GM OHV Engine

The 122 engine was designed by Chevrolet and was used in a wide array of General Motors vehicles. The ''122'' was similar to the first two generations of the General Motors 60° V6 engine; sharing cylinder bore diameters and some parts. The ''122'' was available in the U.S. beginning in 1982 for the GM J platform compact cars and S-series trucks.

For the J-cars, it evolved through 2002 when it was replaced by GM's Ecotec line of DOHC 4-cylinder engines. In the S-10 related models, it evolved through 2003 and was known as the Vortec 2200. Production ceased consistent with the replacement of the S-series trucks with the GMT 355 sub-platform.

Generation I

1.8

L46

The 1.8-liter pushrod engine was the first engine to power the J-body cars. Introduced with the models in 1982, the 1.8 used a two-barrel Rochester carburetor and produced and of torque. Since peak output came on at higher RPM, acceleration in these cars was quite sluggish, with a test 1982 Pontiac J2000 accelerating from in 16.3 seconds, with a time of 20.6 seconds.

Applications:
*1982 Buick Skyhawk
*1982 Cadillac Cimarron
*1982 Chevrolet Cavalier
*1982 Oldsmobile Firenza
*1982 Pontiac J2000

2.0

LQ5

A stroked version of the 1.8-liter engine, displacing 2.0 liters, was introduced midway through 1982, to provide more low-end power for the J-cars. This engine replaced the 1.8-liter engine altogether and had throttle-body fuel injection. It produced , and .

Applications:
*1983–1986 Buick Skyhawk
*1983–1986 Cadillac Cimarron
*1983–1986 Chevrolet Cavalier
*1983–1986 Oldsmobile Firenza
*1983–1985 Pontiac J2000/2000/Sunbird

LQ2

This engine was similar to the LQ5, except that it used a two-barrel carburetor instead of a throttle-body fuel injection system. This engine was used in the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15 compact pickup trucks and their Blazer and Jimmy counterparts until 1985, when it was replaced by the 2.5-liter Tech IV engine. This engine produced at 4600 rpm and at 2400 rpm.

Applications:
*1982–1985 Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15
*1982–1985 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and GMC S-15 Jimmy

Generation II

2.0

LL8

This engine replaced the LQ5 and was used from 1987 until 1989. It featured throttle-body fuel injection and produced and of torque.

Applications:
*1987–1989 Buick Skyhawk
*1987–1989 Chevrolet Beretta
*1987–1989 Chevrolet Cavalier
*1987–1989 Chevrolet Corsica
*1987–1988 Oldsmobile Firenza
*1987–1989 Pontiac Tempest

2.2

LM3

For the 1990 model year, GM replaced the 2.0-liter engine with a stroked version displacing 2.2 liters and using throttle-body fuel injection (TBI). Commonly called the 2.2, it produced and of torque.

Applications:
*1990–1991 Chevrolet Beretta
*1990–1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
*1990–1991 Chevrolet Corsica
*1990–1991 Pontiac Tempest

LN2

For 1992, the 2.2 received multi-port fuel injection (MPFI), replacing the TBI version in the J-body cars and increasing power to and of torque. In the L-body cars, it was converted straight to Sequential Fuel Injection. In 1994, all 2.2-liter engines were updated to sequential multi-port fuel injection and power increased to , with torque increasing to . The MPFI and SFI versions produced enough power to allow the 2.2 to replace the old Pontiac Iron Duke engine as the 4-cylinder offering in the S/T trucks and A-body cars. For 1996, it became known as the Vortec 2200 in the S/T trucks.

For 1998, the engine was revised for emissions regulations and became known as the 2200. This revision lowered power to at 5000 rpm, and torque to at 3600 rpm. The engine was discontinued in 2003, replaced by the 2.2-liter DOHC Ecotec engine. Although it displaces 134 cu. in, the 2.2-liter OHV is still commonly referred to as the GM 122 today, and has been reputed for its simplicity, reliability, and ease of maintenance in the J-body cars and S-series trucks, and a few L-body cars. The 2003 model LN2 is equipped with secondary air injection.

Applications:
*1993–1996 Buick Century
*1992–1996 Chevrolet Beretta
*1992–2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
*1992–1996 Chevrolet Corsica
*1993 Chevrolet Lumina
*1994-1997 Chevrolet S-10, GMC Sonoma, and Isuzu Hombre
*1993–1994 Grumman LLV
*1993–1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
*1995–2002 Pontiac Sunfire

L43

The Vortec 2200 (RPO code L43) is an OHV straight-4 truck engine. This engine is equipped with secondary air injection, and is flex-fuel capable. It is entirely different from the Iron Duke, and was the last North American iteration of the GM 122 engine. The 2200 uses an iron block and aluminum two-valve cylinder head. Output is at 5000 rpm and at 3600 rpm. Displacement is with an bore and stroke. 2200s were built at GM's Tonawanda engine plant in Buffalo. This engine was replaced by the LN2 in September 2002. This engine did not commonly come with an EGR valve from 1998-2002 on the S-series trucks despite earlier versions using one. Instead a block off plate is on the back of the cylinder head. The camshaft on the 1998 model year uses a higher lift design. (0.288 inches intake and exhaust.) Meanwhile the 1999 and newer trucks use a lower lift camshaft. (0.263 inches intake and exhaust.) This was pulled from the Haynes automotive manual for the S series trucks.

Applications:
*1998–2002 Chevrolet S-10, GMC Sonoma, and Isuzu Hombre

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gm 122 Engine
122
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