Top 5 Mods To Make An LS Engine Reliable. 

I try to include this info in videos while working on engines, but it's hard to get it all in them along with the work. So I wanted to make this video covering some of the things I've learned over the years with my LS Builds to help anyone out who's taking the plunge themselves.

"How to make an LS reliable" Put gas in it.

Short list 3:09 - Internal oil seals [cam retainer plate etc] 7:56 - lifters [gen 3 vs 4] 10:14 - rocker arm upgrades 12:24 - oiling system [preventing starvation] 21:18 - bottom end considerations

If you showed me this video a few years ago, I would have laughed in your face. After burning up 2 perfectly good motors (one built to the gills) I 100% agree with everything you said. If I had seen this video a few years ago AND followed the advice, I'd still be on my original motor.

I'm a mechanic at a speed shop, and one of my customers has a stock internals 6.0L, boosted to the nuts, and he's gotten the car into the 7s in the 1/4, he opens up the ring gaps, studs everything with ARP studs, and throws a $300 Chinese turbo on it. Sure the motors come apart from time to time with power levels he's running, but a couple weekends, few hundred bucks, and a trip to the wrecking yard and he's back to the races.

Take my advice and Listen to this man, get the Valve train and oiling system in check great LS info brother

Another important reason for road racing builds to use a dry sump system is the flat oil pan, which allows the engine to be installed lower in the chassis, getting the center of gravity lower, improving handling. If you're a real belt-and-suspenders man, you'll install an Accusump to kick in just in case your dry sump belt comes off or you blow one of its feed lines or whatever so as to give you time to shut down before your motor seizes. A big, bright oil pressure red idiot light where you can't possibly miss it would be a worthwhile investment as well. Excellent video.

Taylor: it can't slosh away from pickup Me: flips car

Great stuff Taylor, thanks for sharing your experiences so we all can avoid the same headaches you've been through! 👍

The other overlooked oil starvation fix is to simply overfill the pan. The "LS1" style pan "full" line is at 5.5 qts. You can run 7.5 with no negative effects and oil starvation has not been an issue in my experience. Also back to back 1/4 mile runs at 5.5 and 7.5qts i saw no noticeable performance loss due to windage that every one claims is such a big issue. also adding high volume oil pumps when not needed tends to "suck the pan dry" and is completely not necessary.

Dude, I just watched this to the end. I have a very short attention span and rarely make it to the end of videos. You are generous for sharing this information so openly, and your no nonsense approach keeps people engaged. I loved that you weren't trying to be funny or adding fluff, just straight up info streaming from beginning to end. Thank you again. Awesome stuff.

I've watched all your videos on LS's and you still always teach me something new. Thank you for making good informative videos about things like this, they are very good. I have been sending most of them to my grandfather who has become a big fan of yours and your car.

Dude... Yet another reason to REALLY enjoy your videos. The explanation on this one was well thought out and backed up by your own experiences. Thanks!

Great video and you are dead right about all the issues listed. I have a few more issues that you could add: 6) AFM (DOD) lifter failure 7) LS3/ any motor that uses the LS3 style timing chain tensioner. The plastic parts of the tensioner is prone to breaking. 8) Not a real issue, but the stock valve springs can be fairly shitting and are prone to valve floating at high rpm.

These are GREAT tips. My favorite one is "leave it the F alone". I am a road racer, and I am very familiar with horsepower and what one can do with it. Because of that, I get a lot of questions around what should be done to a motor. It KILLS me when I have someone LS swapping something like an RX7, a Miata, a 240SX, whatever. They start talking about heads and intakes and what pistons they need and so on, because they want to make power because they are afraid it'll be slow. I have almost this exact talk with them. Man, that car is what, 2600#-2700# at the absolute max? If its a Miata its closer to 2300#-2400#? That 300-350 hp is going to be PLENTY. Just get the thing done, and get it running. After a few months if you think its slow, get some heads on it. But don't let that stop the project. And I can bet you won't be bored.

This by far the best LS video I've seen yet. So much valuable info in one video!

Pre-Watch Prediction: #1 = DO NOT look at the cam bearings

Great video. Very detailed and to-the-point. Thanks for showing the difference on the GEN 4 lifters. Thanks for describing oiling options and related costs. The accusump described as a band-aid is like saying an accumulator on a hydro-boost braking system is a band-aid. I agree with your assertion - its a solution. BTW - cool Miatas. Looks fun!

The capacitor for the car stereo was a nice touch..right on man.explains it

Thank you for these 5 oil tips! I had no idea on most of these. A bad oil pickup tube o ring caused my LQ4 to have no oil pressure for about 10 seconds in the winter!!! Replaced it and instant pressure every start up. I did not know there was a 2nd bolt hold down for the tube thanks for that too!

I'm doing an ls swap in my 77 El Camino, prevention up front beats doing it over. Thanks for sharing your time and knowledge.

My 5.3L LM7 lost oil pressure in Ohio on a trip. Thought it was the sensor at first, no biggie. Drove it about a mile and the lifters started complaining. Had a friend come with his flat bed gooseneck trailer and tow me back to his shop in Michigan. We dropped the pan and changed the o-ring and now I'm back to 60 psi cold / 40 psi hot pressure.

All of this is SO true. The best advice for any track LS I've seen online. Well done Taylor. Only thing I would add is not to run a high volume pump with stock bearing clearances. It WILL suck the sump dry, even with baffles. Oh and love the Buc-ee's shirt! #breakfastburrito

This is actually very helpful, thanks for the tips man!

This vid makes me proud of myself. Already had majority of these tips covered when I did my first build. I did a ton of research though, before I bought the truck I knew NOTHING about LS at all

Really, really excellent job on this video man! Great reference for people who want to make their LS last.

Had this in watch later for a while and hate myself for it. I'm so glad this was a more technical video rather than one of those "change your oil, do maintenance, take care of it" typical types, stuff we all know/common sense. This actually had upgrades in it, very nice video. Thank you 👍

Thank you, thank you for pointing out the items in the video. As a dealer line tech we see things and take measures to cover our own behind, but showing the camshaft retainer plate gasket and it’s importance is to me, is never discussed. The Red Gasket maker (Loctite 518) is for two machined surfaces and in the absence or air, creates a great seal. I use a film of this carefully behind this plate on any gasket. Sac City’s bar-bell is a nice touch as we as the rocker trunnions, which can fail on high mile daily drivers. The oil accumulator is a home run in my book. Even engines that are grocery-getters, the main & rod bearings experiencing a slow death ever time (That 200k miles or more) they are started. Even with certain engine designers oiling strategy, we all know that no pressure film of oil is a fine line to a little wear and no wear. I enjoyed your choice of locations with limited real estate up front. I just wish the wear half the price they retail for considering the simplicity. The key operated valve is technically the most expensive component installed. Thanks and best of luck. Liked & Subscribed! ASE Master Tech since 1978 - Retired... Great Points!

Easily one of the best vids on LS engines I've ever seen!

Man thoses video are so interesting, you explain so well! Can't wait to see more of the new build, and watch you rip with an 80hp stronger engine !! You're the best keep it up man. Edit: that last scene of the video with Cleetus is still one of my favorite moment of your channel, it was 🔥🔥

Another benefit to dry sump is it helps the rotating assembly not having to slosh through all the oil in the pan. It helps with climbing in the rpms quicker, and frees up a little bit of power too. Of course, it might be immeasurable, but it definitely helps.

I appreciate all of your videos Taylor. Learning so much from your fabricating and just general knowledge

Planning my next engine build and this has helped a ton! Thanks brother!

first thing you showed, the cam plate, is what killed my first 5.3 in my Nova. just a couple street miles and couple dyno hits, oil pressure dropping to 5psi with a hell of a noise from the cam! #5, my fav. the replacement 4.8 that went into my Nova didnt get a single bolt turned that didnt need it. slapped a cam in and good. same deal with my new project, didnt even look at the bottom end. GM knows there shit, they built like 50million of these, how many engines have you built? yeah. plus, that engine has PROVEN it self for the last 100k + miles (always claimed, its probably got 240+ lol), its driven to countless soccer/baseball/whatever games, to work every day for 10years... ITS GOOD.

Melling high volume/pressure oil pump and a good baffled pan. That is the secret to a reliable LS engine without dry sump.

Great info, in the middle of building a LS and this was exactly what i needed! 👍👍🔥

Great tips Taylor. Keep up the great work! Stay healthy out there!

A couple of my thoughts. I ran my 5.3 all year at 7200 in my sprint car. Stock other the. A cam swap. To the people talking about high pressure and volume pumps be careful. Consider at high RPM the pump can lower your pan level to an unwanted level. Also. A little trick. Your lifter trays will hold to much oil till then fill. Drill a small hole in the tray to let the oil drain at a lower lever

Great info. I have everything he points out and I can concur that every bit of info this guy gives is spot on. I use my engine in road racing and I have zero issues. These are must do for anyone that will push this engine.

Man im so glad i found this channel through cleetus. Ive learnt so much about my ls2

ben's setup is so clean now. he's lucky to have had you as a test subject haha. Edit: also taylor rippppped the freedom factory. He was haulin on the oval!

Step one: put oil in Step two: don’t keep it above 7k its whole life step three: enjoy your ls motor for hundreds of thousands of miles

I’m currently making my first drift car, and doing my first engine swap and this helps so much, I love you Taylor

One of the BEST video advice I've ever seen on any video platform. I would say, NO MATTER haw you wish to use your LS vehicle, these simple upgrades will actually make your LS engine bulletproof. I'd say a simple drysump is also a must have if you only want to care about oil changes. I know of a guy in Mannheim Germany who rodnocked his Firebird LS engine in a speedway turnpike : a long long long right turn at a speedway turnpike crossing, he took the turn just pushing a " tad little more" than he'd do, and ... bye bye LS engine.

Here in Australia, the LS3 is used in the Holden Caprice limo - lifter failure is very common for actual chauffeur driven vehicles. One mechanic said he thinks it's due to insufficient oil pressure at low revs. (we do a lot of low rev driving, and a lot of idling)

Awesome, just need to write down the part list in the description :P

This is a great video. I appreciate the time you took to share your real life experience. So much good info here

Good looking out on the barbell. Never had one of those out before. I've changed the pickup tube seals and cam retainer before, but I didn't even know that guy exsisted.

Step one change the oil step 2 beat the piss out of it step 3 see step 1 l.s the world beast motors ever

When I build my e46 chassis into a drift car, Taylor’s gonna be the reason it’s gonna have to LS in it haha. I think it’s gonna be fun making videos tearing apart an LS 😋

I'm gonna put an LS in my '70 Corvette project and I'm very happy I came across your video. You are Excellent!!! Good Infor!!! Yes, I'm gonna leave it (my 6.2 escalade motor) alone. Just do some basic checks. Thanks!

Thanks for this Taylor! As someone who can work well with cars and is building my own LS Miata your insight and knowledge that you share is amazing. Again thanks man

ok good to know i need the uncircumcised lifters. Thank you !

What about using a catch can setup ? I run a gen 3 ls1 5.7 with 300.000km un-opened engine. I use a catch can between the valley and the intake manifold. 🔧👍🏁

Excellent video right to the point with no added fluff !! Thank you

Ty I completed all 5 in my LS3 engine and feel confident alls well and should be for years to come. Cheers James 💙🇳🇿💙

Have you looked into improving oil drain back, especially from the heads, in LS engines? Seems like the routes back to the pan are a bit small and complicated.

21:40 is a great advertisement for GM's new 800,000 hp crate engine lol

Thanks my brother, OUTSTANDING content. Loved it. Subscribed Q!

I just came across your channel,not much of a drift guy,but I am into ls and knowledge. You hit everything right on,especially,leave it alone!! Can't stress that enough to people.You did miss one thing,that I have always been told,another weak spot,the pushrods.Lmk if and when you would upgrade them,thanks and you have a new Sub!

taylor started to get heated halfway through lmaoooo

On my Z-06, Chevy says to add another quart oil on track days to reduce oil starvation but drain out once done!

I'm more of an electrical/performance guy than an mechanical rebuild guy so naturally I forget which GM LS/LT engine comes with what as far as the top end goes other than the AFM crap they finally decided to slowly back away from in the new models. This is a pretty damn good video for DIY'ers and seasoned techs to view. My hat goes off to you.

Awesome Video. This is what you never hear about an LS build!

im the guy who tagged taylor in a caleb quanback video where caleb was bashing the LS motors and taylor dropped some knowledge on him

I would be okay with you starting every video with that clip, insane your Miata keeps up with that thing

+1 for the Buccee's tee! Great video man!! I'm on the fence with swapping out my VQ35 in my Inifinit FX35 for something an gen 4 LS and trying to absorb as much info as possible. keep em coming!

That advice about the bottom end is about the best advice I've heard about engines in a long time I so so agree with you

You know you’ve made it when you have a pre mullet Cleetus in your outro

Any one else having trouble with it loading past 3:30? It gets to that point then says error try again

Excellent To Do primer for LS C3 Corvette Swaps Taylor, thanks! For my "Pull N Pay" Corvette C3 crowd who are doing a scrapyard sourced LS swap I'm recommending a couple of things. I realize that alot of us are family guys that are doing the conversion on a budget & that's precisely WHY I'm making them, because you don't want to do it again & at the same time you also don't want to limit yourself from power upgrades later. You've got it out, follow Taylor's wise (cheap insurance!) council on the seals & rockers. I'd recommend a high-pressure oil pump on Any swap and on LS's I'd recommend a new set of push rods & rocker arms. 2 reasons; people love to neglect their oil changes & a High-Pressure one like a Mellings will help push oil through those potentially restricted Oil Passages from a neglected motor & Revving! Man we love a high revving V-8. Again, "cheap insurance". Change the Cam Bearings. The main bearings on these last, the cam bearings don't fare as well. So those 3 seals, cam bearings, oil pump, push rods & rocker arms and on LS3's the plastic chain tensioner. You KNOW that if you're doing a C3 Corvette LS Engine Swap-that you'll Eventually do power upgrades so a little extra investment Now means less work later so that makes the LS Cam Bearing replacement more important-Now. I'm currently collecting as much real world information as we can find for doing a C3 Corvette LS Engine & Transmission Swap using ONLY Factory Parts as we can get our hands on so this can be a simple(r) WEEKEND SWAP rather than another expensive 6 month trial & error financial burden. Which factory accessory drives work, oil pan & pick up, waterpump (the outlet actually), trans crossmember & mount, motor & frame mounts, ps & fuel lines, etc.

My lifter turned sideways in my '12 silverado 6 months after buying it because someone had previously replaced the lifers (probably collapsed lifter) but didn't replace the $20 treys 😡. So I did a cam swap and DOD delete truck has been great ever since. Good to see I did most everything in your video.

Don’t understand any of the car talk just here for the kitties

"It doesn't make the car faster, it doesn't make the car *better* , it just makes it essentially more *reliable* ." In my opinion, "more reliable" absolutely equals "better".

What’s up Taylor ! Big inspiration man ! I started car vlogging on my channel now! I’m currently working on s13 hatchback ! Trying to make a 180sx rep! Thank you soo much for everything! I’m almost to 200 subs ! So blessed!

Excellent video mate! Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

Anyone else having issues watching this video? I’ve tried for two days. I’ve tried fast forwarding. It stops and says something went wrong. No problem on any other RU-vid video just this one. Frustrated.

After blowing up 6 motors, I’m going to watch this video very carefully

Congratulations!! Great info and well presented.

I've gotta hand it to ya you have alot of knowledge and it shows in this video. Very well done sir

Run it stock and change the oil frequently.

You had me at everything til' the last tip. Bearings don't last forever (especially Cam bearings)! Rings don't seal forever! Oil pumps don't pump forever! You're not wrong that GM knew what they were doing putting the engine together, but none of that R&D matters if the rings don't seal, oil pump doesn't pump (as much as it should) and bearings are worn. If you spend $3000 on a dry sump along with everything else to make the engine run with good power, why would you NOT spend an extra couple hours and a couple hundred dollars to put some bearings, rings and an oil pump in it to make the engine essentially brand new?

Great video on the LS , invaluable experience given hear. Thanks

Thanks for the info bud! Just picked 1 up & and this info will come in handy!!!

I can’t even watch it says something went wrong like 3 mins in every time

all this about oil and didn't even recommend replacing the oil pump? HIgh volume and or high pressure oil pump+pan=win

Man, I still get chills every time I see that run with the FD guy and he pats his door.

Well done production and great direct points made with explanations provided . Professor "T" is in the house.

A dry sump has always been an "I want", but theyr'e so costly - but I've never heard of the accusump, and that's a pretty reasonable way to prevent starvation. I like it!

Thanks for the tips Taylor, man it’d be some awesome to ride in one of those at a drift event. I’ve never cared about sliding around in a car when I was younger and had mustangs but I’d love to do it now, looks like so much fun! I definitely got to build me a car.

Best LS maintenance video I've ever seen.

Man you are a GOD. Did an aussie style burnout in the btr2cammed g8gt for a road work crew.... Loud taps when I got home and the cam lope sounds off. The tapping has happened TWICE and went away the next morning .... THIS TIME its louder and the cam chopchop was off at idle. I'm hoping itll be back to normal when i start it in the morning.... after hearing the cam lastnight, i doubt it's going to be a good morning startup lol

Love this video buddy. Thank you for the knowledge.

BUC-EE’S!!!!! I adore that place. Ive been to a couple while trucking around the U.S.. I have a 2002 Avalanche with the 5.3L Vortec. People have been telling me its a LS motor. Im planning on fully restoring the engine. Making sure everything in there is looking good. Replacing gaskets and all that good stuff that you mentioned.

Thank you Taylor! Learn so much from your vids

This was a good video man. Keep it up appreciate the info!

Exactly!! Finally someone with the end goal at mind and some since!!

Just watched this video as it was suggested from searching ls stuff. Glad to know I did all these things prepping for my e30 drift car swap.

I have found most LS blocks with 100k plus miles the cam bearings are all shot, that's a definite must replace item if it's a used High mileage block.. be careful some gen3 bearings are narrow, gen4 are wide for the cam phaser to work correctly you install the wrong ones it will kill your pressure... (been there done that....) Great video...

Awesome awesome awesome video. I’m by no means an expert but I’ve pulled a few and you really educated me on some things... subscribed