Today's tuning and modding culture may have moved well past the old ethos to LS swap everything, but that doesn't make the traditional V8 engine choice any less common. Any fan of Chevy's small-blocks knows that the power, performance, and reliability of LS swaps still makes them quite popular—and that the rise of aftermarket turbo systems only makes the LS an all the more appealing option, as well. While most people might think of a hardcore restomod as being the best basis for an LS swap, the weight and size advantages also provide an opportunity for some more peculiar choices, like this surprisingly aggressive BMW 2002 that's also got side exit exhaust so aggressive it can torch a potted plant for no reason whatsoever.
BMW 2002 Lights It Up
This maniacal video comes courtesy of the YouTube channel Walker Wilkinson, with little in the way of information but some serious inflammation on display. A previous video posted in 2017 features what looks like the same car running 383ci stroker and capable of doing rolling burnouts in both second and third gear. Though scant on details, this video seems to suggest that the drivetrain has received a different setup to allow for the flame-spitting roar.
Under Where The Hood Used To Be
Apparently, the little 2002 is now powered by a 5.3-liter Gen III LS-based crate engine, which benefits from an Elgin E-1840-P roller camshaft. With a billet turbo from VSRacing Next Gen 7875 and a TH400 automatic gearbox, the tiny BMW should definitely fly.
Why exactly the engine's performance needs to be demonstrated by torching a potted plant and a couple of miniature cabbage-patch scarecrows remains something of a mystery, but perhaps Walker Wilkinson will demonstrate the build's road-going capabilities in a new video in the near future.
When it does get a chance to hit the road, however, one imagines it’ll spit flames like a 2JZ-swapped E30 BMW that was caught recently driving on the streets of Panama.
Sources: youtube.com and hotrod.com.
NEXT: Watch A Subaru STI-Swapped Volkswagen Bug Approach 350HP On The Dyno