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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

My Dad gave me his 05 avalanche because he’s old. Super excited to join this cult like engine following. Discovering something new is so much better dwelling on the negative aspects of the world.

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 👍

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

I'm slowly getting into working on cars as my hobby and this hands down is one of the best videos I come across about LS motors TY.

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.

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

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!