6VE1
(Return to Engine Specs.)
The Isuzu 6VE1 is Isuzu's 3.5L V6 engine. The engine puts out 215 HP at the 5000 rpm and 230 ft-lb of torque at 3000 rpm at the crank. The engine was used in Isuzu's premium models such as the Axioms,Troopers, the Vehicross', and optional only in the 2004 Rodeos. It is also interesting to note that the 6VE1 is Isuzu's largest gas engine in the US market.
History
In 1998 models Isuzu introduced it's new generation of the 6VD1, which is Isuzu's long seen 3.2L v6, and introduced the all new 6VE1. The 6VE1 was offered in Isuzu's higher end models, and in such models it was the only engine offered: Axioms,Troopers, and the Vehicross'.
For the 2004 models the 6VE1 was redesigned and it's second generation came out, utilizing Direct-Injection technology, once again offered standard in Isuzu's higher end models. However, since by 2004 the Isuzu market was struggling very few Axioms were sold, coming with the standard 3.5L DI engine, and very few Rodeos having the 3.5L DI were sold as well, as the 3.5L DI was optional in the 2004 Rodeos models. Only the 2004 Rodeos were ever offered the 6VE1 from factory.
With the release of the Isuzu Axioms Isuzu designed a new intake and exhaust system for the vehicle, leading to the engine producing 230HP instead of the 215 seen in Vehicross' and Troopers.
Design
The 6VE1 is an non-interference engine.
The cylinder block is made of aluminum die–cast casting, and the cylinders are at an 75 degree angle.
The 6VE1 and the 1998+ 6VD1 engines share the same block. In fact they share many engine component, externally these engines are the same, and even share the same ECU. Notable differences are the pistons, crankshaft, and camshafst; It is often thought that the 6VE1 has different rods, even though that is false. One can conclude the 3.5L 6VE1 was derived from the 3.2L 6VD1 as it is merely a stroked version of the 3.2L. The 6VE1's crankshaft is able to bring the pistons down further, increasing the total displacement. However, because the rods are the same Isuzu then shortened the pistons for the 3.5L to compensate for the extra stroke to maintain the same compression ratio. To help keep performance Isuzu then designed a different camshaft for the 3.5L; the new camshafts provide the same amount of valve lift as the 3.2L camshafts, however due to the increased displacement Isuzu increased the duration for the cams for the 3.5L by about 8 degrees allowing more time for air to enter the cylinders, and exhaust gases to exit the cylinders.
Overall the 6VE1 saw a 10 HP increase in performance, and a 15 ft-lb of torque increase at the crank.
Modifications
One can create a 3.5L/3.2L Hybrid, combining 3.2L cams with a 3.5L engine to create more low end power. Discussions between Med!c and JLEMOND came to the conclusion that such a Hybrid would not see much performance improvement, and after about 2500 rpm performance would begin to suffer and suffer even more heavily as the RPM increased due to a suffocation effect. Therefor not a strong mod.
The supercharger made by Alpine fits both the 6VE1 and the 6VD1 as these engines share the same intake manifold. The 6VE1 sees an advantage with the Alpine supercharger in terms off-roading; because the volume of air the supercharger provides is a constant, the increased displacement of the 6VE1 means that the engine will use up more air and therefor most of it's gains will be closer towards the low end. The 6VD1 however will see less but more steady gain through a larger range of RPM.
