General Motors introduced a new small block motor in 1992 to utilize in their Chevrolet Corvettes, which brought to mind the original small blocks from the 1970’s. This new “LT1” was a 350 cubic inch (5.7 L) powerplant that had a two-valve, pushrod configuration and featured an innovative “reverse” cooling system. This cooling system cooled […] More »

The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 sports a supercharged, 376 cubic inch, 6.162 L “LS9.” The LS9 is based on the LS3 because higher pressure in the cylinders, as a result of the supercharger, necessitated more substantial cylinder walls, which the previous Corvette LS7 engine did not have. Bore and stroke is 4.06 inches (or 103.1 […] More »

The LS7 V-8 is the base offering in the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, a true race engine similar to the metal hear that beat inside Chevy Vette C5-R’s. Sporting many of the same components, including an 11.0 to 1 compression ratio, titanium connecting rods, cylinder heads with sodium-filled exhaust valves and titanium intake valves, and […] More »

The LS6 was introduced in the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette (the year the Z06 Vette was re-introduced) as a higher powered version of the LS1. The engine used the LS6 designation, which is the same as the big block 454 cubic inch engine of the 1970’s. The engine in the 2001 Chevy Corvette produced 385 horsepower […] More »

General Motors premiered the LS3 for its base model 2008 Chevrolet Corvette. The engine put out 430 horsepower (320 kW) and 424 lb. ft. (575 N•m) of torque. The power increase, up 30 horsepower from the basic motor of 2007, is attributed to an updated valvetrain and camshaft, improved intake flow, and use of the […] More »

The only engine available in the 1982 Chevrolet Corvette was the L83 as pollution requirements became more stringent throughout the 80’s. At 350 cubic inches, or 5.7 L, it produced 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 285 lb. ft. of torque (386 Nm) at a compression ratio of 9:1. This Chevy Vette could be ordered only […] More »

The C4 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 was first produced in 1990 and ended in 1995 after 6,939 vehicles came off the line. General Motors approached Lotus in 1986, which was part of GM then, and asked for their help developing a high-performance car to be based on the C4 Vette. Lotus then designed an engine, with […] More »