The fickle few out there will suggest I’ve chosen to write about the Chevy small block V8 just because it sits under the huge bonnet of my beloved 1991 Pontiac Trans Am.
Now I don’t need an invitation to wax lyrical about my pride and joy, but the fact is, the 350-cubic-inch motor is a legendary piece of engineering.
It’s one of the best known V8s in General Motors’ stable; it has a reputation for being very reliable (nothing’s gone wrong with mine — long may that continue, touch wood), and it’s also been used for a bunch of other applications, including in boats! But a boat anchor, it’s not. Heck, many consider it to be the best motor of the 20th century and you know I’m not about to argue otherwise.
The fact that it was extensively used across the GM range from 1955 until 2004 says it all. It was replaced by the LT (Generation II) and then the LS (Generation III) — a more modern, fuel-efficient and much more powerful engine.
Former GM president, Ed Cole, was the man credited with founding the small block (Generation I). He joined the carmaker in the early Forties and, along with Harry Barr, produced the highly acclaimed Cadillac OHV V8 in 1949.
The success of that saw Cole promoted to chief of engineering for Chevrolet. He set about working on the small block, which was first produced as a 256-cubic-inch (4.3-litre) engine, but it grew into the high-performance 350 by 1967 and was used in muscle cars such as the Camaro, Corvette and yep, the Firebird.
It was also the standard option on most Buicks, Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles with a four-barrel carburettor. It wasn’t until the Eighties that the 350 became fuel injected, by which time they also featured computer-controlled emission systems to keep them clean.
The 5.7-litre tuned port injection of the Nineties (that powers my GTA) was a torque monster. With a 4.0-inch bore and 3.48-inch stroke, it had 245 horses and more than 450Nm of torque on tap. A dab of the throttle and the rear wheels of any F or Y-Body would scream for their lives. Depending on the year and model of the car, the 350 could produce anywhere from 150 to 370bhp.
And if you have a hankering for tinkering, these small blocks are a dream to work on. They’re easy to modify, with a plethora of aftermarket accessories available such as high-performance intakes and exhaust components. Even though GM stopped producing the magical motor in 2004, it’s still manufactured by an aftermarket company in Mexico.
This means when mine gives up the ghost, I’ll just go ahead and stick a crate motor in there. Better yet, I’ll go with the supercharged LS9 instead. Imagine my third-gen with around 650bhp and over 800Nm of torque. Now, there’s a happy thought.
