The short answer is no. Chevrolet’s LS family (Gen III/IV) uses a firing order of 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3, while the traditional Chevrolet Small-Block (SBC) V8 uses a firing order of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
What these engines are and how ignition is arranged
The SBC is the classic Chevrolet small-block that powered countless Chevrolets since the 1950s. It typically relied on a distributor-based ignition system in its older generations. The LS family, introduced in the late 1990s, moved to a coil-near-plug or coil-on-plug ignition setup and redesigned many internal architecture aspects to improve efficiency and emissions. This shift in ignition hardware goes hand in hand with the different firing order.
Firing orders by engine family
SBC firing order
Before listing the order, note that the cylinder numbering is standardized for this engine family and the firing order reflects the distribution of spark events across the two cylinder banks. The traditional SBC firing order is:
- 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
This sequence is common across many SBC configurations, especially those using a traditional distributor ignition system.
LS firing order
For the LS family, which uses coil-per-cylinder (no distributor in most configurations), the firing order is:
- 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
This arrangement is standard across Gen III/IV LS engines, including those with aluminum blocks and various displacement variations like 4.8L, 5.3L, 6.0L, and beyond.
Why the difference matters
The firing order is tied to camshaft timing, valve timing, and the ignition system layout. Swapping engines or attempting to reuse parts without matching the firing order can lead to misfires, poor running, or mechanical damage. With the LS’s coil-near-plug setup, the order 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 better aligns with the LS cam and cylinder layout, whereas the SBC’s distributor-based setup preserves the 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 sequence.
Bottom line
In practice, the LS and SBC do not share the same firing order. If you’re swapping engines, matching the firing order to the intended ignition architecture is essential for proper operation and performance.
Summary
No — the LS family uses 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3, while the Chevrolet Small-Block uses 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. This reflects the shift from distributor-based ignition to coil-per-cylinder in the LS design and has practical implications for engine timing, ignition wiring, and performance tuning.