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6.6L V8 L8T Gasoline Engine Available Again On Chevy Express, GMC Savana Cargo Vans

The Chevy Express and GMC Savana full-size vans have soldiered on through a single model year mostly unchanged since 1996, save for a refresh introduced for the 2003 model year. That said, the 2024 Chevy Express Cargo Van and 2024 GMC Savana Cargo Van were previously unavailable to order with the naturally aspirated 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine, as GM Authority exclusively covered this past August. Now, however, GM Authority has learned that the 6.6L V8 L8T engine is once again available for both van configurations.

The 2024 Chevy Express Cargo Van.

According to GM Authority sources, the Chevy Express Cargo Van and GMC Savana Cargo Van are once again available to order with the naturally aspirated 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine. For reference, the L8T gasoline engine features Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing, developing 401 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 464 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.

The other engine option is the naturally aspirated 4.3L V6 LV1 gasoline engine, which develops 276 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 298 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. Per previous GM Authority coverage, the Express and Savana previously offered the 2.8L I4 LWN turbodiesel Duramax engine as well, but the diesel engine option was subsequently discontinued for the 2023 model year.

2024 Chevrolet Express Cargo - Exterior 003 - Side

It’s also worth noting that GM has issued a Stop Build order for four configurations of the 2024 Chevy Express and 2024 GMC Savana, per yet another GM Authority report. The Stop Build order applies to the following configurations:

  • 2024 Chevy Express Passenger
  • 2024 Chevy Express Cargo with 5-passenger Crew Van Package (RPO code ZP6)
  • 2024 GMC Savana Passenger
  • 2024 GMC Savana Cargo with 5-passenger Crew Van Package (RPO code ZP6)

The Stop Build order was issued due to a problem with the second-row seating area for the four variants listed above. The 5-passenger Crew Van Package (RPO code ZP6) is normally priced at $1,965.

2024 Chevrolet Express Cargo - Interior

As a reminder, production of the Express and Savana takes place at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri, with the exception of Cutaway model variants, which are produced by Navistar in Ohio.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. I remember commenting back in August when it was announced that the big V-8 was no longer available, that it was a very stupid “Mary” move. There must have been a huge outcry from customers to change their mind. I just shake my head at how customer-ignorant GM is these days.

    Reply
  2. GM has really given up on this segment and vans in general. The 6.6L is one redeeming virtue, the other is that GM’s been building it for 30 years, so they’re pretty well sorted out. No more small vans. No more minivans. How much longer does the Express hang on?

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    1. Unless it needs premium fuel, if so I’m out.

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      1. 6.6L does not require premium fuel, at least in pickups.

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    2. You think GM might refresh their full size vans to compete with the Ford and Dodge.

      Reply
  3. THE BIG ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW 6.6 LITER GASOLINE ENGINE OVER THE OLD.6.0 LITER V8 IS THAT THE HUGE
    INCREASE OF THE COMPRESSION RATIO FROM 9.7 TO ONE IN THE 6.0 LITER TO BE 10.8 TO ONE COMPRESSION
    RATIO IN THE 6.6 LITER VERSION ALLOWS FOR BETTER MPG WITH THE OF 11.11 PERCENT INCREASE IN COMPRESSIN
    RATIO. THIS IS PERFECT FOR HIGH OCTANE PROPANE WHICH HAS LESS BTU;S THAN GASOLINE, SO THE CR INCREASE
    OVERCOMES THE LOWER BTU ENERGY IN LPG PROPANE. THIS MEANS AN INCREASE OF MPG WITH THE HIGHER CR OF
    ABOUT 25 PERCENT WHEN USING 104 OCTANE PROPANE OR HIGH OCTANE CNG NATURAL GAS. IN CANADA FEDERAL REGULATIONS BAN PROPANE CARBS, SO WE ONLY USE PROPANE FUEL INJECTION INSTEAD OF PROPANE CARBS. THIS ALONE SAVES ABOUT 15 PERCENT ON FUEL USE. GASOLINE TODAY IN TORONTO IS $1.419 A LITER FRIDAY BUT
    PROPANE IS 95 CENTS A LITER. NO CONTEST.

    Reply
    1. Well that high compression ratio likely means that it needs high octane gasoline which is a deal breaker for me. That’s GM pandering to the government to squeeze out a few more mpg’s but at a big cost to the owners over the life of the truck, better get the diesel. Another dumb GM move.

      Reply
  4. Who the F cares about compression ratios! Just put it out there so we can buy one 😡

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  5. Runs fine on 87 octane. Modern combustion chambers and sophisticated engine electronics along with more precise fuel delivery allow engines to adapt in in some cases (Mazda for example) generate more power if the tank is filled with premium. Even modern turbos can survive just fine on regular. And no diesel available in the vans so that’s not an option.

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  6. When crashed they make great budget swap engines.

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  7. Maybe you need an engine with that much horsepower and torque if “you live in a van down down by the river.”

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  8. The 5.3 V8 L84 has 11 to 1 compression and runs on 87 octane. Running aluminum heads allows for a higher compression ratio on 87 octane. The variable valve timing just adds to that. Same for all the other computer controls with the ignition system. Very well designed package. It will be fine for the 6.6 engine.

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  9. Now they need to bring back the driver’s side rear door. I still don’t understand why they discontinued that.

    Reply
  10. Now is GM actually going to BUILD these? Or can we look forward to another year of runaround and endless excuses?

    After four years of completely jerking everyone around, and Ford and Ram vans available on the lots, I doubt there’s much patience left for GM’s basket case ordering process.

    Reply
    1. Have not seen any Fords Transits on lots anywhere, they have there own issues, people waiting up to 2 yrs after ordering. The 6.6 is a beast, 17.3 mpg average, 2500 extended.

      Reply
  11. Why not just offer the 6.6L V8 as the sole engine in all of the GMC/CHEVROLET full size vans and cutaway chassis? They already discontinued the 4.3L V6 in the pickups so in the name of standardization, just have the one engine.

    Reply

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