The 122 engine was designed by Chevrolet and was used in a wide array of General Motors vehicles. The 122 was similar to the first two generations of the General Motors 60° V6 engine; sharing cylinder bore diameters and some parts. The 122 was available in the US beginning in 1982 for the GM J platformcompact cars and S-series trucks. For the J cars, it evolved through 2002 when it was replaced by GMs Ecotec line of DOHC4-cylinder engines. In the S-10 related models, it evolved through 2003 and was known as the Vortec 2200. Production ceased consistent with the replacement of the S-series trucks with the GMT 355 sub-platform.
Generation I
1.8
L46
The 1.8 L pushrod engine was the first engine to power the J-Body cars. Introduced with the models in 1982, the 1.8 used a 2-barrel Rochester carburetor and produced at higher rpm. Acceleration in these cars was quite sluggish, with a test 1982 Pontiac J2000 accelerating from in 16.3 seconds, with a Dragstrip| time of 20.6 seconds. Applications:
A stroked version of the 1.8 L engine, displacing 2.0 L, was introduced midway through 1982, to provide more low-rpm power for the J cars. This engine replaced the 1.8 L engine altogether and had throttle-body fuel injection. It produces. Applications:
For the 1990 model year, GM replaced the 2.0 L engine with a stroked version displacing 2.2 L and using throttle-body fuel injection. Commonly called the 2.2, it produced and of torque. Applications:
1990–1991 Chevrolet Beretta
1990–1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
1990–1991 Chevrolet Corsica
1990–1991 Pontiac Tempest
LN2
For 1992, the 2.2 received multi-port fuel injection, replacing the TBI version in the J-body cars and increasing power to and of torque. In the L-body cars it was converted straight to Sequential Fuel Injection. In 1994, all 2.2 L engines were updated to sequential multi-port fuel injection and power increased to, with torque increasing to. The MPFI and SFI versions produced enough power to allow the 2.2 to replace the old Pontiac Iron Duke engine as the 4-cylinder offering in the S/T platform trucks and A-body cars. For 1996, it became known as the Vortec 2200 in the S/T trucks. For 1998, the engine was revised for emissions regulations and became known as the 2200. This revision lowered power to at 5000 rpm, and torque to at 3600 rpm. The engine was discontinued in 2003, replaced by the 2.2 L DOHC Ecotec engine. Although it displaces 134 cu. in, the 2.2 L OHV is still commonly referred to as the GM 122 today, and has been reputed for its simplicity, reliability and ease of maintenance in the J-body cars and S-Series trucks, and a few L-Body cars. The 2003 model LN2 is equipped with secondary air injection. Applications:
The Vortec 2200 is an OHV straight-4truck engine. This engine is equipped with secondary air injection, and is flex-fuel capable. It is entirely different from the Iron Duke, and was the last North American iteration of the GM 122 engine. The 2200 uses an iron block and aluminum 2-valve cylinder head. Output is at 5000 rpm and at 3600 rpm. Displacement is with an bore and stroke. 2200s were built at GM's Tonawanda engine plant in Buffalo. This engine was replaced by the LN2in September 2002. Applications: