LS Engine Swaps: Why not?

In our last installment of LS Engine Swaps, we went over why the swaps are so popular. The bottom line, as described so perfectly by one of our Facebook fans, is "because racecar".

For more "Because racecar" memes, click here.

That leaves us with another category in the LS swap discussion - why not to swap an LS motor into your car.

Who wouldn't want improved gas mileage, more horsepower, and all of the other benefits mentioned in the first LS Swap post? Certain terms come to my mind like "numbers matching" and "period correct." Typically, these terms are important in the car world, but they carry a little hint of snobbery. However, there's something cool about seeing a factory hot rod restored to the way someone ordered it years ago.

Imagine this... A young man or woman walks into the local Chevy dealership in the 60s. They order the newest muscle car with all the hot rod options and none of the modern amenities. It is completely dedicated to listening to the sound of burning rubber rather than the radio. Gas mileage is not even remotely a consideration.

If you're having a hard time imagining, here's a young Corvette owner in the 60s.

Years later, another young man or woman finds the car still with the original owner and somehow convinces the owner to give him or herself the opportunity to rebuild it. The original owner is letting go of all those memories of racing from stoplight to stoplight and the thrill of the big block roaring. Shouldn't the new owner keep it true with original options and that numbers matching motor?

It needs to be restored, but the original big block and all the good options are present.

I think many people would look at this muscle car or a 1932 Ford with nostalgic, period correct hot rod parts or numerous other special cars in the same way. They deserve to be kept the way they are. Rare options and period correct pieces will win awards, gain the attention of crowds, and will remain timeless for years to come. That is our argument for not swapping an LS motor.

Looking at a restored Corvette will always be fun no matter what year it is.

However, there is one exception to this rule, which I think comes from the heart of hot rodding. I mentioned there is a little snobbery that comes with terms like "numbers matching" and "period correct." They put unnecessary and stringent restrictions on how to restore a car. It can cost a lot of money, and it can be difficult to do. It takes away from what, we believe, the main point of hot rodding was, is, and always will be: taking whatever car you can get, getting it to go as fast as you can, using as little money as possible.

For example, 1932 Fords found their place in history because they were cheap and no one was using them for anything else in the 50s. They swapped in whatever motors they could find (or steal in some cases) so they could go faster than the guy across town. It's just like John and Falfa from American Graffiti (see the first picture). They didn't care about numbers matching cars or period correct hot rod parts.

Shops like the Rolling Bones still put out some awesome vintage looking hot rods. They search high and low for real, old parts, but the results are completely different from anything else at the car show.

At first it was hopped up flatheads, and then came the first overhead valve motor - the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. Then came the motors of the 50s and big blocks of the 60s. It just so happens to be that nowadays the best bang-for-the-buck motor is an LS. It only makes sense in some cases to replace a straight six with a 550 horsepower LSX motor. And in other cases, an LS in an old Corvette is the right choice. It brings in another element of hot rodding - sticking it to the man and saying we don't care about our numbers matching or being period correct.

In the end, my points are somewhat contradicting. Taking a big block Corvette and putting it back together is a good thing. Swapping the big block for a supercharged LS motor is also good. It all comes back to hot rodding and doing what makes your car as unique as possible. If that's a fully detailed, super rare engine complete with the correct stickers and paint code, so be it. If it's taking an LS motor and making it something completely radical or dressing it up like an original motor, good on you. Either way, it's hot rodding, and that's all that matters.

The car that inspired me to write these posts about LS motors - a '33 Ford with an LS motor designed to look just like a Rocket 88. It was the perfect candidate to be restored, but they did just the oppposite. I think this is a perfect example of a car that is one of a kind because of the engine choice. The whole article about it is here.

#lsswaps