LS1, GEN3 or 350?

[Jesterarts]

An interesting subject was brought to my atteching in the last few days.

What people refer to the Holden 5.7L engine found in modles from the VT Series II until the VZ Series I ended 31/12/05 I think. (GTS not included)

In the early days I used to call it the Gen3 but these days I alwasy refer to it as the LS1.

I have also heard others refer to is as a 350.

So, what do you call it... hmmm??

[minux]

LS1 or 346.

An ls1 IS NOT a 350.

[Jesterarts]

^^^ +1.

I'm 100% with you on that...

Though I like the idea that id you call your engine something enoughand get a bunch of people to agree it automatically true.

For example... as you may have noticed... i actually drive a e30 BMW with a 350ci LS1...

[EvoVIIIJDM]

its an LS1. simple. saw a vx ss yesterday with "350" plates. Gay. My plates have "346" in them.

[Wagon_Wheel]

I always hear ppl refer to them as 350 chevs, it bugs me to death.
I usually call them LS1's

[Tom_1569]

Gen3's or LS1's.... Does it really matter, arnt they both?

[BullittSV6]

I'm with you Jesterarts, I used to call them Gen 3's as well when I was 16 because that's what Holden called them but now I call them LS1's. I hear people refer to GM's 6.0L V8 range as Gen 4's as well, which Holden calls it themselves again, but we also call it LS2 and L98.

[Jesterarts]

Gen3's or LS1's.... Does it really matter, arnt they both?

Yes they are... I'm just curious which is the most common name given to this engine in our automotive community.

[Reaper]

Gen3 myself but that is only because it's what was on the badge. I don't really care either way what others call it.

Reaper

[Jecs]

non of the above.

call them 'genny'

[Johnsy]

I used to call my VZ an LS1... and i call my new car an LS3 but is it known as a gen5 also ?

[Jesterarts]

^^^ I dunno... PERSONALLY i don't call anything "Gen" post gen3.

Otherwsie we may aswell call the 5L a Gen0... lol

[stocky]

^^^ I dunno... PERSONALLY i don't call anything "Gen" post gen3.

Otherwsie we may aswell call the 5L a Gen0... lol

the gen name is a gm/chev thing. holden engines have nothing to do with that

LS1s and LS6 are gen 3. anything later is gen 4

[Jesterarts]

^^^ Cool, thanks for straightening that out!

[Reaper]

the gen name is a gm/chev thing. holden engines have nothing to do with that

LS1s and LS6 are gen 3. anything later is gen 4

Correct. In a nutshell:

Gen 1 = 1950's - early 1990's. They started at 265ci and had many capacities with the 327 and 350ci being most common.
Gen 2 = 1991? - 1997.
Gen 3 = 1997 - 2005. Complete re-design based on lessons learned from the Gen1 and 2. Many of the improvements were in ways the engine was manufactured + basic block architcture which (in theory) was much stronger.
Gen 4 = 2005 -. Technology improvements including provision for DOD.

Reaper

[Jesterarts]

^^^ Keeping note that those dates relate to the GM / chev base engines and not the 302 or 308's here... is that correct?

[Reaper]

^^^ Keeping note that those dates relate to the GM / chev base engines and not the 302 or 308's here... is that correct?

Correct. Nothing to do with Holden 308/304/253 engines. Other than a few chev engines found in early Monaro's and Hq's, Australia have only seen Gen 3 motors (Starting with the VTII) and Gen 4 motors. Holden never released a 302 motor although Chev did have one at one stage in America. Ford Australia did have a 302 V8.

The Small-Block's Timeline
'55: The small-block V-8 is introduced in '55 Chevrolets as a 265. This is the beginning of the Gen I.

'57: 1/8-inch bore increase raises displacement to 283ci; the Ramjet mechanical fuel-injection system was introduced, bringing horsepower to 283--1 hp/ci.

'62: Displacement increases to 327ci with a 4-inch bore and a 3.25-inch stroke. Ramjet fuel-injected versions are rated at 360hp.

'64: Cylinder head improvements (2.02-inch intake valves) bump the 327's highest horsepower rating to 375 with fuel injection.'67: A little-known option called Z28 is released for the Camaro only, which includes a high-revving 302ci small-block for competition in SCCA Trans Am road racing. A 350ci (5.7L) version (in the Camaro) debuts and will become the quintessential small-block variant.

'68: A Camaro Z28 wins the Trans Am championship.

'70: 350ci LT1 debuts in the Z28 Camaro and Corvette and is rated at 360/370hp respectively; 400ci small-block is offered--the largest-displacement small-block built to date.

'75: With fuel economy prevalent in consumers' minds, a more efficient 262ci small-block is introduced. This engine, offered in the small Chevrolet Monza, makes spark plug replacement next to impossible.

'78: V-6 engine based on small-block design introduced; it would become the Vortec V-6 truck engine more than a decade later.

'80: Last year for the 400 small-block, by now offered only in light-duty trucks.

'82: Fuel injection reintroduced with the Cross-Fire Injection system on Corvette and the redesigned (third-gen) Camaro Z28.

'85: Tuned-port fuel injection replaces Cross-Fire Injection, bringing in the modern era of electronically controlled, port-injected engines.

'86: Aluminum cylinder heads debut as standard equipment on Corvette; block changed to accept new single-piece rear main seal.

'87: Hydraulic roller lifters introduced on fuel injected engines.

'89: The H.O. 350 crate engine offers a ready-built performance engine from the factory, changing the way hot-rodders approach engine-building in the next decade.

'92: The LT1 engine in the Corvette introduces Gen II small-block design, which features reverse-flow cooling, revised cylinder head design, and crank-triggered optical distributor. The engine will later be used in Camaros and will become a favorite of police officers in '94-96 Caprices with a top speed of 140 mph.

'96: The Vortec V-8 engines are introduced in trucks, featuring cylinder heads with swirl-inducing combustion chamber design to increase power and torque.

'97: Gen III 5.7L LS1 small-block introduced with all-new Corvette, featuring all-new deep-skirt block casting with six-bolt mains, redesigned cylinder heads with symmetrical ports and combustion chambers, and coil-near-plug ignition system.

'99: Gen III-based Vortec V-8 engines introduced in GM trucks; displacements include 4.8L, 5.3L, and 6.0L.

'00: The Z06 debuts with the LS6 engine pumping out 385 hp.

'05: The Gen IV small-block is introduced 50 years after the original. LS2 and LS7 are part of this engine series.

'06: 7.0L LS7--introduced in Corvette ZO6--becomes the largest, most powerful small-block ever built.

--GM Powertrain

Reaper

[Emackulation]

Depends what the 5.7 actually was! Either a Holden Stroker or a Chev LS1

[Jesterarts]

I did say VT series II onwards...

[stocky]

yeah reaper i think the LT engines were gen II

[Troy711]

346
(10 characters)

[Astranomical]

These days, I call them an LS1, though I used to call it a Gen3, back in the day.

[Sabbath']

Usually just LS, if im refering to my car, or LS1 if im just generally speaking

[Pub247]

Correct. In a nutshell:

Gen 1 = 1950's - early 1990's. They started at 265ci and had many capacities with the 327 and 350ci being most common.
Gen 2 = 1991? - 1997.
Gen 3 = 1997 - 2005. Complete re-design based on lessons learned from the Gen1 and 2. Many of the improvements were in ways the engine was manufactured + basic block architcture which (in theory) was much stronger.
Gen 4 = 2005 -. Technology improvements including provision for DOD.

Reaper

LOl in theory yeah we threw out 14 ls1 blocks last week because of cracks in bores we still got another pallet sitting there with cracks out of over 20 blocks we only ended up with 8 good ones

[VZTHUNDER]

its a 346... i call it an ls1
the birdwood motor musuem says its a 350 on the info stand next to it tho :S