GM’s 8.1L gas V8 engine deserves a lot of respect. It’s been GM’s workhorse for many years in heavy-duty pickup trucks, commercial vehicles, and large SUVs like this GMC Yukon XL. In this video, Tommy and Brendan put an 8.1L V8-powered Yukon to the ultimate performance test and they find out that it’s slow.
This big-displacement big-block engine had a rating of 325 horsepower and 447 lb-ft of torque. By today’s standards, this does not sound like a lot, but the “big block” nature of the engine (larger spacing between cylinders) made it very durable and the low-end torque helped it tow like a champ.
The big Yukon you see here has just about 300,000 miles on the clock and slightly larger tires than those that came from the factory. The 0-60 mph at a mile above sea level results in 12.03 seconds and a 1/4-mile run is elapsed in 18.93 seconds at 78 MPH. The stopping distance is measured at a longish 146 feet.
Join Brendan and Tommy in the video below for all of the big block fun.
