The two production models of Chevrolet's 454 V8 engine, the LS5 and LS6, produced 360 and 450 horsepower, respectively. A third model of the 454, the LS7, was a crate engine and put out around 500 horsepower.
The Chevy 454 was developed for distribution in the company's 1970s line-up. As with other manufacturers during the muscle car era, General Motors was pushing for more raw power. The 454 was only available in the Camaro, Chevelle and Corvette models. In the early 1970s, the federal government began imposing emissions restrictions on new vehicles, realizing the impending threats that smog posed. In 1975, the Corvette line stopped using the 454, but it continued to be used in some GM heavy-duty trucks.
