The CAR WIZARD talks LS Swaps
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- The 🧙♂️ CAR WIZARD shares what it really takes to do an LS Swap. Watch this before you start an LS Swap to avoid the pitfalls so many others have made.
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I LS Swapped my Range Rover Classic, best thing i ever did with that car, made it reliable and powerful, I daily it everyday now.
This is exactly what I'd like to to do with a second gen Discovery. You're living the dream man, any pics of your RRC?
that British engine was reliable as it was
@@conradmeinecke5861 It wasn't for me, in the 2 years i had it the head gaskets failed and shortly after that the oil pump failed and put metal shavings all through the engine. I was going to rebuild if but thought an engine swap would be better, I was originally going to put a 200TDi in but then I saw an LS in a defender at a car show and well it just sounded awesome so had to go down the LS route.
@@TeddysTheName Q-Tip Go for it man, I used an adaptor from Mark's 4WD in Australia (he ships worldwide), you could probably de the same as the Discovery 2 uses the same LT230 transfer case as my RRC.
Q-Tip WoW!! I thought I was the only one with that idea! That’s a beautiful vehicle that would really benefit from an LS swap
I'm still gonna LS swap the hell out of my 64 El Camino. Don't let this guy shoot down your dream swap JUST SEND IT !!!!!!!
"Surrounded by Hoovie disasters". 😂😂😂 The Wizard has an awesome deadpan delivery. You need to do stand up comedy.
blipco5 I like how when Hoovie walks in his office for the invoice bill he is looking at yachts and Hollywood homes 🤣😆
Hoovie is a hoot!
I plan on an LS swap, Im just going to buy the whole corvette.
Corvette swap instead
Factory LS swap... Good move!
yup. a C5 is cheaper than an LS swap
ha, had the same thought, buy a cheap c5 and use it for my LS swap Porsche 928 :)
@@ayedee6681 but... it already has a V8... anyway I have seen rotary engine swaps on 928s too. If it's a drift or drag build (which mostly they turn out to be)👍. But meh... I feel like swaps are reserved as projects and for the laugh 🤣. There's nothing more to swaps than that.
After having done two ls swaps, you are 100% correct Car Wizard. But having a reliable fuel efficient drivetrain in an older vehicle is priceless! Thanks for the video!
"You don't need to be dying for your LS swap." - Car Wizard
hahaha for real
I read this as he was saying this. Made me laugh pretty good.
Hold my Pepsi
I had no idea such a device existed till now lol.
Married couples used to LS swap using a fishbowl filled with car keys back in the day :P
Pico
LS swap my wife for something more rigid
thick thighs r like traction bars
😂😂😂😂😂
That started in WWII. Last bit of fun before battle.
They used to have A KIA ADVERT on TV here in Australia where they were doing that. Girl looks thrilled to think she got "Mr successful" in bed because he had a kia. Nobody told her I can but a 5 year old kia with leather seats for $3000.....
I swapped my first ls back in 1997 and since then I have done hundreds of them. A ls engine requires 58 psi of fuel pressure, you do not need a return line, gm switched to returnless fuel systems in the 2004 model year. You absolutely do not need a inertia switch, gm does not use one and the way they deal with rollover incidents is with the ecu cutting fuel flow when there is a loss of fuel pressure. I have seen plenty of stupid people complete ls swaps and the people I am talking about are really stupid. You can purchase stand alone harnesses for $250 that work really well and there is plenty of people like me who program ecu's. The most common oem ecu's used in swaps are p01 and p59 ecu's. You can use a 58x motor on the older ecu's with a lingenfelter converter box. The p01 and p59 ecu's are 24x only so a converter is required if you want to use a 58x engine. There is actually 2 companies making ls swap mounts for the lamborghini Gallardo. With a stand alone harness you only need to hook up around 6 wires to make run. Ac is not a problem in any way with all of the aftermarket solutions. I can ls swap many vehicles in one day very easily.
where’s your shop located? i’ll take a road trip and spend a day if the labor won’t murder me.
97 740iL e38 bmw
yeah, where are you located? you should do jaguar specialities LS swaps on an xk8, we people would pay for that in the jag community, it’s already a $2k kit that comes with most what you need
@@h7pubg I am located in southern California, I have done many sbc 700r4 swaps in jaguars throughout the years. Back in the day JTR was the place to get everything.
@@shawnchurch316 i live in southern ca! I’d love to learn more about ls swaps! Like how compatible is my Project: 75 camaro with the original v8 in it.
Where you at I'm putting a LS1 into a jankty old 57 220s mercedes
im glad you made this video wizard. Because lots of people always say
LS swap it or i'm going to LS swap it. They dont realize how much work it is!
And some of them never held a spanner in their life :)
There the kind that aren't going to try it anyway,they just talk.
@@mbsnyderc I've tried it its a disaster even for me who has dones some swaps the hardest one that i've done is putting Lexus 1UZFE
you'd find dozens of LS swap kits for a lot of popular cars like old Camaros for instance and such and it probably wouldn't be too hard to put that together (relatively speaking). But if you're putting an LS in a Volkswagen Beetle (I'm sure it's been done) then you're on your own.
Swapped a built up carbed 350 Chevy / 700R4 into a 1987 Toyota Supra once and thought that was challenging. Flat sheets of 1/4" steel welded in for motor mounts and a steel bar with a mount for the trans. Exhaust plumbing was also tricky. Muffler shop had to weld in most of it with the engine and the headers in place. To finish getting in the tight spots, the motor had to be pulled back out again. Had to use a drive shaft for a Chevy with the end cut off. Then weld on the very end of the original Toyota Supra shaft with a sleeve to make it connect to the IRS 3.42 limited slip rear diff and balance it. Wired in relays for the cooling fans, find an adequate radiator. Wire up the alternator, wire up the distributor, take out the old shifter and weld in a bracket to hook up a 700R4 Megashifter set up. It was fast when it was done, but it was a never ending project.
VT247
As I see it LS swaps (or any JDM engine swaps like 2JZ and RB26) are usually either only a "meme and dream" or "fun as a project when its actually executed properly".
My 1jz swap was a meme dream turned real lol. Just need to take your budget and add 50% and then take the time and double it. Just needs a tune now
He's 100% correct. People have tried dozens of times to LS swap Porsche 928's, and while the car eventually runs, it loses half its value and the process is a complete nightmare. And this despite the kit!
smart thing to do is buy a wrecked car whit a good ls in it, and change everything over... But y agree, its a lot of work.
The easiest way to do an LS swap is to purchase a donor vehicle that is a similar configuration to what you want to swap and strip everything from it ( complete wiring harness including electric windows aircon fuel tank computers the works) . Even if you are going to upgrade everything having the original will help.
No need for the original harness a Stan alone harness works better and don't have to deal with security and total nonsense
@@w.e.s. depends on what you’re swapping it into.
I did a Range Rover and only doing the engine harness would have left me with Range Rover wiring.
in my opinion easiest LS swap is 1990s Chevy pickup truck almost everything matches you do have to relocate the AC compressor on top
I don't think compressor is the hard part, but the AC hoses are.
There's 1 easier one. Ls swapping a Corvette with a blown ls.
@@evlo8059 indeed because they are used rigid so you need somebody to bent them for you. Never saw a system with flexible hoses.
Maybe they designed the LS around the dimensions of the trucks with the 350 so they didn't have to change so much
@@evlo8059 you can reuse the existing lines and compressor in the OBS. I swapped my 350 for a 5.3. Didn't have to evacuate the AC system , AC bolted right in with an adapter bracket, and is controlled by the ECM with no issues
Love how you and your wife work as a team! Adds a totally separate dynamic to the videos.
Great explanation of and overview over all the pitfalls ahead from far above. Every single sentence can describe a nightmare ... so many sentences in just 1 minute and 20 minutes ...
I ls swapped two of my favorite things 1931 five window and my 55 belair THE best! Thing I did and didn't cost a fortune thanks to The driveway engineer!
Jr is a frugal genius
I wonder how many engine swaps NEVER get completed. must be quite a few.
Where do you think all the cheapo lightly used LSs come from?
When you read the classified ad and it gives you a percentage of completion . " 95% complete,just needs this,this and that"
Literally get on Craigslist and Facebook they're everywhere
Like many ideas, sounds great until you encounter costs and challenges..
I think the headers are a big problem too and electrical
I seen an LS swap in a 90 Corvette in one weekend on the stage at Corvette at Carlisle but they obviously have much experience doing it and had everything planned out well , looked stock when done. Organelle motor was an L98.
It almost sounds like you need a donor car that is complete to make a swap possible. And a modicum of skills in bending fuel lines and welding. It should frustratingly awesome!!!
Thats the ideal way to do it, buy a running wreck, and try and incorporate as much of the original setup in the new body as possible, gm spent millions figuring out how to make it all work together, might as well use it as intended.
You can get flexible lines that is how most people do it to make more power than stock you need bigger fuel lines anyway.
That is the best way at a junk yard you take as many of the parts you can get off the donor vehicle and you still going to have to buy and modify parts to fit you application.planing and research is key to any successful swap
Or you just put a carburetor on it and learn how to turn a screwdriver. Carbs have their faults but a lot less is needed to make them run, especially if you're putting one in an old car that had a carb originally and you're not interested in messing with fuel tables or a bunch of sensors and fuel delivery issues.
@@BigBing1987 Most don't do that
There is the option of going with a Holley or other brand standalone EFI system, they’re built just to run these swaps properly. It’s pricier than piecing together a stock ecm with a custom harness but makes it all much easier.
I'm in the middle of an LS swap now. an MGB with an LS-1/T56, BMW E36 IRS and a Miata power steering rack. I'm 250+hrs in so far and haven't gotten to the fuel system, wiring or even motor mounts yet :) I'm doing it the hard way with TONS of metal work.
That's gonna be the fastest MGB in the world. Look out Mr. Miata.
Few things are cooler than a restomod; where you keep the old-car look on the outside but have all the modern advantages underneath. The smartest thing is to buy one though, because *it can take years* to create one working in your spare time. So many options exist now with the combination of modern automotive technology combined with the immediate accessibility to that information on the internet. 15 days ago (exactly) I bought a 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster with just 26K miles on it from the original owner. Garage kept, unmodified and full of potential because in those 14 years people have figured out all the proper modifications to address any original shortcomings. Change the fluids & filters, make a small number of mechanical changes augmented by well-proven ECU & TCU upgrades and I'll have a great ride that'll give me many years of enjoyment.
"where you keep the old-car look on the outside but have all the modern advantages underneath."
You kill the entire spirit of the car. Just buy a modern car if that is what you want. Keep classics original.
@@petrosaguilar8916 If Restomod is done by factory those cars from the past will out run any modern car
Wizard: LS swaps are hard!
Me: don't threaten me with a good time, Wizard!
Theyre not hard
Simple just don't mess with the wired/sensor technology of newer LS
Ha..... ha.....
You won't have a good time with your wallet or even worse if you have a wife and kids to feed
Great video. People have kind of hyped-up how easy and cheap an LS swap is and its not completely true.
I just bought my 1999 silverado 2500 4x4 with the LQ4 all cast iron v8. that was easy. I love the truck and will keep it as long as I can. really so much easier than swapping engines etc.
I've got a project truck i stole almost literally, $800 on an 06 with 140,000 on a 6.0. I'm excited, been working on it here and there. I've not drove it yet, rusted brake lines, rusted fuel lines, 1 peice at a time a couple hours here and there. I'm curious what your thoughts are on your truck. It's looking like it'll be awhile before i can run mine even to test.
@@blueovalfan23 I bought my 1999 silverado 2500 4x4 standard cab and 8foot bed with firm ride suspension 3800lbs in the bed. automatic, all the trailer and camper package as well as skid plate. new for 25k I have had a big northstar camper on it. my wife died in 2004 I sold the camper and found a lovely 4 wheel popup. 2 years ago a extreme wind gust from the front tore it off the truck and destroyed it(truck unharmed). I have 49k miles on the truck. no rust. I live near Denver. this spring I had the fuel filter, trans filter, and all the lubrication oils changed(note there is now a special GM oil for the transfer case). I change my own engine oil, filters, and grease the truck every other year. the ONLY things other that that. the spark wires went bad(new MSD I put on) and it developed a flooding problem. if you had been running it and let the truck sit for 10 min the only way to get it started was to hold the throttle open and crank for 10 sec or so. that was getting progressively worse. all the useless internet mechanics said fuel injectors leaking. bull shit. it was the fuel pressure regulator leaking. 4 times after I shut it off I pulled the vacuum line off the regulator. finally the 4th time fuel ran out. its really easy to change that regulator. did it myself in a few mins. no other problems except there is a quirk in the transmission controller(other people with the same truck have it too) the dealer is NO help Chevrolet is no help. If you shift down for grade retard and then back to drive. it seems ok till you come to a stop and start out. the trans goes first, skips 2nd and slams so hard into third you think something is going to break. stop and start out again. same thing. the way to clear it is to stop. shut off the engine and restart. now its fine again till you grade retard again. there is no known cure for it. just learn to live with it. overall the truck is GREAT One last thing I am on my 3rd set of BFG all terrain KO tires. this set this spring are the KO2. that the tires to use. since I only have a leer topper on it I put the original size tires on. also I did not buy aluminum wheels(hate them) if I never own aluminum wheels thats fine with me. no warped brake rotors. no wheels flying off. fix your truck up and you will love it. its now my daily driver.
We are commenting about swaps here
Everything The Great Wizard has foretold has come true! Still currently finishing up my ls swap on my c3. The amount of research, time,investment, and fabrication is extensive and ongoing. The chip and material shortage that we are currently working through has curtailed and completely deviated my project.
Here a year into the project and still not finished but very close.
Also thanks for the tip about the cutoff switch 👍 I hadn't even thought about that but will have to include that into my fuel pump electronics.
Of all the swaps Ive seen done IRL or on RUclips nobody has ever installed an inertia switch for the fuel system...
This statement is true, plus the “Ford” inertia switch is a ball on a magnet. I would use oil pressure to relay before anything. Also, “On-Star” doesn’t work when upside down either! If the antenna pod is scraped off.
ASE Master since 1978
@@deankay4434
Is that why Crown Victorias suddenly stall after being rear ended?! I thought it was a factory defect 😂
The Highway patrol and Police had a quick reference chart issued to them to show the location of the “ Fuel Pump” re-set switch. In pickups like the Ford Ranger, it’s under the glove box toward the center under the dash.
My bother in law hit a curb at the dentist, started, drove to our house and would not restart.
The Crown Vic had recalls on shock or suspension brackets, as the highway patrol would get hit from behind, lights on stopped writing a ticket, but it puncture the gas tank.
I held classes for FBI, Police, City and county garage techs. They where mostly pissed as they could not wire in light bars, radios, laptop and other equipment, because it would affect another circuit. I suggested on fleet buys to get paper manuals with the deal, as Ford, GM contract with companies to print service books in 3 sections. They cost over $350 each. At least GM thru ACDelco, allows you to purchase service info and use online for a day, month or year.
John Deere won’t do that for farmers because of liabilities. Center Articulating 4X4 tractors and combines use computer controlled steering for GPS application of fertilizer or harvest yield locations global mapping. It’s all getting easier.
You’ll need a user name & password to get 3 sheets of toilet paper soon. Start saving newspaper & corn cobs my friend!
Ever since motor trader swapped a LS3 into a 240SX, I've visioned LS3 swapping almost everything under the sun for the reasons they mentioned.
well someone did do it to a delorean, sadly regular car reviews hasnt had an update video with the guy to see how its panned out thus far.
Toyota Starlet
LS swapped 240’s can be monsters
@@kavinskysmith4094 The V6 alone already set the weight balance on the far back on the rear wheels its already rear heavy with almost 30 70 weight distribution and giving a V8 is even worse
Car Wizard: "put an LS into a Lamborghini Gallardo or something"? B is for Build: Hold my beer!
Please give us a video on why you don't like cone filters. because I feel the same way!
They dont filter a thing.
@@JCE3000GT BUT, if you have any ribbed rubber in the line going between the airbox and the throttle body inlet, that is your restriction. The ribbing adds resistance... That resistance will cut your RPM and rob torque and hp...
If I were going to to a LS swap, I would discard the GM computer and put in a Simple Digital Systems (SDS) fully programmable EFI system. You would need to pull the motor apart first to install the proper sensors but it is definitely worth it. With that system installed, you will have complete control over your engine. That means fine tuning the fuel flow cylinder by cylinder to equalize the fuel burn. It will also be bulletproof dependable. A lot of racers use this system.
Legit one of the easiest swaps possible with such a monstrous aftermarket available and endless forums and experience available. Thats precisely why the LS is the best possible swap engine beyond the power and reliability.
I feel like this video is for the guys that change their own oil and like to dream and talk about one day taking 10 years to do an ls swap is their old family hand me down classic. I'm not a mechanic, but I've done several engine swaps with computer controlled fuel injected engines(mostly imports). This is all typical swap stuff. No surprises here. With all the stuff you can buy, all the info online, and some general understanding of things like AN fittings, it's never been easier to do swaps like this.
Either way, I've never done an LS but I'm getting ready to embark on swapping one into my 66 c10. This video is a good organized reminder of the things I'll need to do. Of building a car from the ground up, the engine swap is only one of the many challenges you'll face.
Helped a friend drop a 454 tbi Chevy truck engine into his 90 Cadillac. The power steering pump pulley ended up being about 3mm away from the steering box. He just took an angle grinder to the box,it was stillprettyclose. Then chained the engine down on the passenger side so it could never flex back enough for the pulley to hit it. Painted the chain black. Nobody would ever notice it. Hey,it worked. 😂
Hey Wizard thank you, when it's time to land people feet to the ground you are the man, many people think they can do everything but with modern engines it's a world of hurt If you don't have the Tools, now everything it's code matched, and planned to fit on a specific plattaform, it's not Impossible but hell to adapt and make it work properly, greetings from puebla city, Mexico I'm your fan #1 around, respect !
I have no desire to put an LS engine into any vehicle. If it came with one, that’s fine.
I like to fix cars they way they were originally designed. But the Wizard is right, to do a project like this right, you have to do your research and your homework.
It’s not for the faint at heart.
Thanks Wizard!
Love the channel, I just have one comment. I put a 2001 Camaro LS1 in a 1987 RX7. The RX7 had a return system and the Camaro has a returnless system. Technically the return happens inside the tank and fuel at correct pressure is sent to the engine. It took me forever to figure this out since the LS1 had what "appeared" to be a return port, but was actually for the evap system. I had trouble with too much pressure. I was able to put in a Corvette fuel filter, which has a regulator and return in it.
I know a few people with successful LS swaps and they have one thing in common. They bought a swap kit tailored to their specific application that came complete with every thing included.
You can get a swap kit but that is only after the thing the wizard says a lot and is very true for any project, "do your research on everything required first".
Doing my first swap into a 86 Pontiac…. Went in head first…. It’s not hard…. Don’t look at the whole mess… go at it in parts without bouncing around. You’ll be fine … don’t rush it. As work is done on it things will change, new ideas pop up and new modifications get thrown in. I’m at my 4th idea to add in to my ground up project
love you Carwizard, you and your family are a gem!
I'm thinking of LS swapping my toilet.
Round or elongated? Makes a huge difference in motor mount selection
Great video from the Wizard! One thing not mentioned; aftermarket engine management systems. They're pricey, but do make the actual running & tuning easier especially the tuning part. Holley makes them, Haltech makes them, probably others.
I can LS swap my Acura Integra with a jack to jack stands, a Costco tool set and a cordless impact gun in single weekend! 🥱
Literally tho lol
Interesting that he mentioned Lamborghini.
B is for Build channel is LS swapping into one with an Audi manual transaxle.
This is why you're THE Wizard! If I ever had a wrangler I might consider an LS swap on that, but I'd definitely just pay a professional to do it for me. I can change a headlight bulb, but that's about it. 😂
Changing a motor is the same process... it's only nuts and bolts and the parts are heavier.
It’s way easier to swap a Hemi in a Jeep than a LS. The wiring is all the same Chrysler
I was thinking hard about a 302 swap in my ranger. It takes more than people consider. It's a complete rebuild radiator to rear end and I'm talking just a carbed basic setup. That 4 banger needs more power but it's a costly time consuming process. It's a back burner idea for later.
Fords junk 302 is junk why in the world would u spend that time and effort on something making it harder then it should be. Put a ls I. It and be done with in 2 days top
It is nice that there is the aftermarket "LS swap" products available. You just have to adapt and overcome! You can do it!
I would love a FRS/Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86 with the LS!
dude, its a meme. no one needed a reality check on this.
but still fantastic video. all god info.
If anyone wants to see how complicated this "L S S W A P I T" crap is, just watch B is for build
Or BMW M5 v10 swaps
Cromulent Commodore
99% of the people who say LS swap it has never done an LS swap.
@@chrisj197438 because it's a meme. most of them have never touched a wrench.
You'd be surprised by the number of cars I see being sold as incomplete ls swap projects lol. My Supra was getting a 1jz swap til the guy realized he didn't have the money to have a shop do it. Got a good deal and 14 months later she's running.
My cousin and I once swapped out the old 2 speed auto trans in a '68 Firebird going to a TH-400 (it was free!). Nightmare city! The trans and torque converter bolted to the engine (had to bore out the bolt holes on the flex plate and open up the center hole on a lathe. Had to modify the driveshaft, transmission mount, shift linkage, coolant lines and use a different modulator valve. After that, the car was much faster, but leaked fluid all the time! File this one in the "Never Again" file!
Which is why I am keeping my original engine but swapping the terrible carb setup for a CFI injection setup controlled by an ECU.
lol if a carb is to much work for you than a crappy Aftermarket fuel injection system is going to melt your brain .
Then finally you have the swap ready to drive. A whole lot more issues aways arise. Most conversations I have seen never really make it to an everyday reliable state.
Mind you the shakedown period can also be the fun part because you get to experience the good parts of the conversion.
Telling it like it is,great video Car Wizard,being a mechanic myself I can fully vouch for every word you've said.I'd hate to think of somebody (probably young) digging themselves into a massive hole by underestimating the size of very large undertaking.It takes a combination of having plenty of funds and a well equipped workshop and even then it probably won't be plain sailing.👍✌
I like the way your shorts stay on. I lifted a couple 5 gallon water things into my pickup today and lost my short to the ground right in front of everyone at the grocery store. Well, stuff happens but all my belts are too wide for those shorts. Live and learn. peace.....b
I did my swap in 2010, what I would do is buy everything upfront. The complete take out is the best way to go with harness, ecu, pedal, tac module, etc. I used the factory harness with factory computer and fuse box. I got the wiring diagram of the factory fuse box and applied 12v keyed and 12v battery to the right locations. My swap took a year most of that was coming up with the money, it went into a 72 GMC so it was on the easier end, the truck oil pan fit. It is more time to get it running but I’ve spent less time dealing with carburetors over the years. My swap was about what it would cost to rebuild my 383 I blew up. The ls stock heads flow what aftermarket small block Chevy heads do and at the time aftermarket fuel injection in multi port that would feed 500hp cost about 4K, for 5k I did a 6.0 swap and had the fuel injection.
Ready for a Mrs. Wizard video.
The easiest engine swap I did was 25 years ago in my 81 Olds Cutlass coupe. It went from a SMC 267 V-8 with a TH-350C to a BB 454 oval port mated to a TH-700R4. I did need to weld a 4 inch extension on the transmission cross-member to support the longer trans mount, and the drive shaft shortened by about the same to fit. All the accessories fit (AC, Alternator, power steering pump), and I ran a simple re-jetted Q-Jet carb so no F.I. conversion. Needed custom exhaust, but that was a given even if I stayed with a hotter SMC. I had to use low valve covers to clear the AC evaporator cover, and use motor mounts from a 76 Chev Caprice wagon (they were lower then those from a truck) for the motor to clear the hood.
That BB engine when installed looked like it belonged there. People at car shows thought it looked stock...until you saw the wide valve covers! The biggest pain was the shift linkage - it never felt right. An aftermarket shifter like a B&M or Hurst would've fixed that. No matter - the trans couldn't hold first gear with all the power anyways. Second gear was when that car passed everyone.
I agree with Car Wizard, the amount of work I had to do get this relatively simple swap was hard enough. The LS+OD Trans is an amazing combo but it's hard to pull off affordably and effortlessly. You need to be a skilled shadetree-mechanic\machinist\welder\computer technician. If you're not, then $$$ and time.
The complete donor vehicle is the way to go. Nearly everything is with it and can be made to work with your swap if you have the know how
I would agree with that, donor truck that RUNS and complete.
Definitely!!!
Only way I’d consider it
Shouts out to B is for Build for the LS swapped manual Huracan.😂
Well he is an idiot, and did you see how badly he butchered the RX7, he cut into the wiring loom and then sold it on, only for the guy who bought it to wonder why the damn LED's kept getting stuck on, hell its a wonder he didnt burn the whole damn car down with that move, as the Loom was just behind the right fender where he cut lol.
after that I lost all respect for that man and the more I looked, the dumber I realized he was, and now he's purely doing spectacle builds to keep the momentum of his channel going than to do proper good work anymore.
the volkswaggen Hurican in point.
@@kavinskysmith4094 welcome to RUclips. All these assholes rebuilding salvage cars aren't even qualified to change an air filter on a Toyota Corolla, let alone rebuilding exotics. Just look at the total hack job tavarish did on that Gallardo, dude cut into the fucking chassis just to fit a facelift bumper.
@Kavinsky
Well said I’m glad there are others that feel the same way fuck that dude he sucks ass.
I feel bad for the guy that purchased the RX-7 from him that guy walked into a nightmare...
Jesse Castro more like Oscar the Jedi’s build.
As someone who has successfully done a few LS into S10s you're 100% correct. One of my daily drivers is a 4.8L swapped into an 87 S10. Best advice I have is to buy a complete donor vehicle. I bought an 05 GMC 2500 Van and drove it home from Virginia to New Jersey. Also, Holley Terminator X is a great solution for a standalone system, it can also be hooked into boost reference and NOS systems. Another thing people don't realize is the last 5% takes the longest.
LS swap entails a LOT of *MONEY* then running into road blocks and spending more *MONEY* then the wiring/ECU/electrical/Cooling transmission what are you going to use and the fuel system.
Well put!! My swap was the most work i ever did and took me 3 years. Runs great but once in a while the drive by wire gas pedal goes off and puts me in a bad spot! I have also had ground issues i have had to sort out. Gas tank is $500-1400, headers $800 plus, AC $1200 plus, wiring harness $600, power steering lines $350
More educational videos please. Thank you for dropping some knowledge. Really like the visual aides.
I like the spin on filters for big rigs. A spin on mount and in and out fuel line. When the fuel is on a loop it keeps the fuel so clean.
Watch Tom's Turbo Garage here on RUclips. He's swapping an LS into a Tacoma right now, and he did it to a Miata. Note that he has a seemingly unlimited budget (sponsorship), all the space he needs, all the tools he needs, and experience.
Very true, but his swaps are well done.
The miata v8 swap is a kit. Flyin miata makes one. Comes with everything. Only modification is the firewall. A v8 in a miata is simple compared to most other ls swaps.
@@joshp2542 Even if his was relatively simple, there's a lot that goes into it.
@@joshp2542 not everything. The kit includes MOST of what's needed for the swap but he's still had to fab up certain things and mix and match parts.
Josh P hey doesn’t sicky performance also make a mount and wire kit as well for miatas?
dude that first min and a half talk brought me back to my Mr. Roger's days. classic!!!
As for serpentine belts, figure out your routing, and route a piece of twine, string, tailors tape, etc through that path, and measure the result. Then figure out which standard tooth pattern it is. typically a J-rib for serpentine, about 1/16 of an inch per rib, a little more. A K-rib is a smidge under 3/16 per rib. In Automotive this should be the two tooth patterns of serpentine belt you'll encounter to my knowledge.
Now count the grooves.
Ribbed belts are measured in inches of circumference (if it says PJ it's metric, measured in millimeters). Take the measurement you got earlier (say 105 inches) and put the decimal one place further (your 105 inch belt is gonna be a 1050J). The number of grooves on your pulleys is the suffix (a 6-groove pulley is gonna be a J6, making this example a 1050J6).
“Help me Mr Wizard”. Drizzle Drazzle time for this one to come home
Hoovie is the turtle
I had a quote from a top shop of 250 hours of just labor to swap LS3 BRAND new into my 86 monte Carlo ss,$16,000 lol. Plus 7 grand engine and not including any parts like new gas tank, etc
That is the we don't want to do it number.
biff85ta2 no they've done 30 LS3 swaps in my type of car
There is every part you could need available to make that a drop in swap. There is no reason for that to be 240 man hours.
Do it yourself my buddy did it in his Jeep Cherokee for 1500 bucks and it's running and driving...
I've done LS swaps and always use the Holley Sniper throttle body fuel injection. I like simplicity. Now, I have gravitated toward 383 SBC mostly because of cost. Crate engines are dirt cheap. I prefer to install a new engine with a warranty.
This is a good warning message about the troubles a person can get into if they plan an engine swap on a vehicle they have. I have never had any interest in swapping an engine in a vehicle.
Nice video it's refreshing to see someone actually explain in plain language the reasons why to or not.
Seems the ls platform is good for GM, suprised GM didn't get rid of the whole platform all together, as gm likes to destroy anything they do well lol
I know you are trying to do a good deed, and I normally love your videos, but I just wish you could give us the answers. still being informative but not making it so damn depressing, feel like I'm getting a lecture from dad about why you shouldn't get a girl pregnant. but forgetting the part about how sex is great to start with.
I really want Wizzard to "Get" this message.
I don't want him to turn into some youtube click-bate dumbass. Even Tavarish is too much of a "Happy-upbeat-click-n-sub" tuber for my liking.
Eric the car guy has a nicer balance for his information over entrainment channel, yet he also seems to have a better grasp on how to treat his whole audience and never lectures or demeans his viewers.
Perhaps Wizzard should actually watch his own videos before he posts them....
you already know the potential pleasure; there's little point in bringing it up. Everyone talks about how great an LS swapped motor is but they don't talk about the difficulties involved.
@@EpicMicky300 the complaints here are about presentation or tone or delivery.
Nobody wants to sit through an earnest lecture with "father-knows-best" tone.
It's not necessary. And it sure as hell won't stop the very people who may have been helped by this information.
There are plenty of other better sources on what problems you will encounter on an LS swap. And they will not talk down to you.
Wizzard Fail
Yeah,"the wizard" has a very weird demeanor about him! It's hard to put my finger on an explain it! The only reason I even know he exist is because of "hoovie". Honestly he annoys the hell out of me! He comes across as hes chastising you as if you asked a silly question and he just going to explain to you why your idea is stupid and hes going to prove it to you as if hes just annoyed at you! Hes just a very strange guy! I would bet if you really dug deep into his life you would find some very creepy nefarious things ,the kind of things that makes woman clutch there purses and mothers to hold on to their children tightly in a protective stance! I dont know as I said it's hard to explain what's off with this guy but it creepy,that's for sure!
@@number1pappy He's a fucking ginger they all act like that. They have a psychotic side sure but are generally very intelligent and helpful. Gingers are not typically rapist but are known to torture small animals and have an obsession with fire
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Mr Regular said it best, LS Swaps are automotive cilantro. Once the swap is complete, the only special thing about the car becomes that it has an LS.
Boy, lemme tell you about my Nova with a Gen 4 SBC.
Have now done a ls swap on a 74 C3. Way more work and parts than I thought and more than double my budget but it is awesome! Next time I think I'll do a L31 swap in a 2nd gen camaro and save some work and $!
LS swapped my 72 Grand Prix. Wasn't to bad just take your time to do research on similar vehicles.
I think it would make more sense to do a performance build on a 350 and add an Edelbrock FI kit.
I'm going to fi my 350 olds it makes a lot of sense and saves money
Great vid. You should've gone over the many different variants of the LS engine though. 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, 6.2, iron block, aluminum block, Active Fuel Management (AFM), non-AFM, intakes, drive-by wire, non-drive-by wire, the list goes on forever.
If your somewhat mechanically inclined, a LS swap is a walk in the park, to make it easy Is use an aftermarket ecu and harness, sure it cost a little more but it saves time and headaches when you gotta tune it for any performance mod you do…….I’ve done 4 swaps in my garage all by myself with my 2 hands and if your doing it on a gm vehicle it’s a piece of cake…..if it’s a different make it can become a little more challenging, just remember google is your friend
If you buy a crate motor from GM you can get it with ECU included. You just hook up the fuel pump relay and provide power and ground. They put the ECU under the intake.
I just replaced the original engine in my 74 Camaro, a 350 with some 400,000 miles on it that still ran perfect. Replaced it with a forged, and roller'd 357. Carbureted. I couldn't see combining the complexity of a modern car with the problems of an old car.
I did my engine swaps back in the 60s and 70s. put a 283 in my 48 chevy. 50 olds in 53 chevy. 54 olds in 53 Pontiac. 327 in 60 chevy wagon. and the most fun was putting a 62 chevy stock 6 in a 52 mg td. all required special work that I completed and all worked great. NONE were budget breakers.
I really feel alot of people just want to "ls swap" things because they heard other people say they want to "ls swap" things.
I'm not saying anything negative about the idea, but there's more people that "talk" than there are people with the knowledge to do something like that properly. I've seen people do amazing swaps, nice, clean and neat.
However, just like putting any engine into something that engine wasn't necessarily designed for, I've seen people cut up and ruin some really nice vehicles OR, what's almost just as bad, is when someone cuts corners, gets the engine in and running but you look in the engine bay, or under the car and see it up close and it makes you want to take their keys away because the thing is a death trap. Those are fun. When I used to work in a shop, I had a guy bring in a caprice that was ls swapped and lifted with giant rims, complaining about how it drove after he had a friend do his lift. Lifted the car and the entire "lift kit" and suspension was held together and accomplished with rebar and tack welds. I told the customer I wasn't interested in working on it.
Good thing other crazies before me have come and swapped an LS into their Jeep Wranglers !!! I can learn from their mistakes! Awesome video.
I bought my LS in my car from the factory. Saves a lot of work.
This was one of the reason's I maxed out my L98 to a 396 stroker. Procharged it and put a 4L80 trans. This channel is so cool to post this, I was right there with this decision. There is a serious amount of work involved with this. Good video Mr. Wizard
Yes inertia switch, because everyone does that. The radiator is no big deal (eBay has cheap 3 core aluminum radiators for every application under the sun) and hoses are easy to make. The wiring and computer can all be had from the stock kit and with say HP tuners you can unlock the stock ecm. Use of an inline fuel pump and corvette style fuel filter (with regulator and return line built in) can be installed directly in front of the pump simplifying the fuel system plumbing. Motor mounts are as common as mud and you can use any GM transmission you want. So no this isn’t hard or expensive unless you want to put one into a Porsche
The biggest "problem" I had doing my swap was, making the mistake of ordering a National Co. "alleged" professionally rebuilt HD (performance) transmission, let me tell you DON'T! Use a local transmission shop only, the big commercial re builders are simply holding companies that do marketing, showing them using "their" supplied product however, they simply contract with builders for the lowest price and have NO answers or help. I had to have my $4K trans "Professionally rebuilt" (actually Rebuilt) by a local transmission guy, he told me it looked like they simply slapped new clutch's in it and never even cleaned the case much less "performance" parts. Expensive lesson learned.
Every time the Wizard speaks this plainly, it makes me think he's dealt with his share of the public.
Reminds me of swapping an LT1 tuned port in to a truck. That was a fun project ECM the whole works. Well worth it.
A good option for a used motor is to find a junkyard with a wrecked vehicle with the motor you want, as long as it hasn't bashed in to where is destroyed something critical to the engine, you could start it in that vehicle as long as the junkyard manager is okay with thstand if the engines bad you will know.
I enjoy your videos, you're very low key, and from what I can see, very honest too. Maybe it's because of my age(65) where I grew up with carburetors as other than a Ferrari, was the only choice. I look at the LS swaps with computer, harness issues, fuel injection and everything else as being over complicated. My era, if you did not have spark or fuel, then you really had an issue. LS swap, you need a laptop, but you also need someone fluent in tuning to get car running optimally. No knock against you or young guys, but even seems just so complicated, and not customer/amateur friendly. I also like watching Nick's Garage, he's kind of old school too.
My swap was as easy as it gets. got a 03 suburban with a L59. put it in a a 1970 c10. non power steering, and used my built 350th . spent about 400 on must buys and another 500 on some fun goodies. runs like a dream and if you work with computers, just rewire the factory harness. takes forever but cost nothing ,then once it was done used a tunner to turn off everything i didn't need . if it had a small block/big block chevy engine dont be scared of the LS. its work but nothing to crazy.
Yes Chevy trucks are a piece of cake to LS swap, I’ve swapped a ‘68 c10 and currently own a ‘73 short bed fleetside c10 with a 5.3 /th350 stalled with a 3000 converter, just finishing prep so I can paint it and add a vortech supercharger that I have already in boxes hiding in the garage and my ‘74 nova with a 4l65e 3:42 posi with 370” lq9/64cc ls3 heads and 2:45” pullied lsa supercharger on terminator x ecu……. Not as easy as a truck swap but still a walk in the park…..I love them all, they are beasts
This is just my opinion but the best way to do an LS swap alone is to buy a complete running parts vehicle. Something either too rusty to insure or crash damaged and wrote off but still a vehicle with a good strong drivetrain. That way you get everything: The engine, transmission, diff if needed, gas tank with fuel pump, radiator, fuel lines, ECU, wiring... you get everything you need in one vehicle and I've bought them as low as $400 cash for an 05 Sierra pick up that was wrote off.
Thanks for the info. Could you also share with us the UPSIDE of hot rodding that comes with the planning, hard work, frustration and success.
…btw, running donor vehicle does sound like a smart move….
The tool advice is crucial. Your first swap you tend to be at the part store and hardware store quite a bit for stuff. Also a lift is crucial
Well that makes an ls swap sound about as fun as a prison sentence.