YouTuber Makes LS-swapping an ’80s Honda Look Effortless
Throwing an LS1 into an Accord seems like an odd swap but BodeVision sees Pontiac GTO parts as the way to make it simple.
LS swaps are popular for a reason. But LS swaps into FWD cars definitely aren’t. That’s what Adam Bode from the BodeVision is planning on doing with a 1988 Honda Accord. For obvious reasons, converting front wheel drive to rear wheel drive presents its own problems. Bode thinks he’s found a donor car with certain parts that will make the whole process a breeze.
Bode’s donor car is a Pontiac GTO which contains the 5.7-liter LS1. Bode had never pulled an LS motor, so he took his time. He describes his approach, saying, “now I’ve got to hook up the engine, and I want to put something under the transmission. My goal is to pull everything out together.” That ended up being an interesting move that Bode had to adapt to. “I don’t know that it was the right call to pull everything out together, but it is out now and it is all good,” Bode explains. He did have to cut the front radiator support to get the engine out of the GTO. Since the Pontiac was going to be sold for parts anyway, cutting it up wasn’t an issue.
With the engine out, it was an opportune time to assess everything. The LS1 motor will receive a refresh and some minor performance parts, but nothing wild. The Accord that will house this motor is a daily driver, so nothing too extreme was desired. But Bode explains why he’s using more than the engine for this swap. In fact, he’s using the whole front subframe.
Bode explains, “I need to make this subframe mount up into the Accord, and that’s going to be the hardest part of this process.” But from there, it’ll get easier. The subframe itself has mounts for the motor, the steering rack and other suspension pickup points making fabrication for those components easy. Bode says, “all I have to do is get this subframe in the Accord, and we’re good to go as far as the motor, steering, suspension… everything.”
Bode is next going to tear apart the Accord in anticipation for its new motor. We’re looking forward to seeing how it goes. It’ll certainly be one of the more unique swaps we’ve ever seen.
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