Firing Up – Recognizing Small-Block, Big-Block, and LS Engines

By Nick Licata

Every few months I feel it’s important to check in with our loyal readers to make sure we are staying on point with the kind of articles you like reading in this here magazine. Believe it or not, I go through every email sent in and listen to what you have to say when it comes to running tech articles on the subjects you want to learn about the most, while at the same time hopefully keeping you motivated to stay on top of your project.

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Over the years, I’ve gotten quite a few requests for more articles on small- and big-block engine builds, so we answered the call and dove into quite a few articles related to those engine platforms. With that said, we do our best to stay on top of the latest trends in engine builds, which due to their continued popularity, include quite a few LS engine swaps and builds.

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Our intention is to try and cover most every engine platform equally, but we must also keep our ear to the ground and cover what is happening with the many engine shops we work with while paying attention to what their customers are putting between the ’rails of their rides.

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Check it out: Firing Up – Decisions, Decisions

Today the LS platform is stronger than ever for obvious reasons, such as its ability to easily make big horsepower, deliver unmatched reliability, and for those who like taking their hot rods on long cruises they offer great fuel mileage.

With that said, the looks and unmatched strength of a big-block are undeniable, so those builds are continually on our radar. Of course, the small-block fraternity is about as hard-core as it gets as proven by the number of emails we get from the “mouse-motor mafia.” That group is very passionate about their favorite Chevy engine. I see you and hear you loud and clear.

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On the feature side, there are more Camaro owners than any other Chevy muscle car on the planet, but lately I’ve noticed a massive uptick in the number of Chevy IIs showing up—early and later models. For some reason the ’63-67 Novas seem to be coming out of the woodwork, and we are here for them. It’s a good bet that when the head honchos at GM recognized the need for a budget-friendly, no-frills commuter, they had no idea that their little econobox they came up with would possess the stamina and versatility to become a highly popular muscle car over a half-century later. The car’s willingness to take on just about any build style, ranging from Pro Touring, Pro Street, Day Two resto, gasser, and everything in between, continue to keep this mighty mite high priority on the “want list” for muscle car builders and owners alike.

So, as we dive deep into our fourth year in publication, let me know what you’d like to see more of in the pages of All Chevy Performance magazine and we’ll do our best to take care of your Chevy muscle car needs.

You in?

I want to hear from you! Send an Email to nlicata@inthegaragemedia.com and let me know which engine you’d like to see more tech tips on.

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