Dress it Up
Hot Rod|February 2021
HOW TO MAKE AN LS ENGINE LOOK AND PERFORM BETTER
Steven Rupp
Dress it Up

Even with all the LT goodness coming from GM, the go-to mill for engine swaps is still the tried-and-true LS. After all, LS1s and all their variants are turning up more often in wrecking yards. Hundreds of thousands of them out there mean the prices are great, and the LS has amazing aftermarket support. We picked up this LS1 from a wrecked fourth-gen Camaro for just a few grand. We figured with some work and a few parts, it would be perfect for a 1956 Chevy that needed an LS swap. Besides, cleaning up a used LS engine will end up being far cheaper than buying a new crate engine.

01 Junkyard LS-swap candidates are typically filthy and need a deep cleaning before anything can be done to make them look better. We also double checked everything and replaced the head gaskets since it was pretty easy to do at this stage. So, after pressure washing and pulling off the heads, we used a steel bristle brush and a lot of degreaser spray to clean every inch of the aluminum LS block. Remember, if you miss a spot the paint won’t stick, and nobody wants that.

02 After a lot of elbow grease our LS block was squeaky clean. We even cleaned the carbon off the top of the pistons. Even though it’s clean, it still looks like hell, so to make it look new we’re going to give it all a coat of paint.

03 Tape is your friend. You don’t want paint in the engine, and taping it all up is easier than trying to clean offoverspray. Just like painting a car, the effort you put into the prep will pay offin the final product.

This story is from the February 2021 edition of Hot Rod.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2021 edition of Hot Rod.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HOT RODView All
Making Connections
Hot Rod

Making Connections

Project T-top Coupe: We install a Terminator X Max for big power.

time-read
7 mins  |
February 2024
LET IT BREATHE!
Hot Rod

LET IT BREATHE!

Project X’s new ZZ632 big-block needed to breathe, and this do-ityourself stainless exhaust kit was just the ticket to make it happen.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
TUNING OPTIMIZED
Hot Rod

TUNING OPTIMIZED

VARIABLES WITHIN FUEL-INJECTOR CONSTRUCTION CAN LEAD TO POOR ENGINE OPERATION. HERE'S HOW TO TUNE YOUR FUEL INJECTORS.

time-read
7 mins  |
February 2024
Re-Flange It!
Hot Rod

Re-Flange It!

We check out the fab skills needed to run a flat hood on a 1970 Mustang with a very unique and too-tall engine.

time-read
5 mins  |
February 2024
THE TRIBUTE FOR THE WIN
Hot Rod

THE TRIBUTE FOR THE WIN

Ron Capps wins the NHRA U.S. Nationals driving a Don Prudhomme-Hot Wheels tribute Funny Car.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
So Close
Hot Rod

So Close

Following a nearly flawless performance, a pít lane penalty kept the C8.R off the top of the podium in the IMSA Sportscar Weekend.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
A RADICAL SHIFT
Hot Rod

A RADICAL SHIFT

When you're a teenager and the police know you by name, it's not usually because of your volunteer work or class-topping GPA. Not at all. That was especially true for Jeff Kainz when he was behind the wheel of his 1975 Camaro. In the '80s, while cruising his hometown in North Dakota, his buddies with police scanners often heard the police tell one another: \"Kainz is out on Main Street.\"

time-read
5 mins  |
February 2024
WILD MASH-UP
Hot Rod

WILD MASH-UP

Built to long-haul the 2023 HOT ROD Power Tour, this 1984 Monte Carlo’s facade hides a performance secret!

time-read
5 mins  |
February 2024
6 TIMER!
Hot Rod

6 TIMER!

Tom Bailey captures his 6th HOT ROD Drag Week Unlimited/Overall title with his Sick Seconds 1.0 Camaro.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 2024
JIM MCFARLAND'S INFLUENCE WENT WAY BEYOND HOT ROD MAGAZINE.
Hot Rod

JIM MCFARLAND'S INFLUENCE WENT WAY BEYOND HOT ROD MAGAZINE.

Jim McFarland, the multitalented, multifaceted Texan who enjoyed several careers in the automotive performance industry, passed away in October 2023 at the age of 88.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024