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Does a V8 Belong in Everything? Maybe Not.

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Old Aug 1, 2014 | 08:59 PM
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Default Does a V8 Belong in Everything? Maybe Not.

We here at LS1tech think that either a LS or LT V8 should go in just about anything and everything. From Prius, to weird old Subarus, to the odd Acura Integra. Our motto is V8s for all!

But is there anything, so heinous that a V8 shouldn't go into? Or is V8 always the answer, right after Miata? The following cars should have never gotten a V8, no matter how much horsepower they have. Whether because the car is just too terrible event to correct with a V8, or the application made the car worse, here they are.

Read the complete post here:

https://ls1tech.com/articles/v8-belong-everything/


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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 08:14 AM
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I respectfully disagree with the aztek swap. To make that thing cool you need an LS swap and I've seen this thing in person at W2W on an open day they had and have it on video. I would take that thing over just about any vette up to the C7. I do agree with the mini though. Here's how to make a V8 Mini cool..


Last edited by badaSS98; Aug 2, 2014 at 08:20 AM.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 08:18 AM
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Moved out of the GenIII Internal section, to the Conversions & Hybrids section...
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 08:34 AM
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I too think the Aztek looks really really good.

The Tesla I would keep electric, I don't see the point of droping an Ls into it since as it has been said, it is already quicker and here in Quebec wouldn't cost much running it.

That Audi's handling must be pretty crappy with the engine that much forward
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 09:37 AM
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I would never put a V8 in a Viper or Lamborghini.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 09:48 AM
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I wouldn't put a v8 in a SMART car either. It might flip over when revved up! LOL
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 09:53 AM
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Well, Audis already are produced with V8s by the factory, even with twin turbos and are incredibly fast. Not sure what an LS swap would gain other than it would be might be cheaper to swap into a lesser Audi than using their own V8s. As for classic Porsches, I have seen several done with SBC motors and they worked out well, though most were done as mid engine instead of rear engine. Coolest one I ever saw had a 500 cu in Cadillac with an Turbo 425 motor home transaxle. http://caddy500.com/index.php?topic=515.0

Last edited by Stu Cool; Aug 2, 2014 at 10:03 AM.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 10:01 AM
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One year at the Turkey Run in Daytona I saw a flathead in a wheelbarrow! This was actually a running engine! Useless but entertaining.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 12:05 PM
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that Aztek is badass. i disagree on that one......and i'd drive the hell out of it.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 01:10 PM
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I agree not everything needs a V8! It is all about power to weight ratio and having a good weight distribution. If you have too much power on one side of the car, it will not perform good. That is why my Bug didn't get a V8. The engine would weigh more then the car!
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 02:17 PM
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Some of this boils down to "does it NEED it" or simply "can you do it", or "do you Want to do it". A wise man once said this: "You can do anything, you can put a ring in your nose and hang a piano from it, once!"
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 02:30 PM
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Personally, for me, it comes down to taste and creativity. As it was pointing out, something's don't need a V8, the cummins straight 4 and 6's come to mind, along with countless great engines that left the factory like that or someone had the ability to do an engine transplant. Me personally, I think the above Aztek is cool as hell considering what he started with and how much time and energy the person took to make the final product for someone to just say it shouldn't have that engine, it should have something else, misses the whole coolness factor the entire swap and focuses, in my opinion, too heavily on such a small part of most people's intentions. You can put just about any engine you'd like in whatever vehicle you'd like, I just say whatever you choose take some and make it something people want to look at or ask questions about.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 02:36 PM
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Not gonna lie, and I can't believe I'm saying this: I think that Aztek in the article looks awesome and icing on the cake would be a magnacharged lsx, nobody would suspect that.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 02:58 PM
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V8 is always the answer and GM has other V8s to help with this...
This smart car has the right V8, not all cars need a ls or lt in it as long as its GM v8 which they produce plenty of different V8s to compete with v10, v12s and w16 engines.

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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 03:14 PM
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Everything, and I mean everything, needs a V8. With the exception of lawn mowers, V6's will work in those just fine.That Aztec is kinda cool
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 04:25 PM
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Anymore info/pics on the aztek?
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 07:23 PM
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My friend has an S10 he bought from the original owner. Original 60deg V6 died.

I tried pretty hard to talk him into a small SBC V8 swap. He had a 700-R4 or 200-4R core, he had a running albeit high mile longblock. And it was one of the easiest models (late box body, stick, 2WD) to swap; could have kept it TBI with minimal changes.

It was replaced with a 60deg V6 crate engine. If that dies, I'll bug him senseless again.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 07:27 PM
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I agree with the Aztek, this is what Pontiac should have done in the beginning. If they had we still might see Pontiac as a current brand.
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Old Aug 2, 2014 | 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by distortion_69
Not gonna lie, and I can't believe I'm saying this: I think that Aztek in the article looks awesome and icing on the cake would be a magnacharged lsx, nobody would suspect that.
A magnacharger would have been a down grade for that aztek. The firewall was moved and that thing was hoped up. Caged too. Sounded wicked.
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Old Aug 3, 2014 | 06:35 AM
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As ugly as those Azteks are they actually sold pretty well for the first few years
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