‘LS1Tech’ Look Back at 2021: Some Things Never Change!
While 2021 was hardly a return to normal, it still wound up being pretty solid for fans of good old GM V8 power and LS1Tech residents!
As we here at LS1Tech collectively hold our breath and hold steady looking for some normalization in the world, we can still take solace in the fact that the tradition of GM producing V8s.
Lots of things are changing in the world, and it’s hard to put a thumb on where we’re going sometimes. Even GM threw us a handful of curveballs and change-ups. Frankly, we don’t blame you if you lost track.
So, let’s take a look back at all the fun stuff we witnessed here on LS1Tech over the 2021 Calendar year.
#3: Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R, GTLM: Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor, Nicky Catsburg
New GM Logo Signals Change
Right off the bat, GM hit us with a logo change. Though the logo itself isn’t what’s scary to the ordinary V8 fan, the meaning behind it is. This was only the fifth time GM has changed their logo since 1908, and it’s symbolic of their turn towards an electric vehicle future. GM global chief marketing officer Deborah Wahl said that their goal is to put every person in an EV. Furthermore, GM announced that they plan to sell only electric vehicles by the year 2035.
Now, take no issues with EVs, but we don’t want to lose our beloved V8s. Luckily, GM has us covered on that too.
Biggest Baddest Crate Engine of Them All Really Marks the Chaos of 2021
Just when it seemed like we were losing GM’s interest in V8s, they hit us with a surprise uppercut to prove they can make EVs and V8s simultaneously. The ZZ632/1000 big block crate engine is the highest horsepower crate engine Chevrolet has ever offered. It makes a whopping 1,000 horsepower and 876 pound-feet of torque on pump gas.
To say this came from left field is an understatement. What’s more insane is that Chevy just kind of dropped it on us. One day it was announced, and seemingly the very next, we were staring the 632 cubic-inch monster down at SEMA in the Hoonigan third-gen Camaro.
For the low price of just $37,000 (for now), you too could have a factory 1,000 horsepower big block.
V8 Powered Cars Still Sold Like Hot Cakes
In March, GM announced that the price of the C8 Corvette by $1,000 across the board. However, that didn’t stop people from putting their orders in. All 2021 C8 Corvettes had been spoken for over three months sooner than Chevrolet had anticipated by April. Unfortunately, many of these folks will wind up getting 2022 model year cars as 2021 model year production was stopped in June. However, GM refused to state the specific reason and only clarified that it was not because of the worldwide semiconductor shortage.
On a lighter note, we got the uplifting news that the current version of the Camaro is going to hang out with us until 2026. Given that that’s nine years in advance of GM’s proposed total EV dedication, we can take solace in thinking they’ll like still come with V8s!
LS1Tech Users Breathe A Sigh of Relief as Folks Continue to LS Swap Everything
The most important thing we took away from 2021 is that you can not stop the runaway train that is an LS powerplant making its way into everything. We love it all: truck engines, junkyard swaps, LS Crate engine, turbo, naturally aspirated, or supercharged.
Whether the build is a gutted old Volvo with a twin-turbo truck engine, a 1,650 horsepower drag-ready LS-powered Honda Civic to dominate Texas 2K, or a California-legal LS3 in the perfect station wagon daily driver, we can not get enough of these swaps. So, please. Could you keep them coming?
We want to thank everyone for hanging around with us this year and wish you a happy and productive 2022. Let’s get some project cars running!
What was your favorite part of the year? Let us know on the LS1Tech Forum!
Photos: General Motors, Chevrolet, Michael Palmer, Braden Carlson
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