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LS3-Powered Willys Wins ARP World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award
LS3-Powered Willys Wins ARP World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award
The third annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck Show, presented by Classic Truck Performance magazine, hosted more than 400 trucks, vans, and SUVs at the Fairplex in Pomona on September 26-27. The highlight of the weekend was the presentation of the ARP World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award, one of the most coveted distinctions in the custom truck world. Rod Shows, known for producing the West Coast’s largest and longest-running hot rod events, wrapped up the weekend with awards in more than 65 judged classes, but all eyes were on the truck that took top honors.
Larry Jacinto’s Connection To The WillysThis year, the award went to Larry Jacinto’s 1941 Willys pickup, a build brought to life by Veazie Bros. Fabrication. For Jacinto, the truck is more than a showpiece; it represents a lifelong connection. He remembers riding in the bed of this very Willys as a young boy, when it belonged to a close family friend, Fred Peake. Decades later, Jacinto was finally able to purchase it, fulfilling a childhood dream that had stayed with him for more than forty years.
Power And PresenceThe immaculately finished engine compartment houses a blown and injected LS3 motor topped with a polished 6-71 Littlefield blower. The combination provides both show-stopping looks and a mountain of power under the hood. Polished hardware, neatly tucked wiring, and crisp detailing make the engine bay a highlight on its own.
The Willys’ body has been elegantly altered, featuring a fully custom ’46 Chevy truck bed and tailgate. The metalwork flows seamlessly into the rest of the design, blending classic lines with a modernized aesthetic. Finished in a deep blue by Mick’s Paint, the truck has a mirror-like presence that reflects the hours of effort poured into the project.
A Legacy Build Brought To CompletionThe project was originally started by legendary builder Bob Bauder, who set the truck’s stance and preserved its shape. After his passing, Veazie Bros. Fabrication carried the build to completion, ensuring every element honored Bauder’s vision while elevating it to show-winning status. The Willys now stands as a tribute to both its heritage and the craftsmen who brought it to life.
Inside, the Ron Mangus interior showcases a modified original dash fitted with Classic Instruments OE-style gauges and a hand-crafted leather bench seat, combining period-correct style with luxury-level detail.
Jacinto’s Willys didn’t claim victory uncontested. It stood tall against a strong field of ten other custom trucks vying for the ARP award. The competition included five Chevy C10s ranging from 1967–1985, three Ford F100s, and a 1976 Blazer. Each entry showcased high levels of workmanship, but the Willys’ blend of history, execution, and powertrain excellence ultimately set it apart. For his victory, Jacinto took home a $12,500 prize and a custom trophy presented by ARP Fasteners.
The World’s Most Beautiful TruckThe ARP-sponsored World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award is designed to spotlight not just flawless execution but also the story and passion behind each build. Jacinto’s Willys embodies both. It carries the legacy of its past while standing as a showcase of modern craftsmanship. For Jacinto, the award validates decades of passion and a lifelong bond with a truck that has always been part of his story. For the builders, it is recognition that their dedication, skill, and vision created something that will be remembered for years to come.
The post LS3-Powered Willys Wins ARP World’s Most Beautiful Truck Award appeared first on LSX Magazine.
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From Land To Sea: How To LS Swap A Boat Part II
From Land To Sea: How To LS Swap A Boat Part II
It’s hard to believe that GM’s LS platform has been around for more than 25 years now. And while this engine has found a new home in just about everything, we’re just now starting to see more and more boats with an LS swap. However, we know that the powerplant is great in classic cars and restomods, but will it also be more advantageous in boats?
This concept led us down an exploratory rabbit hole when we decided to remove a 489 cubic-inch big-block Chevy from a 1996 Baja and LS swap it with an LM4 Gen III engine. But, how would it perform compared to the cast iron counterpart when it was all said and done? Of course, we had to find out the answer.
Our test subject is a 1996 Baja inboard/outboard boat that was equipped with a big-block Chevrolet. Out with the old and in with the new, all-aluminum small-block engine.
LS Swap A BoatTo give you a quick recap, we removed the big-block, which we have done numerous times for different reasons over the years. You can read more about the engine installation here in a previous article that we did. The installation of the LS mock-up engine wasn’t overly complicated. All you need is a flywheel, which we sourced from SPEC clutch and ICT Billet motor mount adapters. Other than that, we had to modify the factory Mercury OEM motor mounts, and the engine dropped right in and lined up perfectly. With the mock-up in place, we turned our attention to building the engine for final installation.
The EngineThe LM4 started life as a 5.3-liter aluminum block, but we had Boostline Performance that the engine and punched it out to a 5.7-liter with all of the right goodies, including ICON pistons, Gen IV rods, Brian Tooley Racing (BTR) Stage I LS3 camshaft, ARP bolts, along with Holley‘s LS oil pan, mid-mount accessory drive, dual plane intake, and a 750 cfm Quick Fuel carburator. If you want more information on the engine combination, we have a story on it as well, named Going Overboard: Building An LS Engine For A Boat.
Our Boostline Performance engine started life as a 5.3-liter LS but was punched out to a 5.7-liters. We opted for a Quick Fuel carburetor and Holley intake manifold. An MSD ignition box handled the spark and timing curve duties.
With the new Boostline Performance engine set in the boat, it was time to figure out the last few remaining challenges. Exhaust, ignition, and plumbing were all at the top of the list.
Exhaust-ingIf you plan to LS swap your boat, aftermarket exhaust systems are available. However, they are super expensive. If you are a boat enthusiast, this will come as no surprise. The acronym B.O.A.T (Break Out Another Thousand) certainly rings true. High-performance LS water jacketed headers from companies like Hardin Marine are commanding mega dollars, ranging up to $5,500, which is hard to swallow when doing, or trying to do, an affordable LS swap.
Finding marine exhaust for the engine was not a simple task. We started with these units that were several hundred dollars and extremely heavy. Later, we found a more accommodating set that worked much better.
Several headers would work if your local lake permits non-water-injected over-the-transom headers. Most jet boats and V-drives are accustomed to these types of exhaust. However, since our Baja is equipped with a sun deck and through-the-transom exhaust ports, we were in a pickle. We had to have water-jacketed manifolds to keep the heat out of the engine bay, and wanted to retain our factory sun deck (engine cover).
We lucked out and found a set of water-jacketed headers off of a Malibu ski boat. With everything buttoned up, it was time to hit the water.
With exhaust on my mind, I turned to Facebook for help with an affordable solution. And wouldn’t you know it, a good friend of mine happened to have a set of headers that would work that came off of an LS engine in a Malibu ski boat. The units are water-jacketed and include bungs for O2 sensors, should we decide to go fuel-injected. The cost, $800, is thousands of dollars less than that of the new counterparts. The only other thing we needed to complete the exhaust was two three-inch pieces of stainless steel tubing and some silicone couplers.
The Final StretchThe final stage of the build is always the toughest, not because of a difficulty level but because you can see the finish line. We wired in the MSD LS box and connected it to the Performance Distributor Sultans of Spark ignition coils, which is a super simple task. Next, we reached out to Snow Performance for the company’s PTFE hoses and ends to connect the Holley power steering pump to the hydraulic steering cylinder on the outdrive. Finally, we plumbed the water lines and hooked them to the crank-driven sea pump for cooling. With the steering system bled and water lines attached, it was time to fire the boat up for the first time since we removed the big-block.
Performance distributors Sultans of Spark ignition coils can be seen here mounted to a set of ICT Billet brackets.
Firing up a new engine is always a bit stressful because there’s so much that can go wrong. The beauty of a boat is that you can have the engine out in an hour or less if needed. But at this point, we want to go to the lake and not continue working on the Baja. We checked the fluids, connected a water hose to the lower unit, and then hit the ignition switch. The LS roared to life with zero effort and solid oil pressure. The BTR camshaft was chopping harder than a roundhouse kick from Chuck Norris. Finally, it was time to hit the water.
Before hitting the water, we checked to make sure we were not going to have any issues.
Boating has always been a family affair, and today was no different. My Dad (Bob Havins), son (Chase Havins), cousin (Brent Havins), and I all headed to Lake Arrowhead to put the Baja through its paces. Dad would pilot the Baja with me aboard, while Chase and Brent would act as the support boat and get some footage as well. I backed the boat into the water while Dad hit the ignition switch, and the little LS roared to life. He backed the boat off the trailer, and I parked the truck. It was at this point that I noticed the engine sounded great. I love big-blocks and the sounds they make with big camshafts, but the LS was holding its own. We were getting thumbs up from people on the bank, which made me smile.
The old Baja fired right up and backed off the trailer with ease. The only question now is how it would run across the lake.
As we were idling across the bay, Dad looked at me and asked how we needed to break it in. One of the benefits of an LS is that, unlike conventional flat tappet small- or big-blocks with flat-tappet cams, you don’t need to break it in. We had already fired it up on the water, and everything was good, so I said, “Hammer it.” Dad looked at me and, without hesitation, directed his attention to the boat’s bow while simultaneously hammering down on the throttle.
We purposely left some of the interior out of the boat, making it much easier to work on if we needed to. Fortunately, things went well, and we only had to make a few minor adjustments to the Baja.
The LS swap did not disappoint and jumped right up on the plane effortlessly, much to my surprise. We made several trips up and down the lake, with the only issue being the lack of a tachometer. The boat felt nimble with the new powerplant and didn’t feel down on power, which was a surprise to both Dad and me. With a 21-pitch prop, the BAJA hit 70 mph trimmed out according to GPS. The big-block would push 78 mph with a much more aggressive 26-pitch prop. But, we couldn’t see our RPM since the tachometer decided not to work. Plus, Dad left the other prop at the house; otherwise, we could have made a change just to see what happened.
To LS Swap A Boat Or Not, That Is The QuestionAttempting projects that others have not undertaken is often a double-edged sword. Sometimes it works, and sometimes you come up short. We had a lot of people telling us the LS would not be as good as the old Chevy engine, which brings up a couple of questions.
Will the LS get closer to the big-block speed with a prop change?
Absolutely…
Will it be as fast as the 489?
Probably not, but the trade-offs are worth it.
The little LS ripped across the lake with a nice balance of acceleration and speed. It even throws a nice rooster tail when we trimmed out the Mercruiser Bravo One outdrive. This image should be enough for you to want to LS swap a boat. It certainly won’t be the last time we will.
All in all, we’re impressed with the performance of the LS in the Baja. This is not a full-blown race boat and was never meant to be. The boat now has a lighter, more modern powerplant with ridiculous reliability and performance. It gets on the plane super fast thanks to a 220-pound weight reduction in the stern and will likely use less fuel than the 489 cubic-inch engine with its 960 cfm Holley double pumper. Plus, we can now add fuel injection with ease. Who knows, we might even add a supercharger at some point to see what kind of speeds we can get. I can guarantee that the little 5.7 cubic-inch LS with a ProCharger will hurt a lot of big-block owners’ feelings on any lake day. And in our opinion, the only thing better than an LS swapped car is to LS swap a boat.
The post From Land To Sea: How To LS Swap A Boat Part II appeared first on LSX Magazine.
