The GM Northstar L37 engine was the original Northstar powerplant, and was produced from the 1993 model year through 2011.
Overview
Tuned with responsiveness and power in mind, the Northstar naturally aspirated 4.6L V8 L37 gasoline engine was part of the original High-Output Northstar System package. Used in models spanning the 1993 through 2011 model years, the L37 engine was designed for front-wheel-drive (FWD) applications. It was capable of developing up to 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, making it one of the era’s most powerful FWD engines from a U.S. automaker.
In 2005, the L37 was redesignated as the Northstar NHP, and was downrated under new SAE-certified horsepower ratings.
As a part of the High Output Northstar System, vehicles equipped with the L37 engine also featured:
- Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
- Uprated GM four-speed automatic transmission
- Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) that monitored the dampening rates of shock absorbers every 15 ms (available in both standard and CV-RSS / continuously-variable options)
- Four-wheel antilock disc brakes
- Magnasteer speed-variable power steering that combined hydraulic power steering with magnetized “doughnuts” mounted around the output shaft
Vehicle Applications
| Model Year(s) | Vehicle | Power (hp / kW) @ RPM | Torque (lb-ft / Nm) @ RPM | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Cadillac Alanté | 295 / 220 @ 5600 | 290 / 393 @ 4400 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 1993 – 1994 | Cadillac Eldorado ETC | 295 / 220 @ 5600 | 290 / 393 @ 4400 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 1995 – 2002 | Cadillac Eldorado ETC | 300 / 224 @ 6000 | 295 / 400 @ 4400 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 1993 – 1994 | Cadillac Seville STS | 295 / 220 @ 5600 | 290 / 393 @ 4400 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 1995 – 2004 | Cadillac Seville STS | 300 / 224 @ 6000 | 295 / 400 @ 4400 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 1996 – 2004 | Cadillac DeVille Concours / DTS | 300 / 224 @ 6000 | 295 / 400 @ 4400 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 2005 | Cadillac DeVille DTS | 290 / 216 @ 5600 | 285 / 386 @ 4400 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 2006 – 2011 | Cadillac DTS Performance | 292 / 218 @ 6300 | 288 / 390 @ 4500 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
| 2008 – 2011 | Buick Super | 292 / 218 @ 6300 | 288 / 390 @ 4500 | GM Four-Speed 4T80-E Auto |
Specifications
| Type | 4.6L V8 |
| GM RPO Code | L37 |
| Displacement | 4.6L |
| Valvetrain | Dual-Overhead Camshafts, Four-Valves Per Cylinder, Roller Lifters, Variable Valve Timing |
| Valves Per Cylinder | Four |
| Block Material | Cast Aluminum |
| Cylinder Head Material | Cast Aluminum |
| Firing Order | 1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8 |
| Bore x Stroke (in. / mm) | 3.66 / 93 x 3.31 / 84 |
| Aspiration | Atmospheric |
| Fuel Delivery | AC Rochester Sequential Fuel Injection |
| Ignition System | Distributorless Ignition (1993 – 1999), Direct Coil-on-Plug (2000 – 2011) |
Discussion
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News
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