7 top LS engine builds by Amount of Power
The LS line of GM engines continues to be the most powerful and versatile power plants on the road today. They are very easily transplanted into just about any other vehicle imaginable. At the same time, they are also among the easiest to build and modify, achieving some wild HP gains and power. Here are 7 of the most notable builds and what they achieved on the track.
1. J.C. Beattie's Camaro SS
J.C. took ownership of this 1969 Camaro in 2015 when it was retired. Beattie gave it new life when he shocked many followers by putting in an LSX block with LS7 ported Brodix heads, GRP rods, a billet Bryant crank, custom Bullet cam and other mods. He topped this beast off with a stock Whipple supercharger and threw in some stainless Kooks headers for good measure. This Top Sportsman ride cranks out over 1,500 HP and finishes the 1/8 in 4.40.
You can read the history of this car here.
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2. Scott Parker's 1995 Camaro
One of the amazing facts about Scott's ride is that he salvaged this beast from the boneyard and scraped a good deal of it. Scott obviously has mad skills and was able to breathe new life into this old Camaro. He dropped in an LME 451-cubic-inch LSX engine with LS7 ported heads to start. With a hydraulic roller camshaft and a single-plane EFI intake by Mast Motorsports, this sweet ride now kicks out 720 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque.
Check out Scott's build here.
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5. Matt Everett's 240SX
Sadly, Matt Everett passed away in 2013, but his contribution to the sport was nothing short of spectacular. He gave a Nissan 240SX new life by pulling an L33 V8 from a Silverado's grave in the junkyard. His nearly all stock setup on this 5.3L powerhouse start with Gen-2 floating pin rods, Gen-1 flat top pistons, and Z06 heads. He upgraded this workhorse with the LS1 intake and rails, FIC 1000cc injectors and a Lunati cam topped off with a Borg-Warner turbo. He actually purchased the camshaft and turbo used right here off of the LS1 Tech forums.
You can read about his build here.
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6. Craig Poust's 1971 Datsun
The mere fact that Craig got this LS running is a miracle, let alone he uses a 4.8L to achieve 8.85 at 152 mph. That is a feat to be reckoned with. The engine had 180,000 miles on it and was covered in rust, inside and out. After a good sanding and cleaning, he threw in a stock LS6 cam with some polished 5.3L ported truck heads. With LS9 gaskets, he topped his power plant off with a single 74mm turbo. This massive little beast cranks out 700 rwhp at 654 lb-ft of torque.
Check out his ride and watch a video here.
>>Join the conversation about the Top LS Engine Builds by Power right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
7. Tim Reed's Pinto
Yes, you read that right. A Pinto. And Tim Reed took his Pinto to 8.02 second run at 171 mph. And if that doesn't freak your noggin enough, this Pinto gets 21 mpg. He did it by using the stock bottom of a 408ci LSx. Throw in some 225s and an Edelbrock intake with a FAST TB and you're on your way. He is also running stock GM lifters, hydraulic cam, and 67mm Precision turbos. This Pinto cranks out a whopping 1,240 HP and 1000 lb-ft of torque. Incredible numbers for a Ford. Oh, wait. It's not.
>>Join the conversation about the Top LS Engine Builds by Power right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
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