LS/LSX ENGINES

The LS engine family officially represents the Third (Gen III) and Fourth (Gen IV) generations of the General Motors small block V8 family debuting in 1997.

"LS" does not officially stand for anything.  It is a Regular Production Option (RPO) code, which is simply an internal GM code used for tracking vehicle options and parts content. When the third-generation small block debuted, GM assigned it the option code LS1. Over time, enthusiasts adopted "LS" as a catch-all name for the entire generation of engines.

As of 2026, there are zero mass-production cars or trucks with LS designations.

LS consists of lightweight, production small-block V8 engines used in cars and trucks. The LSX is an ultra-strong, heavy-duty cast-iron race block not used in production but for specific high-output crate engine family designs meant for performance and to handle massive horsepower and extreme boost.

LS engines are popular because they offer a rare combination of small physical size, light weight, low cost, and massive horsepower potential. The LS family has powered millions of GM cars and trucks, making them exceptionally easy to find and modify.

The best opportunity for serious boost lies with the LSX376 -B15 (PN-19434412) as it is prepared to handle 15lbs of boost out of the crate.

Yes, you can put an LS crate engine into a classic car. It is one of the most popular restomod upgrades to complete. With most all the supporting components available for many installs make this possible with only specific needs changed from the vehicle side, in example fuel systems, motor mounts, and maybe a little custom wiring to complete the unique installs.

Calling a pushrod internal combustion engine "dinosaur technology" is a colloquial insult meaning it is old, heavy, and obsolete compared to overhead cam (OHC) engines. It is not literally true because pushrod valvetrains remain a highly efficient, compact, and continuously evolving engineering choice, still competitive today and not an archaic relic.

There were no production vehicles that received the LSX engine. However, the drag racing COPO style Camaro's received a super charged version and the naturally aspirated 427cubic inch version.

If a controls kit is purchased with the LS crate engine, calibrations are supplied for the most robust situation, however unique regions may require different calibration work to achieve optimal performance in those special circumstances.