See other engines in this family
Chevrolet L14 specs: 307 ci (5.0L) 8-cylinder, 3.875 x 3.25 in (98.4 x 82.6 mm) bore and stroke. Rated 135-200 hp, 1968–1972.
The Chevrolet 307ci (L14) is oversquare — the 3.875" bore exceeds the 3.25" stroke by 19.2% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.25" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,400 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 1.754 is long by production standards — less side-load on the cylinder wall and gentler piston acceleration around TDC, the geometry that tolerates high RPM. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 38.4 ci (629 cc).
It is one of 4 engines in the Chevrolet 307ci family, all of them 307 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 5 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 135 to 200 hp across 1968–1972.
| Displacement | 307 ci / 5 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.875" |
| Stroke | 3.25" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Rod length | 5.7" |
| Rod ratio | 1.754 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.192 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 135–200 hp |
| Years | 1968–1972 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.192 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,250 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.754 — long — less side loading on the cylinder wall, favours high RPM |
| Displacement per cylinder | 38.4 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 200 hp | L14 |
| 1969 | 200 hp | L14 |
| 1970 | 200 hp | L14 |
| 1971 | 200 hp | L14 |
| 1972 | 135 hp | L14 |