{"id":633,"date":"1991-02-01T16:48:35","date_gmt":"1991-02-01T21:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sportmachines.com\/wp-index.php\/?p=633"},"modified":"2024-07-01T17:49:45","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T22:49:45","slug":"a-two-faced-pony-truck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportmachines.com\/wp-index.php\/1991\/02\/01\/a-two-faced-pony-truck\/","title":{"rendered":"A ‘Two-Faced’ Pony Truck"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ward’s Auto World<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Syclone\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

PONTIAC, Mich. General Motors Corp.’s new Syclone is designed to serve two masters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We believe there are two sub-segments in the performance-truck segment, says Kim Nielsen, Syclone marketing manager at GMC Truck Div. One group of buyers are ‘truckers’ looking for more performance; and there’s another group made up of car people who are willing to cross over into the performance-truck market. Our original marketing goal was to hit both of these subsegments with the Syclone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR HOT WHEELS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-performance AWD Syclone compact pickup truck boasts a 280-hp turbocharged, intercooled version of GM’s 4.3L V-6 engine.
Powered by a turbocharged version of GM’s 4.3L V-6, which delivers 280 hp at 4,400 rpm and 360 ft-lbs. (488 Nm) of torque at 3,600 rpm, the Syclone is capable of sub-5-second 0-60 mph (97 km\/h) runs even on wet pavement because the engine torque is put to the pavement by an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Syclone engine uses hypereutectic alloy pistons that are harder than those used in the Chevrolet Corvette’s 5.7L L98 V-8 engine and is fitted with a high-volume, high-pressure oil pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Mr. Nielsen says the Syclone 4.3L gets completely new upper and lower intake manifolds that were engineered by GMC’s outside partner, PAS Inc. of Troy, Mich. The normal 4.3L uses throttle-body fuel injection, but the Syclone engine gets multiport injection with Bosch fuel injectors and a Handy & Harman fuel rail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The turbocharged 4.3L has a thick-wall, cast-iron exhaust manifold, engineered by PAS, which is joined to a new crossover pipe that measures about 3.5 ins. (89 mm) in diameter. The crossover leads to a new dual-exhaust system with two 2.5-in. (63.5-mm) tailpipes. The low-resistance mufflers are from Walker DynoMax. The turbocharger is a Mitsubishi TDO6 unit with a water-cooled center bearing. To round out the changes to the 4.3L V-6, GMC chose an AiResearch water-to-air intercooler to cool the pressurized intake air. The intercooler has its own heat exchanger mounted below the radiator and also boasts its own coolant supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Syclone’s 4-speed automatic transmission is a version of the Hydra-matic 700R4 that was “pulled ahead” from the ’92-model Corvette program, Mr. Nielsen says. The Syclone transmission isn’t electronically controlled like the one expected on the ’92 Corvette, but it does use the valve-body and servo mechanisms from the future ‘Vette gearbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If Pizza Hut would buy a fleet of these, they could beat Domino’s to the door every time,”says John Rock, GMC general manager.
GMC’s new truck uses a Borg-Warner transfer case with a viscous clutch and interaxle differential, the same unit found on the Oldsmobile Bravada sport\/utility vehicle. Torque split is 35% front\/65% rear. Also from the Bravada are 1-piece front and rear prop shafts with heavy-duty constant-velocity Joints developed by PAS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rear axle has a limited-slip mechanical differential with a 3.42:1 final-drive ratio. The front differential also is a 3.42:1 unit that splits torque 50\/50 right\/left and is basically the same unit found on the GMC Safari\/Chevy Astro AWD L-van.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Syclone is based on the GMC S15 compact truck platform with a few alternations. Ride height is lowered 0.8 ins. (20.3 mm) in front and almost 3 ins. (76.2 mm) in the rear by using lower spring rates in stead of drop spindles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelsey-Hayes Co.’s Western Wheel Div. produces the Syclone’s GM-designed 1648 aluminum, machine-finished wheels. Firestone supplies the tires.
GMC can build 14,000 Syclones a year, in Shreveport. La. Mr. Rock says GMC has 2,600 orders currently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n