The GM small-block V8 is one of the most iconic engines in the history of internal combustion. Its blend of performance, reliability, and value is simply unmatched, not to mention its customization potential that makes it such a popular crate engine.
Most of us can’t remember a world without GM small blocks; they seem like constants from the dawn of time. However, they did have a beginning, and they’re celebrating their 70th anniversary this year.
It all started in 1954 when Chevy introduced the first-ever small block in the Task Force pickup for the 1955 model year. Specifically, it was the Gen 1 265ci/4.3L V8 rated at 180 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Back then, the Chevy truck engine offerings were nicknamed Thriftmaster for the 3.9L I6, Jobmaster for the 4.3L I6, Taskmaster for the small-block V8s, and Loadmatser for the big blocks.
The “gentleman’s pickup,” as it was known at the time, was available with an industry-first fleetside design in the form of the Cameo Carrier. This would shape pickup truck design that endures to this day. A fleetside design and V8 under the hood made the Chevy Task Force ahead of its time.
The rest, as they say, is history. The small-block V8 has been a fixture of full-size GM pickup trucks ever since, spreading to a wide variety of other segments along the way, such as big sedans, sporty coupes and convertibles, rugged SUVs, and even family-hauling wagons.
Right now, 70 years after its introduction, a GM small block is the biggest and most powerful naturally aspirated available V8 in a pickup truck; the 6.2L V8 L87 available in the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500.
L87 V8
GM estimates that 113 million small blocks have been produced. Even with the dawn of the EV era, it appears that GM V8 excellence isn’t going away any time soon. General Motors invested $854 million to support the production of the sixth-generation small block in factories in New York and the Midwest. GM promises that “the Gen Six small block will showcase its strengths in power and efficiency.”
So, remember to say “Happy Birthday” the next time you start the small block in your garage.
Comments
Adding one more charter:
2024
Legacy of lift failures continues.
Awesome! Hope it lasts another 70 years.
NOTHING better. Interesting that the author comes in from the truck side, makes sense since gm has abandoned the engine that made them great except for our fullsize trucks. Seventy years strong.
5.2 V6 – please. forged crank & pistons.
The V8 engines today have only one thing in common with those of the past, just 8 cylinders. Today, there is no distributor, no cam powered fuel pump, no throttle linkage, no carburetor, etc, etc.
You missed many other parts that they share. BTW a 6.2 L V8 is not a “small block” anymore.
No points, no condenser
But the dimensions from center to center of the pistons has remained the same.
Am I the only one that noticed the picture of a 1972 C20 is the new square body not the
67-72 C/K pickup
Would look and sound great in Traverse!