How an Outdated Pushrod Engine Became GM’s Legendary LS V8

Chevy’s Small BlockWhat we refer to today as the LS family of engines usually refers to the third and fourth generations of Chevrolet’s small-block V8. But to understand the relevance of these engines, and what makes them so special, we must look back to where it all began. The year is 1955, and General Motors has just revealed one of the most influential internal combustion engines ever built — the first generation of Chevrolet’s small-block V8 engine platform. It was slated to power the Corvette, the brand’s first true sports car, launched two years earlier with a lackluster inline-six under the hood. The switc …