Not really if you compares apples to apples. Inexpensive, great power, tons of aftermarket. LS wins every time.
But not in a Ford. Newer post here about someone getting a Road Runner project, but no mention of stuffing an LS in that…..why not? Is it only Fords that need to be defiled with those damned things?
The LS is a great engine, but since people feel like putting it in everything, they’ve become boring as plain toast.
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I Love a good driver and I built a 1956 Belair for myself with what I had laying around the yard.
Chevy Luv fuel tank and radiator and 1980 Ford 200" six from a mustang with the C4 that was behind it and took the Mustang drive shaft and Belair shaft and made one myself.
21 MPG.
I should have kept it.
Build it the way you want.
I love the inline 6 engines and often thought of a 280Z engine into my 47 dodge truck would be nice.
But those transmissions kept breaking on me in my Z cars and no way would they live in a truck I owned.
Chevy Luv fuel tank and radiator and 1980 Ford 200" six from a mustang with the C4 that was behind it and took the Mustang drive shaft and Belair shaft and made one myself.
21 MPG.
I should have kept it.
Build it the way you want.
I love the inline 6 engines and often thought of a 280Z engine into my 47 dodge truck would be nice.
But those transmissions kept breaking on me in my Z cars and no way would they live in a truck I owned.
Growing up in the 80s my dad had a Datsun wagon with the big six in it. Thing ran pretty strong.
If you want torque, (and hate gas mileage) drop in a 400M w/ 4 barrel carb. I once had a 79 F250 extended cab with an 8 ft bed, and it could spin the tires on dry pavement without a second thought. Of course, you could also watch the gas gauge drop when you had all 4 barrels open....
OMG @Catt57 I drove 2 different Ford trucks with that 400M.
A friends dually 3/4 ton with granny 4 speed and launched it in Granny shift to first at 15 MPH.
Outrun IROC camaros back in the late 80's. But i could shift that Granny pretty quick.
That was a 2 barrel 400 as the 4 barrel version was very rare and I never even seen one.
The other was my neighbors 1/2 ton that weighed less than 3500 lbs.
My mother-in-law bought it from him.
Stupid quick with a 2 barrel.
I ended up rebuilding that C6 with my FIL his first time to rebuild a transmission and my first C6
and it had a front and what looked like a rear pump.
Stayed together for many years and she ended up selling it.
I have some 351M heads and a 302 and thought one day i may use them
A friends dually 3/4 ton with granny 4 speed and launched it in Granny shift to first at 15 MPH.
Outrun IROC camaros back in the late 80's. But i could shift that Granny pretty quick.
That was a 2 barrel 400 as the 4 barrel version was very rare and I never even seen one.
The other was my neighbors 1/2 ton that weighed less than 3500 lbs.
My mother-in-law bought it from him.
Stupid quick with a 2 barrel.
I ended up rebuilding that C6 with my FIL his first time to rebuild a transmission and my first C6
and it had a front and what looked like a rear pump.
Stayed together for many years and she ended up selling it.
I have some 351M heads and a 302 and thought one day i may use them
400M is very underrated and definitely does not get the respect it deserves. Was looking very hard at a Donzi 22 ft boat at one time, had twin 400M's. Wikedly fast for a speedboat. As for those that say the LS has a better aftermarket than a 302 / 351 Windsor, Ford FE or the Coyote I really don't think they looked too hard.
Why the LS or a Chevy? From what I understand they may be easier to install because of geometry, the position of the oil pan makes it a bit easier. Personally from what I have seen I don't think they are more or less reliable than Mopars or Fords, or going back a bit Pontiac, Buick or Oldsmobile.
I do not like the MPG of the LS when used as boat/car towing fodder.
I think the heads are designed around higher HP and atomization and intake runner heat is just not there for low end power and MPG.
Best truck engines i have done were 455 Oldsmobiles with J casting heads.
Since @TANSTAAFL brought it up.
Hard to find decent 455's today.
J castings had small runners 156CC which is like a small SBC runner size.
I would get 15MPG loaded or unloaded with the Olds 455 in trucks with stock cams.
Ported heads of course.
But those were not 1/4 mile quick.
Just great stump pullers.
I think that old Ford needs to be quick and fast as you have a stump puller.
I think the heads are designed around higher HP and atomization and intake runner heat is just not there for low end power and MPG.
Best truck engines i have done were 455 Oldsmobiles with J casting heads.
Since @TANSTAAFL brought it up.
Hard to find decent 455's today.
J castings had small runners 156CC which is like a small SBC runner size.
I would get 15MPG loaded or unloaded with the Olds 455 in trucks with stock cams.
Ported heads of course.
But those were not 1/4 mile quick.
Just great stump pullers.
I think that old Ford needs to be quick and fast as you have a stump puller.
810 Wagon, it was our first kid car, was nice after driving 260Z's before kids.
