Chevrolet small-block engine | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | General Motors |
Also called | Chevrolet Turbo-Fire Mighty Mouse |
Production | 1955–2003 |
Combustion chamber | |
Displacement |
265 cu in (4.3 L) (1955-1957)
267 cu in (4.4 L) (1979-1982)
283 cu in (4.6 L) (1957-1967)
302 cu in (4.9 L) (1967-1969)
305 cu in (5.0 L) (1976-2002)
307 cu in (5.0 L) (1968-1973)
327 cu in (5.4 L) (1962-1969)
350 cu in (5.7 L) (1967-2003)
400 cu in (6.6 L) (1970-1981)
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Cylinder bore | 3.500 in (88.9 mm) 3.670 in (93.2 mm) 3.736 in (94.9 mm) 3.750 in (95.3 mm) 3.875 in (98.4 mm) 4.00 in (101.6 mm) 4.125 in (104.8 mm) |
Piston stroke | 3.00 in (76.2 mm) 3.10 in (78.7 mm) 3.25 in (82.6 mm) 3.48 in (88.4 mm) 3.75 in (95.3 mm) |
Valvetrain | OHV |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Chevrolet Series D |
Successor | Generation II GM small-block Gen III-V GM small-block engine |
Generation II | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | General Motors |
Also called | GM LT engine |
Production | 1992-1997 |
Combustion chamber | |
Configuration | V8 |
Displacement |
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Cylinder bore |
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Piston stroke |
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Cylinder block alloy | |
Cylinder head alloy | |
Valvetrain | |
Combustion | |
Fuel system | |
Fuel type |
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Oil system | Wet sump |
Cooling system | Water-cooled |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Generation I |
Successor | Generation III |
262 cu in (4.3 L) (1975-1976)
265 cu in (4.3 L) (1955-1957)
267 cu in (4.4 L) (1979-1982)
283 cu in (4.6 L) (1957-1967)
302 cu in (4.9 L) (1967-1969)
305 cu in (5.0 L) (1976-2002)
307 cu in (5.0 L) (1968-1973)
327 cu in (5.4 L) (1962-1969)
350 cu in (5.7 L) (1967-2003)
400 cu in (6.6 L) (1970-1981)
The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small (for a US V8 of the time) engine block. Even though the first big-block engines were smaller in displacement than the largest small block engine, the small blocks were almost all under 400 cu in (6.6 L) with most of the big block engines being above that. The small blocks' small physical size also set them apart from their massive physical size cousins, the big blocks. Retroactively referred to as the "Generation I" small-block, it is distinct from subsequent "Generation II" LT and "Generation III/IV" LS, and "Generation V" (LT/EcoTec3) engines. Engineer Ed Cole, who would later become GM President, is credited with leading the design for this engine.
Production of the original small-block began in the fall of 1954 for the 1955 model year with a displacement of 265 cu in (4.3 L), growing incrementally over time to 400 cu in by 1970. Several intermediate displacements appeared over the years, such as the 283 cu in (4.6 L) that was available with mechanical fuel injection, the 327 cu in (5.4 L), as well as the numerous 350 cu in (5.7 L) versions. Introduced as a performance engine in 1967, the 350 went on to be employed in both high- and low-output variants across the entire Chevrolet product line.
Although all of Chevrolet's siblings of the period (Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Holden) designed their own V8s, it was the Chevrolet 350 cu in small-block that became the GM corporate standard. Over the years, every American General Motors division except Saturn used it and its descendants in their vehicles.