Published: 11/11/2022

LS Swap Everything

Author: DAN HODGDON

Photos: LUCAS PRIAMO

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LS swaps can range from the ridiculous to the sublime. Recently, Stoner's Speed Shop showed off both.

During this year's edition of Holley LS Fest East, owner Blake Stoner and his team hauled a 1976 Chevrolet Chevette and a 1959 GMC pickup from their shop in Hudson, Iowa, to Bowling Green, Kentucky's Beech Bend Park. The Chevette is powered by a junkyard LS while the GMC truck is a customer vehicle featuring a Connect & Cruise Crate Powertrain System from Chevrolet Performance.

Both understandably drew plenty of attention.

This 1976 Chevette is a tribute to Dale Earnhardt.

"It's kind of a wild unit."

Plus, if an LS-swapped Chevette isn't wild enough, the black car also features a decal pack to replicate the legendary Dale Earnhardt – including the famous No. 3.

"It's just something different," Stoner said. "It's kind of a wild unit."

Stoner bought the car online – with the decals already in place – and the team made the LS swap over the Labor Day holiday the weekend before the show. The Chevette is powered by a junkyard 4.8L LS engine and features a Holley intake, Brian Tooley Racing cam, Performance Systems Integration harness, a custom-made driveshaft and a nine-inch rear end from Quick Performance. Both the Chevette and GMC pickup were on display at the Quick Performance display during the LS Fest event.

The Chevette has a 4.8L LS engine under the hood.

As might be expected, the engine is a tight fit in the compact car's engine compartment, but nevertheless, it works. The power plant features LS3 accessories and is mated to a built 4L60 transmission Stoner had in the shop. He notes much of the build utilized parts he had "lying around."

The Chevette was then completed with a few more decals, including the phrase "Home of the 3, Land of the Free" across the top of the windshield.

"Everyone in the shop kind of wanted to do it, so it worked out well," Stoner said of the build. "We called it a team-building exercise. This is just a straight screw-around car, honestly."

This 1959 GMC pickup is an example of what Stoner's Speed Shop is known for.

The counterpoint to the Intimidator-themed Chevette at LS Fest was the impeccable 1959 GMC truck.

"This is what I actually do," said Stoner, who has become one of the most notable names in the white-hot restomod truck market.

The truck features original patina-style red paint with a white grille and front bumper, but otherwise, nearly the entire vehicle has been customized.

Under the hood sits a Chevrolet Performance LS376/480 crate engine* making 495 horsepower and 473 lb-ft.of torque. The engine is based on the standard LS3*, but a racing-inspired Hot Cam helps draw additional air into the rectangular-port L92 cylinder heads for more power.

The GMC pickup is powered by an LS376/480 Connect & Cruise Crate Powertrain System.

"I love the Connect & Cruises because you put them in, you wire them and they're good to go. They're so simple."

The engine is backed with a SuperMatic 6L80-E six-speed automatic transmission featuring a 664 lb.-ft. torque rating. Stoner says that if he builds a custom truck, it almost always utilizes a Connect & Cruise system.

"I love the Connect & Cruises because you put them in, you wire them and they're good to go," he explained. "They're so simple. You put some exhaust on it, you put a front-drive on it and it's easy."

This particular engine utilizes an intake, throttle body and front drive system from Holley, along with Billet Specialties valve cover adapters and a Be Cool radiator.

The truck rides on a BSI chassis and Stoner had Detroit Steel cut the wheels, which are surrounded by Diamondback tires. Wilwood brakes all the way around bring the truck to a stop and an air-ride suspension setup provides a mean, low stance. The truck is also outfitted with a Quick Performance nine-inch rear end.

The truck has been customized throughout.

"This is a clean truck."

The pristine interior was created and installed by Joel Maddox at Boss Interior and complements the oak bedliner installed by the Stoner's team.

"This is a clean truck, this one drives killer," Stoner said.

He planned to drop it off to the customer in Indianapolis on the way home from LS Fest, but first, he was going to have some fun showing off his two wildly different LS-powered builds.

After all, isn't that creativity what LS swaps are all about?

Be sure to keep checking out The BLOCK for much more from automotive events across the nation.

*Because of its effect on a vehicle's emissions performance, this engine is intended exclusively for use in competition vehicles. This engine is designed and intended for use in vehicles operated exclusively for competition: in racing or organized competition on courses separate from public streets or highways. Installation or use of this engine on a vehicle operated on public streets or highways is likely to violate U.S., Canadian, and state and provincial laws and regulations related to motor vehicle emissions.

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