Why the LS is the Greatest Engine

Availability

Because of an overabundance in the tuning community, there are kits available to cram any version of it into almost any car. From Miatas to Porsche 911s you can find someone who has done so many LS conversions they just made a kit out of it and started selling them. This is due to the fact that it’s easy means…

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It saves time!

When I worked a custom shop that built 1,000hp + motors it was eye-opening how much time was spent measuring, cutting, cleaning, customizing parts and running all over just to complete a build. Things are fairly simple with the LS when it comes to. When you save time you save…

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Money

This is one of the most economically viable swaps to do. LS engines are dirt cheap and are found in $1,000,000 supercars to championship winning drift cars and everything in between. They are very affordable swaps to do and very affordable motors to build. With the right tools and time, most guys can learn how to build an LS without much experience.

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Tuneability

Any power level you can desire from GM’s brilliant power plant has been done by someone already. A 10-minute google search can result in NA builds making massive power to turbocharged setups that push the performance envelope. You can make power Japanese cars dream about without breaking the bank or boosting.

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Reliability

Chevrolet’s V8 is a workhorse that will do what you ask of it long after other motors have given up. In Drifting: Rise of the V-8 several drivers attest to using stock LS3 or equivalents that improved their former motors. One competitor even goes as far as to say they ran an LS7 for an entire season and when it was stripped apart the mechanics said it looked like it hadn’t even been run.

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Weight

Despite what most people think an all aluminum LS is much lighter than you might think. “It will ruin the weight distribution” is often the argument. Most swaps I have seen add somewhere in the neighborhood of 100-200lbs, but gain over 150-200 horsepower. As a road racer, I would make that trade any day of the week.

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Torque

You simply can’t beat the torque curve of an engine like the LS. I have seen twin turbo builds putting out 800-900 ft lbs as low as 3200rpm. Not something you get out of other motors without spending big bucks. Torque is a great thing as it allows you flexibility in things like gear ratios and throttle response.

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