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GM V8 Engine Plant Workers Concerned About Recent Flint Investment

As previously covered by GM Authority, General Motors recently announced a nearly $600 million investment into the GM Flint Engine plant in Michigan for production of the upcoming GM sixth-generation Small Block V8 engine. While this is great news for the employees at the Flint plant, it raises concern for plant workers at some other GM facilities in the country.

GM Tonawanda Plant.

According to a report from Detroit Free Press, workers at the automaker’s other engine manufacturing facilities, the GM Tonawanda plant in particular, are raising the alarm that this recent development indicates that GM may be shifting engine production from one plant to another. The Tonawanda engine plant, as well as the GM Spring Hill plant, manufactures current GM Gen-5 V8s, including the 6.2L LT2 V8 and 5.3L L84 V8.

In addressing the implications of this recent investment, GM spokesman Dan Flores said, “With all of the renovation work that needs to be done to prepare Flint Engine to build the company’s sixth generation V-8 engine, GM will continue to produce Gen-5 V-8 engines for several years. We have nothing further to share related to Tonawanda, but it is a great plant staffed by hard-working, dedicated people and it’s an important part of our manufacturing footprint.”

This recent announcement is part of a $918 million investment across four U.S. factories, including the GM Bay City GPS facility in Michigan, the GM Rochester plant in New York, and the GM Defiance plant in Ohio. In a similar manner to the investments into the Flint plant, this funding will facilitate Gen-6 V8 production, as well as a smattering of EV parts production.

It’s worth noting that GM invested $76 million in the Tonawanda plant back in 2020 to facilitate increased V8 production output. In addition, the GM Spring Hill plant is set to convert to an electric vehicle-only complex in a few years.

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Comments

  1. GM will keep the 5.3 around probably for 2 years as a “proven reliability” engine. The 4.3 is still in production for the passenger vans. I exspect in 2 year totowanda will receive similar upgrades, but right now no need

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    1. Continuous and unrelenting attacks from blue NY on manufacturing and emissions, not to mention the labor laws and taxes. GM doesn’t have the lobbying hook into NY legislature like it does in other states.

      Tonawanda closed within 10 years.

      Reply
      1. More like NY closes in 10 years. With the way that state is going it’s going to implode. The state already looks like the film “escape from New York” (never thought that film would be reality 😂)

        In all honesty, there is a chance that totowanda “downsizes” and GM just hold onto the property until Armageddon blows over and then ramps production back up. Upstate New York is honestly one of the prettiest places full of the kindest people. We just need aliens to abduct all of Manhattan and Albany

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        1. Go to the western finger lakes region and the people there could not be happier if NYC fell of the mainland into the depths 0f the sea.

          Reply
  2. Seems like a solid cutover plan. Flint can get rolling without disrupting current production. Then Tonowanda can switch over, then Spring Hill rolls over to electric. 2 plants running at all times

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  3. Tonawanda also build the 6.6 big block gas engine for HD trucks.

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  4. I have not seen a 5.3 built in the US in any GM vehicle I have seen for at least 2 years. They are all built in Mexico.

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    1. All the engines and transmissions are built stateside. The only engines produced in Mexico are the 1.8 and 2.0.

      Reply
      1. Incorrect. 5.3 engine is also built in Ramos.

        Reply
  5. Sounds like the usual bait and switch B.S. The workers will be left holding the bag in a couple years.

    Reply
  6. Doesn’t help when New York’s idiot governor wants to ban the sale of ICE vehicles by 2035.

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    1. By then GM will only be building EVs so that isn’t a problem.

      Reply
      1. GM will be out of business then.

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  7. Look like the employees will be under the “footprint.”

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  8. Tonawanda engine was once the largest engine manufacturer in the world.

    Reply
  9. Like uncle JOE said a couple years back. Let them build Solor/wind farms.

    Reply
  10. is the 2024 corvette stingray 6.2l lt2 going to get an increase in horsepower

    Reply
    1. I’m guessing the new engine will be in the 2026, Rick Conti is hinting something new for this model year is coming.

      Reply
  11. Where does that leave St. Catharines… Ok

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  12. GM seems more interedted in protecting its past than securing its future.

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  13. Working hard? it takes over half a year to get any V8 engine lately..

    Reply
  14. My 1967 SS396 Camaro showed up with a decal on the engine proudly saying that the engine was built in the Tonawanda Plant. A number of my cars and trucks were lucky to have the Tonawanda engine builders since. As the industry evolves these engine builders will adapt quite nicely with products second to none.

    Reply

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