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Saturn LY7 specs: 217 ci (3.6L) 6-cylinder, 3.701 x 3.37 in (94 x 85.6 mm) bore and stroke, 10.2:1 compression. Rated 252-257 hp. Rod ratio and piston speed.
The Saturn GM High Feature (LY7) is oversquare — the 3.7008" bore exceeds the 3.3701" stroke by 9.8% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.3701" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,100 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 6 cylinders displaces 36.2 ci (593 cc).
10.2:1 on aluminum heads is in the range that usually runs on pump premium; aluminum sheds heat faster than iron, which makes the same number a little more forgiving.
It is one of 2 engines in the GM High Feature family, all of them 217 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 2 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 252 to 257 hp. Factory fitments include the Saturn Aura, Saturn Outlook, Saturn Vue and 3 others.
| Displacement | 217 ci / 3.6 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.7008" |
| Stroke | 3.3701" |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Compression ratio | 10.2:1 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.098 |
| Block material | aluminum |
|---|---|
| Head material | aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 252–257 hp |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.098 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,370 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 36.2 ci |
| Static compression | 10.2:1 — in the range that usually runs on pump premium |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| — | 252 hp | LY7 |
| — | 257 hp | LY7 |