1992 — Gen II LT1 small-block
5.7 liters (350 cu. in.)
300 hp @ 4400 rpm, 340 hp @ 4000 rpm
The so-called Gen I small-block V-8 was getting old, so by 1992 the Corvette debuted with a wholly revised engine called the LT1. It met its design goal of producing 50 more horsepower than the outgoing L98, which was rated for 250 hp by 1991, and also proved more fuel efficient than the old small-block. Chief among the improvements were a new electronic ignition timing system called OptiSpark that measured crankshaft rotation to one-degree precision, a reverse-flow coolant setup that cooled the cylinder heads before the block, and a more compact design that allowed for a freer-flowing intake manifold with more precise port fuel injectors.
