100,000,000 Chevrolet small block engines
Discussion
While BMW focus on their new turbo 4-pots, Chevrolet today produced its one hundred millionth small block engine.
"The small block is the engine that brought high-performance to the people," said David Cole, founder and emeritus chairman of Center for Automotive Research – and whose father, the late Ed Cole, was the chief engineer at Chevrolet and oversaw development of the original small block engine. “There is an elegant simplicity in its design that made it instantly great when new and enables it to thrive almost six decades later.”
Sam Winegarden, executive director Engine Engineering, said "while the small-block’s enduring design has proven adaptable to meet performance, emissions and refinement challenges over the years, it has more importantly delivered them with greater efficiency. Current engines feature all-aluminum cylinder block and heads to help save weight and contribute to greater fuel economy."
GM didn’t invent the V-8 but interpreted it in a way that made performance accessible to millions of new customers. The first 4.3 litre engine in 1955 produced up to 195 hp with an optional four-barrel carburetor. Today, the LS9 6.2 litre (376 cu. in.) supercharged small-block in the Corvette ZR1 is rated at 638 hp, making it the most powerful engine ever installed in a regular-production Chevrolet or GM vehicle.
“The small-block engine delivers guilt-free performance,” said Winegarden. “It is the quintessential V-8 engine and a living legend that is more relevant than ever.”
"The small block is the engine that brought high-performance to the people," said David Cole, founder and emeritus chairman of Center for Automotive Research – and whose father, the late Ed Cole, was the chief engineer at Chevrolet and oversaw development of the original small block engine. “There is an elegant simplicity in its design that made it instantly great when new and enables it to thrive almost six decades later.”
Sam Winegarden, executive director Engine Engineering, said "while the small-block’s enduring design has proven adaptable to meet performance, emissions and refinement challenges over the years, it has more importantly delivered them with greater efficiency. Current engines feature all-aluminum cylinder block and heads to help save weight and contribute to greater fuel economy."
GM didn’t invent the V-8 but interpreted it in a way that made performance accessible to millions of new customers. The first 4.3 litre engine in 1955 produced up to 195 hp with an optional four-barrel carburetor. Today, the LS9 6.2 litre (376 cu. in.) supercharged small-block in the Corvette ZR1 is rated at 638 hp, making it the most powerful engine ever installed in a regular-production Chevrolet or GM vehicle.
“The small-block engine delivers guilt-free performance,” said Winegarden. “It is the quintessential V-8 engine and a living legend that is more relevant than ever.”
XitUp said:
Hmm, are they including the LS and Vortec engine in that, cos they are not the same as the first small block.
They are still small block engines. And there isn't and has never been just a single "one" SBC engine, there have been many generations, displacements and construction types.
300bhp/ton said:
They are still small block engines. And there isn't and has never been just a single "one" SBC engine, there have been many generations, displacements and construction types.
To me that makes it less of a big deal.I wonder how many I4 engines VW or Toyota have built over the years.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff