Chevrolet Corvette: V8 small block engine

For 58 of the 60 years of its existence, the Chevrolet Corvette was powered by the legendary V8 Chevrolet. Technological improvements have more than triple its power - 195 hp 1955 638 hp today - even of its reliability, refinement and fuel efficiency.

However, the basic architecture of the compact Chevrolet engine block remains the same today as in 1955: A 90-degree V8 OHV DRIVEN BY buttons and spacing of holes center center 4.4 inches.

"The ingenuity of the Chevrolet V8 engine lies in its elegant design and effective" stressed Jordan Lee, global chief engineer in for a small block engines. "The Chevrolet V8 has less than a reciprocating parts, is very effective and presents one of the best weight ratios of all engines in the industry. Its incredibly compact design allows the Corvette and a display profile elance and line surbaissee cover. "

Despite a sporty look, the start of the Corvette production performance recorded at the height of their aesthetic. The car launched in 1953 was equipped with a six-cylinder engine line "Blue Flame" couple has a automatic transmission has two speeds - not exactly what it takes to create a legendary sports car. Everything would change in 1955, when the new V8 engine small block became available and was controlled 99% of Corvette buyers.

Not only does the new engine, significantly more powerful, breathed new life into the experience of driving the Corvette, but it could be combined with a manual transmission has three speeds that allow the driver to be in greater harmony with the car . The Corvette then became a true sports car and aroused the enthusiasm of amateurs. Sales were almost double compared to 1954 and had almost triple by the end of the decade.

Immediately after its launch, the small block V8 engine has become synonymous with constant advances in cylinder, power and technological advances.

The first compact engine block 4.3L (265 inches?) Corvette 1955 produced up to 195 horsepower with a carburetor body 4 optional. Today, the engine block compact LS9 6.2L (376 inches?) Team that supercharges the Corvette ZR1 develops power 638 hp (476 kilowatts), or approximately 230% more power than the engine has compact block of origin, despite an upper cylinder of only 42%.

The compact block engines are remarkably energy efficient contemporary. For example, the LS3 engine of 430 horsepower (476 kilowatts) of the fourth generation of the compact engine block helps the 2013 Corvette accelerate from 0 to 96 km / h in about four seconds to travel 0.4 km (one quarter thousand) in just over 12 seconds and reach a top speed of 290 km / h while posting fuel consumption on a highway just 7.7 L/100 km.

This energetics performance compares favorably to that of vehicles most commonly associated to those used to go lead the children to the daycare to spin at full speed on a road circuit. In fact, the fuel consumption of the Corvette on the highway is lower than that of the 2012 Hyundai Equus (8.6 L/100 km), Volvo XC90 TI 2013 (8.8 L/100 km) Subaru Legacy equipped with a 6 cyl engine. a flat 3.6 L (8.2 L/100 km) - and is equal to that of the Toyota Venza endowed V6 engine 3.5 L (7.7 L/100 km). This is equivalent or consumption is lower than that of other sports cars equipped with smaller engines including the Nissan 370Z (7.8 L/100 km with the V6 3.7 L) and the Porsche 911 Turbo (8, 1 L/100 km with the engine 6 cyl. has flat 3.8 L).

Here is an overview of the main drivers of compact history of the Corvette block:

283 "Fuelie" 1957

Nearly 30 years before the widespread adoption of fuel injection, the Corvette offered on compact engine block 283 cubic inches newly oversized which produced 283 horsepower - and the report of a horse per inch cube that is still regarded as a remarkable achievement for modern engines.

350 1969

The cylinder of the engine has compact block increases in the fifties and sixties, but when she reached the mark of 350 cubic inches in 1969, a legend was born. Many fanatics equate compact engine block with the classic 350 which is still the engine of the Corvette series until 1996.

L98 was injection into the intake port 1985

The electronic fuel injection was launched on the Corvette in 1981 (the "Fuelie" engine was equipped with the mechanical fuel injection), but the launch in 1985, the L98 engine and the injection system has in the intake which marked the beginning of the modern era performance orifice. Its system of basic injection in the intake port is used in the Corvette in 2013 and most petrol vehicles sold in North America.

LS1 1997

The third generation of small block engines began in the Corvette C5. The completely redesigned engine introduced a new cylinder block skirts deep, aluminum, aluminum heads flow a pupil and more, while maintaining the spacing center center 4.4 inch bores of the engine has compact block Original.

LS7 2006

Developed jointly with the C6.R racing program, it is the compact engine block naturally aspirated, serial, the most powerful in the history of the Corvette with 505 hp and maximum diet of 7000 rev / min. It was launched in the Corvette C6 Z06 and also the team edition collection of 427 cabriolet 2013. It is built by hand at GM's Performance Build Center, near Detroit.

LS9 supercharged 2009

The most powerful engine ever built by Chevrolet, its supercharged 638 horsepower Corvette ZR1 series propel has a top speed of 330 km / h (205 mi / h). As the LS7 engine, it is built by hand at Performance Build Center.

Source: Chevrolet

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