Tech & Auto
General Motors' 10 Most Reliable Engines Ever Built, Ranked
By JOE HINDY
396ci L78 TurboJet
Despite only being in a few Chevy models, such as the Sting Ray Corvette and Impala, the 396 cubic inch L78 TurboJet engine earned a reputation for reliability.
The engine put out 425 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 415 pound-foot of torque at 4,000 rpm. Chevy would use the L78 TurboJet from 1965 through 1970.
5.3L V8 Vortec 5300
The 5.3-liter V8 Vortec 5300 primarily powered the Chevy Silverado for many years. The 325 cubic-inch engine was considered reliable for most of its generations.
The engine was also used in other models like the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Many owners have reported a trouble-free life with the engine, but it did have occasional issues.
Pontiac 428
Pontiac had some genuinely outstanding engines in the late 1960s, like the 428, which was made from stronger steel alloys than its predecessors.
The incredibly reliable 428 was offered from 1967 to 1969 and was only in the Pontiac Firebird and GTO, but it did find its way into NASCAR vehicles.
Chevrolet LS9
Like the other LS engines, the LS9 is known for its durability and reliability. It's a 6.2-liter small-block engine initially built for the Chevy C7 Corvette ZR1.
Being handmade in the same plant as GM's racing motors likely meant there were no cut corners in production. The engine was rated for 638 horsepower and 604 lb-ft of torque.
Chevy LT1 Gen II V8
The Gen II LT1 V8 debuted with the 1992 Chevy Corvette. The engine was also used in the 1993 Firebird and Camaro and full-size cars like the Caprice.
The LT1 was among the first new-generation American muscle car engines, and one of the things it's known for is its reliability as one of the great engines from the 1990s.