Chevy
Impala SS (61 – 96)
1961 saw the introduction of the first real muscle car, the Chevrolet Impala SS. This year also saw the introduction of Chevrolet’s 409 cubic inch V8, the engine that catapulted the Big Three automakers into a horsepower war that would endure far into the 1970s. The 409 was really developed in response to Ford’s new…
Read MoreHistory Tri-Five Chevrolets
One of the most notable aspects of the Tri-Five was the company’s recent creation of the 265 cubic inch V8 engine, which was introduced in 1955. It was a high compression, short stroke overhead valve design that continued in production in various configurations for decades. The original V8 was equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and…
Read MoreChevelle SS = Big Block Beast
When the Chevrolet Chevelle was released in the mid-1960s, it was GM’s most adaptable brand. By the second generation, the A-body platform had given birth to sedans, coupes, wagons, the El Camino truck, and convertibles, and would later underlie the personal luxury Monte Carlo coupe. From a performance standpoint, the 1968–72 group was the best…
Read MoreHistory of Chevrolet’s Z28
The Z28 is the most renowned Chevrolet RPO code. A high-performance option code has no equal. Known packages like Z22 and Z27 used other option codes, but the option names/descriptions became renowned, not the RPO number. The Special Performance Package is not used. RPO Z28 ran from 1967 until 1974. 1975 and 1976 had no…
Read More6th Gen Camaros
A Pony Car developed by Chevrolet; the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro was first shown to the public on May 16, 2015. It is the company’s most successful model to date. Sales began in 2015 for the 2016 model year, with deliveries beginning in 2016. The sixth-generation Camaro now rides on the GM Alpha platform, which also…
Read More5th Gen. Camaros
GM’s 5th Gen. Camaro is an extremely capable performance platform right out of the box. The development of the Zeta chassis, combined with the proven track record of the LS power plants, has elevated the Camaro to a new level. One of the best features of this platform is how well it adapts to performance…
Read MoreChevy (Mouse) Small Block
Thus, evolution is clearly beneficial, and the small block Chevy engines that have been blasted out of General Motors engine facilities worldwide are no exception. With the introduction of the small block engine for the 1955 model year, no engineer could have envisaged where we would be today with 638hp, 376 cubic inch engines capable…
Read More“W” Block 348 – 409 Chevy
As the 1950s began, the majority of automobiles had engines displacing less than 200 cubic inches, a milestone that had taken 50 years to achieve. By the decade’s end, the largest engines had doubled in size to more than 400 ci. Even law enforcement had to catch up with such quick progress, as illustrated by…
Read MoreBig Block (Rat) Chevy
Unlike smaller engines, the big-block Chevy’s evolution can be traced back to a high-performance 425-hp L78 396, originally offered in 1965 Corvettes and Chevelles. Although the big-block was destined for trucks and family sedans, it began as a serious high-performance item with rectangular port heads, a solid lifter cam, a high-rise aluminum intake manifold and…
Read MoreOld Guy’s Advice on an LS Conversion
It all boils down to what your specific aims are in making an LS swap and how much you want to spend when it comes to selecting an engine. SALVAGE A junk yard 5.3 or 6.0 is the engine to switch for most people. They normally cost between $500 and $1,500, with just a cam…
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