I didn’t expect to watch this video and see myself building my own engine! Very well done video and very informative. One HUGE thing to mention on LS/LT swaps is the availability and difficulty of tuning the LT engines. The learning curve is much higher and everything is “torque” based in HP tuners for the LT engines. My LT5 has been an absolute pain to tune and while tons of shops say they can tune them, really only Cordes Performance and Advanced Modern Performance seem to have the guys that have really mastered them.
What's so great about the Ls is you can pretty much grab any variety from the junk yard for 500 bucks, slap some cheap turbos on it, and go faster than anything in your general area. It's great.
@@jonathanramoslexusmaster298 If that's spicy than a turbo LS is fire. The 2jz single will basically be N/a up to about 3,500rpm. Meanwhile it just got trucked by a 5.3 with two ebay gt45s and a mild cam...bus lengths...a tractor trailor...a mobile home, lol.
I like how you said the internet says you need at least 1000hp. My 505 LS7 is plenty for getting into trouble. Even the C5 Z06 feels very fast. TH-cam makes everyone who hasn't driven a fast car yet think these are slow. Hell, a fiesta st is a ton of fun with 197hp.
I blame the YT channels like 1320video that showcases 600-1500HP cars like they were a common thing. People don't realize those cars are the top 1% of fast cars. Heck, if someone has a 400HP car, he's faster than 95% of the cars on the road.
Exactly. I've driven my buddy's bone stock Evo 8 and the thing is a blast. Don't know the power numbers off the top of my head but it's certainly less than 505.More than enough to have some fun
I remember in the late 90s when the traditional small blocks were the older cheaper tech and LS was exotic and expensive. You could still get a cheap pre smog small block with good for the time heads that would make power cheap. LS was only in Vettes and F body’s and they were expensive. Cool to see the progression.
For real before the ls...we had the 5.7 vortec...and they were great ....just not as fast as the Ls....or lt, remember racing a 5.3 when they first came out and walked my 5.7....after that I was pretty sure I better get my shit together ....so I procharged the 5.7....lol
I've had many LS 6.0 in all of my GM pickups for over 20 years with no problems. My current survivor truck is a 1999 Chevy Silverado 2500 LD 4 X 4 with the LS 6.0 3 door EXT Cab with 6.5' bed. This truck has pulled everything from a 13,000LB Toy Hauler Travel Trailer with 2 full dress Harleys in it to boats and car carriers. It now has 350,000 on the original engine, runs like new does not burn oil. Push rod engines are simple and simple is good.
The LS3's 55mm intake valve was actually sized for a 6.8L and higher RPM, and they used some tricks to make it work on the 6.2. That's why the LT went to a smaller 54mm valve...which is still too big. That "big" LT port is the secret to the low end torque; the VVT is just icing on the cake.
@@TurboV8boi This is a little long.......BUT When theres enough cubic inches or camshaft or both that have to go through it, a bigger valve is necessary, in some cases its NEEDED. My examples are of N/A engines, but air behaves the same way regardless of N/A or forced induction. Best examples are a 1.7/1.5 small block chevy head vs a 1.94/1.59 or 2.02/1.6, youll AWLAYS gain power EVERYWHERE in a 327 or 350. The difference is (depending on castings) only the valve size, some may have smaller or larger chambers. And likewise with the LS, GM saw it fit to separate the 5.7 and 6.0s from the 5.3s and 4.8s in regards to valve sizing; the cylinder head architecture is almost identical in all cathedral port castings. And in testing, a 5.3/4.8 head absolutely kills top end power after 4500rpm on top of a 6.0.
@@rustysausage69 thanks for the reply. I wonder about cathedral vs square port too since you mention it . I understand you can't put square port heads on 4.8/5.3 engines; but once i was told that on turbo cars the cathedral port heads are good because of velocity they provide vs a square port. Granted I haven't seen data comparing the two in that situation.
@@TurboV8boi The general rule is if something makes more horsepower N/A, then it will make more power under boost; that said, the peak numbers don't necessarily tell the etire story. The engine has to be moving enough air across the RPM band for the head to be worth it, whether that extra air be from a bigger camshaft, cubic inches, or both. In the case of my personal 416LS, it has ported LS3 heads, big cam, ported intake, much more cubes, etc. etc. and makes 680hp, revvs to 7000, it surely moves enough air for rectangle ports to be well worth it. If I bought a set of ported cathedral ports, it would lose power everywhere after 4000RPM, they might give it a little more torque before 4000 because of the smaller ports; thats still before the torque peak though. On a stock 6.0, a set of LS3 heads is entirely not worth it because it doesn't have enough camshaft or cubes to really take advantage of the extra flow. It'd make 10 more horsepower at the top because its a bigger head, but before the torque peak that size prevents the air from moving higher velocity to make a higher torque peak, so it would lose torque from idle to 5000.
Don’t stop making these kind of videos . You’re going to get huge doing these type of videos . You have a lot of good info and it’s very well put together.
@@timothypadilla4192 you and some others missed my point. at 1:16 when he lists the variants of LS engines produced, the 5.7 displacement is not listed
In conclusion, the one that has been around longer is easier to get and is cheaper to work with...obviously lol. If the new gen LT was out first it'd be flipped. It's all about having time to adapt and availability of kits/parts which grows with time. Both are great! Solid comparison video too.
I’d love to see a video just dedicated to all the popular LS variants and their differences and what vehicles they came from etc. that’s always very interesting info.
You left out the LS 5.7 the original The great beauty of the LS is the crank mounted oil pump. This give many options oil pan wise along with the small top end giving plenty of room for accessories along with heads that flow well. OHC or Hemi adds to the size of the top end significantly making them less swap friendly.
LT swapping my c10 currently. The LT was my choice purely because I got the engine for "free". Buddy got it through his job at a service center because it was pulled for a stuck lifter under warranty and was just going to be scrapped, I traded him a shotgun for it. Although he did give me the option of the LT or one of the hundred of SBC shorts he had sitting around, but took the LT because I was sold on the direct injection, high flow of the heads, and the 6 bolt mains. The main downsides to the LT you presented well, and it's as you say the aftermarket isn't there because the engine is still too new.
Great content! You hit on the proliferation of LS engines correlating with the aftermarket and research put into them. Conversely, it would be awesome to see you cover Rotary engines! I feel like Rob Dahm is the only person still working on them
This is a well reasoned, well thought out argument. I fully agree with all points made. I've owned 2 LS1 F-Bodies. Both had over 100k miles on them by the time I sold them with ZERO engine problems.
I LOVE this Channel. Keep doing these bro and take it back all the way back to some of the most legendary engines from the 1940s on up. Your on to something here with this format and theme, it’s refreshing, soon you’ll have the world only full video Wikipedia of engines.
Being a tech you’ll find out GDI engines are designed to fail after awhile cuz they let a lot of carbon build up on the intake valves and require frequent cleaning but with port injection gas is able to hit the intake valve and clean off the carbon build up so yes GDIs are more fuel efficient and can make better power but the longevity of the engine isn’t so great port injection engine will last longer
You can solve that problem with a oil catch can. I've put almost 200k trouble free miles on my l83 and had 150k on one with zero issues before I wrecked it. Still makes plenty of power in my 2015 rcsb silverado, and I regularly hard launch and do over 130mph in. Like weekly. I've beat the hell out of both those motors with no visible loss of power or problems besides a broken valve spring which was an easy fix.
I took a tour of a jasper engines plant years ago, the engines they were rebuilding were probably 90% small block chevy. There were quite a few 4.3s as well, and they're damn good engines too.
My favorite engine of all time is the LS3. Came in my favorite Corvette generation (C6) and my favorite 4 door sedan (SS). The 5th gen Camaro didn't really speak to me that much (mostly due to that hideous interior) but I still would take it's LS3 over the Mustang's 5.0 coyote.
As a 5th gen owner I never understood the hate towards the interior. Its simple, has cool lights, & easy to clean. I do have a 2ss if that makes a difference.
@@julian_sp I think everyone got tired of the green LEDs on the dash and door panels. It's the very reason why I didn't get an 5th gen😂🤣plus if you had the automatic it was slower than and 4th gen Camaro.
Hmmmmnnn… nah.. nothing like a stroked LS7… it will make the power naturally aspirated that of an LS3 supercharged… There is nothing that runs so strong as a built LS7 stroker on nitrous or even turbo. Like the old saying says. There no replacement for displacement. When it comes to Chevy motors they rely very much in displacement. The bigger they are the more power you get specially in latest engines..even though a lot of old school big blocks still make considerable power when done right.
@@Javservice wow didn’t know a stroked NA LS7 could make as much as my Supercharged LS3 Making 900whp. LOL…. That was a dumb statement and mine is still stock bottom end
exactly. the jackscrews/crossbolts on teh block it the key to more strength. Those lt engine will be junk when they hit the yard due to the direct injection system. The ls base engine will win out in the long run...
DAMN bro, you are freaking knowledgeable. You even have "Ultimate Ultima RS over here writing. (very glad I found your channel ... thanks for the great work)
I put a L86 in my jk and it is a awesome swap. But I added a supercharger and now lay modify it. And kinda wish I had gotten a LS for the reason u had stated. But if I wasn’t going to modify I like the LT all day the torque for a stock motor is amazing
I watch your videos on tik tok. And I just found your TH-cam. I’m lovin em all. Your so informative and have little bias. You go off facts and statistics. Thank you for thay
The way I make sense of it is that the LT Seems to be more of a high-revving "sportscar engine" that probably makes its best power way up top. LS is the torque monster with endless aftermarket.
A few years ago, Petronix had an engine build competition. On team built a 350 cid engine while the other team built a LS 6.0 engine. Both teams had the same budget of 5,000 dollars, the 350 engine outperformed the LS except for fuel mileage. The price of parts for the older engines were so much cheaper it allowed far more options to build the engine.
I have a stock C5 Z06 and a stock C4 LT1 Vette. Both great engines and cool cars. The C4 is actually a cooler car IMO. The C5Z is pretty basic/boring unless you are running it hard where it's a very capable and fast car. The C4 is a cool car just to drive down the road.
Yep had an 88 35th with an L98. Sure top end not really there.. great stop light to stop light and around town though.. plus c4s just have a bad ass look. Interior is like a cock pit. They look they’re going 170 sitting still. Sports cars don’t have that stance anymore.
I was just reading a thread on Corvetteforum where guys were saying the C4 is a lot more fun to drive, and the C5 is boring in comparison. I wish my 89 had more than 240 hp.
@@fryloc359 safety lol.. c5 and above a lot safer, don’t make all there power low. C4 with an L98 can kill you lol. I’ve had a couple experiences where I should’ve wound up in someone’s garage or a ditch but thankfully didn’t quite happen lol
Yeah and also as the above commenter said. A c5 or above especially anything that’s a z06 you have to run hard to experience the fun. Try running any of those cars hard hard on a public road lol. Potential death or accident. I fell like from everything I read, unless you track or race a lot .anything past 250-325 HP is wasted on normal roads. Good friend of mine had a 2020 5.0 mustang. Claims the thing just felt bottled up driving around town, nowhere to open up remotely other then highway occasionally. So for around town driving L98 sweet spot and I’m sure LT1 lol. LT1 will have a bit of a highway edge due to extra 55 HP.
Good video and I've driven enough LT and LS vehicles to realize this. Either engine produces a smile and that's why we drive. Is to have fun and smile. See you in the next one.
While I do agree with everything you’re saying I just think the LT is cooler. And even just cam swapping an L83 and doing dod delete ( identical parts as LS) can get you some pretty wicked power, I’d argue better than a gen 3/4 5.3. Big downsides are accessories/power steering although the l8t does have a hydraulic pump, if you can fit it. And other major downside for euro and jdm is extremely limited selection of front sump pans because of the integrated oil pickup.
Great vid. The fueling is crazy expensive. And as soon as you boost the LT1 you will need to upgrade it to full lt4 fueling and new piston and rods. Yes the ls is a better platform overall.
Worth mentioning 97-02 LS was gen 3. 03-07 was gen 3.5 and gen 4 is 2007+. Gen 3 no afm/dod but weaker. 3.5/4 had stronger rods and pistons with full floating wrist pins.
This video has me amped and I never say that word. I got a 02 single cab with a LS7 and I’m getting a ZR2 with a L87. I’m looking forward to rebuilding my old truck as soon as I get my new one. Plus the parts are cheaper. I’m goin to learn a lot of stuff
LT motors are great. Hopefully down the line they end up in yards for $500. Price is just a massive factor for everyone really. I love my LS1, it runs okay for being 25 years old and having 140k miles. Sure it's not as fast as a Coyote mustang, but it puts a smile on my face. Can't wait to build a 408, just to lose to a FBO E85 10 Speed Camaro/Mustang.
My G8 GT has a 403 stroker in it and man is it fun. I need to get a more aggressive cam but right now I'm making 410whp at 6,000ft above sea level (I live in Colorado) and even then it's still a blast and torque monster
With me also being a little biased, not taking into account the price for modifications.... the 93-97 lt1 can be made into a monster and match modern supped up engines. The 93-97 lt1 engines are CRIMINALY Underrated. Also reverseflow cooling is bad ass !!!!!
Agreed. I had a ride in a G-Body with a 90s LT1 in it. 350 HP to the wheels and that thing could move. He made it to be a summer touring car to drive cross country.
The AFM/DoD can be tuned out on the LTs, and in fact is factory tuned out on all the manual transmission ones. The manuals instead have a skip-shift feature to avoid the gas-guzzler tax, altho that can also be removed by installing a $10 bypass cable.
@@upcastdrake8460 yep - eco, normal, sport, & race. In ECO mode it will default to 4cyl DOD if the power isn't required. With ECO on it pretty much defaults to 4cyl: 70mph, top down, 7th gear, it pulls 1300rpm, and averages 35mpg. If I stay in 6th at 60mph it will be closer to 40mpg. Power is just a stab of the throttle away (usually requires a downshift as the cruising rpm is so low) Outstanding power and fuel economy combined.
And roller lifters and rockers. I believe the water pump was reverse flowed to cool the heads first instead of the block. There were a lot of little things that added horse power or the lack of horse power robbing. I might be thinking of a generation before the LTx., but I know that those changes added a lot to GM power from the old 350ci as we knew it.
Any recommendations on which LS? 1974 Square Body K10. Long highway drives before hitting dirt or mud. Need a matching transmission, either manual or automatic. Fuel economy and durability are more important than HP. I am fine going a bit slow but hate to breakdown in the middle of nowhere. Could do a new crate or junkyard.
I do have a comparison that I would like to see if you could. Gen 1 small blocks vs LS. I am looking for a cost per hp comparison. Reason for the request, the Gen 1's have been around forever and have more aftermarket parts (currently) available to them vs LS. Granted I know the stock head is the biggest re-stricter of power but for under $5K, you can build over 500HP on a stock 400 or 383. So the parameters I would use are - displacement (nothing over 400CI plus .030 overbore for cleanup), cost - I would keep it to $5000 and naturally aspirated, 2 bolt main on the Gen 1 would be fine, both junkyard motors. What are your thoughts? Would this be a worthwhile video? BTW: nice work on this video!
I own a 2006 gto with the ls2 in it and love it 108.800 miles change my oil and filter and it runs great I don't burn rubber but I don't baby it either and I'm 68 years old
Reminds me of the late 90s when if you were serious about going fast with your new 98 F body you yanked that LS1 out and dropped in a big inch SBC with carb and probably a 2 speed auto.
You will not be disappointed, I have a 2019 Camaro ss 1le, and it's the best car I've ever owned. Previously owned: 2011 Wrx FBO tuned by jrtuned, and a 1993 supra tt auto standard bpu all on 93octane. Camaro stock kills my previously owned cars in every performance metric. But the supra was actually more compliant on the street lol.
Great comparison video. You really can do a LS swap in your toaster! I can remember LS swapped mustangs at the track back in the day cause the Ford boys got tired of gettin' beat all the time! Poor Ford didn't have an answer to the LS until 2011.😂
Bought a previosly raced LT1 for $1k. Going to build it more with a better intake, possibly even go nuts with it, and swap it into sonething that definitely should not have that kind of horsepower
Hey man just wanna say this was an incredible video, love these kinds of deep dives and it’s hard to find people who do them well, especially on relatively niche topics like this.
Mannnnnnn that 5.3 LS is literally today’s 350. Everyone and their neighbor was dropping in 350’s. Ayyyyyyyy speaking of 5.3’s. I’ve got one someone near middle Tennessee can have l. Runs good and doesn’t smoke but it’s long in the tooth at about 220k miles on it. Only thing I’m charging is dropping in my newer engine in.
I’m not a fan of the direct injection because of the problems with the intake valves coking up. I have a 2015 ZL1 manual transmission and I plan on keeping it for the long term.
I remember before Covid hit you could pick up an LS Engine for 500 bucks in Australia now you can’t even pick one up for at least 2 1/2 to 3 grand minimum
I'm going to look at my first LS long block this weekend. The kid said it was his grandfather's before he passed and he was the original owner. He doesn't know anything else about it, so im going to identify what LS it is specifically. He's asking 400, depending on which lsx it is I'd say it's a no brainer for me to pick up this engine to rebuild?
So I got more pictures and decided against it for the fact it was just a long block, and it was incomplete in terms of accessory parts and manifold, wiring harness, etc.
I really want an LS3 and to supercharge it. After sll I've come to learn. Its pretty well known they can reliabily hold 750 hp without having to do anything else but a cam.
Pretty decent discussion. What I 1st noticed about the LT series motors was how much more space the front accessory drive took up when looking @ them @ SEMA in 2013?....Sorry but, the wide poorly utilized accessory packaging makes them a NIGHMARE! to install into any old Muscle Car along with the added complexity of the direct injected fuel system....They are't that huge of an improvement over the Gen3/4 LS based motors. Not worth while for me. One thing to note, the premium LS motors are getting more scarce (LS3, LS7, LS9) and commanding more premiums....I was happy to get a 2010 LS3 Dry Sump motor out of a wrecked GS Corvette in 2014 for under $5K....Not going to happen these days (Less then 3000 miles on it)
As someone intimately familiar with the LT1 having had to do the following VERY common repairs: Replace a coolant soaked Optispark, a harmonic destroyed cam driven water pump, a failed rear mini ram gasket that soaked the dual mass flywheel which cannot be resurfaced, a fried ECM which is a royal PITA to tune, Fuel rails that are prone to boil fuel, which in turn causes frequent fuel injector failure, I can say Id rather have almost any other engine.
I didn’t expect to watch this video and see myself building my own engine! Very well done video and very informative. One HUGE thing to mention on LS/LT swaps is the availability and difficulty of tuning the LT engines. The learning curve is much higher and everything is “torque” based in HP tuners for the LT engines. My LT5 has been an absolute pain to tune and while tons of shops say they can tune them, really only Cordes Performance and Advanced Modern Performance seem to have the guys that have really mastered them.
I've never heard of these companies on the LT scene. Most people say only pray performance and gpi are the only people with that type of knowledge.
@@trentdaddydolla647 Cordes Performance is here in AZ, they mostly work on LSA/LS9 cars
Vengeance Racing and Late Model Engines are also two or the best LT shops.
@@AZ_CRUISING Actually ltx cars have been the main focus of our builds for years now. Although we still turn out a lot of lsx cars.
@@AZ_CRUISING not true. LTX we have dominated here for years and the shop is mostly filled with that.
What's so great about the Ls is you can pretty much grab any variety from the junk yard for 500 bucks, slap some cheap turbos on it, and go faster than anything in your general area. It's great.
Yeah and blow that thing up after a few passes
Yea unless some local has a single turbo 2jzgte vvti that’s real spicy
@@jonathanramoslexusmaster298 If that's spicy than a turbo LS is fire. The 2jz single will basically be N/a up to about 3,500rpm. Meanwhile it just got trucked by a 5.3 with two ebay gt45s and a mild cam...bus lengths...a tractor trailor...a mobile home, lol.
@@jonathanramoslexusmaster298 2jz are not $500 bucks, tho. And weigh more than my mom.
@@jonathanramoslexusmaster298 that's 100% irrelevant, because that doesn't matter where the hell you are
I like how you said the internet says you need at least 1000hp. My 505 LS7 is plenty for getting into trouble. Even the C5 Z06 feels very fast. TH-cam makes everyone who hasn't driven a fast car yet think these are slow. Hell, a fiesta st is a ton of fun with 197hp.
With 1000hp you can’t rlly do much but go straight
@@a1phamalestud Then sideways very fast
I blame the YT channels like 1320video that showcases 600-1500HP cars like they were a common thing. People don't realize those cars are the top 1% of fast cars. Heck, if someone has a 400HP car, he's faster than 95% of the cars on the road.
Exactly. I've driven my buddy's bone stock Evo 8 and the thing is a blast. Don't know the power numbers off the top of my head but it's certainly less than 505.More than enough to have some fun
We’ll said. They just pull 0-60 times from the internet too. They dont understand the conditions those times are set in.
I remember in the late 90s when the traditional small blocks were the older cheaper tech and LS was exotic and expensive.
You could still get a cheap pre smog small block with good for the time heads that would make power cheap.
LS was only in Vettes and F body’s and they were expensive.
Cool to see the progression.
For real before the ls...we had the 5.7 vortec...and they were great ....just not as fast as the Ls....or lt, remember racing a 5.3 when they first came out and walked my 5.7....after that I was pretty sure I better get my shit together ....so I procharged the 5.7....lol
I've had many LS 6.0 in all of my GM pickups for over 20 years with no problems. My current survivor truck is a 1999 Chevy Silverado 2500 LD 4 X 4 with the LS 6.0 3 door EXT Cab with 6.5' bed. This truck has pulled everything from a 13,000LB Toy Hauler Travel Trailer with 2 full dress Harleys in it to boats and car carriers. It now has 350,000 on the original engine, runs like new does not burn oil. Push rod engines are simple and simple is good.
The LS3's 55mm intake valve was actually sized for a 6.8L and higher RPM, and they used some tricks to make it work on the 6.2. That's why the LT went to a smaller 54mm valve...which is still too big. That "big" LT port is the secret to the low end torque; the VVT is just icing on the cake.
Them intake runners on the LTs flow more than an LS7 head its actually fuckin crazy
Interesting. At what point is the bigger valve beneficial? Like on a bigger power turbo car.
@@TurboV8boi This is a little long.......BUT When theres enough cubic inches or camshaft or both that have to go through it, a bigger valve is necessary, in some cases its NEEDED. My examples are of N/A engines, but air behaves the same way regardless of N/A or forced induction.
Best examples are a 1.7/1.5 small block chevy head vs a 1.94/1.59 or 2.02/1.6, youll AWLAYS gain power EVERYWHERE in a 327 or 350. The difference is (depending on castings) only the valve size, some may have smaller or larger chambers.
And likewise with the LS, GM saw it fit to separate the 5.7 and 6.0s from the 5.3s and 4.8s in regards to valve sizing; the cylinder head architecture is almost identical in all cathedral port castings. And in testing, a 5.3/4.8 head absolutely kills top end power after 4500rpm on top of a 6.0.
@@rustysausage69 thanks for the reply. I wonder about cathedral vs square port too since you mention it . I understand you can't put square port heads on 4.8/5.3 engines; but once i was told that on turbo cars the cathedral port heads are good because of velocity they provide vs a square port. Granted I haven't seen data comparing the two in that situation.
@@TurboV8boi The general rule is if something makes more horsepower N/A, then it will make more power under boost; that said, the peak numbers don't necessarily tell the etire story. The engine has to be moving enough air across the RPM band for the head to be worth it, whether that extra air be from a bigger camshaft, cubic inches, or both.
In the case of my personal 416LS, it has ported LS3 heads, big cam, ported intake, much more cubes, etc. etc. and makes 680hp, revvs to 7000, it surely moves enough air for rectangle ports to be well worth it. If I bought a set of ported cathedral ports, it would lose power everywhere after 4000RPM, they might give it a little more torque before 4000 because of the smaller ports; thats still before the torque peak though.
On a stock 6.0, a set of LS3 heads is entirely not worth it because it doesn't have enough camshaft or cubes to really take advantage of the extra flow. It'd make 10 more horsepower at the top because its a bigger head, but before the torque peak that size prevents the air from moving higher velocity to make a higher torque peak, so it would lose torque from idle to 5000.
Don’t stop making these kind of videos . You’re going to get huge doing these type of videos . You have a lot of good info and it’s very well put together.
Dude is really good. His videos are soothing and entertaining. He has a youn g Morgan freeman voice
I agree with the assessment. The information is opinion and fact based. Both are important to consider when planning a build
Best part of the LS is the packaging and how light they are . They fit in everything and make great power. Win win !
a colorado with 500hp 5.3 would be glorious, the right tranny that can handle some towing too would make it perfect
Fun fact the new lt6 is still almost the same size as ls...
You left out the OG "variant" 5.7 !! LS1
Don't forget the 5.7 LS6
0:00
Iiiiits literally the first motor he speaks about
@@timothypadilla4192 you and some others missed my point. at 1:16 when he lists the variants of LS engines produced, the 5.7 displacement is not listed
LS is not OG. Gen 1 SBC is OG. And the old sbc still holds its own!!!
In conclusion, the one that has been around longer is easier to get and is cheaper to work with...obviously lol. If the new gen LT was out first it'd be flipped. It's all about having time to adapt and availability of kits/parts which grows with time. Both are great! Solid comparison video too.
I’d love to see a video just dedicated to all the popular LS variants and their differences and what vehicles they came from etc. that’s always very interesting info.
You left out the LS 5.7 the original
The great beauty of the LS is the crank mounted oil pump. This give many options oil pan wise along with the small top end giving plenty of room for accessories along with heads that flow well. OHC or Hemi adds to the size of the top end significantly making them less swap friendly.
Good thing about the LT1 that came out before the LS was it was the last "oldschool" sounding engine, sounds great!
There's lot's of support for it too.
I’m addicted to these videos and can’t stop rewatching every episode wanting more frequent uploads!!!
LT swapping my c10 currently. The LT was my choice purely because I got the engine for "free". Buddy got it through his job at a service center because it was pulled for a stuck lifter under warranty and was just going to be scrapped, I traded him a shotgun for it. Although he did give me the option of the LT or one of the hundred of SBC shorts he had sitting around, but took the LT because I was sold on the direct injection, high flow of the heads, and the 6 bolt mains.
The main downsides to the LT you presented well, and it's as you say the aftermarket isn't there because the engine is still too new.
Ls has 4 bolt mains also
@@nalgas5569 yeah but I wasn't in the right state of wallet to get a long block LS and I misspoke, it was 6 bolt like the ls1 and ls6 my bad
Red neck
Love my CTS-V... 540WHP with a couple of bolt ons... good enough for me.
Great content! You hit on the proliferation of LS engines correlating with the aftermarket and research put into them. Conversely, it would be awesome to see you cover Rotary engines! I feel like Rob Dahm is the only person still working on them
This is a well reasoned, well thought out argument. I fully agree with all points made. I've owned 2 LS1 F-Bodies. Both had over 100k miles on them by the time I sold them with ZERO engine problems.
I LOVE this Channel. Keep doing these bro and take it back all the way back to some of the most legendary engines from the 1940s on up. Your on to something here with this format and theme, it’s refreshing, soon you’ll have the world only full video Wikipedia of engines.
Manual transmission LT engines don't have displacement on demand. But imagine using your two feet to drive? Oh the horror!!!!!
This is simply not true. I own a M7 C7 and it, in fact, does have DOD. I don’t use it, but if you put it in eco mode it will go into v4 mode often.
6th Gen manual Camaros 100% do not have AFM in their LT1 engines
@@durchfallklaus4420 I can corroborate this! 6mt LT1 Camaro here
My 2016 Camaro SS manual (LT1) does not have AFM
I'll stick with the LT1 in my 96 Z28 6 speed manual convertible Camaro
You hit so many angles between them:) Thanks mate,great video.
Being a tech you’ll find out GDI engines are designed to fail after awhile cuz they let a lot of carbon build up on the intake valves and require frequent cleaning but with port injection gas is able to hit the intake valve and clean off the carbon build up so yes GDIs are more fuel efficient and can make better power but the longevity of the engine isn’t so great port injection engine will last longer
You can solve that problem with a oil catch can.
I've put almost 200k trouble free miles on my l83 and had 150k on one with zero issues before I wrecked it.
Still makes plenty of power in my 2015 rcsb silverado, and I regularly hard launch and do over 130mph in.
Like weekly.
I've beat the hell out of both those motors with no visible loss of power or problems besides a broken valve spring which was an easy fix.
Man that was a great video! All the info someone needs without any fluff.
There is so much information packed into this video I am going to have to watch it several times.
Great info on both pros and cons on both engine. Keep up the good work man.
I took a tour of a jasper engines plant years ago, the engines they were rebuilding were probably 90% small block chevy. There were quite a few 4.3s as well, and they're damn good engines too.
Loving this channel! Keep up the kick-ass content!
Nice video. Informative AF, guy
clearly presented content with no fluff (time wasting rambles). Awesome work quality video!
I am so glad I subscribed today. Thank you for these very informative videos!
Good job bro 💪🏽
Very informative ch..I’m in Louisiana and will be getting with you to do some work.!
Great video. You've made me love my c6 even more! Kudos sir.
Very comprehensive, good job man!
My favorite engine of all time is the LS3. Came in my favorite Corvette generation (C6) and my favorite 4 door sedan (SS). The 5th gen Camaro didn't really speak to me that much (mostly due to that hideous interior) but I still would take it's LS3 over the Mustang's 5.0 coyote.
As a 5th gen owner I never understood the hate towards the interior. Its simple, has cool lights, & easy to clean. I do have a 2ss if that makes a difference.
@@julian_sp I think everyone got tired of the green LEDs on the dash and door panels. It's the very reason why I didn't get an 5th gen😂🤣plus if you had the automatic it was slower than and 4th gen Camaro.
Hmmmmnnn… nah.. nothing like a stroked LS7… it will make the power naturally aspirated that of an LS3 supercharged… There is nothing that runs so strong as a built LS7 stroker on nitrous or even turbo. Like the old saying says. There no replacement for displacement. When it comes to Chevy motors they rely very much in displacement. The bigger they are the more power you get specially in latest engines..even though a lot of old school big blocks still make considerable power when done right.
@@julian_sp I actually love it. It reminds me so much of my high school years..
@@Javservice wow didn’t know a stroked NA LS7 could make as much as my Supercharged LS3 Making 900whp. LOL…. That was a dumb statement and mine is still stock bottom end
it's the 6 bolt rod bearing design that makes the LS so strong
exactly. the jackscrews/crossbolts on teh block it the key to more strength. Those lt engine will be junk when they hit the yard due to the direct injection system. The ls base engine will win out in the long run...
Aaand subscribed. I’ve already watched 3 videos in a row, I love this channel
This was a really good video!
Fr
DAMN bro, you are freaking knowledgeable. You even have "Ultimate Ultima RS over here writing.
(very glad I found your channel ... thanks for the great work)
I put a L86 in my jk and it is a awesome swap. But I added a supercharger and now lay modify it. And kinda wish I had gotten a LS for the reason u had stated. But if I wasn’t going to modify I like the LT all day the torque for a stock motor is amazing
I watch your videos on tik tok. And I just found your TH-cam. I’m lovin em all. Your so informative and have little bias. You go off facts and statistics. Thank you for thay
Great information about engines abd how they work with the specs . Love it
Great video, Thanks 👊💪🏁
The way I make sense of it is that the LT Seems to be more of a high-revving "sportscar engine" that probably makes its best power way up top.
LS is the torque monster with endless aftermarket.
LT makes torque way better because direct ejection especially low end torque
A few years ago, Petronix had an engine build competition. On team built a 350 cid engine while the other team built a LS 6.0 engine. Both teams had the same budget of 5,000 dollars, the 350 engine outperformed the LS except for fuel mileage. The price of parts for the older engines were so much cheaper it allowed far more options to build the engine.
I had a 2015 C7. It spent a total of 2 months at the dealer because of the AFM and lifter issues. I had so many issues with that car.
I have a stock C5 Z06 and a stock C4 LT1 Vette. Both great engines and cool cars. The C4 is actually a cooler car IMO. The C5Z is pretty basic/boring unless you are running it hard where it's a very capable and fast car. The C4 is a cool car just to drive down the road.
Yep had an 88 35th with an L98. Sure top end not really there.. great stop light to stop light and around town though.. plus c4s just have a bad ass look. Interior is like a cock pit. They look they’re going 170 sitting still. Sports cars don’t have that stance anymore.
I was just reading a thread on Corvetteforum where guys were saying the C4 is a lot more fun to drive, and the C5 is boring in comparison. I wish my 89 had more than 240 hp.
@@fryloc359 safety lol.. c5 and above a lot safer, don’t make all there power low. C4 with an L98 can kill you lol. I’ve had a couple experiences where I should’ve wound up in someone’s garage or a ditch but thankfully didn’t quite happen lol
Yeah and also as the above commenter said. A c5 or above especially anything that’s a z06 you have to run hard to experience the fun. Try running any of those cars hard hard on a public road lol. Potential death or accident. I fell like from everything I read, unless you track or race a lot .anything past 250-325 HP is wasted on normal roads. Good friend of mine had a 2020 5.0 mustang. Claims the thing just felt bottled up driving around town, nowhere to open up remotely other then highway occasionally. So for around town driving L98 sweet spot and I’m sure LT1 lol. LT1 will have a bit of a highway edge due to extra 55 HP.
Good video and I've driven enough LT and LS vehicles to realize this. Either engine produces a smile and that's why we drive. Is to have fun and smile.
See you in the next one.
While I do agree with everything you’re saying I just think the LT is cooler. And even just cam swapping an L83 and doing dod delete ( identical parts as LS) can get you some pretty wicked power, I’d argue better than a gen 3/4 5.3.
Big downsides are accessories/power steering although the l8t does have a hydraulic pump, if you can fit it. And other major downside for euro and jdm is extremely limited selection of front sump pans because of the integrated oil pickup.
Great vid. The fueling is crazy expensive. And as soon as you boost the LT1 you will need to upgrade it to full lt4 fueling and new piston and rods. Yes the ls is a better platform overall.
Worth mentioning 97-02 LS was gen 3. 03-07 was gen 3.5 and gen 4 is 2007+.
Gen 3 no afm/dod but weaker. 3.5/4 had stronger rods and pistons with full floating wrist pins.
I have a gen III lq4 out of a late '03 Denali that came with floating wrist pins and "gen IV pistons and rods".
@@motherlovinsnuffstar so it was Gen 3.5 then
Your content is amazing. Appreciate it...
Love the LS engine are truck at work has a 6.0 with over 400,000 on it and still runs great.
I did get a used L86 with 5k miles on it and the matching 8 speed trans for 6k tho felt it was a good price for both
This video has me amped and I never say that word. I got a 02 single cab with a LS7 and I’m getting a ZR2 with a L87. I’m looking forward to rebuilding my old truck as soon as I get my new one. Plus the parts are cheaper. I’m goin to learn a lot of stuff
Sick video. Subbed
broo i got so much and clear info for free that i'm in disbelief T.T ty man.
LT motors are great. Hopefully down the line they end up in yards for $500. Price is just a massive factor for everyone really. I love my LS1, it runs okay for being 25 years old and having 140k miles. Sure it's not as fast as a Coyote mustang, but it puts a smile on my face. Can't wait to build a 408, just to lose to a FBO E85 10 Speed Camaro/Mustang.
My G8 GT has a 403 stroker in it and man is it fun. I need to get a more aggressive cam but right now I'm making 410whp at 6,000ft above sea level (I live in Colorado) and even then it's still a blast and torque monster
@@Tanner_Teves how are the junkyards in Colorado? i’m moving there later this year.
Hopefully down the line they end up in yards for $500. Not really happening. The engines in yards will cost a fortune to rebuild.
They will it’s a guarantee,
@@Tanner_Teves sounds like you need a turbo too then
very well put together video
With me also being a little biased, not taking into account the price for modifications.... the 93-97 lt1 can be made into a monster and match modern supped up engines. The 93-97 lt1 engines are CRIMINALY Underrated. Also reverseflow cooling is bad ass !!!!!
Agreed. I had a ride in a G-Body with a 90s LT1 in it. 350 HP to the wheels and that thing could move. He made it to be a summer touring car to drive cross country.
@@PacificDark all that torque too from 1800 to 4500. Insane power band.
I wanna go for either an LSX or a ZZ632 for drag racing and either 2 gigantic turbos or a 18-71 blower in a 1st gen Silverado with the shortbed
Nice work bro! Fyi, dod was introduced in 2005 on the 5.3s in the Trailblazer and Envoy.
1:36 They made a 5.7L and it was available in the Corvette, Camaro SS/ Z28, GTO and CTS-V.
This is your lane bro! Stay at it!
curious for you to do the same with the 3.2 VR6 and the 3.6 VR6 in VW/Audi's
The AFM/DoD can be tuned out on the LTs, and in fact is factory tuned out on all the manual transmission ones. The manuals instead have a skip-shift feature to avoid the gas-guzzler tax, altho that can also be removed by installing a $10 bypass cable.
Yes you can turn the system off but the problematic afm lifters are still there and will fail prematurely more than likely
Ummm, NO. MY 2016 C7 MT has AFM and DOD. As soon as I activate ECO mode.
@@stevenstoll2016 Interesting, I know all the manual Camaros do not have it. I did not know the C7s had an ECO mode.
@@upcastdrake8460 yep - eco, normal, sport, & race. In ECO mode it will default to 4cyl DOD if the power isn't required. With ECO on it pretty much defaults to 4cyl: 70mph, top down, 7th gear, it pulls 1300rpm, and averages 35mpg. If I stay in 6th at 60mph it will be closer to 40mpg. Power is just a stab of the throttle away (usually requires a downshift as the cruising rpm is so low) Outstanding power and fuel economy combined.
Super happy with my 3.8v6 1997 Firebird. Only 200hp but get all the looks from everyone. It's that Pontiac history respect.
And roller lifters and rockers. I believe the water pump was reverse flowed to cool the heads first instead of the block. There were a lot of little things that added horse power or the lack of horse power robbing. I might be thinking of a generation before the LTx., but I know that those changes added a lot to GM power from the old 350ci as we knew it.
Let’s talk about the 8.1 GM motor. LS tech in a big block. I have one in a 1/2 ton regular cab short bed 2wd. It’s a beast
Great vid!
The thing about the LS. They crafted their heads to flow better with less components. Kept it simple and reliable.
Any recommendations on which LS? 1974 Square Body K10. Long highway drives before hitting dirt or mud. Need a matching transmission, either manual or automatic. Fuel economy and durability are more important than HP. I am fine going a bit slow but hate to breakdown in the middle of nowhere. Could do a new crate or junkyard.
I do have a comparison that I would like to see if you could. Gen 1 small blocks vs LS. I am looking for a cost per hp comparison. Reason for the request, the Gen 1's have been around forever and have more aftermarket parts (currently) available to them vs LS. Granted I know the stock head is the biggest re-stricter of power but for under $5K, you can build over 500HP on a stock 400 or 383. So the parameters I would use are - displacement (nothing over 400CI plus .030 overbore for cleanup), cost - I would keep it to $5000 and naturally aspirated, 2 bolt main on the Gen 1 would be fine, both junkyard motors. What are your thoughts? Would this be a worthwhile video? BTW: nice work on this video!
Just get and ls2.
The thing is, you'll spend a lot more money on the SBC to get the same power the LS starts with.
@@fryloc359 I haven’t crunched the numbers that hard but is that true? The small block is dirt cheap, even compared to and ls1
I own a 2006 gto with the ls2 in it and love it 108.800 miles change my oil and filter and it runs great I don't burn rubber but I don't baby it either and I'm 68 years old
Reminds me of the late 90s when if you were serious about going fast with your new 98 F body you yanked that LS1 out and dropped in a big inch SBC with carb and probably a 2 speed auto.
This was an excellent video especially for a JDM guy like me that’s trying to transition. 8m done with my Nissan Z’s and looking to go American
You will not be disappointed, I have a 2019 Camaro ss 1le, and it's the best car I've ever owned. Previously owned: 2011 Wrx FBO tuned by jrtuned, and a 1993 supra tt auto standard bpu all on 93octane. Camaro stock kills my previously owned cars in every performance metric. But the supra was actually more compliant on the street lol.
Great comparison video. You really can do a LS swap in your toaster! I can remember LS swapped mustangs at the track back in the day cause the Ford boys got tired of gettin' beat all the time! Poor Ford didn't have an answer to the LS until 2011.😂
Very informative, thank you for your information.
Bought a previosly raced LT1 for $1k. Going to build it more with a better intake, possibly even go nuts with it, and swap it into sonething that definitely should not have that kind of horsepower
Hey man just wanna say this was an incredible video, love these kinds of deep dives and it’s hard to find people who do them well, especially on relatively niche topics like this.
Thoughts on the L8T block? Scoggin Parts made good power from it, stock crank too
great video!
I really want that LS toaster...! Actually, I NEED an LS toaster...!!! Thanks for sharing... Keep up your awesomeness...
Interesting video thanks man
You can disable displacement on demand I know there's parts sold out there to do it
You should do a video on why the 3v is one of the worse Ford V8’s ever made. I used to own one and I’m glad I never wasted money on building it 😂
Worst for making power maybe but it's a great motor that will go 300k miles easy with proper maintenance.
@@lionflame4890 seen one with 343k on the dash only thing the car needed was a new paint job
Just gotta swap the head for better flow.
Mannnnnnn that 5.3 LS is literally today’s 350. Everyone and their neighbor was dropping in 350’s.
Ayyyyyyyy speaking of 5.3’s. I’ve got one someone near middle Tennessee can have l. Runs good and doesn’t smoke but it’s long in the tooth at about 220k miles on it. Only thing I’m charging is dropping in my newer engine in.
I’m not a fan of the direct injection because of the problems with the intake valves coking up. I have a 2015 ZL1 manual transmission and I plan on keeping it for the long term.
4:38 Not true because my 06 Impala SS and 06 Monte Carlo SS got d.o.d with the 5.3 LS4
4:28 that C6 is my friends 🔥🔥🔥
I remember before Covid hit you could pick up an LS Engine for 500 bucks in Australia now you can’t even pick one up for at least 2 1/2 to 3 grand minimum
Please do a video on the evolution and iterations of the N63 and S63 engines.
I'm going to look at my first LS long block this weekend.
The kid said it was his grandfather's before he passed and he was the original owner. He doesn't know anything else about it, so im going to identify what LS it is specifically.
He's asking 400, depending on which lsx it is I'd say it's a no brainer for me to pick up this engine to rebuild?
How did that work out for you?
Sounds like something someone would say....prob a junked engine the grandfather part is probably BS....but you might get lucky.
So I got more pictures and decided against it for the fact it was just a long block, and it was incomplete in terms of accessory parts and manifold, wiring harness, etc.
I really want an LS3 and to supercharge it. After sll I've come to learn. Its pretty well known they can reliabily hold 750 hp without having to do anything else but a cam.
How do you make these type of videos like the animations and pictures?
I went with a older lt block for my 55, it was a 350 bored to 383. I wanted a classic look in my Cadillac with a different sound
I'm running an LT1 in my '17 Camaro Super Sport 6 speed manual trans.☝😁
Pretty decent discussion. What I 1st noticed about the LT series motors was how much more space the front accessory drive took up when looking @ them @ SEMA in 2013?....Sorry but, the wide poorly utilized accessory packaging makes them a NIGHMARE! to install into any old Muscle Car along with the added complexity of the direct injected fuel system....They are't that huge of an improvement over the Gen3/4 LS based motors. Not worth while for me. One thing to note, the premium LS motors are getting more scarce (LS3, LS7, LS9) and commanding more premiums....I was happy to get a 2010 LS3 Dry Sump motor out of a wrecked GS Corvette in 2014 for under $5K....Not going to happen these days (Less then 3000 miles on it)
As someone intimately familiar with the LT1 having had to do the following VERY common repairs: Replace a coolant soaked Optispark, a harmonic destroyed cam driven water pump, a failed rear mini ram gasket that soaked the dual mass flywheel which cannot be resurfaced, a fried ECM which is a royal PITA to tune, Fuel rails that are prone to boil fuel, which in turn causes frequent fuel injector failure, I can say Id rather have almost any other engine.
Wrong LT1, not the 93-96 LT1 but the 2014 LT1
Displacement on demand or active fuel management we're not standard on every vehicle after 2007 if you got a manual transmission.