cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

I sold my 305, and now I'm picking up a LQ4. It's a short block, no heads, no oil pan, just crank and cam. My buddy has a pcm from a 98 ws6 6speed, stock ls1 intake, oil pan and some other small parts. I have a nother friend with a complete LS4 and he want 400 for it (lq4 guy want 350). The LS4 is from a 07 Impala SS.

So can I use the heads off the LS4, they have LS6 casting. Can I use any genIII engine harness. Can I use the front accessory drive from the ls4. Can a LS6, LS2 heads take a .525 lift with no mods, I will upgrade the springs. Can. Bolt my 700r4 to a LQ4. The 700 will be used for a short time I know it will blow. I want to do a T56 swap but my boy want 1200 and no bellhousing. Can I use a lt1 t56 bellhousing, what's a good clutch for 500hp. Can I use the coil packs off the LS4.

Can a stock crank, rods, and pistons hold up a 200 shot. I plan on putting a cam in it. I'm looking to get 470hp just with cam. I will tune, ls6 intake, in the winter. What you guys think.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Ls6 heads would work, and will handle .525 lift no problem. need the proper springs, though.
i dont think the '98 pcm will work with your harness. its an oddball.

700r4 will not work unless you get a custom torque converter, or possibly a snout spacer/perimeter spacers. i believe that stuff depends on what year 6.0 you are getting. they changed some things over the years if im not mistaken on the crankshafts.
not sure if the LT1 bellhousing would work, but i know the LS1 t56 has a different length input shaft than the LT1 t56. so im thinking it wont work.
good clutch for 500hp would be an ls7.
not sure if the coil packs will work, but i would think so, as long as the harness will plug up to them.

200 shot is do-able, but the stock ring gaps may be a little close....

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

So I can use a lq4 harness and pcm, 98 ws6 pcm and lq4 harness. I know I can't use the LS4 pcm and harness, it has the VVT, DOD stuff and its a genIV motor.

I think the TH700 is a complete waste of time and resources. You either need to get a TV-less valve body, or a specially modified TB so you can run a TV cable. You'll have one less bellhousing bolt, because the LS series blocks don't have the bolt hole behind the passenger side cylinder bank - makes up for it by using the top bellhousing bolt hole that wasn't used by SBC's/BBC's over the years, and a full circle bellhousing that picks up two extra bolts in the oil pan. As mentioned, you'll need a spacer to properly space the TC to the front pump unless it's an early cast iron head LQ4.

The LT1 T56 and bellhousing don't work with LS engines without modifications too extensive to make it worth it.

Just get an LS-series transmission and use it.

Stock LQ4 pistons, rods, & crank are up to a 200 shot. But, that's about as high as you should probably take it.

I don't believe the '98 PCM is a good choice. As mentioned, it's an oddball.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Ok I won't go with the 700. I will just build up the LQ4. This will be 1 off the slow builds. Why is the 98 pcm a oddball, is it like the 85 TPI PCM. So can I use a pcm from a lq4/lq9, form 01. What is the best harness I can use that's O.E. I don't know now how to tune, so I will go to a local shop. This is my first base plan, LQ4 with LS2 heads, stock LS6 intake, 90mm DBW throttle body, a cam kit around .270 duration and .525-.550 lift 113 LSA, new stock lifters, new stock 1.7 rockers, swap LT headers. I'm just looking for a good 450hp and 400tq. Is there any stock manifolds I can use just to run the motor. And do you think my 9bolt with a alm gridle can hold up, 3.27 gear but thinking 3.70 and yes with street stickies. I think the 3.70 would be better with the t56. I know the 200 shot from a ding will just kill my 9bolt, so I'm looking for a ford 9" to custom make to my fbody or should I shell out 3k for new 1. I know what I want from my car and I know what I can afford, with a wife and kid not much. I have a lot of short cuts on cost, so 6k should get me real good. This car will have no rollcage.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

You can't use the LS4 front accessory drive on any other LS engine as the crankshaft length is shorter on the LS4. No point in modifying to fit either - the belt tensioner is the biggest PITA I've ever dealt with!

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

imo, lq4 engine, lq4 wiring, lq4 pcm. headers.

th400 with tight nitrous converter

stock rear with 3.23

150 shot with a progressive.



thats a driveable combo that is cheap, somewhat easy to do, and should last for quite awhile. oh and fast.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

My rear gear is 3.27. And I want over drive, the car will not be made for dragracing, but street fun. Yeah the car will see a track, circle and str8. A 400 will never see my car, If I do a auto, it would be a 4l60E, 4L80E, or 6L80E I think that's what's it called. My plan on my car is, full tube chassis, forced induction LSX, 6 speed MT, 4th gen lenth rear end, and all the carbon fiber I can get while keeping it stock looking. I plan on having this car for a long long long time. I love my IROC-Z28.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

full tube chassis but not made for dragracing?

a th400/tight converter with a 3.27 gear would drive pretty good, actually. but an overdrive would be better for the interstate. most any overdrive setup that will handle the power is going to be 3-4x as much $$$ though.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

I can vouche for this.... My flt stage 6 60e was in no way, shape or form of cheap but it works flawless and will work flawless on the 200 im gonna be spraying

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

I went with a 70K mile LQ4 shortblock, LS6 heads with springs. TF stage 3 cam and LS6 intake. Hawks headers with 2.5 collectors even. I am using an 1994 S-10 4L60E with Edge 2600 9.5 converter. Used the truck flexplate and adapter. Also its been rebuilt with new tailshaft. Car runs and drives like stock yet still puts North of 400 rwhp and sub 12 sec times. My trans was built by Vince Janis of Janis transmission in Akron Ohio. (Hes a very reputable 200R4 Turbo Buick guy) So I said lets give him a shot. 4 years later and 2 differant motors and this transmission is awesome. Ran me 1300 bucks for tranny and 575 for the converter.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Sweet price, but I want the 6 speed. I will just build the motor, get it running and slap a t56 with a good clutch. You are running the #s I want with the parts I'm want to use. I hear a lot about LS2 piston rods. Is that a cheap upgrade. I wanted 450 fwhp. Are LS motor easier than TPI, and tuning them is it easier than TPI.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

450 at the flywheel would be like a stock Lq4 with a slightly larger cam and headers i would think.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Bingo, LS2 243 heads, LS6 intake, cam, tune, and t65 trans

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Ls can go 250 shot with a good tune, any more and you are pushing things on the ring gap. 200 is safe as long as you understand the tuning.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Should I swap to ls2 pistion rods. I hear a lot off ppl doing that

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

i wouldnt bother. keep it under 6800 or so and it should be fine.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

I looked at some 6l80e transmissions at street and performance in Mena Arkansas and they are huge. I am almost positive they will not fit in our 3rd gens. The 4l80e is probably the way to go. I have one but haven't installed it yet. Other guys have though. I am getting the itch for a ls swap. There needs to be a listing of what interchanges with what. Like oil pans, front accessories and which cranks work with them. I know the c5 corvette is supposed to give the most room by keeping everything closest to the block giving more room for the radiator and things out front but most people use the trans am and camaro serpentine set-up. We need a big chart stating what works with what.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

They do, Five7kid has a sticky for ls1 swaps. But I don't want a ls1 to costly. Even though ls1 and lq4 is the same just differant bore. Like I said I'm not looking for much, 450 hp with a 200 shot so 650 hp. I'm sure u guys have king of the streets, well its a I think 10sec foxbody mustang killing every 1. I know I won't beat that but his crew runs 11s. Its ride or die race team. And yes they do track runs, only on test and tune, and no E.T. nights.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

I kept my LQ4 shortblock together but installed a set of Katech rod bolts. My dyno runs were to 6750 with no issues.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

my car went 10.30's when it was making 37x rwhp n/a, and i was spraying it with somewhere around a 135 shot. went 6.6's in the 1/8 i think?
i swapped the heads and freshened up the shortblock and it made 425rwhp. sprayed it with a 175ish shot and it went 9.44. raceweight was 3050-3100ish.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

I thought u was taking about 10.30s in the 4th mile. But thats a first, ARP crank and rod bolts. Mkos how is your 9bolt holding up. My drive train didnt sale. I found a guy that has a complete 50K T56 swap, Oil Pan, accessory drive for 1500 out of a 2000 camaro WOW!!!! and a LQ4 for 350. The wiring will be the hardest. He was asking for 3k for a complete ls1 t56 drop out. But im broke, so i will be looking for a new job lol.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Thats a hell of a deal for the ls1/t56 and the lq4!!
Dam transmission alone run for that used. I would buy it just for trans alone and ls1 oil pan. I can always use another t56. Ive been collecting for a while now :p

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

I'm sure if I get 2 to 2500 I can get it all he just want I gone.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Ok got the new job at a big Chevy dealer the best in the state of MI, only took me a week to find a new job. I broke my phone and lost the number to the t56 guy :-(. I found a guy with a TBSS ls2 drop out for 1k. I just want the long block and I will try to trade it for a lq9. Or shold I keep the ls2. LS motors don't sell around here and they go for cheap to. Do u guys think the 9 bolt will hold up.

LS2 > LQ4/9 unless you plan on a pretty big shot.

Re: cheap LQ4 swap/ stupid cheap.
 

Man if I can sell this 305 and trans, if I do I will have a big jump, but complete tbss ls2 sells for 3k so I might sell it for 2500 and buy a LQ motor. It's only a 68lb diff between the two. Ls motor is good for 700hp and lq 1k.