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Chevrolet's small-block V8 engines began with the 1955 265 in³ (4.3 L) engine found in the '55 Corvette. The displacement changed over the years, but none caught on like the 350 in³ (5.7 L) small-block.
Although Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac also designed V8 engines (see list of GM engines), it was Chevrolet's 350 in³ small-block that became the GM corporate standard. Over the years, GM has built 65,000,000 small-block V8s, all descended from the initial Corvette design.
The Small-block was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines of the 20th Century list.
Early Small Blocks
Most current GM small-block V8s (the LT and LS series) trace their lineage to the 1954 265 in³ V8 developed for the Corvette. Displacement and power eventually reached 377 in³ and 509 hp (in prototypes) before the Corvette switched to Chevrolet big-block power. But the small-block lived on, settling in at 350 in³ for decades of performance.
265
The 265 in³ (4.3 L) V8 was the first Chevrolet small block. Designed by Ed Cole's group at Chevrolet, it filled the power gap in the 1954 Corvette lineup, producing an impressive 195 hp (145 kW). Dimensions were oversquare - 3.75 in (95 mm) bore and 3 in (76 mm) stroke. It was a pushrod cast-iron engine with solid lifters and a 4-barrel Rochester carburetor. A passenger car version produced 162 hp.
The 1956 Corvette introduced three versions of this engine - 210 hp (157 kW), 225 hp (168 kW) with twin 4-barrel carbs, and 240 hp (179 kW) with a high-lift cam.
283
The 283 in³ (4.6 L) V8 was introduced in 1957. It was a version of the 265 in³ (4.3 L) bored-out to 3.87 in (98 mm). There were five different versions ranging from 220 hp to 283 hp (164 kW to 211 kW) depending on whether a single carb, twin carbs, or fuel injection was used. Power was up a bit each year for 1958, 1959, and 1960.
The 1957 engine featured Ramjet mechanical fuel injection, allowing the engine to produce 1 horsepower per cubic inch, an impressive feat at the time. For 1961, an amazing 315 hp was available from this unit.
327
The 327 in³ (5.4 L) V8, introduced in 1963, was bored and stroked to 4 in (102 mm) by 3.25 in. Power ranged from 250 hp to 360 hp (186 kW to 268 kW) depending on the choice of carburetor or fuel injection. The L76 version produced 340 hp (254 kW) and 344 lb.ft (466 Nm), while the L84 was the top performer with 360 hp (268 kW) and 352 lb.ft (477 Nm) with solid lifers, a special cam, and Ram-Jet fuel injection. The 1966 L79 was the highest-performance that year 327 at 350 hp (261 kW) and 360 lb.ft (477 Nm). 1967 saw two higher-performance versions - the 390 hp (291 kW) L36 and 435 hp (324 kW) L71.
215
The Oldsmobile/Buick 215 V8 is documented under Buick V8 engine page.
302
Chevrolet produced a special 302 in³ (4.9 L) engine for Trans Am racing. It was the product of a 327 block and 283 crankshaft, and was only used in the first-generation Camaro Z28.
Later 302 in³ engines were produced for GM trucks and sold under the Vortec brand name. This block also formed the basis for the Vortec 4300 V6.
400
A 400 in³ small-block was introduced in 1970 and produced for 10 years. Initial output was 240 hp.
Later Small Blocks
This section documents the odd-size small blocks developed after the 350 appeared in 1969. Many of these basic blocks are variations of the 350 design.
4.3
The 4.3 was a 4.3 L (262 in³) 90° pushrod V8 with an iron block and heads. Bore and stroke were 3.67 in (93mm) by 3.10 in (78.7mm). Power output for 1975 was 110 hp (82 kW) and 195 ft.lb (264 Nm).
This engine was used in the following cars:
5.0
The 5.0 variant of the 4.3 was bored and stroked to 5.0 L (305 in³) with a 3.74 in (95mm) bore and 3.48 in (88.4mm) stroke.
| Year
| hp (kW)
| lb.ft (Nm)
|
| 1976
| 140
| 245
|
| 1977
| 140
| 245
|
| 1978
| 140
| 245
|
| 1979
| 130
| 245
|
This engine was used in the following cars:
350
The first generation of Chevrolet small-blocks began with the 1955 Chevrolet 265 in³ (4.3 L) V8. But it was the 350 in³ (5.7L) series that set the standard for high performance. The engine's physical dimensions (oversquare 4 in bore and 3.48 in stroke) are nearly identical to the 400 hp (300 kW) LS2 engine of today, but of course much has changed.
This engine was used in the following cars:
Note that Oldsmobile produced an entirely different 350 in³ V8 (4.057 in bore and 3.53 in stroke), the L34 and LF9 from the 1980s.
ZQ3
Years: 1969, 1970, 1972-1975
The ZQ3 was the standard engine in the 1969-1970 Chevrolet Corvette. It was a 300 hp (224 kW) version of the 350 in³ (5.7 L) small-block, with 10.25:1 compression and hydraulic lifters. It used a Rochester "4MV" Quadra-Jet 4-barrel carburetor.
The 1972 ZQ3 produced 200 hp (150 kW) and 300 lb.ft (407 Nm) with 8.5:1 compression, dropping another 10 hp (7.5 kW) in 1973. 1975 saw the ZQ3 at 165 hp (123 kW) and 255 lb.ft (346 Nm).
L46
Years: 1969, 1970, 1972
The L46 was an optional engine on the 1969-1970 Chevrolet Corvette. It was a 350 hp (261 kW), 380 lb.ft (515 Nm) version of the ZQ3 with higher 11:1 compression. The 1972 ZQ3 produced just 200 hp (150 kW) and 300 lb.ft (407 Nm) with an 8.5:1 compression ratio.
LT-1
Years: 1970-1972
The LT-1 was the ultimate 350 V8, becoming available in 1970. It used solid lifters, 11:1 compression, a high-performance camshaft, and a Holley four-barrel carburetor on a special aluminum intake to produce 370 hp (276 kW) and 380 lb.ft (515 Nm). It was available on the Corvette and Camaro Z28. Power was down in 1971 to 330 hp (246 kW) and 360 lb.ft (477 Nm) with 9:1 compression, and again in 1972 (the last year of the LT-1) to 255 hp (190 kW) and 280 lb.ft (380 Nm).
More information (http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/z28lt1.html)
L48
Years: 1971, 1976-1979
The L48 was the standard engine on the 1971 Chevrolet Corvette. It produced 270 hp (201 kW) and 360 lb.ft (477 Nm) with an 8.5:1 compression ratio.
The 1976-1979 L48 was the standard Corvette engine and produced 180 hp (134 kW) and 270 lb.ft (366 Nm). The 1980 L48 stood at 190 hp (142 kW) and 280 lb.ft (380 Nm) from 8.2:1 compression.
L82
Years: 1973-1980
The 1973-1974 L82 was a performance version of the 350 producing 250 hp (186 kW) and 285 lb.ft (386 Nm) from 9:1 compression. It was down to 205 hp (153 kW) and 255 lb.ft (346 Nm) for 1975. It was the optional engine again in 1976-1977, producing 5 hp (4 kW) more. The 1978 L82 recovered somewhat, producing 220 hp (164 kW) and 260 lb.ft (353 Nm), and 5 hp (4 kW) and 10 lb.ft (14 Nm) more for 1979. 1980 saw another 10 hp (7.5 kW) and 15 lb.ft (20 Nm).
More information (http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/z28l82.html)
LG4
Years: 1980
The LG4 was the California version of the 1980 L48 engine. It produced 180 hp (134 kW) and 255 lb.ft (346 Nm), 10 hp (7.5 kW) and 25 lb.ft (34 Nm) less than the standard engine.
L81
Years: 1981
The L81 was the only Corvette engine for 1981. It produced 190 hp (142 kW) and 280 lb.ft (380 Nm) from 8.2:1 compression, exactly the same as the 1980 L48.
L83
Years: 1982, 1984
The 1982 L83 was again the only Corvette engine (and only available with an automatic transmission) producing 200 hp (150 kW) and 285 lb.ft (386 Nm) from 9:1 compression. This was again the only engine on the new 1984 Vette, at 205 hp (153 kW) and 290 lb.ft (393 Nm). The L83 added Cross-Fire fuel injection (twin throttle-body fuel injection).
L98
Years: 1985-1991
The new 1985 L98 added tuned-port fuel injection, which was good for 230 hp (172 kW) and 330 lb.ft (447 Nm). It was standard on all 1985-1991 Corvettes. 1987 versions had 10 hp (7.5 kW) and 15 lb.ft (20 Nm) more thanks to 9.5:1 compression. Compression was up again in 1991 to 10:1 but output stayed the same.
LM1
More information (http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/z28lm1.html)
Generation II
See the GM LT engine page for more information on the newer small-block V8s.
Generation III/IV
See the GM LS engine page for more information on the newest small-block V8s.
See also
From the 1950s through the 1970s, each GM division had its own V8 engine family. Many were shared among other divisions, but each design is most-closely associated with its own division:
GM later standardized on the later generations of the Chevrolet design:
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