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Video: What Makes The LS V8 Such A Popular Performance Engine?

In this video Tom Nelson of Nelson Racing Engines breaks down why the LS engine is the most-praised type of General Motors engine, and the most popular engine on the market. He gets pretty technical, and does a great job of translating it for people who have no idea what any of the measurements or terminology mean.

“It’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s light,” would be the short and sweet way to put it. Nelson makes many good points in regards to the three previously quoted criteria. For $3,000-$4,000 USD you can get yourself a 400 hp engine, and with some top-end work you could easily reach 550-600 horses. Nelson explains that the cylinder head of the LS and how much it flows is what really puts this engine above the others.

“You can get an LS7 head CNC ported from the factory… it’ll flow about 360 CFM on the intake port, in Layman’s terms – 5 years ago there were NASCAR engines flowing that well,” Nelson says.

We’ve shared countless LS-swaps, and there isn’t one we wouldn’t want to drive. Heck, we’ve even seen an LS-swapped Mustang, and you bet we’d drive that too. The LS-family even has influence over the newest engines to come from GM, like the ZZ6 small block.

To find out more about the LS V8’s superiority, hit play and enjoy the video.

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Comments

  1. Cheap, Easy and Light are secondary.

    The truth is they are so very common to buy with so many out there. You can find them in large numbers at many salvage yards from crashed cars that have low miles it makes them very accessible to anyone building a car or street rod.

    I work in the after market and Cheap to buy is good but the volume they are available in is what really makes people go to these engines. Add to that the availability of parts to put them in nearly any kind of vehicle out there including Mustangs.

    You would be surprised how many Fords run GM engines and transmissions.

    Reply
    1. Nobody is really surprised by Ford’s having a GM drivetrain. It’s been done longer than Mary Barra has been alive.

      Reply
      1. I am not talking old coupes, 50’s trucks and such. But Fox body Mustangs are the ones getting the swaps most often of any of the new cars.

        Reply
        1. I know what you meant, I’m a hot rodder I keep up with the times just like you. Of the 5,000 (seems like) Fox Bodies in my area only 2 have Ford motors. The rest have Chevrolet’s. Except for one which has a Buick 455. But still a GM. There was a show that was on Speed Channel called “Pass Time” whenever there was a Fox Body, you could guarantee it had a Chevrolet.

          Reply
          1. Fox bodys are cheap like the LS. Don’t think die hard Mustang fans are swapping LS motors into Fox body’s. (Maybe a few) I’m a huge Fox body fan, Mustangs, Capris, Fairmonts, t birds, and cougars. I’ve owned 2.3l, 2.3 turbos, 302s and now a 351 swap in progress. One day going Coyote swap. I’d never run anything other than a Ford in my foxs…But I do suggest anyone building a LSX, 2JZ, 440 mopar, and anything else you can think of. Fox body Mustang, cain’t beat it. So much aftermarket suport, and some parts are swappable from 79 to 04. You cain’t beat it, plus you’d want a Ford rear end anyways! But beware if you swap a clean 5.0, your resale value is gone. Better of selling it and grabbing a 4 banger to swap.

            5000 LS swapped Mustangs in your area alone… Wow there’s maybe 1000 Foxs in my area alone and half are running N/A 2.3’s.

            Reply
  2. All V8 twin turbo intercooler petrol engines in all brands and Tom nedson : 20- over 100 l/100km, easy damage, unstable power output as LS. IF YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

    Reply
    1. you have no idea what you are saying, in other words your a dumbass

      Reply
  3. Low traction know as below 0.90G.
    Of course no one find out.

    Reply
  4. Report

    Low traction know as below 0.90G in all brands forever by wider rear track than front track chassises (the lowest traction, extreme tail flick, extreme slide, 20- over 100 l/100km), wider front track than rear track in below 10 mm. with RWD and AWD (low traction, tail flick, slide, 20- over 100 l/100km), front track as same dimension rear track ( low traction, tail flick, slide, understreer, 20- over 100 l/100km).

    End transmission.
    Of course no one find out.

    Reply
  5. Petrol engines with 1-4 turbo intercooler all in all brands : unstable power output, easy damage, easy wreck, 20- over 100 l/100km.

    End report transmission.

    Reply
  6. Conclude Report about no economy ,bad performance Automotive engineer of 6 parts (The underground racing mechanicals) in all brands which mean brands failure in automobile thus forever.

    1. Wider rear track than front track dimension chassis : easy wrecked chassis,the lowest traction,extreme tail flick,extreme slip,hardcore control in all speed and economy as 1-5 km/l,below 1 km/l.

    2. turbocharger (1-4 turbo per engine) intercooler petrol engines : unstable acceleration,extreme wrecked engine parts,torque horsepower overload, and economy as 1-5 km/l,below 1 km/l.

    3. without rear fog lamp : easy electronic parts wrecked,economy as 1-5 km/l,below 1 km/l.

    4. CVT transmission : slow acceleration,economy as 1-5 km/l,below 1 km/l.

    5. Wider front track than rear track in below 10 mm dimension chassis with RWD,AWD : medium traction,tail flick,easy slip and economy as 1-5 km/l,below 1 km/l.

    6. Front track as same as rear track dimension chassis : medium traction,medium tail flick,easy slip,power slide,understeer and economy as 1-5 km/l,below 1 km/l.

    If over 1 of 6 parts,automobiles of economy use 1-3 km/l,below 1 km/l.

    End transmission.

    Reply
  7. Tom Nelson prefer uneconomy engines with turbos.

    Reply
  8. Much thanks to Cruz for the great video . So refreshing to hear a true professional in his trade talk so openly about his craft and a remarkable engine , I’m not the shiniest penny in a pocket of change , but he made the technical info so easy to visualize . Nelson didn’t overly hype the engine and explained what engines and features gave the best overall balance and what could result in negative directions . If Nelson tires of this trade , he should certainly explore teaching as a profession , would make a dandy one !!

    Reply
    1. My pleasure!

      Reply

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