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Family 1 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | General Motors |
Also called |
|
Production | 1979–present[1] |
Layout | |
Configuration | |
Cylinder block material | Cast iron |
Cylinder head material | Aluminium |
Combustion | |
Fuel type | |
Oil system | Wet sump |
Cooling system | Water-cooled |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Vauxhall OHV Opel OHV Opel CIH |
Successor |
|
The GM Family I is a straight-four piston engine that was developed by Opel, a former subsidiary of General Motors and now a subsidiary of PSA Group, to replace the Vauxhall OHV, Opel OHV and the smaller capacity Opel CIH engines for use on small to mid-range cars from Opel/Vauxhall. The engine first appeared in the Opel Kadett D in 1979, and shortly afterwards in its Vauxhall badged sister – the Vauxhall Astra Mk.1 in 1980. Despite this, the previous Opel OHV engine continued to be sold in entry level versions of the Opel Kadett/Astra and Corsa throughout the 1980s.
The Family I is informally known as the "small block", since it shares its basic design and architecture with the larger Family II unit (correspondingly known as the "large block"), which covers the mid range and higher engine capacities up to 2400cc.
Originally produced at the Aspern engine plant, production was moved to the Szentgotthárd engine plant in Hungary[2] with the introduction of the DOHC version. GM do Brasil at São José dos Campos,[3] GMDAT at Bupyeong and GM North America at Toluca also build these engines. The Family II units, by contrast were manufactured by Holden in Australia.