GM Family 1 engine

Family 1
The initial version (13S) of the Family I engine fitted to a 1980 Opel Kadett D
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors
Also called
  • E-TEC
  • Family I
  • Small-block
Production1979–present[1]
Layout
Configuration
Cylinder block materialCast iron
Cylinder head materialAluminium
Combustion
Fuel type
Oil systemWet sump
Cooling systemWater-cooled
Chronology
PredecessorVauxhall 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.

  1. ^ "Werk Aspern Plant. Facts and Figures". General Motors. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Szentgotthard Plant. Facts and Figures". Opel Media. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  3. ^ "São José dos Campos Industrial Complex" (PDF). GM do Brasil. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019.