I have been planning a LS1 swap for the past few months. I noticed that it is cheaper to put a stroked LQ9 engine in. will this engine fit? Do I need special motor mounts? Will I need a cowl hood? Any help or info is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks guys

 

Same issues as an LS1

LQ9 blocks are 100 lbs heavier, tho the iron block can be overbored, Aluminium, you'd have to re-sleeve it ...

 

As Spec said it is no different than any other LS1 swap. You can make some serious power with this motor and the heads are basically LS6 heads with larger chambers. The intake is even half decent if you can get by its ugly looks. Althought pats are sorta expensive, 600hp is not out of the question.

 

You'll need an f body oil pan.

 

The intake is pretty tall and unsightly. I'd slap on a LS6 intake, a performance cam, and an F-body oil pan. Then you'd be good to go.

The LQ9 is 100% compatible with the LS1 and LS6 as far as parts go (intake, heads, headers, cam, crank, etc.)

Definitely another viable option to an LS1 - just make sure to check with your emissions requirements in your state. Some states won't legally allow you to put a "truck" engine into a "car." But other than a few minor points, the LQ9 is kinda of a cross between the LS1 (block) and LS6 (heads) with its own intake manifold.

 

what do i need to do to the block to make it a 421, or 422 cant remember which one is possible. I really dont want to go the mainstream 408 route. any other suggestions?

thanks

 

Check out www.ls1.com or www.ls1tech.com for more info on specific combos.

 

acutally in CHP they did a test on what LS1 intake was the best breathing... they tested stock, vs. LS6, Holley, BBK, ect...


do you know who the winner was?? the stock truck intake made more HP on a stock LS1 engine.


BUT BUT BUT.. like the other guy said, its too tall.. so you will have to go with an LS1 or LS6 intake..

heres a hint.. find an intake from an 01-02 car.. they all came with the upgraded LS6 intake.

heres another hint.. more than 50% of all 02 LS1's acutally have the LS6 block. there was an article a year ago in Super Chevy mag.

the only way to tell if its an LS1 or LS6 block is that the LS1's have a shinnier block as opposed to the LS6, it has a dull rustic type look, so they explain.

 

According to other reports, there was only about 20% that got LS6 blocks. And, it doesn't really matter - an LS6 block will NOT MAKE MORE POWER than an LS1 block.

Put an LS6 intake, LS6 heads, and an LS6 cam into an LS1 block, and you have LS6 power. FACT.

 

i never said it would make more power

true the block wont make more power.. but the LS6 block had better oil passages, i think thats the only major difference


i had an 01 Z28 that got the LS6 block.. according to the dealership when i had it serviced.

 

LQ9

Good exhaust and cam and 450+ horse here we come

 

He didnt say the intake was too tall and wouldnt fit, he said it was ugly and unsightly, which can easily be improved on, as far as i know nobody has installed a truck motor, i semi test fit mine and i wouldnt be too suprised if it does fit under a stock hood.

 

wont fit... some one here already did.. dont remember his name.

i remember it was 3-4" too tall.. you might be able to get a huge cowl hood or something. but i think 4" cowls are too big.

 

sorry i dont want a cowl then it doesn't look 'stock'

 

How does the LQ6 block's weight compare to a gen I SBC?

 

about the same

 

Another consideration in using the truck setup is the wiring harness...looks like it puts the PCM up front near the battery which gives us 3rd genners more flexibility in mounting it.

The F-car LS1 harness doesn't leave much extra wiring, which limits the PCM mounting options.

If you're going T56 you'd have some wiring mods, but hey, you're modding wiring anyway so it's just a few extra snips 'n solders...

 

you can buy the LQ9 escalade motor as a crate for like 2 grand less than LS1 crate and it makes about the same power. I am very interested in this too. so, buy the motor and slap on LS1 intakes to make a 6.0liter LS1? That sounds like a wet dream to me.

how are the internals? Do they hold up like ls1's? Can they be built up for 500hp or a bit less?

 

well im not too sure about the internals. My idea is to make it a 422. I'm in high school and have a little disposible income so this is what I want to do with it. Noting will put a bigger smile on my face than showing some friends (and people I stongly dislike) the wonders that 500RWHP can do.

 

Amen to that !!!! Thats what i want to do, but with a 400hp+ Superramed motor. hopefully next year but who knows when. LOL

 

bore it 0.030-over and get a lunati stroker crankshaft and you have 434ci

 

From what I've read at LS1tech.com the LQ9 have beefier rods and rod bolts then the LQ4 (Standard 6.0L found in 3/4 HD trucks.) I believe the bottom end in it is good to about 550 rwhp. This is the route I am going in my GenIII swap.

Durabillity of an Iron block, 18ci bigger, and $4,000 less then an LS6. Got my vote.

Swap the intake and oilpan and you have a LS6 iron clone. Thats about as buget as you can get on these engines.

 

I Was Interested In The LS1 Vs The LQ9 Too Because Im Debating Which One I Want To Drop In My 1990 Iroc. So The LQ9 Would Probably Be A Over All Better Engine To Go With? & Which Automatic Transmission Would Go Good With It??

 

Check out the LTx/LSx subforum at the top of the page

Be wary of sellers labeling the engine a LQ9, almost all are common LQ4's

 

LS6 block is only sought after because it was in a Corvette. It is actually not as strong as the LS1 block.

Some advantages of an iron block is strength, longevity, ability to make a stroker, and tighter piston to bore clearances.

Iron blocks can take a lot of power - much more than aluminum LS1 blocks. The cylinder walls hardly wear at all and can be over bored. My LQ4 6.0L had 100K miles and the bores just needed to be honed.
The 6.0L has a larger bore diameter so it can accommodate larger valves in the cylinder heads. This opens up your options for better flowing heads used on the newer engines, or available in the aftermarket.
The 6.0L better accommodates a stroker crankshaft.
You don't get the irritating clicking noise during cold start up and can get on the power earlier. The aluminum engine expands when it heats up so by design there has to be extra clearance between the pistons and the cylinder walls. This clearance is taken up when the block heats and expands, but in the mean time you get more piston blowby and the well-known clicking noise of the LS1 engine.

You can make 500 HP easy on a stock iron 6.0L block. It will hold together just fine. My 2000 Z28 has a stock LQ4 6.0L block with good heads and cam. It pulls to 7000 RPM and is an 11 second car.

 

Pocket - Thanks For The Info G!

Qwk Trip - That Was Very Helpful & Yeah I'm Thinking More Of The LQ9, Im Not Sure If Its Better Than The LQ4 But The LQ9 Is Pushing Out A Few More Power To Start Off With & Is A Bigger Engine So I Was More Interested In That One But Since You Have The LQ4 How Do You Like It? & Im Not Sure How Strict Illinois Laws Are, I Live In Cali & The Laws Are Kinda Strict On Engine Swaps But Would You Know If They're A Pain In The *** To Pass Thru A Ref?

 

LQ4's have dished pistons

LQ9's are flat tops

The bump in compression gives the power difference

 

I have zero experience with emissions testing. I've never lived in an area that tested.

 

Neither the LQ4 nor the LQ9 are legal emissions swaps, because neither was offered and certified in a passenger car.

So, if you want an LS-type engine, you're going to have to go for something from a passenger car, either Vette, f-body, CTS, or GTO.

Or, the E-Rod... http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/19244805 (not sure what standards it is supposed to comply with, but I assume 3rd gen f-body wouldn't be a problem).

 

Yes, I am seriously considering the LS-3 E-ROD (part 19244805) just because it's the only California legal number, but there are other 2 or 3 LS engine models coming soon to be emissions legal too