Zac Quinn 
Perhaps the most infamous Tesla Model S out there is one with a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine taken out of a Chevy Camaro. Done by Rich Rebuilds, the LS-swapped Tesla was done in time to be on display at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last November. However, we never got to see the incredible engine swapped Tesla “ICE-T” get strapped to a dyno.
It comes as no surprise that a Tesla Model S P85D would be a significantly lighter vehicle without the battery pack and associated electric drivetrain. As it turns out, the LS-swapped Tesla with all of the LS3 power going to the back wheels gives the car a significantly superior power-to-weight ratio. Rich Rebuilds claims that the curb weight of his LS-swapped Tesla Model S with a driver inside is 3,700 pounds. Meanwhile, the vehicle weighs around 3,500 pounds without a driver, which is a whopping 1,436 lbs lighter than a stock Model S P85D ,which weighs 4,936 lbs. Altogether, the car is nearly three-quarters of a ton lighter. In short, batteries are very heavy.
LS3 Tesla Model S: Power To Weight Ratio
A Tesla Model S P85D makes 413 horsepower and 864 lb-ft. of torque from the factory as tested back in 2014. This means that the Model S has a power to weight ratio of about 1:11.95, meaning each horsepower has to pull about 12 pounds. However, with the LS3 swapped Model S, that power to weight ratio has dropped to 1:7.88, which is a significant improvement and could enable the “ICE-T” to beat a factory Model S with a rolling start.
The stock car would likely win in a drag race with a standing start, thanks to the insane amount of torque combined with the vehicle’s all-wheel drive. Rich stated that he plans to add a supercharger and other upgrades that will undoubtedly excel the car into an even crazier machine. He’s also working to make a Cummins diesel-powered Tesla Model 3, which will no doubt serve to enrage even more hardcore Tesla fans, but we certainly wish him luck and can’t wait to see what he cranks out next.
