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The Chevrolet LS V-8 is the first choice for high-performance engine swaps. The legendary engine’s compact size and light weight make it the most popular option for enthusiasts seeking more power.
Chevrolet LS engines, introduced in 1997, were built for Corvettes and other powerful GM cars. Since then, an entire ecosystem of aftermarket LS kits and adapters has become available. These kits make LS engine swaps a plug-and-play experience for many different vehicles. In addition, the LS’s factory-supplied fuel injection system offers decent fuel economy to go with a wallop of power on demand.
This 6.2L LS3 V-8—borrowed from a 2014 Chevrolet SS sedan—went into a 1960 Chevy C-10 pickup.
The finished results of an LS engine swap are often stunning. An LS engine under the hood gives any car immediate street cred.
Shop now for complete LS engines
Where to Buy an LS Engine
eBay Motors offers complete LS engines from three different types of suppliers:
- Buy direct from a Chevy dealership or parts house. Most of these engines come with a factory warranty.
- Engine builders selling on eBay often offer engines tweaked to produce more power and torque.
- Salvage yards selling LS engines from donor cars are an affordable option. It’s essential to obtain info about the donor car and how many miles were on the engine.
LS Engine Generations
Chevy’s LS1 kicked off the engine-swap trend 25 years ago.
LS1: The LS1 engine came out in the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. The LS1 displaced 5.7 liters or 346 cubic inches. The engine came with the “coil near spark plug” configuration and an aluminum block. Later variants showed up in trucks and SUVs but with heavier iron blocks.
LS2
LS6: Don’t be fooled by the numeral 6. The small-block LS6 was the very next LS introduced—in 2002 for the Corvette Z06. The LS6 initially produced 385 horsepower but soon after was bumped up to 405hp thanks to higher compressions and a better intake manifold.
LS2: This LS version displacing six liters (364 cubic inches) arrived with the 2005 Corvette. It was modified to become the Gen IV version and offered 400 horsepower under the Corvette’s hood. In addition, the Gen IV engines allow active fuel management, where some cylinders are not used during idle or low-power demand.
LS3 crate engine
LS3: The LS3 increases displacement to 6.2 liters. The LS3 engine debuted in the 2008 C6 Corvette, increasing performance to 430 horsepower.
LS7: Designed for the C6 Corvette Z06 and fifth-generation Camaro Z/28, the LS7 increased output to 570 horsepower and 540 pound-feet of torque. It’s one of a handful of GM engines assembled by hand. The LS7, introduced in 2006, is also one of the most powerful naturally-aspirated engines in the world.
LS9: In 2009, GM introduced the LS9, GM’s most powerful production engine. Supercharging pushes output to a whopping 638 horsepower.
A turnkey Chevy 6.0L 580hp LS9 crate engine
Truck/SUV versions: Chevrolet gave its truck/SUV lineup a similar engine but used the Vortec brand. LS accessories allow engine builders to use Vortecs in various vehicles. The engines come with cast iron blocks and often have smaller displacements.
LS Engine Swaps Made Easy: Making It Fit
LS engines and related parts are plentiful. Any competent shop can do the swap and follow-up service. Adapters and kits are designed to make everything fit together. However, swaps require thought and careful measurement. Here are a few things to consider.
Mounts
Unless you use a modern chassis, the LS engine probably won’t match existing mounting spots. But available mounting plates allow the LS engine to mount to older cars securely. In addition, the mounts are adjustable so that the engine can move forward or back, depending on the necessary clearances.
You’ll probably use an adapter mount when swapping in an LS engine.
LS Engine Swap Oil Pans
Most LS engines have a deep oil pan that might interfere with either the chassis or the car’s lowered stance. Fortunately, many vendors offer better, short-profile oil pans to fit a build.
A shallow aftermarket oil pan can help with an LS engine swap.
Serpentine Accessory Drive
A drive system is available for most LS engine applications.
LS front-pulley depth came in three sizes. The Corvette is the shortest and causes the most grief when adding accessories like air conditioning and power steering in tight quarters. Spacing for trucks provides about 1.5 inches more depth than the Corvette, while the Camaro version is in the middle with three-quarters of an inch of extra depth.
There are numerous bracket kits designed for most vehicles, but knowing which crank depth you started with makes it easier to find the fitting kit.
LS Swap Radiators
Most LS water pumps have inlet and outlet ports on the passenger side. Aftermarket LS radiators are designed with this in mind. LS engines also have steam lines to vent trapped air away from the top of the engine. These lines are typically plumbed back to the radiator.
There are adapters to fit radiators with a larger upper hose and include a port for the steam line. Don’t be tempted to plug those steam lines closed. That will cause hot spots and engine failure.
An LS engine with a matching transmission makes the swap easier.
Transmissions
GM designed the LS engine’s bell housing bolt pattern to match earlier Chevy engines. You might need different flex plates and spacers to have everything match up. Also, the crank flange is a tad shorter than what’s used in previous Chevy engines. You can avoid headaches by using a donor engine already mated to a usable transmission. Many LS engines come with the matching transmission to simplify things.
Creating a tidy LS wire harness can be challenging.
LS Engine Swap-Specific Electrical Harness
The most challenging part of an engine swap for many builders is getting the electrical harness, and electrical control unit (ECU) sorted out. Either you can buy a harness made for your specific vehicle or modify an existing harness that came with the engine. There are many connections and computer chips used in LS engines, so a properly configured electrical harness is necessary.
See: Tips and Tricks for Car Wiring Harnesses and Adapters
Fuel Pump
The beauty of an LS engine is its use of fuel injection. But you need to ensure that your fuel pump runs at 58 pounds of fuel pressure. A quality fuel filter keeps contaminants away from the injectors—so plan on swapping out the filter every two years.
Read LS Engine Swap Guides and Watch Videos
There are plenty of how-to books and YouTube videos to walk you through an LS engine swap. If all goes well, the process is plug-and-play.
LS engines cost between a few thousand bucks and several tens of thousands. And it’s work to make it fit. But the benefits—a lighter, more powerful, and more efficientengine under the hood—are worth the effort.
