This can sometimes be misleading, as not all engine RPO codes in the three generations begin with LT or LS. The Regular Production Option (RPO) code of the engine, LS, has since been used to generally refer to all Gen III and Gen IV engines, however, Gen V engines are generally referred to as 'LT' small-blocks. The 'LS' nomenclature originally came from the first engine of the Gen III engines, the LS1, which was fitted in the Chevrolet Corvette (C5). Various small-block V8s were and still are available as crate engines. Spanning three generations, a new, sixth generation is expected to enter production soon.

First introduced in 1997, the family is a continuation of the earlier Chevrolet small-block engine (first- and second-generations), of which over 100 million have been produced altogether, and is also considered to be one of the most popular V8 engines ever.

The General Motors LS-based small-block engines are a family of V8 and V6 engines designed and manufactured by American automotive company General Motors. That is why we have decided to refresh and update this piece to keep you informed about the best ways of gaining horsepower from your Chevy small block 350.Chevrolet small-block engine (first and second generation) UPDATED June 9, 2023: The classic 350 has been one of the most common small block engines to build into any project car or truck for decades. So let's jump in and discover 15 must-do steps to gain horsepower from your classic Chevy 350, so the car in the garage can finally get the recognition it deserves on the streets and the strip. Even if that does not hit home, the 350 is the most dependable, durable, and buildable engine American carmakers have ever produced.

If that seems like a far stretch, go back through some of the history associated with the best American sports car ever created, the Chevy Corvette. The truth is that even though the big block monsters of the past did have power and massive amounts of torque, nothing else could compete with a well-built Chevrolet small-block classic 350. Of course, some people still shy away from a small block engine, living with the idea that there is no replacement for displacement. There are so many ways to add horsepower to a classic 350 that it has been used in everything from daily drivers to track racing machines.

How to time a 350 chevy with a big cam