Just looked over this months Hot Rod Magazine. Inside was coverage of the engine masters and othe cools things but what got my attention was a sweet AMC AMX! It was a twin turbo but then I saw the valve covers and I got pissed! Damn LS motors are in everything! I hate it when people put engines where they don't belong! My own car is included as it has a 502 BBC from the previous owner but I'm working on an Olds replacement as we speak! That AMX should have had stroked 401 or something but it's a damn chevy! Don't get me wrong the LS is a great design but just keep them in a chevy!!!!!!

 

Agreed.

 

Me too! I watch overhaulin, they put a LS in everything, olds, buick, Pontiac. west coast customs did a buick skylark numbers matching car, put a LS in it. I guess time is money, to much time to rebuild the right motor for car, let's drop in LS crate motor. I have seen at car show, a LS motor in 55 ford trucks ( no way, yes way) ! So I'm with you madmax442, chevy for chevy.

 

I've always been like this! It just drives me crazy! It's probably the worst in Fords! If there is a 32' 3 window coupe, you can just about figure it has a chevy in it!

 

Being fairly new to the sport I have to admit I don't know what an LS motor is. It's a chebby introduced in the 90's maybe? But I read a lot of rod magazines and that LS motor is in practically every article. What makes it so special?

 

It's reasonably cheap, it's available thru GMPD, and it has a warranty. Plus some folks think it's cool, or more to point they've been led to believe it's cool based on all the damn magazine articles and "hotrodding" (term used VERY loosely) TV shows.

I used to think 350 Chevy crates were the most boring engines on the planet, but I'm fast beginning to think the LS has taken that crown.

 

my uncle has a 32 3 window with a ford 302 crate engine he also has a 57 ranchero with a ford 302 crate motor, but he is a die hard ford guy

 

The LS Engine is not as cheap as throwing a Gen 1 smallblock at it but it is well supported by the aftermarket! I don't want people to think I hate them as they are powerful from the factory, can be built for all out race for massive power and very reliable as well! I just cannot stand it when Joe Blow just throws a Chevy at anything that rolls on 4 wheels!

 

Hats off to your uncle olds3442! I love Fords as well and a well built 302/Windsor engine is a great way to make power and they sounds awesome!

 

The Ls has many new advantages. I too cringed when i saw it in the amc thats just wrong on so many levels. For me i wouldnt mind putting an ls in my olds. Its a great engine has a lot of technology. I got a friend who bought a 5.3 ls from a junkyard with appx 150k he put on it some newer ls heads from another gm engine , ls6 cam and intake and 150 shot of nitrous to run low 11's on a bottom end that had 150k . He has been running that set up for years now. Its a great engine but i too hate seeing it in every thing but a gm.

 

Technology wise yes it is far superior but all to common for me. I'm a purist I guess!

 

i hated seeing the old 350 put in everything under the sun.now it's the ls.if it ain't stock its a crock!

 

Um, too late guys, the new LT series with DFI are already starting to show up.

 

I love the DFI in my 14' silverado but I'll never have that in my Olds!

 

Just wait until the next generation starts putting Tesla like electric drivetrains in them to hit sub 4 sec 0-60 times without a drop of dino-juice. Lots of shades of gray between stock orginal and modernizing a car, with that gap growing as techology improves. In the early days easy go-to power was the flathead ford, then the SBC, now the LS, next.........

Newer technology may help get younger folks interested in the hobby, which is a good thing. Hopefully enough will learn to appreciate original or traditional methods as well.

 

I got a good chuckle out of this thread on another forum:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/ls-p...ve-353658.html

 

...I do not mind the LS swaps...I get the engines that they swap out. I recently got a 307 HO motor complete, with 60,000 miles for 200$ because the seller was doing the LS swap. Keep em coming

 

Well said Hookem! I know if I was to do a real deal 32 Ford I would try and do it with a built Flatty! If not a Flathead then a nice Stroker Windsor! To me part of the build is the engineering of it! I like thinking about how one part or engine affects other parts/systems! I'm not an engineer but my squirrel cage is always turning!

 

If I bought an 80s H/O driver I'd leave the 307! If it blew I'd put a 350 in it but The LS should stay where it belongs......in a Chevy! Just MHO.

 

Lol Joe those LS Guys are right at each other's throats like some on here!

 

At least Max spelled Chevy correctly. I don't get the rivalry between enthusiasts for different GM divisions, they're all just cars, you can like them all, it's ok.

The LS is not a Chevrolet engine, it's a GM corporate engine. It is in Chevrolets, Cadillacs, and probably a Buick or two. I think it was in the last Pontiac GTOs. So, in my judgment, a GM corporate engine is ok to put in any GM as a replacement engine.

However, I never agree with replacing the original engine, except in a few rare circumstances. The engine is the soul of the car, and you should feel obligated to keep it running as long as you can under original power. Those rare circumstance include blown engine, buying a roller, and buying a V6 or a car worth very little (like a normal G body). Too many people want a "442" so they buy a 70-72 350 car, numbers matching, and drop some 455 in it, instead of doing the right thing and saving the coin for an actual 442.

Short version: I don't dislike LS swaps because they're a Chevy engine (they're not); I dislike them because it's removing the numbers matching engine from a perfectly good car.

 

I disagree with the coporate part! Yes they are corporation wide now but they came out first in the all new at the time 98' Chevy C-5 Vette! It was in the Camaro/Firebird next. I still believe it's a Chevy design!

 

"Originally Posted by ChevyTruckGuy
Yeah its hard to think in different term in making horse power. I don't have a clue with the LS engines. Just what I can find to read. I also realize its a truck but the extra HP when towing would be nice. I don't think 450-500 HP is unrealistic. So any advice or links to info is appreciated on building a nice tow rig motor.

Thanks Craig
If you going to tow you need torque. Horsepower being a function of RPM and torque requires more RPM to get the power. That means stiffer overall gearing to wind the engine up where it's making the needed (desired) power.

Since torque and RPM are relatives of power the truck solution to get the power without having to listen to an engine winding out at cruise speeds is to go with a high torque solution. The easiest way of doing that is more cubic inches and preference of getting those from longer strokes.

This begins to sound like a 454 ahead of a TH400 or 4L80 is the solution for a working truck. Bogie "

Huh. Do tell. Like a 455 Olds or large Cadillac.
Carbed, HEI
Simple, effective.

 

Well the 454 is a great engine but it's designed more for horses rather than torque like BOP 455s or Cadillac 472/500s.

 

Careful, if you look closely at your frame, it's drilled for both Olds and chevy frame mounts. At least my 72 did. Does that mean you have a chevy, or GM corporate frame?

 

I'm so tired of seeing LS's swapped into every damn thing in the car rags. If they weren't so damn cheap I'd cancel my subscriptions. Hot rodding is supposed to be about doing something different. Their is nothing different about doing exactly what everyone else is doing.

 

I agree 1000% Chadman!

As far as my frame goes I'd agree it is probably considered a corporate chassis as everyone got mostly the same thing plus or minus a few things

 

So if the brain trusts at GM had not killed our beloved Olds and built a modern 442, what would that engine be called? Would you swap it in older models?

Hummmmm

Craig

 

No I wouldn't unless they came out with a new pushrod/cammer engine that was worth a crap! I don't think the Aurora 4.0 was worth much so you can rule that out!

 

One only needs to look at the engines that GM used in the Pontiacs until their demise and lately in the V8 Buicks, to answer that question. I try not to let my tastes interfere with what others like in their cars.

 

I suppose it would have been some sort of an LS derivative. Just expanding the GM corporate engine argument.

 

97 vette

 

X2

What about every gm made car from the mid 80's to now ?
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't take a numbers matching 442,w30 or HO and rip the drive train out to drop in a ls motor but buying a beater cutlass with no drive train and a perfectly 4.8 08 with 80k in it for free won't find it's way into it

 

As far as building an old street rod as in 20's, 30's, or 40's the SBC is actually shorter front to back than a Ford. Generally can get more power for less than a Ford, and IMO its a better more reliable engine. And they fit better in these bodies. My Olds would never have anything but and Olds. The AMC should have had an original type AMC motor IMO. There are just certain cars that I personally think its just short of a sin to put a different make engne in it. I love all GM engines BOP, Chevy and the Cadillacs. They all made some killer motors. For our type of cars here I think they need to stay all Olds. But some customs are pretty nice with the LS motors. A policeman from my home town Lubbock, had a Cobra replica with a SBC, it was VERY nice. And it was fast, he wanted to trade me straight across for my Vette. Man i was tempted! The Cobra is one of my all time dream cars, but i had to turn him down.

 

If they built an oldsmobile today it probably would have looked similar to the recent Pontiac GTO but with a different front headlight a different taillight, same engine with oldsmobile insignia plastic engine covers and some cheap olds badging in the interior. And of course a 30,000 mile limited warranty for 45 grand plus tax tile and shipping. A real collector!

 

Sorry I meant 97 Vette!

I disagree on the SBC being more reliable than a sbf especially the roller engines. Those engines were and are pretty darn reliable! Yes the SBC is less money but keep a ford in a ford and a Chevy in a Chevy!

If my car came back from overhaulin without anything but an Olds in it I'd tell Chip Foose to take the car back and do it right!

If GM/Olds was still making cars now nobody would buy them! GM destroyed that division on purpose with cars like the Aurora an the rest of the front drive crap they produced IMO and they later destroyed Pontiac and sealed the deal with the Lackluster plain old ugly 03'-06' GTO. Any division that allows the Aztek to be produced should be shut down! It's also apparent that Buick will be next on the chopping block with their ugly designs an horrible nameplates! Just wait and see, the only divisions left will be Chevy and Cadillac!

 

I agree with not putting non whatever engine into a stock car. The shows i.e. O.H. and A-_ monkey are showing this is alright?

I bought some of the last generation (sorry for a slight on a slogan) Oldsmobiles and thought they were nice cars/suv I still own a 2004 Alero GLS coupe and would drag race any mid 80"s(so called performance Olds) and factory to factory car would be close depending on reaction time! And still get 34 miles to the gallon on the hwy.

Obviously it does not have the same panache, or V8 rumble.

Pat

 

It's called hot rodding,been going on since guys have been screwing with cars. Here's a very nice example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIdH...ature=youtu.be

 

Not trying to be an antagonist but I wonder how many of the posters so upset about the use of these motors have actually driven or been for a ride in a car with a proper LS swap?

Not everyone in the car hobby should be same and be worried about what color the paint dab was 50 years ago......

Some car guys like to improve the car and make it their own. The reason the LS is gaining popularity is because it's a proven, reliable, efficient motor that makes tons of power at a great value. As guys engineer these swaps in their garage, the aftermarket starts making products to help them, which gets more guys doing it. It's keeping this hobby alive.

I personally think all forms of the hobby are great. I have my "factory correct" W30 4-speed which I enjoy for what it is. But I also saved a 55 88 from the crusher and am building a custom with an LS2 and I am having a blast. For me it's way more fun and challenging than the resto stuff.

I think it's OK too if you simply don't like the concept of building an Olds with an LS in it, but do yourself a favor and find someone to take you for a spin. You won't regret it.

Lastly, if you even want to understand it, stop watching Overhaulin and go read some of the the build threads out there for these swaps. There's some really great stuff going on in garages all over the place, making these modern drive trains fit into just about any vehicle you can imagine.

It's not being done because it's simple or the cheap way out........

Oh, and I still love my W30 too.

 

Buick is immensely popular in China, where it is seen as a status symbol on he level of Cadillac.
They sell more of them over there than they do here - Buick sales in the US are just incidental gravy for GM.
They're not going anywhere.

- Eric