It would be easy to say (or write) that GM has made countless small-block engines over the years. But, it wouldn't be true, because GM has, in fact, been counting. Sort of.

On November 29, GM produced what they are calling their 100 millionth small-block engine, a 638hp, supercharged LS9 destined for the museum, instead of its natural habitat under the hood of the 200MPH-plus Corvette ZR1.

But they didn't claim it was their 100,000,000th small-block V-8. Surely, they have made tens of millions of those, but GM also included in its count 90-degree V-6 engines that share some parts and bore spacing with the small-block V-8. And they also include current and more recent generation V-8s (think: LT and LS) that certainly share lineage and bore spacing with the original 265-cu.in. V-8 from 1955 that we traditionally think of as the Chevrolet small-block, but not much else.

There are no parts shared or even compatible between today's all-aluminum, 376-cu.in. Gen-IV 430hp Corvette LS3 and that cast-iron 265-cu.in. V-8 from the 1955 Corvette. We're not saying that GM doesn't have a reason to be proud of an engine family that is nearly synonymous with American hot rodding. Today's V-8, after all, is enough to take a base Corvette to 180 MPH and still get mid-20s MPG on the highway.

But we do think that it's a bit of a stretch to claim such a milestone. Yet.

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