Printed in The American Tri-Five magazine in Volume 10 : Issue 1

I was never around to experience the highs of the classic Small Block Chevy. By the time I was jumping into cars, fuel injections, turbos, super chargers, etc. came factory on a lot of vehicles. My buddies and I are constantly joking about how fun it must have been to grow up in the time frame our dads had grown up. The downfall of modern-day engines is the look of them, they aren’t as pretty as their predecessors. With new times comes new things and ultimately following, new desires. With many companies realizing people want to spice things up with their engines they are working on their menu of items offered to help fill the desire.

Let’s think back on numbers and compare and contrast things. GM has produced many, many versions of the traditional small block Chevy engines starting in 1955 and rounding out production placed small blocks in 2003. We had everything from 165 horsepower to 529 horsepower. Starting with a carbureted setup and mostly done that way, Chevy was early to the fuel injection game in 1957. Although fuel injections (FI) weren’t the most common, it definitely wasn’t the most desired, just the same. However, it was cool to see them jump in early with the FI.

Now for the “LS” platform, the best engine to swapped into most things. In 1997 GM really did something with their new gen Corvette. The C5 Corvette was the first of many cars to receive the “LS” and it used a 5.7 LS1. Since 1997 GM has produced many variations of LS platformed engines. If you combine all the GM Small blocks together then GM has produced over 100 million small block Chevys, LS Included.

Now let me start the most controversial argument around the “LS”. Generally speaking, most “LS”s aren’t actual LSs. A designated “LS” is made of a casted Aluminum block. The term means “Luxury Sport” and it is found in Luxury Sport Vehicles, not the Silverado down the street.

The most notable LSs are:

LS1: The original high-performance LS engine

first seen in the C5 Corvette.

LS2: A 6.0L variant with good power

often found in later Corvettes.

LS3: Considered one of the best "everyday" LS engine offering strong power in a reliable package.

LS7: A high revving, naturally aspirated 7.0L engine known for its high power potential, mostly used in the C6 Z06 Corvette.

LS9: The biggest power production LS engine, using a super Charger and found in the C6 ZR1 Corvette

There are many others which are a part of the family and share parts but are not the same as the ones mentioned above. Most of these are cast iron that are labeled differently than “LS”.

An LS platformed engine is plentiful and readily available from many sources. I will be honest and say, I have been the victim of buying a 5.3 LM7 from a junkyard and swapped into a buddy’s car. All said and done the complete engine and harness to run it was sub $500. While there are plenty of good usable junkyard motors to run, there are also a lot of OEM crate engines to be had as well. I mean look at what Noonan has produced, an entire billet LS engine block. With the technology out there to make aftermarket blocks, we are in good shape for when the supply of original parts supply dries up. Which will not be for a very long time, In my opinion.

As these awesome engines have gained tremendous popularity (rightfully so), the after market has also followed such and offers a great deal of parts for these. Not only to dress them up, but to make changes to them to help fit them into whatever your heart desires. Holley, Edelbrock, COMP, Lokar, BTR, and many, many other credible companies are all making great looking, great performing, and user-friendly products to help us as consumers achieve our wants. Not only are there billet engines out there, but the OEM crate engines are even being sold by Lokar with their entire “dress up kits”. The 57 fuelie, 63 corvette fuelie, Tri power kit, 409 dressed kit, I mean the possibilities with these engines are endless now. Not only is Lokar offering this, but other competent companies are doing it too with their own touch of flavor. Which is very good to see because these engines are very practical, very accessible, and very reliable. Now with more of a classic feel, if you want to dress it up to have such feel.

Over the years we have been very blessed with good engines and the bad engines, to be blessed with good, you need some bad. Put the bad aside, and we all have experienced some form of the iconic small block Chevy. As of today, there are 5 different generations of the small block, and they keep better every time. There is no reason my big cammed C5 corvette should get 28 miles per gallon on the highway (according to the dash, who knows the accuracy, but that’s what it says).

That just proves that as things become better, they become more efficient and user friendly. This years Tri-Five Nationals giveaway car is of course going to be something special yet again, but we are excited to show an abundance of new items and tried and true parts that will make this car very enjoyable for the winner. Not only will it be enjoyable to drive, it will be enjoyable to Look at with new dress up parts to make this LS have the classic feel we all love.