Car enthusiasts are always looking for ways to get more power out of their engines. Sometimes, the idea of installing a forced induction device isn’t something they would prefer.
Instead, they would resort to getting an engine swap, which is arguably the more expensive route.
An LS swap is one of the most popular choices out there when it comes to upgrading an engine for several reasons.
What is an LS Engine?
To begin with, it’s useful to know what an “LS” engine is in a GM vehicle. “LS” doesn’t mean anything in particular一it’s simply a part of the factory code for engines. If your ride is equipped with a 4.8L, a 5.3L, or a 6.0L, you have one of the standard LS family engines. The interesting thing about these modular engines is that if, for example, you have a 4.8L and you want to upgrade, you can drop a 5.3L right in with no modifications. It’s plug and play and doesn’t even require any reprogramming of the PCM.
But upgrading to some of the larger LS engines requires more than a simple swap.
What Does an LS Swap Mean?
An LS engine swap is the process of replacing a vehicle’s stock engine with any LS engine from General Motors to improve horsepower output.
Benefits of Doing an LS Swap
When swapping a stock engine for a new one, you’ll probably hear car enthusiasts say that the LS engine is the best option. Here are some reasons why:
Affordable
High-power engines don’t come cheap. The good news is that an LS engine is known to be an exception for lucrative costs that can go for $10,000 or more. You can get an LS engine at a starting price of $2,000.
Accessible
General Motors has produced millions of vehicles with LS engines since their introduction in 1997.
The LS engine family has been used in a wide range of vehicles, including sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado, and SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade.
While it’s difficult to provide an exact number, it’s safe to say that over 10 million GM vehicles have been equipped with LS engines over the years. Looking for an LS engine is pretty easy, especially a used one.
You’ll find at least one LS engine in a junkyard in your area or from used cars and trucks that have been sitting in the lot for a while.
High Power Output
If you spend enough time scouring wreck yards and lots for an LS engine, you might find one that can churn out 750 hp with little to no internal changes needed. Meanwhile, a new LS engine is known to push up to nearly 1,000 bhp.
LS engines have unusually long head bolts to decrease the torsion experienced by the cylinders while evenly distributing torque.
Lightweight
LS engines have lightweight motors that won’t force you to step on the accelerator a bit harder than usual. The pushrod setup in these engines eliminates the need for a heavy valve train to sit on top of the engine.
Something About LS Engines
The group of LS small-block engines from General Motors was introduced in 1997 and quickly became a popular pick for building V8 engines.
The LS nickname is commonly associated with the V8 engines that belonged to the third and fourth generation of production, which spanned from 1997 to 2007 and 2005-2020, respectively.
The Chevrolet Corvette was the very first model to sport an LS engine (LS1)一a common feature you’ll find in every Corvette except for the Z06 redesign of the model’s eighth generation.
LS engines are characterized as pushrod V8s that have a stout bottom end and aluminum cylinder heads. All LS engines are also considered small-blocks.
All LS engines feature six-bolt main bearing caps and use a coilover plug ignition rather than a distributor. These engines also use electronic fuel injection, unlike new generation V LT engines that rely on direct injection.
Can You LS Swap Any Car?
There’s enough aftermarket support for LS engines to be compatible with other GM cars as well as other vehicles outside the brand.
You can find a variety of LS swap kits in the market that go with Fords, Porsches, Mazdas, and more.
The powertrain control module that comes with these LS engines is quite easy to modify, and tuning isn’t that complicated as well.
LS engines are also tightly packaged given that they still use pushrods, so installing them in tight spaces won’t be a problem.
Putting In the Work for an LS Swap
Swapping an engine isn’t an easy task. Aside from removing all the heavy hardware from under the hood, you’ll also need to replace a couple of parts from various systems to ensure that the LS engine is compatible with the rest of the vehicle.
Engine Accessories
On several occasions, you might find yourself buying new components to go with your LS engine instead of making OEM parts fit.
This is because the stock parts are specifically designed for your vehicle while the LS engine isn’t.
If you do decide to stick with the OEM parts, there’s a chance that you’ll have to pull the engine back due to fitment issues, which can be quite time-consuming (and costly).
Transmission Upgrades
The transmission on some vehicles might not be equipped to handle an LS engine. So if your vehicle belongs to this group, expect to shell out more money.
In most cases, high-mileage vehicles are the ones that can’t last long with an LS engine. You might need to spend anywhere between $2,200 and $9,000 for a transmission upgrade.
New Axles and Driveshafts
The output of an LS engine might be too much for your rear axle. While experts don’t advise against rebuilding the old axle, getting a new one is highly recommended. You can also opt for a customized axle.
As for the driveshaft, you might need to get a new slip joint and u-joint to go with a shorter driveshaft should you decide to go for a modern four-speed automatic transmission.
Experts also recommend adding a driveshaft loop for extra protection.
Exhaust System
A stock back exhaust can limit the horsepower output of an LS engine, which is why it’s a good idea to install a new set of headers or an exhaust manifold.
Fuel System
In most cases, an LS engine upgrade requires a new fuel system. Some parts you might need to purchase include an EFI-ready fuel tank, fuel pumps, feed return, vent, filler, fuel pressure regulator, and new fuel lines, among others.
Cooling System
A new radiator, fan shroud, and trans cooler are some of the cooling system upgrades that should work well with an LS engine, especially if you have an older vehicle that runs on manual fans.
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