10 Most Common Cars For An LS7 V-8 Engine Swap

Chevrolet‘s LS engine family is one of the most widely spread of any V-8 engine. The platform has been around since 1997 when the iconic LS1 was introduced in the Chevrolet C5 Corvette. Over time, LS engines became synonymous with affordable performance and durability. While not entirely without issues, the various Chevrolet LS engines quickly became the go-to platform for high-horsepower Muscle cars. The Chevy Big-block officially returned as the LS7 engine in 2006, as the engine of choice for the Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 and later, the track-focused Camaro Z/28.

With a displacement of 427 cubic inches, like the iconic L88 Corvette engine, it didn’t take long for people to warm up to the big pushrod V-8. In fact, as common as LS swaps are on a variety of vehicles, it is the LS7 that packs the greatest potential, due to its displacement. As capable as some cars are out of the box, shoving a big V-8 in, makes them even better. Not to mention the added aftermarket support that every LS build inevitably comes with. Like other similar engines, the LS7 is compact and lightweight, meaning it can be fitted in much smaller vehicles, and the 10 cars listed below are the most common platforms to benefit from an LS7 engine swap.

To highlight the performance benefits of an LS7 engine swap on each of the cars listed below, we gathered detailed information regarding engine weight and performance from various manufacturer websites. We also checked current prices with
Classic.com
and
CarGurus.com
and have arranged models based on the average prices, going from the most expensive to the most affordable.

10 Mazda RX-7

Starting Used Price: $9,995 – $15,500

Regardless of the generation, the Mazda RX-7 is considered one of the best-handling Japanese sports cars of its day. Its 50-50 weight distribution and light weight allowed it to punch way above its weight. The RX-7’s prowess was even more apparent on tight, technical sections, and much of the credit goes to its rotary engine with twin-sequential turbochargers and an appetite for the higher rev range.

1996 Mazda RX-7 Specifications

(Source: Mazda)

Unfortunately, that same engine is the car’s Achilles heel, as it isn’t known for efficiency or reliability. For this reason, the JDM rotary rocket is one of the most common cars to receive an LS engine. The Mazda’s twin-rotary 13B REW engine weighs 280 pounds although fully dressed like the example in the video above, the figure goes up to over 400, which means an LS7-swapped RX-7 boasts a much better power-to-weight ratio, stock for stock.

9 Honda S2000

Starting Used Price: $7,500 – $10,000

One of the more appreciating JDM sports cars of the 1990s is not immune to the LS-swap craze. While boasting the highest specific output of the naturally-aspirated inline-four of its day, the Honda S2000 lacks the much-loved in the U.S., mid-range punch. While any LS V-8 could do miracles for the S2000’s torque curve (and performance), it is the LS7 that best fits the bill.

1999 Honda S2000 Specifications

(Source: Honda)

Moreover, the Honda’s long engine bay and the fact the LS7 is not much longer than the Honda inline-four, allow the Japanese roadster to retain a front mid-engine layout. The Honda F20/F22 engine is a thing of beauty in itself, but the LS7 more than makes up with twice the cylinders, 3.5 times the displacement, and ultimately, a lot more potential for power, which is why 600 to 1,000+ horsepower LS-swapped S2000 builds, like the example in the video linked above from Holley Performance, are common.

8 BMW M3 (E36)

Starting Used Price: $6,200 – $7,000

While the European market got the better E36 M3, U.S. buyers had to settle for a much less powerful variant of the car. The E36 M3 also arrived three years later on US shores, in 1995. The S50B30 engine (later replaced by the S52) was a different variant than the Euro-spec cars.

While not a bad engine in itself, the U.S.-spec E36 M3 was considered the slowest BMW M-car at the time. The Bavarian coupe was all about the chassis and to this day, it is praised for its handling characteristics. The stock engine weighs 320 pounds, which is a fair amount less than an LS7.

1995 BMW M3 E36 (U.S.-spec) Specifications

(Source: BMW)

However, the added benefits far outweigh the extra 138 pounds the American V-8 adds. The E36 platform is not quite as popular as the Nissan S-Chassis when it comes to LS swaps, but it’s getting there, and there are already a variety of plug-and-play parts. Prices for these are still reasonable as the Drift tax hasn’t gotten to them yet. If you want to spend even less on an E36, a non-M car would also do the job.

7 Chevrolet Chevelle (1964-1972)

Starting Used Price: $5,600 – $8,000

Most Muscle car enthusiasts would agree that a Chevy engine belongs in a Chevy engine bay. This is especially true when it comes to the big-block V-8 engines, which is why one of the best places an LS7 can be put to use is a classic Chevrolet Chevelle. We are, of course, referring to the first two generations of Chevrolet’s mid-size Muscle car, and there are plenty of Chevelles lying around since they were mass-produced.

1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Specifications

(Source: Chevrolet)

These cars are of age and finding a clean example is becoming increasingly difficult. This means two things – highly original survivors command a premium while the run-down examples are being resto-modded with modern drivetrains. It’s no wonder then, we see plenty of highly-customized Chevelles equipped with various LS engines including the 427 LS7.

6 Buick Regal Grand National (1982-1987)

Starting Used Price: $5,000 – $10,000

Still keeping things in the GM family, the Buick Regal Gran National started as an old people’s car and turned into a mildly spicy performance model with hopes of appealing to a younger audience. While the iconic, turbocharged Buick GNX eventually arrived as the Regal’s swan song, it is the lesser variants that benefit an LS7 swap the most.

1982 Buick Regal Specifications

(Source: Buick)

Early Regals still came with a 3.8-liter V-6, but it was woefully underpowered due to being naturally aspirated. At 375 pounds, the Buick V-6 wasn’t particularly lightweight either, especially considering the (lack of) performance. By swapping a Chevrolet LS7 engine in this square G-Body, you are effectively increasing the horsepower by nearly five times without touching the engine, which is capable of a lot more. The G-Body Regal Gran National is one of the best cars to throw an LS engine in. There are ready-made kits that are cost-effective, and over 1,000 horsepower is easy to achieve.

5 Nissan 240SX

Starting Used Price: $4,995 – 7,200

We can’t have a list of LS-swapped cars without mentioning Nissan’s S-chassis. The US market drew the short stick on this JDM icon. While the rest of the world got the Nissan S-chassis with a variety of turbo-fours, the North American variant got the engine from a light truck. While that doesn’t stop people from building them, many opt for the more sensible LS swap.

1989 Nissan 240SX Specifications

(Source: Nissan)

Whether it’s the S13 or S14 generation, the Nissan’s engine bay is more than suitable for an LS7 engine. A fully-equipped KA24E engine tips the scales at 371 pounds, so by doing an LS7 swap you won’t be putting a lot more weight on the front axle. If anything, it would make the Nissan S-chassis a bit more draftable, which is what people mostly do with these cars anyway.

4 Porsche Cayman/ Boxster

Starting Used Price: $4,000 – $8,200

Porsche might be best known for its rear-engine 911, but in 1996, the brand showed a renewed dedication to the mid-engine layout, with the 986 Boxster. About a decade later, the Cayman came out, sharing the same chassis, but with a hardtop and a hatchback-style rear deck lid. While Porsche’s mid-engine sports car is still relatively young to the LS swap scene, the last couple of years have seen a steady increase in this trend.

1999 Honda S2000 Specifications

(Source: Porsche)

Swapping an LS engine into a mid-engine Porsche is nowhere near as straightforward as it is with another front-engine car, but people still do it. Moreover, early Boxster and Cayman examples come with the M96 flat-six engine, plagued by many issues, among which cylinder heads that are prone to cracking, IMS bearing, rear main seal, and others. Replacements are expensive, so the logical thing to do is to swap an LS7.

3 Chevrolet Camaro (1982-1992)

Average Used Price: $1,750 – $3,990

We can all agree that smog-era Muscle cars are some of the worst ever made. One good thing about them is that the vast majority of them are dirt cheap. For this reason, the third-generation Chevrolet Camaro is the perfect recipient of an LS7 engine swap. The most powerful third-generation Camaro was the 350-powered IROC-Z, which pumped out 245 horsepower. Those, however, are collector’s cars and typically left alone.

1982 Chevrolet Camaro “Iron Duke” Specifications

(Source: Chevrolet)

The base third-gen Camaro, however, with its gutless Iron Duke V-6 only made 90 to 110 horsepower, meaning there’s no excuse for not throwing in 427 V-8. Moreover, because it is all-aluminum, a fully-dressed LS7 engine weighs just 83 pounds more than the 2.5-liter Iron Duke (458 vs 375 lbs) while being significantly lighter than the 350 TPI engine’s near-700-pound figure.

2 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Starting Used Price: $1,100 – $2,200

If the crazy power-to-weight ratio is what you are after, then there is no better candidate for an LS7 engine swap than the Mazda MX-5 Miata. This goes for any of the MX-5 generations. Despite early examples now being classics, they are still the most affordable, and dirt-cheap examples are still around. If you manage to get a clean one that’s free of rust, you can do virtually anything with a Miata.

1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Specifications

(Source: Mazda)

The little Japanese roadster is one of the most common cars to receive engine swaps and there is plenty of aftermarket support and plug-and-play kits for that purpose. In addition, plenty of awesome Mazda MX-5 conversions are also available for extra uniqueness. Granted, the LS7 Big-block V-8 might be a bit of a tight squeeze compared to the smaller LS1 or LS3, but it still fits like it belongs in the Mazda roadster.

1 Ford Mustang Foxbody

Starting Used Price: $800 – $2,000

The third-generation Ford Mustang, dubbed the Foxbody, is when the blue oval started putting performance back into the model. That said, during its 25-year production cycle, very few of the Foxbody Mustangs could actually boost performance. Sure, there were the SVO and the iconic Cobra 5.0, but the vast majority of Foxbodies were gutless thanks to a Pinto engine.

1979 Ford Mustang Foxbody Specifications

(Source: Ford)

Luckily, those are also dirt-cheap and you can get yourself a project car for less than $1,000. Chevrolet LS swaps on a Ford Mustang are actually a thing and there are ready-made kits available from companies like Holley. The LS7’s low profile fits perfectly in the Foxbody engine bay, originally meant for an overhead cam engine. Just beware that some of the hardcore Ford fans might want to stone you to death if you do so.