#Small block V8

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

327 goes into… just about everything: Part 5 Iso A3/L Grifo Prototipo, 1963. Iso had started out by making electrical appliances during the 1930s, then after WW2 moved onto motor cycles and, in the 1950s, micro cars with the Isetta But from the late 1950s the company sort a future as a maker of grand tourers. A powertrain contract was made with General Motors and when the Grifo was presented at the 1963 Turin Motor Show it was powered by the 300hp version of Chevrolet's 327ci V8. The design of the car was by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone

[streetcars101magazine]

70 Years: A true American Classic

First-ever eAWD Corvette E-Ray uses an advanced electrified propulsion system in addition to its 6.2L LT2 Small Block V-8 enabling all-season performance and composure — and 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds1

The first-ever eAWD Corvette E-Ray uses an advanced electrified propulsion system in addition to its 6.2L LT2 Small Block V-8, enabling all-season performance and composure—and 0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Rear view of 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ coupe in Riptide Blue and convertible in Silver Flare with Electric Blue stripe package driving across a city bridge at night. Pre-production model…

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster

The Shelby Roadster is arguably the most famous and relevant of all the automotive legends. In 1962, the Shelby Cobra (or AC Cobra, in the UK) wrote its storied beginnings as a collaboration between Ford and British automaker AC with the release of the first production Cobra known as the CSX2001 / Mark I.

In the early 1960s, Ford endeavored to build a car that would oust the Chevrolet Corvette as the USA’s most significant sports car. The American automaker was well prepared to take on their local rival and had already produced the engine they would take to the fight – a new, lightweight, thin-wall cast small-block 3.6L V8. However, they still needed a chassis to go along with the powerplant.

Here enters the charismatic Carroll Shelby – financially backed by Ford for this venture – who recognized the racing success of the AC Ace in the late 1950s and would end up brokering an agreement with the Britons who would manufacture a chassis based on the Ace, which Ford would then use its fledgling V8 engine to breathe life into.

Although the Ace was an aging design near the end of its life cycle, its lightweight structure would become the ideal complement in creating one of the greatest American sports cars ever made over the next few years. Thus, the Shelby Cobra was born; and the rest, as they say, is history

[marsoid]

answering these in one go

i got Sugar off a craigslist ad in 2016. she was listed for $9k but i got her for $8800, the seller knocked down the price literally just because he was nice and could tell i loved the car so much 🥹 my bank wouldn't let me pull out all the cash at once so i drove her home and paid him that Monday which is CRAZY but he trusted me to pay him and i did

when i first got her she didn't have power steering or power brakes (turned like a land yacht and stopped when she felt like it) so that was the first thing to address. fixed the horn and some other minor stuff that needed it. i also made the decision to replace the carburetor with EFI, which is kind of controversial in the classic car world lol but it's more fuel efficient

the EFI i had installed actually gave me the most problems over the years it was ALWAYS having issues and breaking down. but i recently had it reinstalled by someone who is NOT an idiot and I've had no problems for like 2 solid years I'm so fucking glad lol now she's more reliable than ever

she has a 350 small block V8 and auto transmission since she's my daily driver and allows for the smoothest ride possible as a commuter car. i don't race but she is fast lmao. I've never put pedal to metal but I've gotten her up to 80mph before without even flooring it so 😭 she can fucking Go lol. she kind of defaults to 30mph coasting so i have to have my foot on the brake to keep the speed limit in residentials

what else uhhh the cabin smells so good.... i love old car smell. I'm so lucky in her 53 years of being on the road she's apparently never had an owner that smoked inside the car i would have gone crazy if it smelled like cigarettes in there lmao

she has bench seats in the front and back which are like two little sofas. i used to nap back there on breaks when i was still working at a studio.

she has no airbags and you have to tighten the seatbelts yourself. there's an over the shoulder belt and separate waist belt. the passenger shoulder belt you gotta tug on after clicking it bc sometimes it comes loose on its own 😭 she is a death machine with no crumple zone so if i crash i will die 👍🏾 but I'm a very cautious driver and i don't even drive that much sooo IT'S FINE

she is very low tech besides the EFI and if there's ever an engine problem u can literally just look under the hood and mess with stuff until it's fixed. it's very spacious in there with a lot of room to poke around. cars in the 70s were made to last and because they are still so beloved to this day there's endless info online from enthusiasts about fixing stuff that pops up. some companies are still making new parts for classics so we don't have to dig through junkyards when we need replacements... unless u want to ofc, the hunt can be fun too LOL

i get people waving me down daily to ask me what year she is and tell me they used to have a Nova when they were younger or knew someone that did and how much they loved them and IDK IT'S SWEET!! ppl are always so happy to see her......... the antithesis of the cybertruck

thanks for reading here's some thirst traps

[snap-oversteer]

What engine does Drift have? V6 LS my good bot. No I'm not saying this because it's small to fuel my short Drift propaganda, stop that—

Anyways, LS engines don't use overhead cams, it reduces the total height of the block and has aluminium castings and that makes it lightweight. If Drift is a V6 then Rodimus is a V8. I know FOR SURE Rodimus sounds like a V8. No, DOWN with your V10/12 thoughts, he's a V8 because I said so. Okay /perhaps/ a V10 but not a V12

[autotopic]

In almost all cases, manufacturers who choose to equip their cars with a V8 engine do so knowingly and deliberately. After all, such engines represent the first big step in crossing over a threshold to where performance becomes the sole focus; efficiency and economy are often not even invited as guests for a ride-along in the back seat.

With a quick glance at the back mirror, those pesky 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines begin to disappear into the horizon. Then, with the proverbial “pedal-to-the-medal”, the V8 power plant unanimously declares “all-in” with a loud roar – because this journey is all about thrill-seeking and checking things off the bucket list.

While high-performance V8 engines have normally been reserved for exotics – and muscle cars, in the more distant past – its application has been seen more in the mainstream these days. With the proliferation of automotive technologies, the V8 engine has become a gateway into the world of attainable supercar performance; each new engine is better than the one before it.

Here’s the shortlist of 10 such engines:

Ferrari F106, Dodge Supercharged Hemi, BMW S63, Lexus 2UR-GSE, Ferrari F136, McLaren M838T / M840T, GM Small Block LT1/LT2, Audi 4.2L FSI, Mercedes-AMG M178, Ford ‘Voodoo’ Flat-Plane

[1971chevynova]

About.

Sugar. 53 y/o. She/her.

1971 Chevrolet Nova living in Portland, Oregon. 350 small block V8.

Interests.

Ethanol free gasoline. Driving. Shady parking spots. Smooth roads. Travel.

No.

Teslas. Cop cars. Speed limits. Ice. Sharp turns. Parallel parking. Pot holes.

[thedoze1223]

My project car, 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook custom. Chopped, shaved, lowered, nosed, decked, frenched headlights, floating grill, custom metal work, lake pipes, small block Chevy V8. More to come.

[skybrushus]

Lyra signaled and then turned right off of Sea Stallion Drive in my Royal Equestria Security Forces (RESF) dreamscape. Bon Bon routinely checked the car's navigation system and watched through car's window right side window as the character of the city change before her eyes.

As they drove away from main downtown thoroughfare of Ft. Trotterdale they left behind swanky shops, upscale restaurants, and fashionable new apartments and townhouses tailored to the young business executives. Just a couple blocks further and they were passing through older working class neighborhoods. Beyond them lay the older apartments, shops, cafes, and dormitories that surrounded the university. Journeying further brought them into a vast sprawling maze of light industrial, truck yards,warehouses, and eventually the commercial docks of the city. It was around 7pm but being it was summertime there was still a far bit light in the sky as Celestia had not entirely relinquished her reign for the day.

There final destination was small, dingy, two-story office building that was probably 60 years old and hadn't seen a fresh coat of paint in 20. Decades of diesel smoke, factory emission, tropical sun, rain, and general neglect had left the building's exterior color rather indeterminate.

Normally during the day this area was abuzz with activity, but it was the early evening on a Friday and most businesses, and their workers, were now closed and vacated. Only one window at their destination showed any light and possible occupancy. Lyra pulled around to the back employee parking area. Letting the car coast to lessen the rumble of its V8. There was only one other vehicle parked in the covered parking area. Bon Bon squinted at license plate on the squat, subcompact. Like the building it was parked under, Ft. Trotterdale's climate had not been kind to its. Faded red paint, speckles of rust on the body panels, and sun bleached plastic trim told the story of its daily toils.

Bon Bon checked a note on her phone and looked at the license plate again. "Yep. That's Fast Talk's current car. Lyra shut the engine off looked over at her partner. "Well now that we've found him lets pay him a visit. What passes for the cleaning service isn't suppose to show up until 9pm. That should give us a chance to have a nice chat with him!"

As they exited the vehicle Bon Bon reached down under the back seat and pulled out short barrel, 12ga, pump-action shotgun from its locking, concealed rack. Calling it a sawed off would disrespectful of the care that had gone into modifying and customizing it. Quietly her and Lyra closed the car's doors. As they did the car's paint scheme seemed to shimmer for just an instant as the vehicle's security wards activated.

Both were amused to find that the physical lock and the supposed security wards for Employees Only stairwell were inactive. Before entering the stairwell both mares pulled their RESF badges out and hung them from their belts. Then each they donned a pair of wraparound glasses that shimmered as several wards on them went live.

They'd dealt with Fast Talk numerous times and the stallion was mostly bluster. However some of the company he associated with were another matter. So out of an abundance of caution Bon Bon went first. Slowly and quietly she ascended the stairs while keeping the shotgun in a low ready position. At the top of the stairway a fluorescent light fixture flickered spastically. Carefully the earth pony peeked around the corner and let her eyes sweep over the hallway. The glasses showed no signs of camouflaged individuals or wards. Although the door knob of office in question did sparkled with a low grade form of ward. Bon Bon used her right hand to make series of signals to Lyra.

Thumbs up. Hallway is clear. Cupping her hand and making a series rotating motions followed by a wiggling of the fingers. Door is closed. Probably locked. Is warded.

The two mares softly treaded up to the door. From under it a thin sliver of light leaked out and the muffled sounds of a radio broadcasting some sporting event could be heard coming from within. Lyra knelt down next to the door knob and gently placed a one-use paper ward breaker on the door next to the knob. The mint green unicorn thumbed the safety off of her pistol and looked up at Bon Bon who carefully pushed the cross bolt safety off on her shotgun. Then the earth pony nodded her head.

Lyra's horn glowed softly and a slim force wall appeared in front of her. Then for a second her horn flared as it triggered the ward breaker. In an instant the both mares heard sharp, loud CRACK as the ward on the door and the physical lock broke. Before the sound had even subsided Lyra had turned the door knob and was heading into the office with Bon Bon bringing up the rear. Sitting behind a battered office desk and looking up suddenly from some paperwork was a wiry, slightly feral looking earth pony stallion. His left hand quickly moved toward but then moved even quicker away from the battered .41 magnum revolver sitting on top of the desk when he saw the muzzle of the 12ga pointed at him. Slowly he raised both his hands with the palms out.

Lyra quickly swept the corners of the room with her 9mm before snatching the revolver off the desk. Through all of this the muzzle of Bon Bon's 12ga never wavered from the stallion's chest. Lyra dropped her force wall and then used her horn to close the door to office behind them. Then she used her horn to magically pull all of the drawers open except one that was locked. Coming around the desk the unicorn did a quick visual inspection. Satisfied she smiled and finally addressed the stallion who'd remained silent through all of this.

"Fast Talk! Buddy! How have you been! We've been looking all over for you!"

The dappled violet stallion kept his hands up as he smiled weakly at her. "Um. Ladies! Good evening! What an unexpected surprise! I didn't expect to be meeting you tonight!"

Bon Bon lowered the shotgun muzzle but returned it to the low ready position. "Well now you have." The ivory white mare grumbled.

The stallion giggled nervously.

[forgeline]

Mean Mug.  The amazing "Mean Mug" 1956 Ford F100 was built by the team at Nostalgia Hot Rods and debuted in the FiTech booth, at the 2023 SEMA Show, where it won the AMD Garage Ford Truck of the Year award. It's powered by a 427ci FiTech-fuel injected Ford Performance small block V8 and rides on a custom Nostalgia Hot Rods-built chassis with air-ride suspension, Wilwood disc brakes, 245/30ZR20 & 285/30ZR22 Michelin tires, and 20x8.5/22x11 Forgeline forged three piece HL3X wheels finished with Satin Bronze centers & Polished outers! See more at: https://forgeline.com/customer-gallery/nostalgia-hot-rods

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[yz]

1972 Plymouth Road Runner with a 5.2L small block V8 (318 cu. in.). Ashland car show, September 2024.

Fujifilm X-T50 with XF 23mm f/2.0 lens.

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, 1983. The 4th generation Monte Carlo saw the reintroduction of the SS variant that had been discontinued in 1971. The new SS was powered by a 175hp 305ci small block V8 with the F41 suspension package and model-specific wheels and tires.

[diabolus1exmachina]

Aria FXE 

America is due for a legitimate competitor to the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren, and you’ve never heard of the company that says it is the one to take on those storied brands with an all-wheel drive hybrid-electric 1,150-horsepower. It is the Aria Group, an industrial supplier best known for the high quality of the carbon fiber bodywork it provides Singer for that company’s amazing Porsche 911 builds.Aria will take on the world with the FXE, which  use a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine  from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Aria claims 720 horsepower for the engine, but that may have been an early estimate, because Chevrolet announced the ZR1 at 755 horsepower. The small block will drive the rear wheels through an 8-speed sequential transaxle, surely from one of the usual suspects in the racing/supercar community such as Xtrac, Hewland, or Graziano.The FXE enjoys another 540 horsepower from the twin electric motors driving the front wheels, which also provide all-wheel drive and regenerative braking to recapture energy. This is powered by a 10 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack (about the same capacity as that in the upgraded BMW i8).

Together, they accelerate the FXE to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and to a top speed of 220 mph.

A less expensive FE model will use a naturally aspirated version of the gas engine driving the rear wheels, with no electric motors on the front axle.

In either configuration, Aria’s cars will be a technological tour de force, employing patented new techniques for fabricating its carbon fiber chassis and 3D printing to create various titanium and aluminum parts.

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1964 Chevrolet Cheetah

Also known as ‘Killer Cobra’

The 1964 Chevrolet Cheetah – a name that evokes both exhilaration and trepidation, whispered in hushed tones as “the Killer Cobra.” This ferocious feline wasn’t your average Corvette; it was a fire-breathing, lightweight monster built to slay Ford’s Shelby Cobra on the racetrack, and its story is as wild as its performance.

Born from Rivalry:

In the early 1960s, the Cobra was tearing up tracks and stealing headlines. Chevrolet couldn’t stand the sting of defeat, so they turned to Bill Thomas, a legendary Corvette expert with a reputation for tinkering. Thomas’ mandate was simple: build a car that could devour Cobras whole.

Unleashing the Beast:

The Cheetah was a radical departure from the curvy Corvette. Forget rounded fenders; this beast was all sharp angles and aerodynamic efficiency. A lightweight fiberglass body clothed a modified Corvette chassis, powered by a monstrous 375-horsepower small-block V8. Independent suspension and NASCAR-inspired brakes promised razor-sharp handling and brutal stopping power.

Taming the Cat:

But the Cheetah was a fickle beast. Its lightweight construction and raw power made it unforgiving at the limit. Steering was twitchy, and the unforgiving suspension demanded a skilled hand on the wheel. This wasn’t a car for Sunday drives; it was a high-wire act on four wheels, reserved for experienced racers with nerves of steel.

A Taste of Victory:

Despite its wild temperament, the Cheetah tasted victory. A few privateer teams managed to outmaneuver and outrun Cobras on smaller tracks, proving Thomas’ concept had merit. But factory support fizzled out due to high costs and safety concerns, and only 25 Cheetahs were ever built.

Leaving a Legacy:

The Cheetah’s life was short, but its impact is undeniable. It proved that American manufacturers could build serious race cars to rival the best Europe had to offer. It pushed the boundaries of design and performance, even if it wasn’t always easy to control. And it cemented Bill Thomas’ reputation as a master car builder with a penchant for the audacious.

More Than a Machine:

Today, the Chevrolet Cheetah is a coveted collector’s item, a piece of automotive history frozen in time. Owning one is like owning a piece of racing DNA, a reminder of a time when cars were raw, brutal, and exhilarating. The “Killer Cobra” might have a reputation for being untamable, but for those brave enough to handle it, it offers an unmatched experience, a chance to dance with a legend on four wheels.

So, the next time you hear the name “Cheetah,” remember it’s not just a car. It’s a roar of defiance, a testament to innovation, and a reminder that sometimes, the greatest rewards come from taming the wildest beasts. Remember, the Cheetah might be gone, but its spirit lives on, a fire-breathing phantom on the racetracks of our imagination.

[lothlorienlover]

The Zora Arkus-Duntov 327 HEMI Prototype: The Corvette Engine That Could Have Been

In the 1960s, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the legendary "Father of the Corvette," envisioned pushing the limits of Chevrolet’s small-block V8 engine. One of his most fascinating experiments was the creation of the 327 HEMI prototype engine—a high-revving powerhouse that showcased his innovative spirit and commitment to performance.

-A Revolutionary Design-

The prototype was based on Chevrolet's already impressive 327 cubic inch small-block V8, but with a twist: hemispherical combustion chambers. Inspired by Chrysler's success with their HEMI engines, Duntov sought to combine the HEMI head’s efficiency and power potential with the compact and lightweight Chevy small-block.

The result was a hybrid of sorts, using aluminum hemispherical heads designed by Duntov himself. This setup promised better airflow and higher compression ratios, which could dramatically increase power output while maintaining reliability.

-Impressive Performance on Paper-

The 327 HEMI prototype was never officially rated, but engineers believed it could produce well over 400 horsepower with the right tuning. This would have made it a serious contender in the high-performance world of the mid-1960s, potentially rivaling engines like Chrysler's 426 HEMI and Ford’s 427 SOHC.

-Why It Didn’t Make Production-

Despite its potential, the 327 HEMI was never mass-produced. The primary reason was cost. The complex hemispherical head design was more expensive to manufacture compared to traditional small-block heads, and Chevrolet wasn’t ready to invest in such an ambitious project at the time. Additionally, General Motors’ corporate policy in the mid-1960s limited engine displacement and horsepower for regular production vehicles, which further constrained the engine’s development.

-A Legacy of Innovation-

Though it never made it to the production line, the 327 HEMI prototype was a testament to Duntov’s unrelenting pursuit of performance. His willingness to push boundaries and experiment with unconventional ideas laid the groundwork for the Corvette’s evolution into a world-class sports car.

-A Rare Piece of History-

Today, the 327 HEMI prototype is a fascinating footnote in Chevrolet and Corvette history. It’s a reminder of a time when engineers like Duntov were given the freedom to dream big and explore the limits of what was possible in American performance engineering.

#ZoraArkusDuntov#327HEMI#CorvetteHistory#ChevySmallBlock#AutomotiveInnovation

The Zora Arkus-Duntov 327 HEMI prototype may have been a "what if," but its story embodies the bold creativity that defined the golden age of American muscle and performance. It’s a piece of automotive history that will always fuel the imagination of car enthusiasts.

[t-top-apologist]

There are combinations in this world that we're just fated to work. Beer and pretzels. Houndstooth patterns and your grandmother. Laws against fireworks and driving across state lines to buy enough colorfully named explosives to level multiple city halls. I've said this before, but chief among these beautiful combinations is "Little Car, Big Motor."

We've all heard the jokes about the Dodge Viper just being a spicy Miata. This is mainly because Ken Saward designed both the Viper and the NB Miata, but also, I would posit, pulls from a much deeper truth: Small, rounded cars originally fitted with 4 cylinder engines deserve to instead be fitted with large displacement engines wielding the sort of horsepower usually reserved for large cargo craft or youtubers who only speak Billet Parts.

Obviously you can claim that the Miata/Viper connection is evidence enough, but really we should be looking at the Shelby Cobra, whose legacy the Viper sought to uphold, like a youngster lighting firecrackers for his uncle who no longer possesses the fingers to do so.

The Shelby Cobra, another small rounded car that started out as a british AC Cobra before Carroll Shelby started stabbing Ford V8s into it, is in my opinion the archetype of small car big engine. Sure, later on the American muscle car put big blocks into small cars, reaching the peak of sport performance with the factory V8 Gremlin, but we can't expect the humble rounded british lines of the AC Ace (now with added Ford FE) to match the Gremlin's sophisticated styling and handling, can we?

One could even say that, with Chrysler's acquisition of AMC, one should ignore Shelby in favor of crowning the Viper as successor to the V8 Gremlin. The 2nd Gen even had a liftback hatch. One could also get rocks thrown at oneself by irate owners at local car meets. I digress.

Where were we now? Oh yes, small car big engine. I'd venture to say that, despite the "haters" who said I "couldn't do it" and that they were "going to call in a noise complaint" my Honda Fit Triton V10 swap meets all the requirements of Small Car Rounded Lines Big Engine, therefore earning me Carrolls blessing. If I could only get that for my mid engine Odyssey concept. It's basically a GT40 with sliding doors if you squint and turn around to look the other way.