As far as pushrod V8s go.. unless an individual is unfortunately stricken with BPDS (brand purist derangement syndrome) any of the LS's are going to take the W in pretty much every conceivable way.
Cost to purchase, price & selection of aftermarket parts, power-per-litre figures while stock, dollar per HP gain ratio when wanting to add more power, maximum power output without needing to mess with internals... the list goes on and on..
An objectively better American V8 simply does NOT exist for the average enthusiast who wants to go fast. None. Every single FAST pre-coyote mustang at my local track has been swapped with..... an LS.
It took Ford quite a long while to build a mustang that would keep up with the Camaro once chebby started putting the LS in them..
GM probably didn't realize the gravity of their decision at the time but... The virtues of hiring a handful of NHRA nerds to act as lead engineers for their flagship V8 are/were nearly endless. Easily one of the best decisions that company has ever made.. and has hands down had the BIGGEST effect on the average joe who wants to haul ass..
V8 swaps are cliche AF though. Get yourself a 13b and stuff that sucker in there... nothing comes close to the unrelenting wail of a dorito motor when it's high on the pipe.. And I'd be willing to bet that there probably isn't a single rotary swapped ranger in the country..
