Wow! This video is four years old now and the LS is still as popular as ever! So popular that we now have a brand new, even easier tuning option for it with the NEXUS Rebel LS. Check it out: hal.tech/RebelLSProductOverview
Lol or Corvette Engine Heat Soak Overheating YT Videos. Come on GM. Stop voiding warranties if it happens on the track! Fix the issue or dont void warranty!
I don't understand why Subaru gets so much heat for that when GM is the king of blown head gaskets. The Cadillac High Technology engine, the Northstar engines, the 122 engines and several of GM's V6 engines were all extremely well known for blowing head gaskets.
We love to shorten a word... Americans shortened Chevrolet to Chevy but we said, “yeah nah not short enough cobber, how about chev ya septic tank?” Translation “no, not short enough good sir, how about chev you person of yankee origin?”
I remember when i worked at holden an engineer told me the high output v6 engines were more expensive to build than the LS engines because they were were more complicated with the overhead cams but they could still sell the LS at a higher price as enthusiasts were willing spend more money on a v8.
Everything about that checks out. V6 engines are also harder to balance, so they require a little more attention there from the manufacturer. People, particularly Americans, love v8 engines. It's a huge part of our culture to value them more highly than v6s.
@@haltech So far it's great! Definitely better than anything GM made over here during the same time period. It has 165,000 miles and still runs like a top, no creaks when driving on the highway either.
15:10 That o-ring that seals the pickup tube to the oil pump was the cause of low oil pressure on cold mornings. Changed that instead of the pump and saved a ton of money. Got oil pressure like new on a 290,000 mile engine now.
@@austinhowze6280 What's so funny... The Chevy small block is a legendary design which has lasted the test of time since the V8 forefathers designed the thing!
@@calincampbell5637 damn dude we not talking about the older motors we talking the ls 2v ford era do your research all 2v blocks support 1000 hp and the aluminum blocks will do 1500+ with no modifications
@@whoguy4231 the ford small block usely makes it longer than the 350s every 350 I know got rings and bearing at 300k where the ford are going 500k before they trash the truck and buy a new one
Two things: Crank-driven oil pump, and Cross-bolted mains in a long block skirt. Those two things alone make the LS the strongest engine out there, and make it super-popular. Race engines use main girdle kits for the same reason - stiffening the block lower-end and increasing crankshaft support
@itsabig yes SIR, though Chevy boys will die before they admit it, the LS is a stolen designs haha. From both Ford and Mopar, it's clear as day the mighty Cleveland had alot to do with the LS. Love it haha couldn't have said it better myself, Chevy has been stealing designs since forever.
GM has a long history of a deep skirt Y block design, to add strength to its aluminum blocks. The Buick 215--which was sold to Rover--is an example. The V6 made from it, which became the Dauntless in Jeeps and the turbo version in the Grand National, also had the deep skirt even though it was cast iron. The deep skirt creates a larger volume in the crankcase, which also helps the piston speed--as it comes racing down to BDC, it isn't compressing the atmosphere inside the crankcase and causing resistance, since there's more room for that atmosphere than in a normal V8. I believe in America, Ford made the deep skirt popular with its 239-272-292-312 Y block engines that followed the flathead and were a bridge to the Windsor small blocks. As for the comments about the Cleveland...guess where the Cleveland got its canted valves from? GM exec Semon Bunkie Knudsen brought some engineers with him when he went to work at Ford...after the Chevy Big Block went to canted valves from the old W 409 design. But its also thought the 1st generation Chevy small block borrowed heavily from the 331 Cadillac that came before. The LS head design is suggested to copy the NASCAR Ford head design. www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/ls1-heads-on-a-ford.730454/ www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/ls-engine-a-copy.458032/
@@lettheboywatch3100 I'm a mopar guy myself who loves 440s and hemis but it's not about who did it first, it's who did it best and the popularity and success of the LS engines is a testament to how good of a job chevy did with those engines
2012 2SS/RS Camaro. Downtown Atlanta rush hour traffic, doing 65, drop the 6 speed one, punch throttle, change lanes , hit 90 really quick, feeling like an automotive god.
My LS2 GTO had the lifter issue. I ended up pulling the engine and doing a build with it... I love that beast of a motor. TONS of aftermarket support and paired with an HPtuners kit, the options are limitless.
It is our generation’s small block Chevy. You can’t beat the power per dollar value. It may not be the best out there but it’s reliable, affordable, and powerful.
I'm fortunate enough to own a LS7. It's a real gem of an engine. And now, GM dropped the price, at least here in the US, for a long block crate engine, from about $17,500 to about $10K-12K. Hot Rod magazine bought one for a project. Broke it in then did the same SAE ISO witness certification correction the engine was rated with. About 520-525 bhp and about 490 lb-ft torque. And it has a dry weight of only about 438 lbs. It's an amazing piece of power plant.
As far as heads, the stock l92 heads when ported are toe for toe with the ported ls7, which is why the 6L is so popular especially in grassroots drifting. You just can't beat 600hp n/a out of a tight, reliable package.
You will notice that the timing cover has no locating dowels to the block, on initial assembly, it is important to fit the timing cover with seal installed without tightening down the bolts completely, then fit the balancer, then complete tightening down the timing cover bolts, this ensures the timing cover is centred to the balance and minimises the chances of oil leaks.
There are a few tools now that solidly locate the cover to the crank snout and allow you tighten the cover down and install the seal after. A similar operation must be done with the oil pump. You need to remove the cover on the pump, shim it between the rotor and case then tighten all the bolts and remove the shims.
The poor Ford 351 Windsor. With lots of deck height, a solid block, good oiling, and evenly spaced ports it still didn't get the love of the SBC. Then along comes the LS to garner all the glory.
350 is the worst engine you can have,design wise.o.k.stock..mate wanted to fit a dodge 360 to his jag,but here in aus,,there aint no kits for nothin,except chev,so,,he searched for a truck 350,010 block,threw everything in the bin,except the block,then was a slave to the speed shop..that,,is chev..rubbish..
Here in America, its a different story. We can find a #10 block like your mate did, but its just as easy to find a "Vortec" block in a junkyard from the 1990's, the heads flow better, it already has a roller lifter camshaft (no need to worry about enough zinc in the oil to keep a flat tappet lifter from killing itself). Hot rod parts for the "1st gen" 350's are dirt cheap now, since everyone is going for the LS engines. I can slap together a 400bhp engine for less than $2,000 US. Our Dodge 360, on the other hand, has the lifter angle used back in the 1960's, which was borrowed from the Poly A blocks (which may be similar to what was available in Australia), which in turn came from the 1st generation of Hemi engines. In other words, its not a great angle for the pushrods. Finding hot rod parts for it, used, isn't as easy as the "Chev 350"--i can go to a "Tag sale" at someone's house, and find parts someone bought once to hot rod a Chevy 350. Its actually a euphamism for anything common, easily sourced, and chosen more often than not to do a job.
Great run down. Most car guys aren't the best at explaining stuff. Maybe one day you could do a ls swap series where you detail each step. Keep up the great work!
Light compact engine and great flowing factory heads. That's the two main reasons they are great engines. Then of course they are everywhere. Easy to find
The downside on the LS compared to the older sbc or bbc is when you are doing a cam swap you have to pull the heads in order to get to the lifter trays. In an older sbc or bbc you just remove the intake manifold. However thats just being nick picky and GM did a great job on making an engine that not only creates good power but also doesnt have major problems for 250,000 plus miles. There are countless vortec engines with that milage that still run great.
I’m blown away by the fact that this engines is so popular and reliable and loved and it only has two valves per cylinder, I say it cause so many car brands use to advertise cars with 4 valves like it’s a big deal, this one with only two conquered to many hearts.
I'd say that in some ways the LS is more Apple like. Less parts, less complexity for the end user to deal with. Solid engineering and no extra crap that isn't needed to do the job. Back in the day when it was new GM were asked "why did you use pushrods?" and the answer was very straightforward and along the lines of "we had a target of X horsepower and could do it with pushrods in less physical space and less complexity".
@@JethroRose no, apple over designs shit that usually doesnt work, over prices thoer shit products, has NO aftermarket, and yet some are still stupid enough to purchase it. Def not an LS discription.
I mainly build and tune motorcycle engines, recently got into building 1 Ford engine and 1 LS engine. Who is more difficult for me to build a Ford engine due to the complexity of the part numbers versions years you name it. But in the end the Ford motor made some pretty good horsepower. The LS motor make good horsepower just by looking at it, just kidding it was a lot easier
You really can fit this in almost anything. On Facebook someone ls swapped a newer Volkswagen bug. Best part is it’s fwd utilizing a fwd trans out of an 06 Monte Carlo.
It’s cheap, light, easy to upgrade, comes in different CID, and still uses pushrods. Ford has their 5.0, but you spend half the money for half the headaches.
we can even say that the intake manifold is reversible for a rear mounted throttle body...heads can mount either side... exhaust manifold are either flip upside down for front exhaust with top exit or side swapped for downward exit.. need to watch for Cathedral or Rectangular intake ports on the heads and intake...or LS7 and LS9 cams are for dry sump engine
Tl;dw: It's a relatively compact, reliable, and cheap way to make big power. They're easy to work on and have a larger aftermarket and wider power band than pretty much any other performance engine. There are other great performance platforms out there. But for value, power band, and reliability, it's tough to beat an LS.
This was a great video. I just upgraded from a 2002 Grand Prix with a 3.8L V6 to a 2004 CTS-V with a 5.7L LS6 V8. It is fun to see the similarities and differences between these two pushrod engines.
In one way, the LS is just like the old 350 small block. They both make decent (although not always earthshattering) power, they're both relatively reliable, they have a huge range of aftermarket parts and services, but mostly...packaging, packaging, packaging. They fit into just about anything. Not the most up to date design - but sometimes, old-school tech like cam-in-block and pushrods is good enough, while keeping external dimensions to a minimum.
It's crazy how glad we are (well a lot of us at least) that GM didn't go the way of Ford and the rest by chasing the overhead cam (yeah they are doing it with Cadillac but that's about it). I know Hemi's are still pushrod but without the LS/LQ I don't know what everyone would be doing right now in the engine swap/aftermarket area. Like you said it's the packaging. I don't think a lot of people understand just how long and tall an inline 6 is.
@@corey0189 I doubt it... But who knows, maybe they switch engine platforms just for the Z06? They're really only done that for the ZR1 in recent history. But the word is that it'll be turbo'd. I guess the Cadillac's Blackwing is a Twin turbo OHC V8. I just wonder about the packaging of an OHC in place of the pushrod.
How many times have you heard the term “LS-swap”? What makes GM's LS series so popular with drag racers, hot-rodders, drifters, modders and tuners alike? We dive deep to find out the reason why this particular engine is so many people's favourite. This is quite a long video so if you want to jump a particular section, we've included some shortcuts: Engine Overview: ruclips.net/video/wMZG7nFx-2M/видео.html Tuning Options: ruclips.net/video/wMZG7nFx-2M/видео.html Engine Teardown: ruclips.net/video/wMZG7nFx-2M/видео.html --------------- What engine you'd like us to cover next?
It would have been cool for you to talk about the difference in uses between the LS and LQ. I only recently (within the last two years) found out that you didn't get LQ's in Australia. I know it's just iron vs Aluminum but...
Soooo.... What actually is it that makes this engine good? The simplicity alone doesn't explain al of it... Nice to work on and sturdy design, but what is it that makes it perform? Is it an efficient burning engine that can operate safely with a high compression ratio or does the power just come from displacement? I wouldn't mind a bit more detail.
Scotty, you totally skipped talking about the high flow port design, the large cam lobes, roller lifters and beehive valvesprings that combined allow for aggressive cam profiles and high rpm with good reliability. These things together with the strong bottom end and fairly simplistic design are what makes the LS platform such a good engine. Easy to make reliable power. That, and just like the old gen 1 and 2 small block, there are millions of them out there for the choosing.
I have a 2004 Silverado Z71 with a 5.3 LS engine.I bought it brand new. It has 380,000 miles on it right now and it runs like the day I bought the truck new.
Fantastic content love the tear downs and technical aspects of your videos most of it is fairly basic but it's all essential to understanding whats going on under the bonnet 👍
Scott is the best. Really enjoy your thorough, and simple delivery style. It’s funny because, in my view, pushrod V8’s are all I’ve ever been around, and all the engines I see MCM and y’all mess with, are weird to me. I hate the OHC stuff, but enjoy watching y’all tinker with them because of your personalities and how well y’all get along and work together. Thanks for sharing the knowledge, we need a million more people like you!
Thank you so much for doing these breakdowns! Your so easy to follow and speak so well! I have an s13 that I've just swapped and rb25det into but had always considered the LS swap but turned away from it because I wanted to stay turbo. After watching this I definitely want to get another car either with an LS or to swap an LS into!
Fun fact: LS heads are not mirror images from one bank to another. They are actually identical on both banks. The only exception is that some aftermarket heads have steam vents plugged which will require you to put the head on a specific bank of cylinders!
Because it's ridiculously easy to make big power reliably. My LS3 Camaro is already above 400 stock. Heads and cam and tune put it at 650 horse from Texas Speed. You can go from mild to wild in a weekend with very little effort.
Did a lifter in my vz ls1. Did have vcm cam all the good gear convertor 3.9s raced it regulary. stripped it wacked new ls7 lifters new cam oil pump timing gear etc. Still had hone marks in the bores and it had done 187k then. Made same amount of hp as it did with larger cam. Ls is king
I've got an idea "LS-swap" in my Nissan elgrand yep!! then i wake up ☺☺☺ not a bad dream though ☺☺☺ but it would be interesting trying to change the spark plugs with out having to take the engine out ☺☺☺ keep up the great work catchya in the next one!!
Nice video. Thanks for building my Chev SS, er, Holden Commodore VF Redline. Sad that Holden production has been stopped. Talk about LS swaps, my neighbor has a 197x Triumph TR6 stored in his garage for his boss, he opened the hood (bonnet) and the first thing I said was that an LS would fit easily in there.
Also one of the few things at GM where the accountants or recent engineering undergrads wanting to do a thesis project don't seem to be involved in the design. So it's proof that some things can be done right if not tampered with and kept simple. And because of the old school KISS aspect and reliability, sometimes it gets swapped into other cars from expensive brands to replace their over-engineered engines because the owners simply want to drive the car instead of having to pay for them again in parts and labor of an ongoing repair project.
Improved 6 bolt, cross bolted mains combined with the BBC style valve layout meaning no exhaust valves right next to each other. Two of the weak spots you run into making big power with boost on a factory SBC are the saddles/block itself which usually self destruct before reaching 1000hp and head gasket failures from the hot spotting between the center cylinders because of the eiieeiie valve layout. For people wanting to make big street power a ls with boost is the most economical choice. As well SBC always were the number one choice swap motor. Now there are literally millions of LS engines built and its been over 2 decades since the last Vortec style SBC was offered. So as far as availablity the LS wins there too. Then you look at size and it wins again compared to the huge ford mod motors and hefty hemi. And aftermarket swap support compared to the mod motor or the hemi is night and day. So just like the orginal SBC, cheap, available, lots of aftermarket support for the engine and swap.
The first automotive V8 engine to reach production was the 1914-1935 Cadillac L-Head engine introduced in the Type 51 so GM did kind of invent the first v8.
@@timtaylor1483 Corvette had an inline 6 not v6. It was called the Blue Flame. And.. autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/38-years-chevrolet-small-block-v8-there-was-chevrolet-v8 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Series_D
great tutorial. most times the simpler the better, the fewer the parts the less that will go wrong. The engine does not have to scream to get torque (power). timing chain no timing belt why they think belts are better is beyond me. Thanks for your time
A tip for anyone looking at a future swap, there are 2 generations of LS, not including cathedral/rectangle port, the gen 3 and gen 4. They're pretty compatible except for 1. The gen 3 has a 24 tooth crank reluctor while the gen 4 has a 58 tooth 2. The gen 4 have stronger rods 3. The knock sensors on a gen 4 are moved to the side of the block instead of the lifters valley Both are good choices tho
A few key things: Alum block with 6 bolts per cap and a compact design. That gives a great foundation to build on. It would be interesting to compare things like weight, power, stroke, to things like SBF and modular engines.
simple, reliable, makes big power, gets decent fuel economy. proof other companies are over engineering engines. I won't even consider buying a ford with their cam phasers failing. it's a nightmare to fix. they can't even make a engine that spark plugs come out of without breaking lol.
If 13mpg is good fuel economy than something is up with you oh and that's tuned trucks untuned they was getting 10 my 5.4 never seen below 20 with 28 being it's best
@@austinhowze6280 my man thinks we're talking about trucks lol, get your 2002 Triton fleet truck out of here, we're talking about actual performance mr. Hillbilly
The 5.0 has more than just cam phaser issues these days. The 5.0 Coyote blocks are significantly weaker than older Modular blocks. With a Coyote, you're looking at paying a machine shop to sleeve the block and weld gusset plates to reinforce weak areas.
Scott, I've been a Ford guy for decades.... But there's no denying the LS domination! In essence, it's a 1955 small block Chevy. 😳 Simple, rugged, easy to make power.
I live in NE Pennsylvania and my local wrecker will sell you an LS + whatever transmission is attached to it for $240 Oh and they pull it for you as well 😁
LS is with out doubt the greatest engine combo ever created,,, as ALUMINUM,, very light,,, very strong with steel sleeves,, small in outer volume,, but very big inside,, bottom end utterly strong,, new gen like LS3 have unreal good head-flow design,, as stock, unreal how much aftermarket stuff can be bought, seriously good for F/I in stock form, with reasonable tuning and setup, cheap ,, and i mean cheap,, I bought my LS3 crate 525 for an amount that no other engine manufacturer can offer with 500+ hp and loads of usable tq,, from every band of rpm,, If you dont see the benefit from the LS vs other engines,, your either an idiot or just wanna accept the facts,, LIKE it or Not,,, yes we know that there are many engines out there that can make a lot of power,, and the cost zillions of dollars,, but no engine,, and i mean no engine can make as much power with all positive benefits as the LS with as low cost........ ok i admit it doesent look very spectacular,, but what is does with the old tech design and structure is just gobsmacking compared to other motors
@@austinhowze6280 that is true, you can get a 347 stroker kit for a 302 for under a grand, come with a crank, and forged rods and pistons. All pre balanced
I like my german cars. But thanks to one Cleeter McSkeeter there's going to be a few cars with an LS engine through my garage. Just watching this I want to tinker around.
@@daszieher w124 e-class owner here, basic bread van 4.8 ls under the hood while I'm working on my sequential air shift control for the trans. LS + German chassis is the way to go!
@@unlisted9494 after having pulled and replaced the injectors on the M57 diesel up front in the E46 the thought of an LS becomes more appealing. however the diesel lump makes a real 37MPG @ 90-100MPH. no LS is ever gonna return that mileage. seems like a good excuse to get a second E46...
@@daszieher ....what about a Chevy Duramax diesel then? Best of both. For real though, an e46 with a cranked up Cummins r2.8 would be really cool. Do you like your e46? Considering one as my next drift project
You name any pushrod you like and I will counter with a smaller OHC engine that will blow it away in terms of power and torque per cubic centimetre of capacity and be better at fuel efficiency and emissions in the bargain. Pushrods are a dinosaur in today's technology!
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
Wow! This video is four years old now and the LS is still as popular as ever! So popular that we now have a brand new, even easier tuning option for it with the NEXUS Rebel LS. Check it out: hal.tech/RebelLSProductOverview
They work great on amsoil interceptor 2 stroke oil! Next gotta to get going on an LS1 2 stroke conversion
Subliminally putting a subaru logo when talking about blown headgaskets was great. lol
Cant wait for the subaru fan boys be like " NVER HAPPENED TO MUH SUBARU BRUH:."
Lol or Corvette Engine Heat Soak Overheating YT Videos. Come on GM. Stop voiding warranties if it happens on the track! Fix the issue or dont void warranty!
I don't understand why Subaru gets so much heat for that when GM is the king of blown head gaskets. The Cadillac High Technology engine, the Northstar engines, the 122 engines and several of GM's V6 engines were all extremely well known for blowing head gaskets.
@@PistonAvatarGuy you cant tell chevy people any thing but chevy is developing ohc engines now so the ls is coming to a end
@@PistonAvatarGuy Cause vaping douche bags dont drive Cadillacs
As a native Detroiter calling it a "Chev" pains me in ways that can only be described existentially.
Great base explanation of the motor.
Me too! Chev EEE!
@@jamesengland7461 He's an Aussie, I excuse them because they love to shorten words whenever given the chance.
@@Slizzo82 NEVER! ;)
It's like calling Porsche...Por
We love to shorten a word... Americans shortened Chevrolet to Chevy but we said, “yeah nah not short enough cobber, how about chev ya septic tank?”
Translation “no, not short enough good sir, how about chev you person of yankee origin?”
The content on this channel in the last 6-12 months has just got better and better keep up the awesome work guys!
I remember when i worked at holden an engineer told me the high output v6 engines were more expensive to build than the LS engines because they were were more complicated with the overhead cams but they could still sell the LS at a higher price as enthusiasts were willing spend more money on a v8.
What’s your point?
Everything about that checks out. V6 engines are also harder to balance, so they require a little more attention there from the manufacturer.
People, particularly Americans, love v8 engines. It's a huge part of our culture to value them more highly than v6s.
Pushrod motors are my engine design of choice. Primitive but reliable and effective. 700k miles no problem.
Primitive?
@@manoman0 compared to an overhead cam design yes
@@alexismendoza1545 Primitive means simple, easy. I think a pushrod design demands some hell of skills to build and run well.
alexis mendoza OHC design doesn’t predate DOHC by that much they were all developed around the turn of the 20th century.
Easy to fix, easy cam swaps, mass amounts of Torque 🤷 why not pushrods.
I love the idea of valve control, though I know where your coming from.
I recently got a Pontiac GTO (AKA Monaro) with the LS1 and I'm happy to join the LS club!
That's awesome:) How do you like it?
@@haltech So far it's great! Definitely better than anything GM made over here during the same time period. It has 165,000 miles and still runs like a top, no creaks when driving on the highway either.
15:10 That o-ring that seals the pickup tube to the oil pump was the cause of low oil pressure on cold mornings. Changed that instead of the pump and saved a ton of money. Got oil pressure like new on a 290,000 mile engine now.
@GbbJunkie It was dry rotted. Came off in chunks!
Well shown... Simplicity is key to strength and reliability.
Lmao all ford blocks hold 1000+ 2j takes you how far simple only makes power with adders
@@austinhowze6280 What's so funny... The Chevy small block is a legendary design which has lasted the test of time since the V8 forefathers designed the thing!
@@austinhowze6280 one problem with your argument....the Windsor block has a habit of splitting at over 500hp. Come on man, do your research
@@calincampbell5637 damn dude we not talking about the older motors we talking the ls 2v ford era do your research all 2v blocks support 1000 hp and the aluminum blocks will do 1500+ with no modifications
@@whoguy4231 the ford small block usely makes it longer than the 350s every 350 I know got rings and bearing at 300k where the ford are going 500k before they trash the truck and buy a new one
Two things: Crank-driven oil pump, and Cross-bolted mains in a long block skirt. Those two things alone make the LS the strongest engine out there, and make it super-popular. Race engines use main girdle kits for the same reason - stiffening the block lower-end and increasing crankshaft support
@itsabig yes SIR, though Chevy boys will die before they admit it, the LS is a stolen designs haha. From both Ford and Mopar, it's clear as day the mighty Cleveland had alot to do with the LS. Love it haha couldn't have said it better myself, Chevy has been stealing designs since forever.
GM has a long history of a deep skirt Y block design, to add strength to its aluminum blocks. The Buick 215--which was sold to Rover--is an example. The V6 made from it, which became the Dauntless in Jeeps and the turbo version in the Grand National, also had the deep skirt even though it was cast iron. The deep skirt creates a larger volume in the crankcase, which also helps the piston speed--as it comes racing down to BDC, it isn't compressing the atmosphere inside the crankcase and causing resistance, since there's more room for that atmosphere than in a normal V8. I believe in America, Ford made the deep skirt popular with its 239-272-292-312 Y block engines that followed the flathead and were a bridge to the Windsor small blocks.
As for the comments about the Cleveland...guess where the Cleveland got its canted valves from? GM exec Semon Bunkie Knudsen brought some engineers with him when he went to work at Ford...after the Chevy Big Block went to canted valves from the old W 409 design. But its also thought the 1st generation Chevy small block borrowed heavily from the 331 Cadillac that came before. The LS head design is suggested to copy the NASCAR Ford head design.
www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/ls1-heads-on-a-ford.730454/
www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/ls-engine-a-copy.458032/
@@lettheboywatch3100 I'm a mopar guy myself who loves 440s and hemis but it's not about who did it first, it's who did it best and the popularity and success of the LS engines is a testament to how good of a job chevy did with those engines
@@lettheboywatch3100lol yeah the 351 Cleveland was so good that's why they built it a few yrs id had one in a 73 ranchero it was a turd of a Engine
2012 2SS/RS Camaro. Downtown Atlanta rush hour traffic, doing 65, drop the 6 speed one, punch throttle, change lanes , hit 90 really quick, feeling like an automotive god.
I’ve got a LS (L77) patrol I love it brings me joy every time I drive it
Compact design, strong bottom end and high flow heads. Being cheap and easy to find is the icing on the cake.
As a non-mechanic, this video is amazing! Thankyou for providing it...
My LS2 GTO had the lifter issue. I ended up pulling the engine and doing a build with it... I love that beast of a motor. TONS of aftermarket support and paired with an HPtuners kit, the options are limitless.
Lifter issues are solved with a roller lifter conversion including roller rockers.
136,000 miles- 220,000 k's. Drives like new -like the last one I had -still has the same grunt it had when brand new. Love this engine.
Good to know, my 2012 LS3 V8 engine has only 30,000 miles, so I have a long time to enjoy it !!
had a 2000 1500 with the 5.3 that got to 350k miles and was still running strong as the truck fell apart around it.
It is our generation’s small block Chevy. You can’t beat the power per dollar value. It may not be the best out there but it’s reliable, affordable, and powerful.
That's the thing: it is the best available for the average person. Hence the insane popularity.
Good to see you being transparent about already having it apart, not like those shows with immaculate floors.
I'm fortunate enough to own a LS7. It's a real gem of an engine. And now, GM dropped the price, at least here in the US, for a long block crate engine, from about $17,500 to about $10K-12K. Hot Rod magazine bought one for a project. Broke it in then did the same SAE ISO witness certification correction the engine was rated with. About 520-525 bhp and about 490 lb-ft torque. And it has a dry weight of only about 438 lbs. It's an amazing piece of power plant.
Fantastic video Scotty! The content development on this channel has been unbelievable, and I truly hope it continues. Thanks Scotty and Haltech.
1. Price.
2. The (available) heads... 360+CFM flow, out of the box (LS7 CNC ported)
3. 55mm cam gallery
4. 6 bolt mains
5. Gaskets (they don't leak like a SBC/BBC.)
Number 5 seals the deal!
As far as heads, the stock l92 heads when ported are toe for toe with the ported ls7, which is why the 6L is so popular especially in grassroots drifting. You just can't beat 600hp n/a out of a tight, reliable package.
#5 Except the rear main seal
the head style and the 6 bolt mains are from ford. Nowhere on any other GM engine.
Sbc don't leak if you do it properly, duh.
You will notice that the timing cover has no locating dowels to the block, on initial assembly, it is important to fit the timing cover with seal installed without tightening down the bolts completely, then fit the balancer, then complete tightening down the timing cover bolts, this ensures the timing cover is centred to the balance and minimises the chances of oil leaks.
There are a few tools now that solidly locate the cover to the crank snout and allow you tighten the cover down and install the seal after.
A similar operation must be done with the oil pump. You need to remove the cover on the pump, shim it between the rotor and case then tighten all the bolts and remove the shims.
This is THE BEST introduction to the LS engine I have ever seen. Very well done.
In have a 2001 LS1 in My SS Commodore Ute. It has done 257K and still pulls like a train. Love it so much.
Just watched "Road Kill"on Motor Trend TV. A junkyard LS, stock bottom end , pull 1500 HP!! Now that is amazing!!
A very likable car guy that really knows his stuff and how to explain it to us dummies. Good work.
The poor Ford 351 Windsor. With lots of deck height, a solid block, good oiling, and evenly spaced ports it still didn't get the love of the SBC. Then along comes the LS to garner all the glory.
Nothing wrong with the good 'ole Windsor - but you're right the SBC got (and is still getting) all the love...
I'm still rockin a 350 from 1978 with a 4barrel carb. lol LS's call my truck grandpappy.
me also,,got do better to make me give up small block, this video is all about selling parts
350 💪 all day long 👍🔥
With a 4 pack 😲 she's a gem mate.
350 is the worst engine you can have,design wise.o.k.stock..mate wanted to fit a dodge 360 to his jag,but here in aus,,there aint no kits for nothin,except chev,so,,he searched for a truck 350,010 block,threw everything in the bin,except the block,then was a slave to the speed shop..that,,is chev..rubbish..
Here in America, its a different story. We can find a #10 block like your mate did, but its just as easy to find a "Vortec" block in a junkyard from the 1990's, the heads flow better, it already has a roller lifter camshaft (no need to worry about enough zinc in the oil to keep a flat tappet lifter from killing itself). Hot rod parts for the "1st gen" 350's are dirt cheap now, since everyone is going for the LS engines. I can slap together a 400bhp engine for less than $2,000 US.
Our Dodge 360, on the other hand, has the lifter angle used back in the 1960's, which was borrowed from the Poly A blocks (which may be similar to what was available in Australia), which in turn came from the 1st generation of Hemi engines. In other words, its not a great angle for the pushrods. Finding hot rod parts for it, used, isn't as easy as the "Chev 350"--i can go to a "Tag sale" at someone's house, and find parts someone bought once to hot rod a Chevy 350. Its actually a euphamism for anything common, easily sourced, and chosen more often than not to do a job.
Great run down. Most car guys aren't the best at explaining stuff.
Maybe one day you could do a ls swap series where you detail each step. Keep up the great work!
Light compact engine and great flowing factory heads. That's the two main reasons they are great engines. Then of course they are everywhere. Easy to find
The downside on the LS compared to the older sbc or bbc is when you are doing a cam swap you have to pull the heads in order to get to the lifter trays. In an older sbc or bbc you just remove the intake manifold. However thats just being nick picky and GM did a great job on making an engine that not only creates good power but also doesnt have major problems for 250,000 plus miles. There are countless vortec engines with that milage that still run great.
😂 I feel you, atleast you don't have to pull the cooling lines.
I’m blown away by the fact that this engines is so popular and reliable and loved and it only has two valves per cylinder, I say it cause so many car brands use to advertise cars with 4 valves like it’s a big deal, this one with only two conquered to many hearts.
Its mod friendly. With stand alone or stock ecu in test mode.
Basically like apple or pc... LS is like the PC
Which one is apple?
I'd say that in some ways the LS is more Apple like. Less parts, less complexity for the end user to deal with. Solid engineering and no extra crap that isn't needed to do the job. Back in the day when it was new GM were asked "why did you use pushrods?" and the answer was very straightforward and along the lines of "we had a target of X horsepower and could do it with pushrods in less physical space and less complexity".
@@JethroRose no, apple over designs shit that usually doesnt work, over prices thoer shit products, has NO aftermarket, and yet some are still stupid enough to purchase it. Def not an LS discription.
I mainly build and tune motorcycle engines, recently got into building 1 Ford engine and 1 LS engine. Who is more difficult for me to build a Ford engine due to the complexity of the part numbers versions years you name it. But in the end the Ford motor made some pretty good horsepower. The LS motor make good horsepower just by looking at it, just kidding it was a lot easier
@@JethroRose apple is shit show for stupid people who dont know better
You really can fit this in almost anything. On Facebook someone ls swapped a newer Volkswagen bug. Best part is it’s fwd utilizing a fwd trans out of an 06 Monte Carlo.
Thanks! I recently started watching Iron Resurrection and they put an LS in everything. I was wondering what was so special about them. Good info!
thanks to Tuning Fork, I'm gonna LS swap my toaster and my pool pump!💪
Make sure you put ford stickers on your vacuum so it sucks more
@@MeltingRubberZ28 other Fords might suck, but not my Ford😅
It’s cheap, light, easy to upgrade, comes in different CID, and still uses pushrods. Ford has their 5.0, but you spend half the money for half the headaches.
we can even say that the intake manifold is reversible for a rear mounted throttle body...heads can mount either side... exhaust manifold are either flip upside down for front exhaust with top exit or side swapped for downward exit.. need to watch for Cathedral or Rectangular intake ports on the heads and intake...or LS7 and LS9 cams are for dry sump engine
Tl;dw:
It's a relatively compact, reliable, and cheap way to make big power. They're easy to work on and have a larger aftermarket and wider power band than pretty much any other performance engine. There are other great performance platforms out there. But for value, power band, and reliability, it's tough to beat an LS.
I never normally comment, but it needs mentioning - This video was FANTASTIC.
I enjoy watching Scotty from Haltech's engine breakdown videos. Do more please.
Thank Scotty another great video on engines never realized how simple the LS actually is
“Blown head gasket”
*shows Subaru logo 😂
Great explanations. Not a total noob but I appreciate that you target a wider audience with different levels of knowledge in this area.
"your car will be running and theirs probably won't be" haha I died 👍😂
This was a great video. I just upgraded from a 2002 Grand Prix with a 3.8L V6 to a 2004 CTS-V with a 5.7L LS6 V8. It is fun to see the similarities and differences between these two pushrod engines.
In one way, the LS is just like the old 350 small block. They both make decent (although not always earthshattering) power, they're both relatively reliable, they have a huge range of aftermarket parts and services, but mostly...packaging, packaging, packaging. They fit into just about anything. Not the most up to date design - but sometimes, old-school tech like cam-in-block and pushrods is good enough, while keeping external dimensions to a minimum.
It's crazy how glad we are (well a lot of us at least) that GM didn't go the way of Ford and the rest by chasing the overhead cam (yeah they are doing it with Cadillac but that's about it). I know Hemi's are still pushrod but without the LS/LQ I don't know what everyone would be doing right now in the engine swap/aftermarket area. Like you said it's the packaging. I don't think a lot of people understand just how long and tall an inline 6 is.
Not relatively reliable, extremely reliable
Obsidian well the c8 zo6 is going to be ohc probably so looks like it’s going to die eventually
@@corey0189 I doubt it... But who knows, maybe they switch engine platforms just for the Z06? They're really only done that for the ZR1 in recent history. But the word is that it'll be turbo'd. I guess the Cadillac's Blackwing is a Twin turbo OHC V8. I just wonder about the packaging of an OHC in place of the pushrod.
Obsidian the c8.r already has a 5.5 ohc v8 with a flat plane crank.
It so simple yet so powerful, it's no wonder so many love these engines!!
How many times have you heard the term “LS-swap”? What makes GM's LS series so popular with drag racers, hot-rodders, drifters, modders and tuners alike?
We dive deep to find out the reason why this particular engine is so many people's favourite.
This is quite a long video so if you want to jump a particular section, we've included some shortcuts:
Engine Overview: ruclips.net/video/wMZG7nFx-2M/видео.html
Tuning Options: ruclips.net/video/wMZG7nFx-2M/видео.html
Engine Teardown: ruclips.net/video/wMZG7nFx-2M/видео.html
---------------
What engine you'd like us to cover next?
It would have been cool for you to talk about the difference in uses between the LS and LQ. I only recently (within the last two years) found out that you didn't get LQ's in Australia. I know it's just iron vs Aluminum but...
Ka24de lol
Soooo.... What actually is it that makes this engine good? The simplicity alone doesn't explain al of it... Nice to work on and sturdy design, but what is it that makes it perform? Is it an efficient burning engine that can operate safely with a high compression ratio or does the power just come from displacement? I wouldn't mind a bit more detail.
AC
Scotty, you totally skipped talking about the high flow port design, the large cam lobes, roller lifters and beehive valvesprings that combined allow for aggressive cam profiles and high rpm with good reliability. These things together with the strong bottom end and fairly simplistic design are what makes the LS platform such a good engine. Easy to make reliable power. That, and just like the old gen 1 and 2 small block, there are millions of them out there for the choosing.
I have a 2004 Silverado Z71 with a 5.3 LS engine.I bought it brand new. It has 380,000 miles on it right now and it runs like the day I bought the truck new.
"You don't have to reinvent everything, this thing works".
God damn right!
LS rocks love my 04 5.7
NA lots of goodies and she rips.
12:43 Subaru 😂😂😂
Well spotted!
@@haltech It reminded me of the movie Fight Club, so I just had to keep rewinding until I got it 👊
HeAdGaSkEt?!
Headgaskeeeeeeeeeet
Great vid Scott I'm considering it as a cost effective replacement for the turbo diesel in my Transit van when the engine dies
Fantastic content love the tear downs and technical aspects of your videos most of it is fairly basic but it's all essential to understanding whats going on under the bonnet 👍
Scott is the best. Really enjoy your thorough, and simple delivery style. It’s funny because, in my view, pushrod V8’s are all I’ve ever been around, and all the engines I see MCM and y’all mess with, are weird to me. I hate the OHC stuff, but enjoy watching y’all tinker with them because of your personalities and how well y’all get along and work together. Thanks for sharing the knowledge, we need a million more people like you!
Loving the Oklahoma plate on the wall 👌🏼🤙🏼 much love from T-town
Thank you so much for doing these breakdowns! Your so easy to follow and speak so well! I have an s13 that I've just swapped and rb25det into but had always considered the LS swap but turned away from it because I wanted to stay turbo. After watching this I definitely want to get another car either with an LS or to swap an LS into!
Turbo the LS. 👍
@@Borderline5440 In order to keep it street legal I can't put an LS in and turbo it, it's either NA LS or turbo 6cyl
Fun fact: LS heads are not mirror images from one bank to another. They are actually identical on both banks. The only exception is that some aftermarket heads have steam vents plugged which will require you to put the head on a specific bank of cylinders!
Because it's ridiculously easy to make big power reliably. My LS3 Camaro is already above 400 stock. Heads and cam and tune put it at 650 horse from Texas Speed. You can go from mild to wild in a weekend with very little effort.
Simplicity, reliability, and bang for buck.
love the OK tag 118 JIK at the background
Great video thanks. Makes me want to pull apart an engine myself. I think I'll start with a lawn mower first.
Try mounting the LS on your lawn mower.
Hey, lots of budding mechanics started with the lowliest of powerplants. Learn the fundamentals.
Did a lifter in my vz ls1. Did have vcm cam all the good gear convertor 3.9s raced it regulary. stripped it wacked new ls7 lifters new cam oil pump timing gear etc. Still had hone marks in the bores and it had done 187k then. Made same amount of hp as it did with larger cam. Ls is king
I've got an idea "LS-swap" in my Nissan elgrand yep!! then i wake up ☺☺☺ not a bad dream though ☺☺☺ but it would be interesting trying to change the spark plugs with out having to take the engine out ☺☺☺ keep up the great work catchya in the next one!!
Ls swapped Elgrand - we'd love to see that!
☺☺☺I would have to sell my soul to have that done but i say that it could be possible ☺☺☺.
Why pull the engine for plugs? Just cut out the floor/firewall and make the whole front hinge forward like a cab over 18 wheeler lol
That was a lot of fun. You hit a balance of explaining without over explaining that was great. keep up the great work
The flashing of that Scooby badge when talkin' about blown head gaskets :))
Thanks for the in depth ls pull apart tuning fork. I have one myself and wanted to do more. Now I know.
Oh I wish there are more teardown vid. Very intresting looking inside these legendary engines. 2JZ and Subaru's EJ would certainly be intresting.
Nice video. Thanks for building my Chev SS, er, Holden Commodore VF Redline. Sad that Holden production has been stopped. Talk about LS swaps, my neighbor has a 197x Triumph TR6 stored in his garage for his boss, he opened the hood (bonnet) and the first thing I said was that an LS would fit easily in there.
If we had a penny every time we've heard the phrase "An LS could fit in there".....
Also one of the few things at GM where the accountants or recent engineering undergrads wanting to do a thesis project don't seem to be involved in the design. So it's proof that some things can be done right if not tampered with and kept simple. And because of the old school KISS aspect and reliability, sometimes it gets swapped into other cars from expensive brands to replace their over-engineered engines because the owners simply want to drive the car instead of having to pay for them again in parts and labor of an ongoing repair project.
Improved 6 bolt, cross bolted mains combined with the BBC style valve layout meaning no exhaust valves right next to each other. Two of the weak spots you run into making big power with boost on a factory SBC are the saddles/block itself which usually self destruct before reaching 1000hp and head gasket failures from the hot spotting between the center cylinders because of the eiieeiie valve layout.
For people wanting to make big street power a ls with boost is the most economical choice. As well SBC always were the number one choice swap motor. Now there are literally millions of LS engines built and its been over 2 decades since the last Vortec style SBC was offered. So as far as availablity the LS wins there too. Then you look at size and it wins again compared to the huge ford mod motors and hefty hemi. And aftermarket swap support compared to the mod motor or the hemi is night and day.
So just like the orginal SBC, cheap, available, lots of aftermarket support for the engine and swap.
I take things apart really well....my problem is putting things back together.😁 Stay safe everyone.
Exactly 💯, for whatever reason putting stuff back together is always harder.
Excellent video! We wish they sold Holdens here in the states!
Awesome info. Thanks, Mr. Fork! :)
Thanks Haltech, really enjoyed this nuts and bolts video, super cool to see the mechanics behind what facilitates everything we do on the laptop 🍺
The first automotive V8 engine to reach production was the 1914-1935 Cadillac L-Head engine introduced in the Type 51 so GM did kind of invent the first v8.
N0TE The first V8 was built by a French man in 1902. GM was just the first To get the engine in production they didn’t invent it.
@@thomasbrindley6433
Correct. And, Chevy did have a v8 in the 20s I believe .
@@xmo552 Chevy didn't get a v8 until 1955 even the Corvette started out as a v6 until 55.
@@timtaylor1483
Corvette had an inline 6 not v6. It was called the Blue Flame.
And..
autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/38-years-chevrolet-small-block-v8-there-was-chevrolet-v8
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Series_D
@@xmo552 I know it's a difference I just say v6 lol.
love the Subaru blown headgasket easter egg!!!
great tutorial. most times the simpler the better, the fewer the parts the less that will go wrong. The engine does not have to scream to get torque (power). timing chain no timing belt why they think belts are better is beyond me. Thanks for your time
A tip for anyone looking at a future swap, there are 2 generations of LS, not including cathedral/rectangle port, the gen 3 and gen 4. They're pretty compatible except for
1. The gen 3 has a 24 tooth crank reluctor while the gen 4 has a 58 tooth
2. The gen 4 have stronger rods
3. The knock sensors on a gen 4 are moved to the side of the block instead of the lifters valley
Both are good choices tho
Also the engine in the trailblazer SS is a gen 4 engine with a 24 tooth crank reluctor
no drive by cable gen4s either as far as I know
Am I the only one that can't stop staring at the lava lamp?
you are getting sleepy.... very sleepy....
@@haltech zzzzzzzzzz🥱
@@Grumpy_Stiltskin Now that you're relaxed, you will buy a Haltech ECU... :D
you will buy several. now. enter your credit card details here....
You were until I read your comment. Now I can't focus on the information lol
A few key things: Alum block with 6 bolts per cap and a compact design. That gives a great foundation to build on. It would be interesting to compare things like weight, power, stroke, to things like SBF and modular engines.
simple, reliable, makes big power, gets decent fuel economy. proof other companies are over engineering engines. I won't even consider buying a ford with their cam phasers failing. it's a nightmare to fix. they can't even make a engine that spark plugs come out of without breaking lol.
If 13mpg is good fuel economy than something is up with you oh and that's tuned trucks untuned they was getting 10 my 5.4 never seen below 20 with 28 being it's best
@@austinhowze6280 my man thinks we're talking about trucks lol, get your 2002 Triton fleet truck out of here, we're talking about actual performance mr. Hillbilly
@@calincampbell5637 shows up in a 04 lighting with a pulley on it and a set of stickys what was you saying again
@@calincampbell5637 you calling 19 mpgs in a car good you tripping to
The 5.0 has more than just cam phaser issues these days. The 5.0 Coyote blocks are significantly weaker than older Modular blocks. With a Coyote, you're looking at paying a machine shop to sleeve the block and weld gusset plates to reinforce weak areas.
Scott, I've been a Ford guy for decades....
But there's no denying the LS domination! In essence, it's a 1955 small block Chevy. 😳 Simple, rugged, easy to make power.
I live in NE Pennsylvania and my local wrecker will sell you an LS + whatever transmission is attached to it for $240
Oh and they pull it for you as well 😁
Lima Bravo and what yard is this exactly ? 🤔 I live in MD but I will certainly take that trip for that price
Heavy Chevy /
EZ-Pull new ringgold pa
Do they have any LS7 for for 10k tho
M Jz / they sure do, hell ive got two of them in my garage and ones going into my lawn mower
@@limabravo6065 WHAT U WAITING ONE BRUH. Send me they info!!
Just stumbled across this channel. As soon as I saw Tuning Fork, I subbed.
LS is with out doubt the greatest engine combo ever created,,, as ALUMINUM,, very light,,, very strong with steel sleeves,, small in outer volume,, but very big inside,, bottom end utterly strong,, new gen like LS3 have unreal good head-flow design,, as stock, unreal how much aftermarket stuff can be bought, seriously good for F/I in stock form, with reasonable tuning and setup, cheap ,, and i mean cheap,, I bought my LS3 crate 525 for an amount that no other engine manufacturer can offer with 500+ hp and loads of usable tq,, from every band of rpm,,
If you dont see the benefit from the LS vs other engines,, your either an idiot or just wanna accept the facts,, LIKE it or Not,,, yes we know that there are many engines out there that can make a lot of power,, and the cost zillions of dollars,, but no engine,, and i mean no engine can make as much power with all positive benefits as the LS with as low cost........ ok i admit it doesent look very spectacular,, but what is does with the old tech design and structure is just gobsmacking compared to other motors
I kept waiting for Scotty to palm the motor with one hand and show it from different angles. 🤪 cheers mate!
No matter your favorite brand of vehicle,,, you have to love the L.S platform. Nothing better out there PERIOD. Well i do love the buick 3800 v6 too.
Haha theres definetly better things out there. Just not for the price
I mean you can build some sick ford motors cheaper than the ls is you know where to get your parts from
@@austinhowze6280 that is true, you can get a 347 stroker kit for a 302 for under a grand, come with a crank, and forged rods and pistons. All pre balanced
@@austinhowze6280 seriously FORD?! lets keep that junk out of this awesome L.S discussion please.
@@alaskarailroad3996 the ls isn't that great
Nice Mazda RX4 hubcap on the shelf😉
I like my german cars. But thanks to one Cleeter McSkeeter there's going to be a few cars with an LS engine through my garage. Just watching this I want to tinker around.
LS swapped E46?
Hell Yea Brother!!
@@daszieher w124 e-class owner here, basic bread van 4.8 ls under the hood while I'm working on my sequential air shift control for the trans. LS + German chassis is the way to go!
@@unlisted9494 after having pulled and replaced the injectors on the M57 diesel up front in the E46 the thought of an LS becomes more appealing.
however the diesel lump makes a real 37MPG @ 90-100MPH. no LS is ever gonna return that mileage.
seems like a good excuse to get a second E46...
@@daszieher ....what about a Chevy Duramax diesel then? Best of both. For real though, an e46 with a cranked up Cummins r2.8 would be really cool.
Do you like your e46? Considering one as my next drift project
Totally accurate, and well-explained. That's a refreshing change.
Its flow at low rpm. A engine is a air pump and LS engines are the best pumps out there. That's part of the reason for torque at low rpm.
Awesome video I'm about to pull down my series 1 ls1 with what I think to be a blown bottom end this video is a huge help.
Hell yeah brother you're on the Cleetus McFarland RUclips channel!
Great title. Great info. I can't wait to watch more of your videos.
You overhead cam guys are funny, lol, good video man, but pushrod for life bro
You name any pushrod you like and I will counter with a smaller OHC engine that will blow it away in terms of power and torque per cubic centimetre of capacity and be better at fuel efficiency and emissions in the bargain. Pushrods are a dinosaur in today's technology!
@@garyquinlan4075 The reality is the first engines were built as dohc and dohc only for 30+years. Later came the push rod engine.🤭🤷🤦
Nice overview Scott
I'd love to see a '4G63" episode :)
In the pipeline:)
I saw that quick blip of the Subaru logo