After General Motors announced plans to eliminate tailpipe emissions by 2035, the gearhead world was left wondering if the current 5th-generation LT-series engines were the last in the legendary GM/Chevy small block V8 engine lineage.

But according to a press release late last week, it looks like the General is giving its small block V8 at least one more go-around with a new 6th generation.

Workers assemble engine blocks at General Motors Flint Engine Operations facility in Michigan
Workers assemble engine blocks at General Motors Flint Engine Operations facility in Michigan. (Image/Jeffrey Sauger for General Motors)

Though precise details on this new “small block V8” engine were scarce in the release, one number did stand out:

<Dr. Evil Voice>

854. Million. Dollars.

</Dr. Evil Voice>

That’s how much capital General Motors is investing into its manufacturing facilities to produce components for this new powerplant. GM says that money will go towards four main plants: Flint Engine Operations in Flint, MI; Bay City GPS in Bay City, MI; Defiance Operations in Defiance, OH; and Rochester Operations in Rochester, NY.

The news in the release was primarily centered around GM’s investment plans for this new V8, yet there are plenty of references to the General’s plans for electric vehicles too. Specifically, eight million dollars going to Defiance Operations for developing castings for its “future EV strategies” and 56 million dollars sent towards Rochester Operations for making battery pack cooling lines.

General Motors says these new 6th-gen. V8s are destined for its full size pickup trucks and SUVs, with no mention of the Corvette—which is particularly interesting after news of the new Corvette E-Ray hybrid recently trickled out.

Still, one has to wonder if this new small block V8 will share much with the LT and LS series engines that preceded it. The performance, reliability, and popularity of these engine families in both OE and swap applications has been a boon to the hotrodding community, so we’d be surprised if GM deviated much from that LS/LT recipe.

Got an LS or LT engine under your hood? You may also enjoy these resources:
* The Definitive Guide to LS Engine Specs and LS Engine Upgrades
* LS and LT Engine Reference Guide for the Gen. 3, Gen. 4 & Gen. 5 Engines
* LS Engine Swap Guide