Ford Badge, Chevy Heart: The LTD Wagon Swap That Breaks All the Rules

In a world where car culture often follows templates and expectations, it takes a special kind of vision to build something that defies both. Dustin Steward didn’t set out to create a showpiece or chase trends; he just wanted to go fast and be different doing it. That vision came to life in the form of a 1983 Ford LTD wagon. But this isn’t your average Sunday grocery-getter. Hidden beneath the long, boxy body of this family hauler is a turbocharged LS engine and a drivetrain capable of punching well above its weight at the drag strip.

Dustin bought the LTD in January of 2022. From the start, it wasn’t about restoring an old Ford or preserving history, it was about creating something unexpected. The project began when he realized he had some leftover Mustang parts sitting around. Surprisingly, a lot of them fit the LTD with minimal effort. That sparked the idea of transforming the wagon into a track-ready machine, something totally out of left field compared to the sea of Mustangs and Camaros he would normally be competing against.

What followed was a build that completely flipped the script. On the outside, it’s a full-size wagon that might get mistaken for a parts hauler. But under the skin, it’s all business.

The Heart of the Beast

The soul of the car lies in its engine, a 6.0-liter LS block sourced from a 2001 Silverado. It’s far from stock now. The rotating assembly includes a K1 Technologies stock-stroke crank, Liberty Performance I-beam billet rods, and Wiseco pistons. This engine was built to handle serious boost and even more serious horsepower.

When asked why he chose a Chevy small block for a Ford build, Dustin’s answer is as practical as it is honest. He already had the block, and for power-per-dollar, LS platforms are hard to beat. It’s a no-nonsense decision in a world where performance usually speaks louder than brand loyalty.

The turbocharger setup was chosen with precision. Dustin relied on tuner Bob Morrison from Morrison Tuning to spec the right unit. The result is a massive GT55 frame G57 series 88MM turbo from On 3 Performance that pushes the car deep into the 5s in the eighth mile and it is only just getting started.

Backyard-Built with Pro-Level Performance

The rest of the drivetrain is equally impressive. A Powerglide transmission built in Dustin’s friend’s garage uses a stock case but is packed with billet internals. Out back, the car runs a narrowed Mustang 8.8-inch rear end with 3.90 gears. It’s been trimmed 1.5 inches on each side to accommodate the tire setup and improve launch characteristics.

Suspension comes from Viking shocks on all four corners, with Team Z components in the rear and AJE handling the front. This mix of proven aftermarket parts and smart tuning gives the wagon a planted feel off the line without compromising its streetable attitude.

Tire-wise, Dustin typically runs a 275/60 radial, a popular choice among no-prep and drag radial racers. Soon, he plans to try out a smaller 26×8.5 setup to match up more directly with other racers in local classes.

The results speak volumes. The wagon has run a best eighth-mile time of 5.23 seconds at 137 mph at Edgewater Sports Park and that’s on a conservative tune. Dustin believes that with more aggressive tuning and ideal track conditions, there’s a high 4-second pass just waiting to be unleashed.

A Car Built with Heart and Hands

Dustin didn’t just drop off the car at a shop and pick it up months later. This was a hands-on project. The engine assembly was handled by Performance Motorsports in Maysville, Kentucky and the roll cage was fabricated by Tony Jewel Fabrication, located in Hamersville, OH. But outside of that, almost everything else was built with the help of friends, his twin brother, Dylan, and a lot of long nights in the garage.

Of all the work done, Dustin is most proud of the mini-tubs purchased from Detroit Speed & Engineering. With limited fabrication experience going into it, this was a major job to tackle. But the results speak for themselves. The tubs give the car the room it needs for big rubber while maintaining a clean and functional appearance.

Stirring the Pot with a Chevy-Ford Mashup

Naturally, a Chevy-powered Ford draws mixed reactions. The die-hard Ford fans are not always thrilled. Dustin laughs about it, saying he usually keeps the hood closed at shows and races to keep the mystery alive. People are already surprised to see an LTD at the drag strip learning it’s powered by an LS just adds fuel to the fire.

But for Dustin, the goal was never to please the purists. It was to build a car that worked and worked well.

Built on a Budget, Tuned for Power

Affordability was always a factor in the project. Dustin hunted deals on Facebook Marketplace, waited for supplier discounts around holidays, and stretched every dollar as far as it could go. Drag racing, as he admits, is not a cheap hobby. But as he puts it, “Cool stuff ain’t cheap, and cheap stuff isn’t cool.” It’s a phrase that sums up his approach perfectly, do it right, but do it smart.

Despite the car already making over 1,050 horsepower on E85, Dustin believes there’s more left in it. On full boost, he expects it could reach 1,200 horsepower. And he’s not done yet.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, the goal is to break into the 4s in the eighth mile without having to strip any weight out of the car. Before the racing season concludes the plan is to bring the LTD Wagon to Kentucky Dragway to see if this can be accomplished. For the upcoming winter, Dustin has a few small updates planned for the engine to squeeze out even more power. But the core mission remains the same: keep it fun, keep it different, and keep pushing forward.

In a world of identical builds and well-worn paths, Dustin’s LTD wagon is a breath of fresh air. It’s proof that you don’t need to follow the rulebook to build something great. You just need vision, grit, and the courage to do something nobody else is doing.

It may have a Ford badge on the front, but with a Chevy heart beating under the hood, this wagon is rewriting what a drag car can be one pass at a time.

Tags: Chevrolet, Drag Racing, ford, LTD Wagon
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