At first glance, this 1978 Chevy->ke199 Silverado->ke1787 looks like a nicely restored project truck and nothing more. First glances can often be wrong. With a second glance -- and third and forth... -- this Silverado is sporting something special beneath that beautiful bodywork.

Lurking under the hood is a brand-new, fourth-generation 5.3-liter, V-8 crate engine straight from General Motors->ke1024. However, the new small block is only part of an entire package GM is showcasing this year at SEMA->ke216: the E-ROD engine with the Connect and Cruise package.

The Connect and Cruise package includes many of the necessary bits to make an engine run, including all the emissions-friendly equipment to make it 50-state legal. The new 4L70-E transmission, control modules, wiring harnesses, fuel tank evaporative emissions canister and catalytic converters within the truck were all ordered with one part number.

GM currently has three E-ROD packages available: the 5.3-liter LC9 found in GM trucks and SUVs, the 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 normally found in the Camaro SS, and the supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V-8 straight from the Cadillac CTS-V.

The E-ROD engines are designed for such restoration projects as the ’78 K1500 Silverado. GM says they wanted to streamline the restoration process, making it easier for customers to build their dream vehicle without having to use third-party tuning.

The advantages for installing an E-ROD engine with the Connect and Cruise package in a project are evident. Even more so considering the 5.3-liter (327-cubic-inch) V-8 makes 320 horsepower, or roughly 80 more than the truck’s original 454 big block produced in 1978.

Cost is always a factor in restoration projects, but $7,750 seems like a sweet deal for such a reliable V-8 while the whole Connect and Cruise package starts at $12,017.

Click past the jump to read more on the 1978 Chevy Silverado E-ROD

1978 Chevy K1500 with E-Rod Connect and Cruise Kit

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 1978 Chevy K1500 with E-Rod Connect and Cruise Kit
  • Horsepower: 326
  • Torque: 335
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

1978 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 E-Rod

The fourth-generation 5.3-liter, V-8 makes 320 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. It is important to note the E-ROD systems don’t belong to the new-for-2014 EcoTec3 engine family.

The naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter, LS3 V-8 from the Camaro SS produces a respectable 430 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque. Cost increases slightly for the 6.2-liter to $9,706 for just the E-ROD engine. The complete Connect and Cruise package starts at $13,565.

The beastly LSA supercharged 6.2-liter, V-8 engine is what’s found in the Cadillac CTS-V. It produces 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque. With added power comes an added price tag, and the asking price for the LSA jumps to $15,938 for the engine or $21,696 for the Connect and Cruise package.