THE JUNKYARD AMERI-BARRA ATLAS 4200 (MORE THAN THE 4.8L LS?)

CHEAP, JUNKYARD 4.2L 6-THE OTHER GUYS GETTING TURBO BOOST. CHECK OUT WHY I LIKE THE ATLAS 4200 DOHC, 4-VALVE INLINE 6 SIX CYLINDER, AKA THE AMERI-BARRA. WITH SPECS THAT SOUND LIKE THE 2JZ TOY OR THE AUSSIE BARRA, CAN THE 4200 ATLAS REALLY MAKE POWER? HERE IS WHY I LIKE THE MOTOR AND WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED.

[@E1337Jerk]

Attention!!!!! Every one watching this needs to sign the RPM act. Keep racing legal.

[@dalestephens5176]

By 2022 there won't be any racecars in America. Until then, challenge Personam jurisdiction.

[@richardholdener1727]

2022?

[@docsmallblock6584]

Thank all those who voted for binfrauden and Harris! Idiot's!

[@chrislore2681]

@@docsmallblock6584 .....yup.....dude is taking the meaning of america away

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Where do I find it?

[@TorquePowerVideo]

I love Richard's enthusiasm about whatever engine lands in the shop

[@littlebearish]

Richard: It's not like we're gonna be making 1000 hp, because we're not... Me: Big Bang That Sucker! Shoot For The Moon!

[@D3AThCAl2DS]

oh but it can with the right mods

[@Levibetz]

I wouldn't be surprised if it could. Especially if he can spin it up with cams. I dunno if he's talking about having cams ground or just mixing and matching various OEM cams.

[@docsmallblock6584]

@@D3AThCAl2DS ,there's a guy here on KZbin somewhere that has got one in either a 68 or 69 firebird, he's got a turbo on it and I believe he's making around 850 to the tires!

[@jordantownsendracing5782]

Yes please!

[@Boostedlifestyle]

I've wanted to get my hands on one of these for a while!

[@E1337Jerk]

Put it in the mini Leroy kyle.

[@timothybayliss6680]

Now that Richard has done a video,they will be $2000 in junkyard. I like these engines alot but I wanted the 5cylinder to swap into my audi

[@GreatLakesLogger]

I've got an entire trailblazer I could probably sell you for 500 bucks. It's in WI Really helpful I know

[@Saddedude]

@@timothybayliss6680 the 5cyl arent very good.

[@Adrianzx]

You need another non running car?

[@LS__812]

Richard I swear was born to do 2 things! 1) Find Horsepower! 2) Talk to cameras!!

[@richardholdener1727]

and love my family-that's actually #1

[@LS__812]

@@richardholdener1727 yeah, there's definitely MORE to ya then just HORSEPOWER and KZbin! just saying your really good at the content you share with us!

[@kevinjohnson9372]

@@richardholdener1727 you can say that louder 4 the people in the back 👏

[@andyharman3022]

Richard's tuned in to a very overlooked engine that never had its day in the sun. GM sort of killed it off when they offered the 5.3 V8 in the Trailblazer. The 5.3 had the same peak power, but more torque, got better fuel economy, and was cheaper to produce. Then people wouldn't go for the 4.2 I-6 anymore. It did have some weird features, such as the VVT on the exhaust side only, which was used to do internal EGR instead of broadening the torque curve. The early engines up to 2005 had a really small exhaust port, probably to force higher backpressure on the engine to enhance the internal EGR effect. Maybe GM went away from that in the 2006 refresh, when the head got a bigger exhaust port, and about 15 more HP. I bought one of the early engines out of a junkyard in Michigan to study, hoping to make a V12 shortblock for people to build DIY V12 engines. I designed the crankshaft, and didn't see any major shortcomings in it. I also figured out a cam drive layout for it. The guy that ported the heads on my GMC V6 was a drag racer in the Kalamazoo, MI area, and had built a 4.2 Atlas destroked to 3.8L, and went 7.80 at ~176 mph at Martin Dragway in a dragster. He said it ran about 10,000 rpm. He built a carbureted manifold for it.

[@Buzz-vz2js]

Now that was a buzzin half dozen turning up to 10 grand

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Awesome.

[@frankstetka7206]

Holy Smokes YES big v12

[@jimkillen1065]

V12. Wow

[@grapeseed427]

@ 7:19 "This was never a factory turbo option, but it is for me! Pure gold"🤣

[@NeverLetOff]

Richard... I have never been as excited for testing as I am with this motor! Keep it up!

[@ZackNakazora1]

Cross flow heads! Means bigger ports! A must for 4 valve motors! Chevy really put their homework in on this motor and did nearly nothing with it! I love this engine alot! And it's cheap! Hopefully the turbo community can start creating a demand for cams and hardware. I'm sure a few guys wanting it and they'll start producing it!

[@JyveKilla]

aussie inline 6 engines were crossflow with 2 valves.

[@JyveKilla]

a must for power imo

[@Mrx1080]

@@JyveKilla which one exactly? All the ones I was aware of were same side or 4 valve motors.

[@JyveKilla]

@@Mrx1080 search Ford intech. The crossflow design started in 1976 with a pushrod engine and the intech was the final 2 valve design before the Barra.

[@jeffwilliam7500]

The barra engine sux sounds like shit. Most Aussie don't like them it's only Ford guys that get butt hurt from the LS we call them blow fish not barra

[@kellyheath8547]

This motor was awesome and undervalued. It would have been a great truck base motor.

[@Thumper68]

The first year they made this engine they won Baja with one of these.

[@Two_Wheel_Deel]

I think it would be a cool restomod engine for a c10/k10 truck that originally had an inline 6.

[@kellyheath8547]

GM could have done a factory turbo and beat Ford to the EcoBoost trend. 4.2 on boost would outperform all NA LS factory truck engines.

[@famousmidnight]

@@kellyheath8547 L6 > V6

[@kellyheath8547]

@@famousmidnight except for cost of production maybe.

[@SlingSalsa]

Once I get back to my workstation I'm going to start designing a billet exhaust manifold for that engine

[@patlandymore7035]

I had no idea of the stock power output of these 6 cyls. Wow. Guess I live under an LS/BBC sized rock. HA HA 😅 Really looking forward to you testing this in several versions Richard. You absolutely rock the automotive information side of KZbin! Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to this channel. 👍🏼👍🏼 🍻🍻

[@Alexbrandt27]

I’ve been wanting this video to be made for years. Thank you

[@markwallace5274]

I’m so pumped for this one straight 6 dual over head cam 4 valves per cylinder 4.2litre what’s not to love !!!! Can’t wait to hear it on the dyno great find Richard

[@topsecret5]

Everytime I hear that German porn intro song and hear Richard's voice I know we are going to horsepower town

[@simonheaney8721]

Pot on with the German porn👍🏻

[@Thumper68]

Thanks for doing this one looking forward to all the info and results

[@ryangreear8334]

super stoked for this build. i have been waiting to see a in depth build on one of these motors for years

[@jamesgeorge6551]

You are a fantastic teacher, Richard. I would tell you to keep up the awesomeness, but you got that.

[@samgrissom7274]

You rule man!! One of the coolest channels on KZbin. Everyone loves turbos. You hit a niche market here, hope you never stop.

[@docsmallblock6584]

I have one, drive it everyday! 268,000 miles, Runs like the day it rolled off the assembly line! Honestly probably one of the very best engines ever made, if not the best!? Actually I was thinking about hitten it with a little 100 shot,even with that many miles, I really don't believe it'll hurt it,they are great/strong engines! P.S. The 4l60 is still going as well!

[@chrislore2681]

Love this guy ......so energetic and thinks out of the box

[@deanbryan3034]

Great job Richard, a thought, most people carry jumper leads and a few hand tools in their boots/trunks. Richard you need to carry a stand alone turbo oiling system, picture this a reservoir with oil pump with 1-4 oil feed lines and a big return. No more banging holes in sumps lol

[@stevepeters3032]

Richard just doubled the price of those motors, with one vid.

[@ZaphodBeeblebrox042]

This is an awesome engine to test. I am looking forward to it. 👍👌 A Big Bang test would be amazing too.

[@rotaxtwin]

Congrats. That is a respectable inline 6. It took GM forever, but here we are. Looking forward to the dyno runs!

[@andyattitude2000]

Richard, you are a trip! In a good way. I think it is your personality as well as your enthusiasm that keeps me coming back. Keep up the good fight!

[@julianlefler6615]

It's his enthusiasm and smarts in my opinion alot of people lose enthusiasm when they learn alot and he seems to be just as curious about the next engine just like it's his first time doing learning about an engine.. they are all air pumps with more or less minor difference's

[@fildavis2024]

I’m really looking forward to watching what u do to this motor! Good luck and have a blast!!

[@SlingSalsa]

Yeah drive pressure is a problem using the factory manifold because of the pinch in that bend before the outlet and the placement of that o2 sensor, plug and relocate. So excited Rich to see this motor in your hands!

[@SlingSalsa]

Also because the shape of the exhaust port; big oval transitioning to a round tube is also another source of drive pressure. If you can cnc a billet manifold to carry the port profile with no shape changes until you get to the turbo inlet using a t6 hotside comes into view 😁

[@brianbird3756]

I've been loving these for a while now. Our 02 bravada came with one, but due to an oiling issue, we had to swap it out with one from an 06 Ranier. Damn good running motor, especially with the PCMofNC tune!

[@oliverscorsim]

Thank you so much rich your the man ❤️ been waiting for this one for some time

[@bryanvangyzen3585]

That electo viscous fan clutch was the worst thing they ever did to the Trailblazer. I replaced so many of those stupid things because the wouldn’t lock up or they wouldn’t unlock. A simple electric fan would have been so much better.

[@Infernostar18]

ive got an atlas trailblazer. i love it. did you know that the 3700 I5 and 2900 I4 atlas motor has bigger sleeves? grab yourself a set of factory sleeves and pistons (yes its the same stroke) and press them into the I6 block for a 4.4 litre.

[@Agilepickleunite]

Is this true how do I verify this my head is spinning just thinking about it

[@Infernostar18]

@@Agilepickleunite wiki search the bore and stroke of the Colorado and compare that to the trailblazer. Do the math on total cylinder capacity. Then multiply cylinder size by 6 and not 5 like the Colorado has. And you get the total possible engine size of an atlas i6 with z71 sleeves and pistons.

[@Infernostar18]

@@Agilepickleunite so long as my research is correct, resleeve an i6 block with the vortec 3700 sleeves and pistons, and it should work. so long as a fella was capable and willing to take on such a task. in my opinion, it could be done, because they did it with the 4 cylinder and 5 cylinder.

[@LaUnika383RGV]

The intake shells are clamp on. They are quite diffcult to take off without breaking them. I remembered when I took them off my 3.5 I5 Altas on my Colorado. It was turbocharged mostly stock other than turbo, tuned and injectors. Hold 20 psi on it but fuel pump gave out at WOT, leaned out, and blew it LOL

[@duranbailiff5337]

Brother, you are like a kid in a candy store, and I love your enthusiasm! Gotta love the Inline Six- keep up the great videos! 🤓

[@kyleschoonover8013]

Loved the 292 vids but I’m even more excited about this!! Love Chevy I6’s

[@DBGMLV]

I remember the guys at Hot Rod Garage building two of these one was mild and the other one was supposed to be wild. The mild one was turboed and it made less than 500hp if i remember correctly. And they had some problems with the wild one. I don't mean to bash on Tony and Lucky, love their work, but I can't wait to see the full potential of this bad boy.

[@timschell5781]

I have seen some of these running turbos but can't wait to see what richard can do, I have always thought this has potential, can't wait to find out!

[@Calvin-Nelson]

Yoooo. Hoping you find the limit so I don't have to. Crank the boost!!

[@TheBruhaba]

Excited for this. Thought I was one of the only ones for years. I’ve loved this motor since I bought my trailblazer in 2006. I have put my 4.2 through the ringer with an Eaton m112 bolted to it. Latest rendition is built bottom end, venolia 8.5:1 pistons, some K1 rods, ported head and a way over spun Eaton m112 supercharger that makes a lot of heat at 18psi. Runs on e85. Fun ride even with the hot boost! Have fun! Can’t wait!

[@MrTurboAaron]

Tony and Lucky from Hot Rod Garage Failed to complete there 4200 build... Those guys suck! I subscribed to that and got scammed.. Smh. Thank you Richard for coming through with a build!! 👍👍

[@MustangCrazyMan72]

Get after it Richie!! Looking forward to the dyno testing. 👍

[@brianborell4469]

Love these since the first time I worked on one in an Envoy @ the dealership back in 2005. Much untapped potential there.

[@thirstquencher3203]

AWESOME content!!!! FINALLY some content regarding the American Barra 😁😁😁

[@jameshall4385]

They are great motors. I have a 04 trailblazer and it has 200,000 miles on it and never had any internal issues

[@ChapsShrugged]

I thought the American inline Trailblazer engines were the stupid 5 cylinders they put in the Colorado/Canyon! 🤯 wild!

[@garthmounce9331]

@@ChapsShrugged the atlas series included 4, 5, and 6 cylinder engines. Colorado / canyons got the 4 and 5 while trailblazers and their cousins got the 6 usually but had the option of v8. The atlas family all look about the same from a glance.

[@E1337Jerk]

Love the content rich keep up the boost

[@Summit_Moto_Utah]

I really wanted to put one of these in my jeep XJ Cherokee. Love your vids Richard... big turbo = hell yea!

[@madmod]

I want a jeep 4.0 in a ram 1500. Seems weird they put the v8 magnum in the jeep and never the big 6 back in to the ram. With some boost, its a mini cummins clone

[@JesusSaves86AB]

Had a TB EXT with the Atlas, loved it, everything attached to it was a different story. Would be great to have the Atlas in a small car to compete with the eurotrash with similar l6's.

[@spacerconrad]

Had one of these in my old Trailblazer. Felt good at low rpm, and pulled my 4000 lb camper without any apparent stress, in the Ozarks. I've often thought about slapping one into a resto-mod.

[@barrelracer318]

I got an 02 trailblazer with this motor recently. It's been running rough. Starts and idles fine at first, but when it gets warm the rpms start dropping and fluctuation. Until it starts lopeing like a diesel and stallsthe past. Sounds andnfeels fine. Oil pressure is good, fresh oil change done just a few days ago. New vvt, and cps. It seems to have three original coil packs and three replacement ones. I havent checked the plugs yet. I cleaned the throttle body. There was some oil residue in the black intake that has 4200 on it. Brake abs light is coming on too. It's got 220k. I don't know what work was done to it prior. It seemed kind of well taken care of. The valve cover seemed to have been replaced with the last few years, no leaks. No drips. There is some vapors coming out of the oil filler cap an or oil dipstick tube. Does that sound like rings? I drove it about 2 hours to get it to my place. But I never had a gasoline motor before. I am kinda lost. Always had diesel in the past.

[@pedrogiavani2330]

Great motor. I had them in my two Trailblazer LTs. Fresh air intake mod. Helical carb spacer, cat back from Magnaflow. Pushed it over 300 Hp, but improved fuel mileage by an average of 4 mpg over 50K miles driven. love this motor!!

[@brendo7363]

what did you do with the carb spacer?

[@pedrogiavani2330]

@@brendo7363 I had it placed between the throttle body and the intake manifold. does this answer your question?

[@scottross2169]

Excellent work again here Mr H as I've never heard of this mill and have been trying to decide V8 vs inline for a 49 chev PU in my deteriorating fleet. I was kickin around BMW or Jag maybe as the old 235's do not have any appeal to me but this just became a no brainer. Gotta do some homework now but I'm assuming somewhat avail and with all alum, really sounds like a resto mod motor you dont see every day. You can bet I'll be tuned in to see how this goes and many thanks for the other guys info RE caddies and buicks.

[@dilsher12]

Richard you never touched the fact that this also has Variable valve timing. Be cool to see it dialed in .

[@BuiltDifferent13]

I love the truck in the beginning. best truck ever built

[@markmccarty9793]

No!!! That's why I love your vedios! We started out with a pump gas, premium cast pistons with big valves reliefs, a $40 used solid lifter cam! It's was awesome! Ran 6.50s 1/8 mile on motor!! Gave $500 for the assembled short block!! It was tons of fun! Ran just as fast on 93 octain!! 100 shot made it run 6 flat! Why the hell we decided to build a 'real' motor is anyone's guess. Ended with me quitting! All the money, time was the biggest issue! Now I'm retired and I'm into camping! Anyone reading this just remember, just have fun without taking a second mortgage on your house!

[@minimanadam]

imo Richard does the most honest, real world content there is... I've actually spoken with him awhile on live stream and he's an amazing dude and knows his stuff... keep up the awesome work rich

[@richardholdener1727]

I CAN ONLY BE ME

[@ShadowsOfGames]

Looks like your delivery of a straight six went much better than a local guy I saw the other day. Lost 2 Chevy straight 6s right out of the back of his truck as he was leaving a KFC. He kept on going LOL

[@brianwesley28]

I drove a TrailBlazer with the 4.2 for many years and I sure do miss it.

[@stevennunez6013]

Omg thank you so much for doing this Richard

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Been waiting for this.

[@gmtcolt45]

So excited for this motor. Had an envoy for years and spent some time playing with it in hptuners. The plastic shell on the intake manifold with come off with some cutting or prying. If you get the chance could you try a test using the vvt the way the factory tune does? It jumps from around 7 degrees to just over 23 degrees at 4200 rpm

[@christianwise4403]

I love this motor trends hot rod garage started on one n left us hanging looking forward to Chevy new stove bolt run a turbo👍

[@poordadlife3460]

This is awesome Rich let's see this inline 6 make power👍

[@gackal1982]

gm really outdid themselves with this i-6, plenty of bottom end torque with decent top end, solid as a rock! our trailblazer has 277k miles and still going strong

[@norvlak160]

It’s about time you get your hands on an atlas motor! Can’t wait to see what it puts out!

[@OCofthe3]

I’ve seen some other people hotrod these. They seem to have oiling issues when pushed hard. Definitely look at that oiling system.

[@alpinehs]

Great video. 👍

[@drs2000rr]

Awesome Stuff!!! Richard!!! 🛠🧰⚙️🏁🛠

[@thirdpedal4512]

Glad you listed off the few good points of these. Surprised you didn't mentioned any of the engineered fails in these engines. There's a two day class on just misfires and another day on noises from these self destructive hunks. Perhaps your plan works around or improves them? Or maybe it spills it's guts like so many others that fell out of service prematurely? Good luck! I'm eager to see what you do, as always.

[@Frank289100]

THE SMALL BLOCK CHEVY IN THE REAL WORLD WAS JUNK. HERE IN NEW YORK YEARS BACK IN TAXI'S IN 24/7 DRIVING. AT 60K THE SMALL BLOCK CHEVY WAS ON THERE WAY OUT, WHILE THE FORD 302 WAS TURNING THE CLOCK TO 500K. THIS IS THE REASON THEY SCRAPPED IT AND TURNED A NEW CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER AND REDIGNED A NEW V-8 THE LS WHICH IS 100% ALL BASED ON FORD DESIGNS. NOT ONE 1 DESIGN ASPECT OF THE OLD SMALL BLOCK CHEVY LIVES IN THE LS WHICH IS A REGURGITATED FORD 427 HIGH RISER AKA RAISED PORT 351 WINDSOR..

[@gabekiakojori2392]

I’ve been waiting to see you do a video on the LL8 for a MINUTE

[@technicallyeco.2751]

This is awesome so stoked 🤯

[@ca444]

I have been waiting for this! I6 goodness

[@thewraith6360]

cant wait for this series!

[@MississippiDan1]

Sweet!!! Can't wait to see what she does...

[@Cheese797]

If only it had the standard GM bellhousing pattern, oil pan that fit "normal" vehicles, and was compatible with Holley EFI. They'd be swapped all over the place.

[@nsboost]

Why would you think their not “compatible” with Holley efi? Those ecu’s will run basically any engine (or except maybe a rotor engine)

[@nathantiikkala1482]

I’m am very excited for the future

[@jaredhuang2225]

Super glad you're building one of these, they need more publicity from a reputable person.

[@jeffpittman8725]

New Hurricane 3L inline twin turbo for the Ram 1500 shows how awesome the straight 6 is!

[@Sparkystacoma]

I loved the 4.2 in my wife's old envoy. Always wanted to see one built up. And have thought once or twice to put it on my old 93 Silverado. Just to have something uh non LS and I love straight sixes

[@Doosterify]

Awesome, I know very little about this engine but I do remember in the early days of Hot Rod Drag week there was a guy running a turbo one in a Chevy II wagon and it ran in the 9s. I assume it has seven main bearings.

[@iliketacos2763]

Cool change for a video , these should do well making power . On a side note Barramundi on the grill with a couple of cold beers is great too .

[@livingintheLight.]

Can't wait to see you turbo this one out and put it on the dyno

[@ShadowOppsRC]

Have this motor in my trailblazer and love it!

[@ws-mitch3256]

My prayers have been answered 🙏

[@Micko350]

Who else clicked thinking they were going to see it run on the Dyno?! 🤔

[@button-puncher]

Yeah, I was REALLY hoping to see a run. I can't wait!

[@stacyman1285]

I have that motor in my gmc envoy xlt. 230.000. Only had to change water pump. At 200.000. Had 7 years now . it runs. An runs. Oil change on time. It's my big baby. On a Tahoe chassis. If no one new that. It's a Tahoe chassie. Gmc envoy chevy trailblazer. All the same chassie different motor .

[@yolofullsend]

I'm excited and legitimately curious.. good luck.

[@nastychevys]

I have been wanting to build one of these in a Colorado. Thank you Richard.

[@richardholdener1727]

i would like to run 4 and 5 cyl versions as well

[@NeverLetOff]

I want to put one in my 2015 mustang because we can't get the Barra in the states

[@LaUnika383RGV]

Putting a 4.2 on a 04-12 Colorado will need the radiator/fan relocated. Its too long.

[@docsmallblock6584]

@@NeverLetOff This is a better engine !

[@Dauntless.steadfast.fortitude]

@@richardholdener1727 hey Richard love your work, enthusiasm, knowledge & most of all honesty. Im interested in Atlas I4 & I5 swap mini truck or 510...

[@gregtheegg3576]

six at six! also, that manifold being cast may give up a little flow, but for long term durability it's really really hard to beat!

[@Snakeman1985]

This is gonna make @Nivlac57 pretty happy

[@Gothamauto]

He's already been where this is going. The dyno is nice, but putting the engine in something old and classy and hustling it down the track is more interesting imo.

[@grumpysteelman]

I thought this was a cool motor, can’t wait to learn more. Also commenting for Al Gorithym 😎

[@LS__812]

Ole Al Gorithym is sometimes such a mysterious man.. good to some, hurtful to others 😂

[@SloppyMechanics]

techno beat

[@jackdaniels2657]

When are u gonna do another 4.2 dyno run build?

[@RooTBeeRthe1st]

I always wait to hear that triangle come in, and then realize how out-of-time is sounds haha

[@justinninke6405]

Can't wait to hear what it sounds like

[@redlight3932]

I looked into the 4200 a while ago but I didn't find any numbers im real excited about this one

[@richardholdener1727]

I'm easily excited

[@josephwindham3974]

I been looking fir one. Now the price if then should go up lol thanks Richard

[@Yeawell]

I just subscribed bc I realized I wasnt already. Kinda interested in this motors potential. Daily a trailblazer with said motors but want to put it in a Nissan D21 bc why not

[@ChrisRobato]

You should check out the "Toyobarra" Toyota 1FZ-FE 4.5 liters, and the "Nissabarra", Nissan TB48DE 4.8 liters. These are inline sixes with DOHC and 24 valves that are even bigger than the Atlas LL8 and the Barra six.

[@BonnevilleSlugger]

I'd love to see you do an Atlas 3500, because I have a 2005 Canyon I may consider yanking the engine from, for my '91 Jimmy. Plus, they sound cool.

[@yunieldiaz5197]

wow it will be henial to see this. I am already anxious.

[@ojjimmy3620]

Definitely following. I wanna see what you can do with this engine.

[@fantaseahorse4696]

Your favorite motor is cast via lost foam. Any big torque spikes and the 4200 EXPLODES!