Building a Stolen LS Engine

The team successfully rebuilt an LS1 engine with performance modifications to power a Ford Falcon, aiming for 300kW at the wheels to handle drift conditions.

• LS1 benefits — The engine is compact, affordable, and has widespread aftermarket support, making it ideal for swaps [02:38].

• Performance upgrades — The build includes a comprehensive set of parts to boost power:

  • Camshaft — An aftermarket Crow Cam was installed to gain roughly 50kW [13:29].
  • Cylinder heads — The heads were CNC ported and decked 30-thou to increase compression [13:57].
  • Lifters — Factory lifters were replaced with LS7 units, which are more reliable under high performance [08:26].
  • Trunnion kit — Added high-strength bronze bearing trunnions to protect the valvetrain [20:11].

• Oil management — A custom-fabricated, baffled sump was installed to maintain oil pressure during drift maneuvers [10:15].

  • Increased capacity — The new design holds 8.5 liters of oil, an increase from the standard 6 liters [18:51].

• Throttle control — Using an LS2 intake manifold allows for the easy installation of a modern drive-by-wire throttle body [05:43].

• Why do LS engines frequently suffer from lifter failure?

• How does a baffled sump function to prevent oil starvation?