LS Disappointment?

[Turbolq4]

Drive an LS swapped gbody. They go together like PB&J.

 

[79longroof]

When you pop the hood nobody usually can see your transmission or rear axle.

I'm still not happy about the modified Ford air cleaner flapper on the 69 H/O (and used on S/CRamblers. The end of the vacuum can actuator has the Ford logo stamped in the end of it. Demmer Engineering started all this crap and they should be driven out of business. Oh, wait.... 🙂

9" rears don't even belong in GM cars IMO. Parasitic losses are huge compared to the correct one. I understand why people do it, but nobody on the street really needs one. Walk up to 15 people on the street and tell them you have a 9" rear and they'll either 1) not give two craps or 2) look at you like there's something wrong with you- and still not give two craps.

LS swaps are neat in that if you add headers- plug in and tune a little, boom. Done. Swap cams? Not only is it cool that you can just rotate the cam and yank it out without removing lifters, but again, button it up, run it, tune it, boom. Done. Easy peasy.

Put what you want in your tub. I have no animosity toward swapping sh*t if you want to. Nobody has to approve but you. Just don't get so butthurt when someone says "you should have put a 455 in it." I appreciate the efforts of modified cars, but I really appreciate the efforts of someone going the extra mile to maintain their cars to a factory-original standpoint, or at least as close as possible. In some ways, that's harder to do.

It all comes down to setting what goal for your car you want, and how close you come to realizing that goal. Nothing more, nothing less.

FWIW, I don't think people put 9 in rears in G bodies because they want the approval of others. I know I didn't.

If someone is building a car and is afraid of parasitic loss from a component, well I got news for ya. Its everywhere. And if a person feels the minor increase from a 9in is going to hinder them so much that they never achieve their goals, well more power to you I guess.

You are right though, everyone should just do their own thing. It doesn't matter what anyone does to their car, there will always be someone out there that hates it. And then we end up here, having friendly banter back and forth.
Because let's face it, it's just a part of being car guys.

 

[Turbolq4]

It took me weeks to wash the Ford stank off my hands from pulling the 8.8 for my car. Once removed I think the axle itself gets a pass. It's a near carbon copy ripoff of a GM 12 bolt.

 

[Northernregal]

I swapped a cam by myself in 90 minutes in my LS. Reused every gasket. I have 3 sets of heads that came off junk motors and all 3 have very interesting uses for my motor. I have cobbled together a very potent motor from spare parts of different OEM offerings, an aftermarket computer (which just became very affordable), and aftermarket cam. It's been years since that was possible. It's like adult Lego. Lol

 

[69hurstolds]

If someone is building a car and is afraid of parasitic loss from a component, well I got news for ya. Its everywhere. And if a person feels the minor increase from a 9in is going to hinder them so much that they never achieve their goals, well more power to you I guess.

That wasn't the point, really. But say if you have a mild 350, and you decide you want to swap your 7.5 GM rear for a 9" because you think it's cool, well, it's your money, but it probably isn't the smartest thing I would do to that car. If you have a need for a certain part, then by all means. I just see way too many Summit/Jegs website warriors out there ordering up all sorts of cool and expensive stuff for their weekend fun cars and it either just adds weight or it doesn't help them achieve their goals, unless lightening their wallet was part of the goal.

If you're a responsible adult about doing swaps and things like this, then no issues from me. People that know where they're going on a project usually make better choices. If you sell the car then people can pretty much pick up from where you left off. But if you're not sure of what you're doing, then it can get to be a money pit. I'm sure we all have had our share of stories about how the PO of our car did something extremely stupid that costs you money to unf*ck. And sometimes it's a lot of money.

 

[79longroof]

That wasn't the point, really. But say if you have a mild 350, and you decide you want to swap your 7.5 GM rear for a 9" because you think it's cool, well, it's your money, but it probably isn't the smartest thing I would do to that car. If you have a need for a certain part, then by all means. I just see way too many Summit/Jegs website warriors out there ordering up all sorts of cool and expensive stuff for their weekend fun cars and it either just adds weight or it doesn't help them achieve their goals, unless lightening their wallet was part of the goal.

If you're a responsible adult about doing swaps and things like this, then no issues from me. People that know where they're going on a project usually make better choices. If you sell the car then people can pretty much pick up from where you left off. But if you're not sure of what you're doing, then it can get to be a money pit. I'm sure we all have had our share of stories about how the PO of our car did something extremely stupid that costs you money to unf*ck. And sometimes it's a lot of money.

Completely agree. Sorry I jumped the gun there without context.

I guess I always assumed people added a 9in to handle more power. But it's not hard for me to believe that people do it just to say they did.

 

[69hurstolds]

Completely agree. Sorry I jumped the gun there without context.

I guess I always assumed people added a 9in to handle more power. But it's not hard for me to believe that people do it just to say they did.

Shame on you for trying to make sense! 🙂 You probably didn't jump the gun. I don't have ADD, not diagnosed anyway, but my typing fingers apparently do. So I usually end up thinking one thing and typing another, and I get instant gibberish.

 

[lilbowtie]

I guess what I'm getting at is, I got to make my first car go near 10s and put down over 500hp for a fraction of what it would have cost me to built a good BBC or even an older gen SBC.
I learned how to fabricate and tune an EFI car in process too! That's why I dont have a problem riding the LS bandwagon. Because I finally got to make my dreams of making that old girl fast. And didnt have to be rich to do it.

The LS is the new SBC AND BBC. There is no doubt it is superior to the old engines that had a hell of a run. But don't just write them off ether. Bought my 350 at a swap meet for $100.00 (L-82) Put an $85.00 re-ring kit in it with a $150.00 flat tappet cam, set of iron 2.02 heads I had and a Vic Jr w/ a 750 and run 11.20's. I know I don't have $2000.00 in the Sonoma 355 and it runs 6.66 in the 1/8th hasn't run the 1/4 yet. They can make power cheap too and that's NA.

 

[motorheadmike]

I just see way too many Summit/Jegs website warriors out there ordering up all sorts of cool and expensive stuff for their weekend fun cars and it either just adds weight or it doesn't help them achieve their goals, unless lightening their wallet was part of the goal.

I'm sure we all have had our share of stories about how the PO of our car did something extremely stupid that costs you money to unf*ck.

What the hell did I ever do to you?!

Quit targeting me!

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

The LS is the new SBC AND BBC. There is no doubt it is superior to the old engines that had a hell of a run. But don't just write them off ether. Bought my 350 at a swap meet for $100.00 (L-82) Put an $85.00 re-ring kit in it with a $150.00 flat tappet cam, set of iron 2.02 heads I had and a Vic Jr w/ a 750 and run 11.20's. I know I don't have $2000.00 in the Sonoma 355 and it runs 6.66 in the 1/8th hasn't run the 1/4 yet. They can make power cheap too and that's NA.

LS engines still have some flaws, such as poorer oil control and windage issues, related PCV clogging issues, greater oil pump cavitation, greater electronics overcomplexity, etc. Many LS replacement parts do cost more, and some of the fasteners are not reusable TTY.

My SBC swap was dirt cheap, $250 for a complete running engine and trans. Only new performance parts I used were the cam, timing chain, rad, and ATF cooler. Headers, intake manifold, most everything else is either used, junkyard, old stock, rebuilt, and from forums.

A few LS parts will work on SBCs. If you have a roller cam block SBC, the plastic LS lifter retainers will fit in it. LS beehive springs will work on SBC heads too.