The L99 small-block V8 of 1994 came close to being the smallest V8 ever dropped into a Chevrolet, but it was a tad bigger than the 262 of 1975, by just 10 cc. The engine came in mid-cycle of ...

The Chevy Small Block V8 debuted in 1955 and revolutionized the auto industry. Over the decades, it was everything from sports cars to pickups.

The V8 is not all that radical, but it does have 11.0:1 pistons, a factory high-performance cam and valvetrain, a set of angle-plug heads and one rather rare and expensive '64 Rochester fuel injector.

To this effect, the 5.7-liter LS1 V8, out of a non-ZO6 C5 Corvette, is just about the perfect engine to turn this old Vega into a true-to-form restomod.