The Lokar LS Classic Series Blends Vintage And Modern

Caecey Killian July 1, 2025 3 min read 0

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One of the long-standing debates in hot-rodding is about engine originality. Some believe the core of hot-rodding is making do with what you have—like dropping a small-block Chevy into a ’32 Deuce coupe—while others believe only period-correct engines should be under the hood. But what if you could split the difference? What if your modern, efficient LS engine could look like a classic powerplant, while still delivering modern reliability and horsepower? That’s where the Lokar LS Classic Series steps in.

The modern LS platform has become more than popular, it’s a revolution. But it never has had the same “pop” under the hood like the classics. A lineup of bolt-on parts and crate engines from Lokar designed to disguise your LS as a period-perfect V8 is the solution to blend vintage with modern. Without endless fab work or spending your retirement, you can fool the eye while keeping everything that makes the LS platform such a powerhouse.

Start with the Right Intake and Air Cleaner

A classic look begins on top, and Lokar delivers with intake and air cleaner kits that mimic timeless GM and Ford engines. Options include:

’57 and ’62 Fuelie-style small-block intakes

1960s Tri-Power big-block styles

Round air cleaners in chrome or black, single or dual-snorkel

Ford 289 and FE-style air cleaners (for those extra sneaky swaps)

For those with cathedral-port LS heads, Lokar offers aluminum adapter plates to run their LS3-style rectangular-port intakes on the cathedral heads so no LS gets left behind.

Hide Those Bulky Coil Packs

The LS’s coil-on-cover setup has never been easy on the eyes. Lokar LS Classic parts solves that with remote coil relocation kits, coil wire extensions, and even a dummy front or rear mount distributor that routes spark plug wires like the good old days. You get the vintage vibe without sacrificing modern spark control.

Valve Covers That Sell The Illusion

Few engine parts scream “old school” louder than valve covers. Lokar’s scaled-down reproductions mimic small-block Chevy, big-block Mark IV, W-series, and even Ford classics tailored to fit LS dimensions while preserving visual authenticity. Future offerings for the Lokar LS Classic Series will even allow the use of real Buick 455 and Ford FE valve covers.

Classic Looks, Modern Accessory Drive

While vintage accessory setups won’t bolt onto an LS, Lokar’s low-gloss black powdercoated accessory drive kits maintain a clean, understated appearance. They support modern alternators, power steering, and A/C systems without ruining the illusion of a classic engine bay.

AboutCaecey Killian

Caecey Killian covers builds, installs, and product features for Car Junkie Magazine. He has spent years on the floor of the garage chasing horsepower across SBC, LS, and modern muscle platforms, and that shop time runs through every article he writes. His current CJM project is Project Street Reaper, a 1976 Camaro built around a fresh SBC 350. He is also known for Project Mighty Mouse, a 1977 Chevy Nova running a 1962 small-journal 327 SBC, with build coverage published across multiple online automotive magazines. His media background spans long-form build documentation, install coverage, and product features across the magazine and the Car Junkie Magazine YouTube channel. He writes the way he wrenches: specific, honest about the mistakes, and grounded in real garage work.