Every Generation of General Motors LS Engine Ranked Worst to Best

4. LS1 – “The One That Started It All”

This was the OG LS engine, launching in the '97 C5 Corvette. At the time, 345 hp from a 5.7L V8? Mind-blowing. It also dropped into F-body Camaros and Firebirds with slightly less power but lots of attitude.

Nowadays? It’s old tech, but still solid. Easy to mod, dirt cheap at the junkyard, and a great starter engine for your first swap. Just don’t expect it to take 30 psi of boost like it’s nothing — that’s not its thing.