JSACRA

iTrader: (2)

dumb ? but is it still as popular as it was in 2003,

1nasty86

iTrader: (5)

i believe so sir! i see more and more people doing the lsx third gens.

JSACRA

iTrader: (2)

another ? is that theres the ls1,2,3,6,7,9 and ive also heard of the lsx. now are the regular ls aluminum blocks and the lsx cast iron?

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

lsx is just a generic term for the LS family of engines, in modified form, or just in general, the is no production engine named the "lsx"

1nasty86

iTrader: (5)

there is the lsx block but no all ls1,2,3,4,6,7,9 and l92 are all aluminum blocks. the lm4, lq4, and lq9 are iron. may have left a few out.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

dont forget the ls-a

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

LSx generally refers to the whole family, GEN III, GEN IV and the up and coming GEN V

LSX is the GMPP block thats often bored and stroked to some massive displacements. 427, 454+ are not uncommon. They are easy to spot with the bright red powdercoat finish

With the truck LSx engines becoming extremely common in junkyards, inexpensive (comparatively) swaps are becoming more common every day. Most trucks got the iron block versions while all cars were alum blocks. A few top level trucks got alum 5.3s of various designations

Aftermarket has really taken off for them, esp relating to swaps. Every single detail of the swap can now be purchased from various stores

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

i feel these are going to get even more popular as time goes by. truck setups are dirt cheap and plentiful (almost as cheap as other sbc and they're likely to be in better shape for the money). they've got more power than the average sbc. adapters for just about everything makes these almost plug and play (if you've got the money or time to DIY).

the big thing that's making these more common - knowledge. the wealth of knowledge on pages like this one and ls1tech are making the average DIY'er more comfortable with tackling a project like this. most combo's have been tested, most bugs have been worked out. and if you have a question, someone's out there to answer it

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (2)

The LS swap in general is more popular now than ever.

darkhorse91

you're finding lsx swaps in everything from 1st gen camaros to s-10s ranging from stock with vvt to carbed with a distributor coming out the front. there's even a block with lsx top end and sbc bottom so it can swap in with little more effort than an sbc swap but running 12* heads. it's just technological evolution. they make more power for less modifications and stay in the 25 mpg range up to around 500hp. all i know is i can't wait till i can afford to swap one in myself

Atilla the Fun

I feel the LSx swapping has already become too popular in third gens, but not popular enough in certain other chassis.
I agree with Pocket about LSx versus LSX, but it's kind of a Carousel Red color, like the '69 or '70 GTO Judge, and the '76 Trans Am, it's a very Orange shade of Red.
The thing about the big X from GMPPis that the cylinder walls aren't as long as production LS7 blocks, so while GMPP advertises that they can go to 511 cubic inches, you really should switch to a World Warhawk block if you want to go past a 4.00" stroke.
The Warhawk is also limited to a 4.25" max bore, same as the big X from GMPP.
The big X from GMPP is also only available in iron, making it way heavier than the iron truck blocks. I believe the Warhawk is offered in aluminum, thank World.

JSACRA

iTrader: (2)

so i could put LSX 6.2 376 and it still refers to the aluminum as well as the cast block?, or does the "x" mean aluminum, and the "X" cast iron

Red87SC

Any gen 3 or gen 4 motor from gm is in the "ls family". They still consider that to be an lsx swap..

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (2)

Yep, LS just designates the 3 n 4 generation as they are all the same base.

Atilla the Fun

No. LSx is every LS engine except the GMPP LSX block. It is iron, but it's so far beyond the production iron truck blocks that it's no comparison.

kevinc

Popularity has increased by 10.37612% since 2003.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

At the car show at my church last night, we had 5 LSx swapped 3rd gens. Mine, a white '91 RS ttop car with LS1/T56, sunburnt orane '91 Z28 hardtop with LS1/auto, '91 green GTA with LS2/Auto, and teal '88 Formula with LS2/T56.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Thats ridiculous. Its a very powerful, cost effective swap so people are taking advantage of it, just like 350 SBCs of days past

What chassis do you want to see it swapped into and theres likely 2-3 already done on 'tech including several purpose built vehicles like the hydraulic long arm crawler (offroad w/ 6 feet of suspension articulation)

slowmaro87

this may be a stupid questions im still learning about lsx engines but do the cast blocks that come in trucks have cast heads? jw

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Some of them do. For instance, the '99 and '00 6.0L iron truck blocks had iron heads, but the '01+ blocks had aluminum heads.

slowmaro87

kool thank you!
i was just curious

Atilla the Fun

It may be ridiculous, but noone specified that they'd prefer I didn't type my feelings about it.
I feel LSx Jeep Wranglers are suicide machines. There are too many LS4 Fieros, and nearly every LSx Fiero uses the stupid 4T65E-HD, the primary exceptions being myself, and TroyBoy's orange $100,000+ "Fiero" mutant.
I like the LSx Miatas, but they can't fit decent tires. I love LSx FDs, but the FDs are too scarce, too popular, and too overpriced.
But the cars that need LSx swaps are Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and any other "supercar" that wants to try to challenge the new ZR1.
Not one legit Ferrari or Lambo has received any LS and then been proven online.
Show the stupid Italians how bad their crappy engines really do suck. There's no other realistic hope for a 1,000-horse Testarossa.
Do an LSx Volvo. Do an LSx E36 M3. Do an LSx C4 'vette, Do an LSx Porsche 928. But not another me-too LSx third-gen, me-too LSx fox Mustang or me-too LSx S-10.
They no longer stand out, they no longer impress. There's no more glory to be had, it' evolved into monkey-see-monkey-do. The coolness is gone forever. Innovate, pioneer, earn respect and fame.
The LSx Grand National isn't played out yet. Those were like '84 or '85 through '87. Or the same years of Cutlass Supreme 442. Pull the lame 200 hp 307 with 200-4R, drop in an L92 with a TKO500.
Better than a third gen in every practical way.

no1kicker

Pics?

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Ya I can post some when I get home.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Only 3 of the cars I mentioned are pictured here. The other two had to jet out before I got the pictures.


Obviously mine is the blue one on the right, the teal Formula next to me is the 408 car, and the white RS with the big block hood is the LS1/T56 car. And the black '89 Formula 350 is "TTOP 350" from TGO

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

These are a little better, Aaron 91RS took these. The burnt orange Z with the SS hood was one of the above mentioned swap cars.

dynodanmanda79

iTrader: (1)

Very cool man! I like that regal too!

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

It's a Grand National But yea it's hawt

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

LS popularity?

There was an LS class at the Super Chevy Show at Bandimere Speedway this weekend.

There is an LS swap forum on a tri-five board I'm a member of.

I've got one 3rd gen LS1 swap done, working on the second, and the '57 is getting a built LQ4.

The LS engine family may not have caught on in the swap world as fast as the Gen I SBC did, but it sure seems to be the next in line. There was an LS1 fox body on Pinks (the original show), and they haven't filmed any shows for, what, almost 3 years now?

modern0utlaw

ls swap is pretty much standard protocol anymore. Its almost a waste of time to do an lt swap anymore. I know I'm saving back the moolah for the glorious day when i can do an ls7 swap. Oh how the stangs will cower

Aaron91RS

iTrader: (2)

I know a kid who did a 2002 ls1/t56 4thgen dash and interior swap in 03 in to his 3rdgen he pieced together from the halves of two other 3rdgens that were wrecked on opposite ends.

So you're saying you know other people who were doing ls1 swaps in to 3rdgens back then? I would like to know more about who and see some pics.
Never found anyone doing it prior to my friend.

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

careful, they've gotten smart and are doing the LSx motors too. check out the swap section at LS1tech, they've got as many swap parts as we do!

modern0utlaw

Wow, didnt know that. They're putting ls engines in fords? Thats just wrong.

Btw does anybody here have an LS7 in a 3rd gen. I'm curious about 1/4 mile and 0-60 times

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Guess it has to be said more than once.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

LS4 Fieros have a hard time using anything other than the 4T65E because the starter mounts to the trans. Building a reliable adapter to mount the starter elsewhere has proven... difficult. It's been done before and a search of old europe will list atleast 3

There are 3 LSx Porsche's on the first two pages of 'tech and one 80's Ferarri I remember a few years back that a shop built just 'cause (IIRC he got death threats because of it too). Several of the Fiero stretches with lambo kits have mounted a longitudinal LSx

Volvos, BMWs, GNs, C4s are common. Surf the conversion list in the sticky, nearly everything is posted. Theres even a GN LSx f/s on tech currently and two C4s on page one

Heck, some brit even put a LS1 in an Ariel Atom. Seriously, everything you can imagine has gotten the swap treatment

DeanJ

Here's pics of my 88 camaro


I have a 86 S-10 thats probably going to also get one in the near future.

Atilla the Fun

ONE guy did a Ferrari? Hardly what I'd call "done-to-death", like the 15,000 third gens that've been swapped now? Or the 99% of all remaining first-gens that've been swapped?
And I follow oldeurope and RFT far closer than anyone else. I'm active on both. On rft I'm me, on PFF I have 2 other usernames.
I'm also active in ls1tech's swap forum, under 2 usernames.
Having 2 usernames is sweet. One lets you play ignorant, eager to learn, and not opinionated. The other lets you share what you have learned. I should've done that on TGO. So I could reveal my ignorance of tuning TPI. Probably too late for me to learn, easier to just keep paying the experts.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Death threats on the Ferrari swap? I'd love to read that one haha, sounds very entertaining!

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

I've felt for a while that a 308 GTS Ferrari would be a wonderful candidate for an LS swap, and if I had the time & money, I'd love to do it myself.

But, ultimately, I'm not interested in being a "pioneer" or earning "respect or fame". My goals are to make my Camaro be its best, within my budget & abilities, and that's why the LS swap appeals to me.

By the way, here's what a "ferrari" search on ls1tech found:
http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com...Car.php?car=45

cam-

You can thank the power of the internet for the popularity of the LSx swaps. Once the "how to's" and stickies were created the increase in popularity has been enormous. In the dark ages of LS swaps five or six years ago LOL it was a different story but now? Its rampant and so it should be.

Its simply foolish to waste money building sbc's anymore IMO. I can go faster, cheaper, stronger, and easier with an LSx now that I have the know how.

Of course finding the time to do all this is... proving increasingly difficult.

Shift06

I would say the average Ferrari / Lamborghini owner can't be bothered to do anything mechanical to their car, let alone swap in an LSX motor.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

well, either that, or the "average" ferrari owner who just paid $200k for his car isn't about to yank the high horsepower motor in favor of a different high horsepower motor. If he's that type of guy, he probably bought a 69 Camaro instead of a Lamborghini.

That said... 308s are getting cheaper, and there's GOT to be a few out there with high miles and poor maintenance that just blew up the motor.

Personally, I'm holding out for a Countach with a blown motor.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

The point is, they're already done so it's not uncharted territory. Not sure what car shows you've been to but LSx swaps are still rare in classic cars compared to the SBC/BBC stuff. It's common on 'tech but compared to the number rolling around its very uncommon

Also, multiple SNs is a good way to get perm-banned in a hurry on both this site and 'tech

Thanks for the link, Jim. I figured they would have gotten farther than that by now. I remember a few fitment shots with the engine in there and a new cradle in the works

Id jump on a kit-car Fiero Countach before going for the real deal. They're kinda crappy cars

I know Ill never be building another SBC