Pocket Rocket: LS-Swapped Yugo Goes Ice Drag Racing!

Love it or hate it, the LSX engine has been swapped into virtually everything with at least two wheels at this point. The engine platform performs well with boost, nitrous, or even all-motor, so it’s a natural choice for cheap horsepower. Jake Bloechl took the LS swap to a new level when he crammed a 5.3-liter engine into a Yugo GV for some good old-fashioned ice racing fun at the Merrill Ice Drags.

The 1988 Yugo GV came with a lawnmower-sized engine from the factory, which is fine if you’re looking for a cheap mode of transportation. Bloechl’s idea of fun was to stuff a 5.3 LSX mill into the tiny car and add a hit of nitrous for good measure. With Bloechl belted in, the entire car weighs a scant 2,200 pounds, so to say it’s a handful at full speed is an understatement.

In this footage from our friends at 1320Video, you get to see Bloechl making some laps at the famous Merrill Ice Drags on Lake Alexander in Wisconsin. To get the traction he needs Bloechl bolted on a set of studded tires that are nothing but rows of screws and nails. Bloechl runs the table in his bracket racing class whomping the throttle like a pro at the strip to pick up several victories and a trophy.

When it’s time to go heads-up racing Bloechl pulls the chains off his trusty Yugo and cracks open the bottle of nitrous. With the car on the sauce, Bloechl rips off a 7.88-seconds pass at over 101 mph on the icy surface. Even though he lost that race, Bloechl is in good spirits and seen bolting on some street tires to go look for more racing action on the pavement.

About the author

Brian Wagner

Spending his childhood at different race tracks around Ohio with his family’s 1967 Nova, Brian developed a true love for drag racing. Brian enjoys anything loud, fast, and fun.
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