By 1975, the legendary small-block, in its base form, produced only 165 HP. In a bid to reach compliance, many manufacturers began detuning their already existing powerplants, with General Motors being no exception.Īs a result, the 350 small-block’s output suffered. However, the 1970s brought about winds of change, which most notably included the introduction of legislation aimed at curbing environmental pollution. The storied small-block had reached 350 inches of displacement by the mid-1960s, at which time it had already reached near-iconic status. In the years following its release, the 265 cubic-inch V8 underwent a significant amount of revision, growing in displacement along the way. The introduction of this engine would drastically alter the trajectory of subsequent Corvette sales, even saving the fledgling sports car from a near-certain demise during its earliest days of production. Though initially equipped with a 150 horsepower inline-six, “Blue-Flame” engine, the Corvette began being offered with an optional 265 cubic-inch small-block V8 in 1955. Throughout the years, the Corvette has been powered by its fair share of memorable small-blocks. The 1992 LT1 would serve as a bridge between GM small-block development, past and present. This engine would ultimately carry the LT1 designation, and prove quite capable beneath the Corvette’s hood. However, the development of a new powerplant for the aging C4 Corvette was greenlighted nonetheless. However, those at the helm of GM ultimately decided to postpone the release of their fifth-generation Corvette, largely due to budgetary constraints of the day. By this time, the C4 Corvette had already weathered the 1980s, leaving many to wonder when the next generational divide might take place.

1992 LT1 Specifications and Technical Configurationsīy the early 1990s, talk had begun to center around the potential release of the fifth-generation Corvette.

Lt-1 cam 350