The LS engine is the gem of the automotive community, and it’s easy to see why. The LS is a reliable power plant that can handle just about anything that you can throw at it. Want to turbo it? No problem it can take it. Thinking about a supercharger? Sure! why not? Or maybe you want to build an all motor monster? Well with the huge aftermarket available, you can get impressive numbers on a fairly modest budget. Now the LS isn’t all about big power. It works so well for so many different swaps because of a multitude of things. First of all they are very easy to find. Whether it is from a junk yard or a new crate engine, you can find LS engines just about anywhere. And because they are so plentiful the prices on an LS remain low. The next thing that makes the LS the king of the swap, is that they are compact. It is on average more difficult to throw a Coyote motor into a car because you have to make room for the bigger cylinder heads. This is due to the LS being cam in block rather than cam in head. And because of these benefits you can bet that if someone can get an LS into a car, they will. So without further ado, here are the top five cars you should always LS swap.

1. The Mazda Miata (any generation)

The Miata has been the car of choice for hair stylist and track day junkies alike since it’s debut in 1989. Auto journalist love it, the auto community loves it and your wife likes it because it’s cute and non threatening. The big downfall for the Miata though, is that it is slow. Yea it can carry speed through a corner. But it just takes a longer period of time to get to that corner than in most “sports cars”. And this is something that has plagued the Miata through every year of it’s production. The easy fix for this, is to put an LS into it. And you can put a turbo or supercharger on the stock engine, but you will run into reliability issues, due to the stock engine not being made for that. Not only that but the biggest demographic for heavily modified Miata’s, are older Miata’s. So you have an engine that isn’t a big power producer stock, and it has 25 years or more of being beat on. Which makes the LS swap the most viable option. Because you can get a bone stock LS3, put it in a Miata, and just dominate everything. Not only that but the LS Miata has been done by so many people. It makes your research for the swap a breeze with good after market support. Plus who doesn’t want a car that weighs as much as a Hot Wheels with 400hp? And if you would like to see how this swap is done check out this build series on an LS3 Miata by Tom’s Turbo Garage. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaeETZPdShsN8XtwhDKS-iVJZ38lKFKI9

2. The C3 Corvette

Personally I have a special love for the C3. I’ve never owned one, but it’s style and presence for me just screams “I want to drive fast!”. Unfortunately though this generation of Corvette was mostly produced in a low point for American V8 engines. After the early 70’s, emissions regulations that killed power, were beginning to start their miserable rule. And so the Corvette had to only make due at it worst, with only about 165hp. And anyone that has driven a mid to late 70’s stock V8, knows that they are lazy and just overall uninspiring to rev out. Now here is where an LS can fix this. Because of the C3’s great body lines and proportions. The LS can make the C3 as fast as it should have been from GM. And for the sake of argument, you can modify those old restricted engines and make more power. But the power is not going to be as much, or as satisfying as having an LS under the hood. Not only that but old engines will have old engine problems. With random breakdowns, to starting issues and electrical gremlins to deal with. So which would you rather have? A night of replacing the original engines 50 feet of vacuum lines? Or a night of installing the perfect cam set up for your LS swapped C3?

3. The DeLorean

Now this car might seem like an odd one to LS swap, but hear me out. Everyone by now knows about the problems the DeLorean had. From the production to the overall product, the DeLorean did not live up to what John DeLorean had envisioned for his flagship car. However the DeLorean made its way into the hearts and minds of auto enthusiasts everywhere, because of the movie Back to the Future. Even people who are not into cars know of the DeLorean. The thing that no one loved about the DeLorean though, was its engine. Originally the engine was supposed to be a rotary, and then a Ford V6. But by the time of actual production, the engine that was in the famed time machine, was from a Citroen. Making only 130hp, the car did not live up to its looks or price tag, which in today’s money would be $66,000. That would be like buying a base Honda Civic for the price of a Camaro ZL1. And yet again the fix for this colossal let down would be an LS. Now an LS swapped DeLorean is not heard of that much, but it has been done. Which means you can do it with enough will power and research. And much like the C3 Corvette, putting an LS in a DeLorean will make the car as fast as you imagine it would be. Lastly the stock engine would be a nightmare to find parts for and maintain. With the LS though, you can go to any site or auto parts store and easily be able to get parts. And here is Regular Car Reviews proving that the LS DeLorean has be done.

4. Datsun 240Z

The Datsun 240Z is in my opinion, one of the only Japanese cars that American Muscle car enthusiast truly respect. When it arrived in North America in 1970, most Japanese cars were just seen as cheap economy cars. The 240Z was different though, it was able to keep up if not out perform a lot of cars sports in its time. Not only that but it came with an independent suspension set up and is one of the best looking cars that ever came out of Japan. Car and Driver even said “It will keep right up with your neighbor’s Bonneville and leave all of the sports cars in its class scuttling along in the slow lane”. And with all the Datsun’s strengths you might think that you should leave it alone and enjoy the car for what it is. That is not going to fly though as old Nissan/Datsun cars are notorious for breaking down and needing constant care. So if you don’t want your wife to leave you over spending more time with your car than with her, you should LS swap it. You will have all the power you would ever want out of such a small frame, and you will have the piece of mind that if you beat on it, The LS will continue to soldier on.

5. The First Gen Firebird (with the straight six)

The straight six Firebird from the late 60’s was a very unique car. It had a layout that is usually associated with German companies like BMW or Mercedes. And you could get the Firebird with a V8 option like the Camaro, considering that they were at their core the same car. But the six cylinder would have been a car that buyers who wanted something just a bit different would go for. But being different will only satisfy someone for so long, and after a while you might want something that is more reliable and has the power that a classic muscle car should have. The LS swapped Firebird is actually a car that we have seen before here at Restomods, with Kieth Smith’s 68 Firebird. Now Kieth went with more than just an LS swap, as he decided to give it the complete restomod treatment. However the swap went so well that this car is now his daily driver. And as Kieth put it “old cars suck to drive”, so he wanted an engine that has modern power and reliability, which was the LS. Also with how natural the LS fits in these cars it really is the best option for a swap. And if you want to read more on Kieth’s swap you can check it out here. https://migr.restomods.com/a-perfect-daily-keith-smiths-1968-firebird-21535/

So in closing, the LS is the ideal engine to swap into just about any car. You can fit it into most anything, and make a car that was just average from the factory into a total beast. So if you are considering an engine swap for your current project, look into an LS. Because with an LS you can never go wrong, and if you do some research, the possibilities for the LS are endless. Not to mention our current sweepstakes car is an LSA swapped Chevelle, and that thing is any gear heads dream. So take a look at our LS swapped car, and definitely look into an LS for your next engine swap because you won’t be disappointed.