GM’s New V8s Give The Silverado And Sierra A Serious Power Boost
by AutoExpert | 21 September, 2026
GM is giving its full-size pickups some new muscle for 2027. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 are getting two new small-block V8s, and both engines bring more power and torque than the V8s they replace.
The new engines carry the L76 and L78 codes. They first appeared in the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport, which became the first GM vehicle to use the company’s sixth-generation small-block V8. Now, the same engine family is heading into GM’s best-selling trucks.
GM kept some familiar hardware from the previous generation. The new V8s still use a 4.4-inch bore spacing, a single camshaft, and a two-valve-per-cylinder layout. But they get higher compression ratios, larger throttle bodies, and more displacement. The two engines measure 5.7 and 6.6 liters, or 350 and 400 cubic inches.
The entry-level L76 replaces the 5.3-liter EcoTec3. Its output rises from 355 hp to 402 hp, while torque jumps from 383 lb-ft to 428 lb-ft. GM says the Silverado can tow up to 13,700 lbs with this setup, which gives it a strong reason to choose the V8 if towing is high on the list.
The larger L78 replaces the 6.2-liter V8 and grows to 6.6 liters. It produces 481 hp and 501 lb-ft, up from 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. That puts the truck engine surprisingly close to the 6.7-liter LS6 used in the 2027 Corvette, although the Corvette version makes 535 hp.
GM hasn’t forgotten about the rest of the engine lineup, either. The 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder gets an extra 40 hp and 25 lb-ft, bringing its output to 350 hp and 455 lb-ft.
The 3.0-liter Duramax diesel keeps its 305 hp (309 PS) and 495 lb-ft (671 Nm), but GM has updated parts, including the pistons, turbo vanes, and fuel injector. The company says those changes should improve both performance and reliability.
GM hasn't said how fast the new V8-powered pickups will be. But with 481 hp available from the 6.6-liter, the Silverado and Sierra could be a lot quicker than their size suggests. They’ll still look like everyday work trucks, but there’s now a lot more going on under the hood.
