8-cylinder, 4.25 x 4.37 in (108 x 111 mm) bore and stroke. OHV, cast iron block and heads. Rod ratio and piston speed.
The Chevrolet Vortec 8100 (L18) is close to square: 4.25" bore against 4.37" stroke, within 2.7%, which splits the difference between a high-revving layout and a torque layout. With a 4.37" stroke, mean piston speed reaches 4,000 ft/min at only 5,500 RPM — the practical ceiling for a production bottom end — which is why a stroke this long makes its power low and runs out of safe revs early. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 62.0 ci (1,016 cc).
It is one of 2 engines in the Vortec 8100 family, all of them 496 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement.
| Displacement | 496 ci / 8.1 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 4.25" |
| Stroke | 4.37" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 0.973 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Firing order | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 |
| Bore/stroke character | 0.973 — square — bore and stroke are within 5%, a balanced compromise |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 4,370 ft/min — in the range typical of performance street engines |
| Displacement per cylinder | 62.0 ci |
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