What year did GM switch from LS to LT?
GM began migrating from the older LS-based small-block to the Gen V LT family in the 2014 model year, starting with the Corvette Stingray's LT1. The broader rollout across GM’s lineup followed in the ensuing years, as LT variants expanded and replaced many LS-era powerplants.
Context: What the LS and LT families mean
The LS family refers to GM’s Gen III/IV small-block engines that powered many vehicles for decades. In the mid-2010s, GM introduced the Gen V LT family, a redesigned line of small-blocks with new architecture and naming. The LT engines include variants such as LT1, LT2, LT4, and more, bringing updated technology, direct injection, and improved efficiency. The transition was gradual, with several models adopting LT engines at different times rather than a single, uniform switchover.
Timeline of the switch
Below are key milestones in GM’s shift from LS to LT across notable vehicles.
- 2014 model year — Corvette Stingray debuts with the LT1 6.2L V8, the first GM production car to use the Gen V LT small-block.
- 2015 model year — Corvette Z06 launches with the LT4 6.2L supercharged V8, expanding the LT family to a forced-induction variant.
- 2016 model year — Camaro SS adopts LT1-based V8, marking broader adoption of LT in a popular platform.
- 2020 model year — Corvette C8 Stingray introduces the LT2 6.2L V8, the next LT variant for the mid-engine Corvette.
Across subsequent years, GM continued integrating LT-based engines across more models, including trucks and SUVs, signaling a steady overall transition away from the LS-era designs in new vehicles.
Implications for enthusiasts
The shift to LT brings modern engineering features—enhanced injection, electronics, and performance tuning—while offering a familiar high-performance V8 experience. Enthusiasts noted that LT engines provided clearer lineage across GM’s performance lineup, even as some preferred the legacy character of the earlier LS engines. The transition also helps GM streamline manufacturing and maintenance with a more uniform small-block family.
Summary
The move from LS to LT began in the 2014 model year with the Corvette Stingray’s LT1, signaling GM’s adoption of the Gen V LT family. The rollout continued with the 2015 Z06 using LT4 and the 2016 Camaro SS with LT1, and advanced again in 2020 when the Corvette C8 adopted LT2. Since then, LT-based engines have become the dominant small-block option across GM’s lineup, marking a deliberate evolution away from the LS-era engines.
Is the 5.3 a LS or LT?
The 4.8L and the 5.3L are smaller truck versions of the LS1 and were designed to replace the 305 and the 350 in trucks. The 4.8L and 5.3L engines share the same Gen III LS-series engine block and heads (upper end) and therefore, most parts interchange freely between these engines and other variants in the LS family.
What year did GM start the LT engine?
1970
Chevrolet introduced the 350 cu in (5.7 L) LT-1 in 1970, making it available in both the Corvette and Camaro. It was an optional engine in the Corvette, and available as part of the high-performance ZR-1 option.
Are LT engines better than LS?
LT engines are not definitively "better" than LS engines; rather, they represent a more modern evolution with advantages in efficiency and technology, while LS engines are still excellent, particularly for those on a budget due to lower costs and a larger aftermarket. The LT family introduces advanced features like direct injection, which improves efficiency and power density, and features a redesigned cylinder head and other components for better airflow and performance. However, the increased complexity of LT engines, like direct injection, makes them more challenging and expensive for some modifications or swaps.
This video compares the design of the LS and LT engines: 54sNivlac57YouTube · Oct 30, 2020
LT engine advantages
- Direct Injection: This technology allows for more precise fuel delivery, higher compression ratios, and improved fuel efficiency and power output.
- Improved Cylinder Head Design: Modern LT engines feature a redesigned cylinder head with a more aggressive, "canted valve" design that improves airflow and combustion efficiency.
- Advanced Valvetrain: Variable Valve Timing (VVT) is standard on most LT engines, allowing the engine to continuously optimize performance for both low-end torque and high-end horsepower.
- Updated Components: LT engines have larger head bolts, modified rocker arms, and a larger camshaft compared to their LS counterparts, leading to a more robust and efficient valvetrain.
LS engine advantages
- Cost-Effective: LS engines are more affordable, both in the initial purchase and in aftermarket parts, making them a popular choice for budget-friendly builds.
- Vast Aftermarket Support: The LS platform has a longer history and a massive aftermarket, meaning a wider variety of parts are readily available.
- Simpler Technology: The simpler, port-injected design of most LS engines can be easier to work on for some builders, especially in engine swaps.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose an LT engine if you want the latest technology, better fuel efficiency, and are willing to invest more in a project, say Speedway Motors.
- Choose an LS engine if your priority is a lower budget, easier modification process, or access to the widest selection of aftermarket parts and information.
When did Chevy switch from LS to LT?
The third generation of Chevy V8s to bear the LT name—the first generation LT was built from 1970 to 1972, and the second from 1992 to 1997—it was a clean sheet design that took all the lessons learned from the LS's success and improved on them.
