Sixteen Power partners with Katech on V16 engine

After unveiling the marine-specific V16 engine at the Miami International Boat Show, Sixteen Power is continuing production validation with its technical partners. Sixteen Power, LLC and Katech, Inc. have collaborated for the past year to support the new powertrain. Sixteen Power says its engine requires testing standards and data acquisition only offered by Katech, a Tier 1 engine development partner of GM for the past 40 years.  
     

Sixteen Power has designed a bespoke M16 block with features to address marine-specific duty cycles. Enabling multiple-cylinder head specifications, dual cooling circuits and an oil scavenge bay, the block is the foundation of the marine powertrain. The company says the physical size and power output of the engine requires technical partners.
     

Katech has been instrumental in aiding this engine come to life including some of the block machining such as line honing and cylinder bore deck plate honing as well as final dyno wiring harness support. 

The first firing on the dyno occurred in Katech’s workhorse dyno cell #2. Sixteen Power says the first full power pull produced 1,100 BHP and 1,100 LBF-FT torque with cautious operating parameters.  
     

“Katech is honored to work with Sixteen Power on this awesome new engine platform. It is built on a long history of highly developed architecture and components, yet adds all new features and strategies to further support the high-duty cycle of marine engines,” said Kevin Pranger, director of motorsports, Katech. “The first day of running on the dyno made it immediately apparent how effortlessly this engine makes power and yet is amongst the most tame engines at idle. The potential for the more aggressive models and boosted versions is tremendous and Katech looks to have a bright future working with Sixteen Power on this revolutionary engine.”
     

Sixteen Power co-founder Caleb Newman spent nine years at Katech and was the program manager of the Cadillac Sixteen engine program Katech completed for GM Powertrain in 2002. After departing Katech as vice president and director of aftermarket operations, Newman founded Performance Design in 2008.

Katech saw the potential for the marine market after concluding the Cadillac prototype program. The new clean sheet engine design just unveiled opts for a strategy to use four standard V8 heads. That eliminated the cost and technology limiting aspect of tooling bespoke heads. After seeing the new design strategy, Katech agreed to support Sixteen Power’s design.

“Katech has long been a leader in engine development, supporting great leading-edge engines such as the venerable GM LS7 427 Gen IV small block, V6 race engines in Trans-Am and the Cadillac XV16 concept engine,” said Katech President Steve Spurr.
     

The engine further employs Katech’s piston oil jets to cool the pistons and better control oil in the five-scavenge stage oil system. The Katech piston oilers enable a full four-inch stroke. The block’s oiling system was designed for Katech’s components.

For more information, visit www.katechengines.com.