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Here are your options when selecting from the gm family of power plant v8s
Starting from the newest is the ls series motor
THere is a major aftermarket for this series of motors, most parts are interchangable and they all respond very well to bolt ons
There is the ls1 350ci 5.7around 300 rwhp factory and with full bolt ons you can easily make around 400 throw in a nice little cam maybe some headwork and ur already onyour way to 500, this is all with stock internals mind you
these are found nearly everywhere. camaros several pontiacs, corvettes, and more. do a look up wiki has the full list.
ls2 is a 6.0 L engine bore and stroked ls1 and is about the same just a better starting point. No replacement for displacement. but starting almost at the 400rwhp is a defineite plus found in some corvettes and the 6.0 gtos specifically 05 and 06 i believe
ls3 is a rather new engine design in the new camaros and corvette
its a 6.2l and it sports new design heads that improve flow over older engines, These things make loads of power and are more preicey. There is less cheap aftermarket stuff for this one because the parts on it are hard to top without going super high end race parts.
ls6 is an ls1 with a top end kit, intake head and cam. it makes about 50 more than the ls1, and i believe it has a slightly different water jacket and revised block. These are found in corvettes. mainly
the ls7 are found in zo6s they are a 6l 427 all alluminom engine. Underratedly push around 500, with a crazy CR ratio of above 12 if memory serves, possibly as high as 13.1
These are super high horse applictation, and without lowering the compression or running water meth or race fuel are difficult to apply force induction, but when its done right, these will make 1000+ hp without even trying
ls9 are the ls3 with a "?paxton? charger? some kind of supercharger, non intercooled.
They make awesome power, but again expensive
Camaros
Some Vettes
caddilac ctsv
There is another series of gm engines still being produced that are often igrnored
the truck engines they have
There is the lq9 6.0 L exactly same as the ls2 only 200 lbs heavier and with a different intake, oil pan, and iron block making this thing ideal for HIGH application drag racing and making tons of power. A nice turbo can be bolted on, and make around 500hp for a very fair price 2500 silverados and other 2500 series trucks
lq4 is the same as above made slightly older and has a lwoer compresssion ratio. Better application for boost, slightly less power, and cheaper.
lm7 is a 5.3 L found in most chevy trucks. It is one of chevys most effecient bang for the bucks engines they have
They can be had for as cheap as 500 dollars complete and running. For the price of around 1500 inlcuding the engine these engines can make around 400rwhp thru a manual trans. This is the budget swap rebuild power maker. They are reliable and on stock internals with a proper tune, I'd say handle around 350-450 rwhp. Comp is sorta low, good for boosting. I'd recomend a magna charger or rear mount blower like the STS
They are awesome really trust me, I had one, with 0 problems under good maintencnce.
There is also an all aluminum lm7 but are harder to find.
LT1 is the generation of v8 that came before the ls from 92-97 or so. They are great designs just gm over thorught the whole thing and made it a little bit too complex.
This is what I'm running now.
They make awesome mid range torque and work amazingly well with boost due to the steel block and strong crank. The weak point are the cast pistons. a rebuilt 383 forged bore stroked lt1 with some head work can make upwards of 450 and with boost up to 800 with the right size snail.
They have a high CR of 10.5-1 and it uses reverse cooling system to help keep the heads cool, thus being able to run higher CR
they make around 275 RWhp and bolt ons usually puts them around 300rwp and 350tq
There are lots of kits out there to make these things run.
These are found in all the large gm cars, corvettes and camaros
There is also an lt4, which is an lt1 with a top end redo, better breathing ports, bigger valves, and a gm hotcam.
these make alot of pwoer around 350rwhp opposed to the rated 330
There is also an lt5, this is a 32Valve motor designed by lotus for the ZR1 Corvettes. Its 350 CI and thats about all that it has in common with the rest of the engines gm makes. Its a DOHC and makes upwards of 400 often around 500rwhp with minor mods. Its a golden power plant but hoenstly good luck finding one of these. Belongs in a museum
And of caorse prior to this is an l98
Earlier fuel injection of the 80s
The 350 CI TOOONNNNNSSS of low end torque, but the intake is very restrictive leaving the engine suffurcating past 4500 rpms.
There are special intakes you can get to make this engine strong. theyre cheap and can make good power with the right combos. These engines take a lot of planning so be weary. upon treading these waters.
and of coarse prior to this is the infamous SBC small block chevy
4 inch bore blocks come in either 4 bolt or 2 bolt main
there are a variety of strokes they come with and within the aftermarket get as big as 4.2in bore and 7 inch crank with clearencing these are around 409 CI
there is alot you can do with these, easy to make power and sound awesome. limitless in realiaty but if an application can be fitted with one of the above engines, you may find less simple things going wrong, and better reliability, how ever the abundinceies and simplisty of this engine make it a good choice for a beginner engine modder.
there is also the BBC big block chevy
396 427 454 502 and 572 and each of their variants.
these things are big heavy brutes that make loads of torque. Im talking some of these make upwards of 500 factory and the 572 making above 600 out the crate, only available from GMPP and some other engine builders, they can easily make 750 rwhp tq without even trying.
So there you have it.
Thats the gm v8 source.
They do have other engines here and there like the grandnational set up with the turbo v6 and a few v10s and their diesels, but the engines listed are the ones you will probably be working with.
I did this quickly so there are many spelling errors, and if any info is wrong, feel free to correct me. If you want more detail on any gm stuff just let me know.
ALSO
trans often used
Manual
tremec 5 speed
tko500 and 600 high power 5 speed
t56 found in camaros and vettes and a few others, most commonly used, great gear ratios aftermarket parts available and strong trans
there are other just those r pretty common
AUTO
700r4 or 4l60e pretty much the same basic auto trans avaialable
4l80e stronger version slightly diff ratios
th350 not many moving parts, can handle around up to 400 rwtq with full traction (this means major slicks perfect launch above 400 youll need some stronger parts)
th400 450--Infinate rwtq these things are incredible more moving parts thus more heat loss, but these things are very strong, slightly larger and still abundant. often in trucks. great drag trans and also can be converted to manual shift.
power glide- 2 speed trans. 17? moving parts? very effeceint 2 gears drag race trans
