19_Chevelle_69
06-19-2006, 09:55 PM
Chevy's Big Gamble
The launches of the small-block V8 and the all-new '55 Chevrolets were simply the most important in the division's history. And they were a gamble.
Chevrolet had built its reputation on high value, but the cars were boring. They'd stutter-stepped into the exhilaration business with the 1953 Corvette, but that was a niche item; an experiment that, if it failed, meant little to the division and less to GM's bottom line.
The small-block V8, on the other hand, was going into Chevrolet's bread-and-butter cars and trucks. If buyers embraced it, Chevy would take on Ford in every mainstream market segment. If it failed, the division risked also-ran oblivion.
It soon became known as the "Mouse" motor and this reputation as a light, compact powerhouse soon propelled the V8 into the forefront of a burgeoning hobby of "engine swapping."
Chevy V8's have come with stock displacements of: 262, 265, 283, 302, 305, 307, 327, 350 and 400 cubic inches. Other variations exists within performance and aftermarket circles.
The height of the muscle era saw Small Blocks delivering glorious amounts of power. The fuel crunch of the early seventies saw much of that progress wane as motors were detuned, saddled with ever more complex carburetors, emissions systems and other restrictions. As the Small Block entered the '80s, they reached their peak in anciliary complexity, though the same basic design remained the same, and they still enjoyed a level of reliability and servicability that kept them popular.
As GM struggled to maintain its CAFE ratings, more agressive and intelligent engineering spawned the mainstream advent of throttle body fuel injection, and just at its heels, the tuned port injection systems. Computer controlled fuel, spark and other systems began to take hold and significant power and economy strides were made simultaneously.
Chevrolet V8's built from 1955 through 1992 were of the Generation I designation. Even though these motors were throttle-body and multipoint injected since the mid-eighties, they were still based on the same block design. In 1992, with the introduction of the LT1, Chevrolet entered the Generation II era. These engines featured aluminum heads, reverse flow cooling, and advanced electronic controls. However, these motors were still largely based on the classic design. In 1997, GM released the LS1 in the newly redesigned Corvette. Though inspired by the ubiquitous Small Block, the LS1 essentially featured a whole new design. This motor is of Generation III.
The launches of the small-block V8 and the all-new '55 Chevrolets were simply the most important in the division's history. And they were a gamble.
Chevrolet had built its reputation on high value, but the cars were boring. They'd stutter-stepped into the exhilaration business with the 1953 Corvette, but that was a niche item; an experiment that, if it failed, meant little to the division and less to GM's bottom line.
The small-block V8, on the other hand, was going into Chevrolet's bread-and-butter cars and trucks. If buyers embraced it, Chevy would take on Ford in every mainstream market segment. If it failed, the division risked also-ran oblivion.
It soon became known as the "Mouse" motor and this reputation as a light, compact powerhouse soon propelled the V8 into the forefront of a burgeoning hobby of "engine swapping."
Chevy V8's have come with stock displacements of: 262, 265, 283, 302, 305, 307, 327, 350 and 400 cubic inches. Other variations exists within performance and aftermarket circles.
The height of the muscle era saw Small Blocks delivering glorious amounts of power. The fuel crunch of the early seventies saw much of that progress wane as motors were detuned, saddled with ever more complex carburetors, emissions systems and other restrictions. As the Small Block entered the '80s, they reached their peak in anciliary complexity, though the same basic design remained the same, and they still enjoyed a level of reliability and servicability that kept them popular.
As GM struggled to maintain its CAFE ratings, more agressive and intelligent engineering spawned the mainstream advent of throttle body fuel injection, and just at its heels, the tuned port injection systems. Computer controlled fuel, spark and other systems began to take hold and significant power and economy strides were made simultaneously.
Chevrolet V8's built from 1955 through 1992 were of the Generation I designation. Even though these motors were throttle-body and multipoint injected since the mid-eighties, they were still based on the same block design. In 1992, with the introduction of the LT1, Chevrolet entered the Generation II era. These engines featured aluminum heads, reverse flow cooling, and advanced electronic controls. However, these motors were still largely based on the classic design. In 1997, GM released the LS1 in the newly redesigned Corvette. Though inspired by the ubiquitous Small Block, the LS1 essentially featured a whole new design. This motor is of Generation III.