The VGG Giveaway Duster with the *LS* 318 engine

the words "LS 318" had be confused when I watched Vice Grip Garage's video on the giveaway duster build. The Engine Builder has started dropping video's to youtube and I'm very intrigued. Rods from a Viper, custom pistons, MP Stroker crank, and LS rockers...I'm genuinely interested in seeing the next two video's in the series.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEjPCW7qz9E&ab_channel=ParagonEngines

I saw a recent episode of Roadworthy Rescues where Derek ended up using that motor in a '66 Coronet that he picked up. He did mention, but kind of breezed over the LS rocker arms on aluminum heads. I've been waiting for more info to come out on this...

Yes I saw this too. I was disappointed TBH. All Mopar or nothing for me.

Is "LS" the new must have sales term these days? Seems like everyone is sticking an "LS" into their ads, any way they can.

Pretty long reach to call a 318 an "LS" motor because you used the rocker arms from one of those motors.

The next thing in line will be painting "LS" on the valve covers and telling people its an LS motor because it says so right there on the valve covers.

"LS THE WORLD"!!!!

You mean just like the Chevy and Ford Hemi's in Top Fuel and Funny Car...LOL..

Beat me to it, and I fixt it for ya.

Exactly, why don’t they put their P O S engines in their cars and see if they can even win one race with them!

I watched the video and he ready didnt go into a lot of detail about the engine. I just sat there and asked myself why. With all of the parts available to built a strong 318 it just seems like the long way to do it.

I never new that Viper rods were even a thing in small blocks...doing a search I came across a thread on FABO, but it wasn't very detail heavy.


I'm still a believer that we should support hot rodders doing hot rod stuff. It'll help keep vigor in the hobby into the future. The LS Rocker thing is a little boring to me since I don't understand the advantage.

Part 2 of the engine build video is live now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZEdQriZZq4&ab_channel=ParagonEngines

Evey time i here it on any show i say to myself "F THAT CHEBY S#!T"!

LS rockers are 1.7 ratio and cheap I believe. I have aftermarket Chevy 1.65 ratio rockers on my Magnum heads. Readily available and relatively cheap.

Derick goes into detail on the engine in an earlier video. HGis whole point was to build it on the cheap with used stuff.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's sick of "LS this "and "LS that".
I e never owned a GM anything, I'm so sick n tired of people who think they have to swap an LS into anything that moves.
There used to be a Durango owned by an employee there parked at white Castle all the time that was hand painted/lettered across the back that claimed it was powered by LS. If you want something to stick an LS into, BUY A DAMN CHEVY TO BEGIN WITH. There's threads at other MOPAR forums I frequent, about a 75 dart and a few about Dakota's that have been polluted under the hood by LS swaps. I'm a Mopar guy, have been all my life, I don't want to hear about anything LS.

"Derick goes into detail on the engine in an earlier video. HGis whole point was to build it on the cheap with used stuff."

Budget and Cheap are two words that are very subjective. These two words have a different meaning when coming from a sunday morning cable TV show or a successful big time youtuber than they do to the dude punching a time clock. But it is entertaining.

Keep the world salad folks and LS and the related in the gm cars imo.... youtube continues to make dumb people dumber. Most of the blah blah blah junk gets the most hits but yet much of the informative/tech/learning vids stay low on viewership.

Clearly its more of an entertainment type setting then not. The best part is we can decide what we want to watch.

LS rocker arms are inexpensive. That's a fact. But how much will those machined adaptors cost in order to run the LS Rocker arms? I bet those adapters cost more than a new complete set of ultra expensive Harland sharp rocker arms that are already made for the SBM head. Is this conversion considered cheap because it cost the YouTube content creator nothing to have them made to work?

Since Chrysler, Ford and GM
“mixed and matched”
executives and engineers
(Walter Chrysler from GM, Lee Iacocca form Ford)
I see nothing “sinful” about
mixing and matching OEM parts
especially at more reasonable prices than custom prices.

Moparts has had this discussion about dependable electric cooling fans from salvage yards.

Moparts has had the discussion -
- what is the “True As Measured in Place Ratio” of a Magnum 1.6 AMC style rocker arm?
(1.67 in my fuzzy memory)

I would like to know:
who makes the “best fit and durability” sodium filled exhaust valve?

Doesn’t GM sell the lowest price OEM Titanium intake valve?

If one auto manufacturer makes a hi performance/production motor with a ton of aftermarket parts availability then i can see where people want to jump on the bandwagon. I for one am not one of them and no brand X parts are in any of my mopars. For some it doesn't bother them in the least to do it. How many Cheby motors did you see in old Furds on the Mecum auction?

Not much positive here on the build imo. Lame lame lame engine build vid. Your average mopar guys is more informed and the "Builder" would do better if he would visit here or the likes of FABO or such. He must not be able to access google or bing search it seems.
Nothing like buying pro comp heads and putting your name on them like 40 others do. Even puts his name on others entry level pistons .... Loved the part of how it seemed like a feat to put chevy 2.02/1.60 valves in like WE ALL do.
The comparison to a LS is a big big stretch imo.... but it gets more clicks though.

The build is interesting and different. but I don't think that means "Better." Dodge viper connecting rods- to obtain them I imagine would cost more than a new set of ready to run- off the the shelf rods that are lightweight and high quality. The slightly longer stroke crankshaft is nothing exceptional. Good quality part but no better or cheaper than the NUMEROUS cast and forged current LA offerings.And as I mentioned earlier- those LS Rocker arms. Sure the individual arms may be economical and cool, but the design, labor and time gone in to making those adaptors and adapting the heads so those rocker arms can be used? I bet that FAR exceeds an off the shelf, high dollar American made roller adj rocker arms set like Harland Sharpe.

You can piece together many cheap decent running combos if ya take the time and watch for the good listings.

Mopar itself does not discriminate when dumping old NEW parts from time to time. I got some V10 parts cheap and a couple early new gen challenger full mopar SS race exhausts kits at $200 per shipped semi recently.

Here was six new 8.4 parts that sold cheap. And some even go cheaper.

The vid is ok, gets all sorts of views from different groups.

Stop with that nonsense. Logic isn't allowed in the Mopar world.

The Chevy rocker arms are a direct bolt on? Direct bolt on or requiring a little DIY clearancing to be a bolt on is great. But having to machine the mopar heads and then having adapters precision machined/purchased to make inexpensive parts work means its a wash- as in the LS rocker arms.