You may not know Donut Media, but we’re willing to bet that you have at least seen a video or two from the company. Their YouTube channel is geared toward the car enthusiast no matter what your vehicle of choice might be. The gang will take on a subject like a car or an engine, and then create an all-inclusive video explaining the ins and outs in great detail.

One of the most recent videos from the Donut Media camp is a subject that we love, the LS engine. And much to our surprise, we did learn a thing or two about the development of the popular GM engine.

The LS-series engine from Chevrolet has been around for over 20 years now, and it has become a popular engine swap for several reasons. They are readily available from salvage yards, Facebook Marketplace, and Chevrolet. These engines are lightweight and compact, making them perfect for just about any engine bay. Finally, these powerplants make a ton of power and are incredibly reliable, even with high-mileage and excessive boost. An excellent example is Jack Robert’s 7-second stock-bottom-end 4.8-liter Mustang.

While we know our facts about the LS engine, we didn’t know the specifics on how this mill came about. According to Donut Media, GM had a field day with a couple of C4 Corvettes on the track. One was equipped with a standard pushrod V8. The other housed a small block with a set of dual overhead cams (DOHC). After driving and racing these two vehicles, the engineers really liked how the pushrod engine performed with its broad powerband out of the corners. And while other car companies have invested in DOHC designs, Chevrolet pushed forward with a new single-cam engine.

It would be interesting to see what GM could have developed with a DOHC program, but we’re glad they didn’t pursue it at the time. Due to this engine, the hot rod scene is alive and well. And without the LS engine, we wouldn’t have all of these crazy swaps, LS Fest, or LSX Magazine.