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Read more about the article The Small-Block, from Soliloquy to Slander and Back, Corvette Power from C1 – C8, Part 7
Regression and Rebound, the '57 Ram Jet had multi-point injectors with 8 fuel injectors, the '82 Cross-Fire had single-point injection with 2 fuel injectors, and the dual overhead cam '90 ZR-1 had multi-point injection with 16 fuel injectors. Pictured: A 1958 Chevrolet Ram Jet Fuel Injection logo, a 1982 Corvette's Cross-Fire Injection logo, and a 1995 Corvette ZR-1 logo. Source media from Corvette Mike Midwest and Corvette Mike Anaheim
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The Small-Block, from Soliloquy to Slander and Back, Corvette Power from C1 – C8, Part 7

INTRODUCTION Stingray Sunset It’s said that Zora Arkus Duntov – the first Chief Engineer and "Godfather" of the Corvette – preferred the responsiveness of the lighter high-output “road circuit” oriented small-block Sting Rays to the heavier big-blocks.[1] He was after all a LeMans 1.1 liter (67 cubic inch) class winning driver for Porsche in ’54 and ‘55. As custodian of Ed Cole’s…

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December 9, 2019
Read more about the article Making it Through the Night . . . Corvette in the 70s, Corvette Power from C1 – C8, Part 6B
"Boss or Blutarsky" - Blutarsky [John Belushi’s character from the 1977 movie Animal House, set in 1962] would have certainly celebrated Mark Hamill’s larger-than-life customization of a 1973 Stingray in the 1978 movie Corvette Summer. Thanks to Frank Stefanko and his 1978 photograph of Springsteen on his '60 Corvette. Jez Stephens, 9/17/2019
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Making it Through the Night . . . Corvette in the 70s, Corvette Power from C1 – C8, Part 6B

Despite the amazing commercial success of Corvettes during the mid to late 70s – as our last article indicated – this decade was rough on America and its car industry. For many, these times were bleak. Due to the inflation set off by skyrocketing oil prices, cash from a summer job set on a dresser could lose 5-10% of its…

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September 17, 2019
Read more about the article Corvette in the 70s; Commercial Success!? Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 6A
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy-500 Pace Car with L82 220 horsepower engine. Pace-car decals not yet affixed. Pictures courtesy of Corvette Mike Midwest, in Burr Ridge, IL https://corvettemikemidwest.com/used-corvettes-for-sale/1978-corvette-pace-car/
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Corvette in the 70s; Commercial Success!? Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 6A

For a moment imagine a decade old body with fifteen year old bones that had lost a third of its quickness. Further, imagine doubling the price of this seemingly obsolete vehicle over a decade; 75% to keep up with rampant inflation and another 25% for good measure. Would sales of such a tired seemingly overpriced car be a runaway success?…

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August 29, 2019
Read more about the article The Setting of the Age of Aquarius, Corvette Power C1 to C8, Part 5
A Mojave Gold 1972 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro that borrowed Zora Arkus-Duntov's legendary LT-1 350 cubic inch solid lifter small-block V8 from the Corvette 1970-1972; this was the last solid lifter engine available and had to be discontinued due to "pass-by" noise legislation. Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
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The Setting of the Age of Aquarius, Corvette Power C1 to C8, Part 5

It’s the 70s that are remembered for lethargic vehicles, sapped by the onset of emission constraints. Certainly the horsepower bubble burst in the 70s. However, regulatory pressures were mounting well before the days of disco. Furthermore, automotive legislation went far beyond tailpipe emissions. In fact, the government began restricting potentially harmful fumes in the mid-60s and scrutiny of vehicle's safety,…

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August 6, 2019
Read more about the article Better is Bigger as Corvette Shares the Spotlight, Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 4
A Cortez Silver 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS with a LS6 454 cubic inch big-block V8 rated at 450 gross horsepower Pictures courtesy of Corvette Mike Midwest, in Burr Ridge, IL https://corvettemikemidwest.com/used-corvettes-for-sale/1970-chevrolet-chevelle-ss-rare-ls-coupe/
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Better is Bigger as Corvette Shares the Spotlight, Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 4

By 1970, the writing was on the wall. It was no longer a matter of if government regulation would restrain engine power, it was a question of when. Nevertheless Corvette’s big block 427 would have its stroke increased for the 1970 model-year, raising displacement to 454 cubic inches. Translating to 7.4 liters, the new big-block almost doubled the displacement of…

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July 31, 2019
Read more about the article Bruce’s Bauxite Big Block, Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 3
This 1970 McLaren M8D CanAm Racer still pushes limits as a vintage racer; its fuel injected alloy Chevrolet/McLaren 465 cubic inch V8 produces 700 horsepower. Photo courtesy of Mathews Collection
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Bruce’s Bauxite Big Block, Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 3

McLaren, Chevrolet, and Alloy Big-Blocks The summit of Corvette power – the "ZL1" that never appeared in sales brochures – was conceived as a crated V8 engine block for Can-Am racing. This aluminum Can-Am big-block was available through Vince Piggins and “Chevrolet Product Promotion Engineering” from the late sixties until the early seventies.[1] But in 1968, not just anyone could…

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July 26, 2019
Read more about the article That Ole Mountain was Made on Moonshine, Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 2
A 1967 Chevrolet L88 Coupe in Sunfire Yellow; 1 of only 20 factory L88 cars in 1967. Pic courtesy of Corvette Mike in Anaheim, CA where this car resides but is not for sale. https://corvettemike.com/used-corvettes-for-sale/1967-sunfire-yellow-l88-corvette-coupe/
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That Ole Mountain was Made on Moonshine, Corvette Power from C1 to C8, Part 2

The "gross power" of the big-block L88's modestyIntended for production class racing, Chevrolet’s peak power in the sixties was inconspicuously offered to the public in extremely limited quantities. Indeed, the top engine offering did not actually appear in sales brochures from 1967 to 1969.[0] And fewer than a thousand of these untamed L88 and ZL1 racing big blocks were produced.…

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July 18, 2019
Read more about the article The Legacy and Resurrection of Corvette Power, from C1 to C8, Part 1
This 1968 L88 Corvette was designed for “Off Road Applications,” according to brochures. Its 427 cubic inch racing engine was capable of over 500 gross horsepower. Pic courtesy of https://corvettemike.com/used-corvettes-for-sale/1968-silverstone-silver-corvette-l88-convertible/
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The Legacy and Resurrection of Corvette Power, from C1 to C8, Part 1

Could base C8 power rival the racing engines of yesterday and today?  Muscle car enthusiasts still reminisce about the sixties when Detroit’s rivalries introduced larger and more powerful engines year after year. Corvette reached its pinnacle in the late sixties. Fatefully, the seventies would see progressively restrictive regulation of emissions, noise, and fuel consumption sending horsepower trends into temporary regression.…

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July 13, 2019