GM 122 engine

This engine family, produced by General Motors globally, was originally designed by Opel in Germany. In OHV form, it was available in the US beginning in 1982 for the GM J platform compact cars and S-series trucks, although originally in use from the 1970s globally. It is different than the engine used in the Chevrolet Chevette which was also an Opel design. For the J cars it evolved through 2002 when it was replaced by GMs Ecotec line of DOHC 4-cylinder engines. In the S-10 related models it evolved through 2003 when it was known as the Vortec 2200. Production ceased consistent with the replacement of the S-series trucks with the GMT 355 sub-platform.

On a separate development track, this engine family was also available in a SOHC form. The SOHC version featured a belt-timed valvetrain. The water pump was also driven by the timing belt. For the US market, this version was used primarily from 1983 for the J-body compact cars through 1994 although the turbocharged version did make a brief appearance in the N-body Pontiac Grand Am. The SOHC version also appeared in the Opel Kadett E-based, Daewoo produced, Pontiac LeMans for the US market. Globally the engine then evolved along three paths. One path leading to the C20NE and then the C20XE when it obtained a Lotus-developed DOHC cylinder head and in 2000 was renamed Ecotec. Another smaller variant retained its SOHC design and was known as D-TEC having been licensed and produced by Daewoo. For the Brazilian market the SOHC-equipped engine is currently a member of both GM Family I and II - the larger model being known as Flexpower and the smaller Econoflex which is available in the 2010 Chevrolet Agile.

1.8 L OHV

The 1.8 L pushrod engine was the first engine to power the J Body cars. Introduced with the models in 1982, the 1.8 used a 2-barrel Rochester Carburetor and produced an output of 88 horsepower (66 kW), at higher rpm. Acceleration in these cars was quite sluggish, with a test 1982 Pontiac J2000 accelerating from 0–60 mph in 16.3 seconds, with a quarter mile (~400 m) time of 20.6 seconds.

Uses:

• 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier
• 1982 Pontiac J2000
• 1982 Buick Skyhawk
• 1982 Oldsmobile Firenza
• 1982 Cadillac Cimarron

1.8 L SOHC

In 1983, a 1.8 L SOHC version, imported from GM of Brazil, was added. Replacing the 1.8 and 2.0 L OHV engines in the Pontiac 2000 and supplanting the Firenza and Skyhawk's 2.0 L engine, it used throttle body injection, producing 84 horsepower (63 kW). For 1984, a turbocharged version was added. This version used multi-port fuel injection (MPFI), and produced 150 horsepower (110 kW). The 1.8 L SOHC was not used in the Chevrolet Cavalier or Cadillac Cimarron, and was replaced by the 2.0 L SOHC in 1987.

Uses:

• 1983–1986 Pontiac (2000) Sunbird
• 1983–1986 Buick Skyhawk
• 1983–1986 Oldsmobile Firenza

2.0 L OHV

A bored and stroked version of the 1.8 L engine, displacing 2.0 L, was introduced midway through 1982, to provide more low-rpm power for the J cars. This engine was also used in the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15 compact pickup trucks and their Blazer and Jimmy counterparts until 1985, when they were replaced by the 2.5 L Tech IV engine. Using a 2-barrel carburetor, this engine produced 88 horsepower (66 kW) in the J cars, and 83 horsepower in the S-Series trucks. For 1983, this engine replaced the 1.8 L engine altogether and, for the J cars only, gained throttle body fuel injection, producing 86 horsepower (64 kW). This engine was used until 1989, producing 90 horsepower (67 kW) and 108 lb·ft (146 N·m) of torque when it was discontinued.

Uses:

• 1982–1983 Pontiac J2000 (called just "2000" in 1983, 1.8 L SOHC became standard after 1983)
• 1982–1989 Chevrolet Cavalier
• 1982–1988 Oldsmobile Firenza
• 1982–1983 Buick Skyhawk (1.8L SOHC became standard after 1983)
• 1982–1986 Cadillac Cimarron
• 1982–1984 Chevrolet S-10
• 1982–1984 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
• 1982–1984 GMC S-15
• 1982–1984 GMC S-15 Jimmy
• 1987–1989 Chevrolet Corsica, Chevrolet Beretta, Pontiac Tempest

2.0 L SOHC

A bored and stroked version of the 1.8 L SOHC engine was released in 1987 and now displaced 1,998.5 cc (2.0 L; 122.0 cu in) in a "square", 86 mm (3.39 in) configuration. Still utilizing TBI, this engine produced 96 hp (72 kW) and 118 lb·ft (160 N·m) of torque. As with the 1.8 L engine, a turbocharged version was available.

In 1992, Multi-Port Fuel Injection replaced TBI on the Naturally Aspirated engine, increasing horsepower from the original 96, to 110. Torque increased from 118 to 124 lb/ft.

The turbo variant, RPO code LT3 (known internationally as C20GET), utilized MPFI and featured brilliant red powder coating on the camshaft cover, intake manifold and boost pipe. Power was up to 165 hp (123 kW) at 5600 rpm and torque was 175 lb·ft (237 N·m) at 4000 rpm, which was achieved at 7 psi (48 kPa) of boost. The system did not utilize an intercooler; however, the Garrett T-25 turbocharger was water-cooled. Maximum boost at WOT was 9 psi (62 kPa).

1990 LT3 engine in Sunbird GT

Uses (normally aspirated version):

• 1987–1994 Pontiac Sunbird
• 1987–1989 Buick Skyhawk
• 1988–1991 Pontiac LeMans GSE Hatchback
• 1987–1988 Oldsmobile Firenza

Uses (turbocharged version):

• 1987–1990 Pontiac Sunbird
• 1987–1989 Pontiac Grand Am SE
• 1987 Buick Skyhawk T-Type

2200 OHV

For the 1990 model year GM replaced the 2.0 L engine with a bored and stroked version displacing 2.2 L. Known as the 2.2 from 1990 to 1997 and the 2200 from 1998 on, it used throttle body fuel injection and produced 95 horsepower (71 kW) and 120 lb·ft (163 N·m) of torque. For 1992 multi-port fuel injection replaced the old throttle body injected version increasing power to 110 horsepower (82 kW) and torque to 130 lb·ft (176 N·m). In 1994 the MPFI system was updated to Sequential MPFI and power increased to 120 horsepower (89 kW) with torque increasing to 140 lb·ft (190 N·m). The MPFI and SFI versions produced enough power to allow the 2200 to replace the old Pontiac Iron Duke engine as the 4-cylinder offering in the S/T platform trucks and A-body cars. A final revision to the 2200 occurred when emissions updates were done in 1998 lowering power and torque to 115 horsepower (86 kW) and 135 lb·ft (183 N·m) respectively. The 2200 was discontinued after 2003, replaced by the 2.2 L Ecotec engine.

Uses:

• 1990–2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
• 1990–1996 Chevrolet Corsica and Beretta
• 1990–1991 Pontiac Tempest
• 1993–1996 Buick Century and Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
• 1995–2002 Pontiac Sunfire
• 1994-2003 Chevrolet S-10, Isuzu Hombre and GMC Sonoma, (marked as Vortec from 1996 to 2003)

See also

• C20NE
• GM Family 1 engine
• GM Family II engine
• List of GM engines