Chevrolet Performance has quietly pulled the LS9 Long Block V8 from its lineup, and for a lot of Corvette fans, that one hurts. First reported by GM Authority, the supercharged 6.2-liter small block that made the C6 ZR1 what it was now shows up on the Chevrolet Performance website with a single word next to it: discontinued.
What Made the LS9 Special
It wasn’t just another small block. The LS9 ran a forged steel crankshaft, titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons inside a cast aluminum block with six-bolt cross-bolted main caps. The L92-style heads used titanium intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves, and the whole thing was happy spinning to 6,600 rpm while making 638 horsepower and 604 lb-ft of torque.
What the numbers don’t fully capture is why builders loved it. This was an engine Chevrolet designed to take boost and heat and keep going, which made it a go-to for high-end restomods and swap projects where reliability under pressure actually mattered. Finding that combination in a factory crate engine was rare, and people knew it.
What May Replace It
Chevrolet Performance has been pointing customers toward the LSX376-B15, though no official replacement announcement has been made. The B15 is a forced induction-focused block with forged internals rated for up to 15 psi of boost. Naturally aspirated it makes 473 horsepower and 444 lb-ft of torque, so there’s plenty of room to grow depending on what you bolt to it. It also ships without an intake manifold or accessories, which builders will either love or find mildly annoying depending on where they are in a project.
It’s a capable engine, but it’s a different animal than the LS9. Whether it fills that void for the community remains to be seen.
Something Big Is Coming
What makes the timing of all this more interesting is what Chevrolet Performance posted on Instagram earlier this month. A tight shot of a black textured intake manifold, hoses and clamps visible around it, with the caption: “Something BIG is coming.” Not much to go on, but it didn’t read like a tease for something small.
The size and layout in the image points toward a modern pushrod V8, and speculation has naturally drifted toward the 6.7-liter LS6 rumored for the upcoming C8 Corvette Grand Sport. GM hasn’t confirmed anything. But the LS9 going away right as a new engine teaser surfaces is the kind of timing that tends to mean something.
