Eight of the Wildest LS Swaps Over the Years
Here are eight of the wildest, craziest, or most unusual LS swaps we've seen!
Eight Wildest LS Swaps
Recently I listed eight of the cars we wanted to see LS swapped - good cars that could be great with an LS transplant. That got me thinking about some of the wildest LS swaps, so I created this list of eight of those vehicles. These cars range from unusual to completely wild. And they are a reminder that where there's a will, there's a way to LS swap anything.
Lamborghini Diablo LS3 Swap
The owner of this Lamborghini Diablo wanted a daily driver. So he swapped the V12 for an LS3 engine out of a Corvette. The setup is lighter than the V12 and sits lower, improving the Diablo's already low center of gravity. And it's more powerful. It may seem wrong to pull the V12 out of a Lamborghini, but an LS motor is a great alternative, letting you drive your Diablo all the time to that sweet V8 soundtrack. The Diablo was advertised on Craigslist two years ago, so maybe the owner decided he wanted an LS swapped Murcielago instead.
Photo: Craigslist
Ferrari 550 Maranello LSX Swap
If you thought an LS swapped Lambo was a sacrilege, wait 'til you see this Ferrari! This 550 Maranello was a Hurricane Harvey flood salvage vehicle. Then MCR Tuning picked it up to bring it back to life. They took an LSX crate engine, added a pair of Garrett 35/82R turbochargers, and went to work. Back from the dead, this Ferrari will wake the dead, producing over 1,000 horsepower.
Photo: MCR Tuning
VW Beetle LS4 Swap
People stuff all kinds of engines in the original Beetle. From upgraded Porsche 356 and 914 powerplants to water-cooled Subaru engines, it's all be done. But I've never seen a New Beetle transformed with LS power. This car packs a 5.3-liter LS4 V8 making 303 hp and 323 lb-ft of torque. It also uses a 4T65E-HD four-speed automatic transmission from the front-wheel-drive GM W-Body platform. Built by Dave's Discount Custom Auto, it looks totally stock. You'd never know this Beetle was rocking the LS until it left you in the dust.
Photo: Dave's Discount Custom Auto
Pontiac Montana LS4 Swap
What's in the van, man? In the case of this Pontiac Montana, it's another LS swap. The Montana was GM's desperate attempt to stretch a few more years of life from its dated minivan platform. But it also makes a surprisingly good LS swap. Starting with the Montana's GM's 4T65-E automatic transmission, the owner added a 303 hp LS V8. It's the same setup used in the mid-2000s Impala SS and it needed minimal fabrication to adapt to the minivan. Now the owner can use this van to get his kids to school on time, and race for pink slips.
Photo: Kevin Piper
Gruman LLV Postal Truck
The owner of this next vehicle went postal for his LS swap. Dropping a 6.0 liter V8 in Grumman LLV is absurd but not difficult. The LLV uses a modified Chevy S-10 platform which requires minimal work to accept an LS motor. Too bad this postal truck doesn't make deliveries. Not only would it deliver the mail on time, but it would also absolutely, positively make sure it's there overnight.
Photo: Engine Swap Depot
Tesla Model S V8
We know the LS provides electrifying performance but never expected someone to take that literally! Proving yet again you can LS swap anything, someone did it to a Tesla. Like the Ferrari 550 Maranello shown earlier, this Tesla was a salvage vehicle. East Bay Motor Cars picked it up and dropped a 480 hp LS3 V8 into it as a joke. The car didn't run and would require extensive fabrication to do so. But that didn't stop someone else from actually doing it.
Photo: East Bay Muscle Cars
Lada Niva
The Lada Niva is beloved by many people in Eastern European countries. It's a true mountain goat that will go anywhere and take all kinds of abuse. VTG of Warsaw, Poland decided to abuse it further with a turbocharged 6.3 liter LS V8. The Niva is still all-wheel-drive, thanks to a TH400 transmission from a GMC Cyclone. And it runs a quarter-mile in 9.48 seconds with a trap speed of over 143 mph.
Photo: Engine Swap Depot
Mini Cooper LS1 Swap
The LS1 looks like it's half the size of the Mini. Originally the Mini was powered by a 1275 cc engine producing a whopping 40 hp. The supercharged LS1 V8 puts out, well we're not exactly sure, but it's a lot more than 40 horses! Built on a custom chassis, this Mini guzzles methanol and smokes tires. It inhales air through a mailbox-sized... actual mailbox. And the license plate says "INFAMOUS" but should read "WILDEST LS".
Photo: Instagram/thehouseofboost
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