Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I have a '51 Mercury that already has a cammed SBC, long tubes, and TH350. The car has a GM frame and it's very LS swap friendly.

I'm finally gonna get off my *** with this car and put together an engine for it.

I'm primarily focused on doing an carbureted LS1 since I know a ton of local folks and should be able to find everything via word of mouth.

I don't like the idea of adding weight from an iron block but am considering it. I'd be adding 110 lbs over an LS1 I believe. LQ4, LQ9, even an LY6 would be interested though with the later I'm not sure if it would need a different front cover and timing chain setup I know it would need different lifters.

At most I would do a very mild cam as the real point of of the swap is get the driveline to be more like that of a modern car.

Doug G

Just building a cruiser ? Any of them will fit the bill...even a 4.8 or 5.3L
There are some 6.0L aluminum block motors, but pricey.(not sure what models they came in)
Depending on what you start with will determine what you need.

The stunningman

iTrader: (47)

I have deleted the vvt on quite a few low mileage LY6's... I didn't change the lifters. IMO the lifters are the same as the LS7 lifters. I can't speak on D.O.D. lifters as I have never had a engine with that.

LS2 cover, 3 bolt LS2 cam gear and bolts (you can leave the lower gear and chain alone), You can use the LY6 vvt cam sensor and just plug the MSD cam sensor wire in...there's a 50/50 shot it will work perfect or you will have to swap two wires on the cam sensor harness.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Oh so the LY6 is not DOD? If that's the case I'm more interested.

Doug, nothing smaller than 5.7 for me. I'm seeing a bunch of 5.7's around me so at a minimum I'd just do one of those.

BigEd_72455

iTrader: (7)

Just a question, but why worry about what is around you unless you plan to do some racing? You want a modern driveline but wont look at the entire range of possibilities.

A 4.8 with a mild cam would probably out power your 350 sbc. My 5.3 is stock and it is over 300 horsepower.

Expand your horizons and options and look for something out of the norm to really open eyes with.

If you want just all out horsepower in NA form and in an aluminum block, why not just get an LS9 and Martin@TICK custom grind you a monster cam?

SCott5

iTrader: (40)

I think John meant there are Alot for sale around him.

If a cruiser is what you want they will all fit the bit depending on budget and how much you wanna spend. I'm assuming you are using it for car shows and cruising around cuz those cars look awesome. I would just get what you can the cheapest and use the extra money for appearance, painted intake, valve covers and so on. They will all do what you want.

fast89stang

iTrader: (2)

I left the stock ly6 lifters in mine, just added 3 bolt cam, gear and new LS2 chain. so far, about 155 passes later, still does great.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I've had a bunch of LS-related combos over the years including a truck block-based 422 CID stroker. Some combos had some pretty big cams.

But for the Mercury, I want quiet, simple, modern-like drive ability. Right now it has a crate SBC with some unknown cam (maybe something in the 230's?), and it's really doesn't fit my vision for the car.

Iron block, well, I'd to avoid the weight but maybe the power gain is worth it. In the case of an LY6, I think it might. But if it's a 2002 LS1 vs. a 2004 LQ4, I don't think it's personally worth it.

Currently the car can keep up with traffic but the SBC is all bark and no bite.

TXsilverado

iTrader: (18)

nice car. the weight difference between an iron 6.0 and an aluminum 5.7-6.0 is only about 80lbs. weight i wouldnt worry about with a boat cruiser. 6.0 has a slight torque advantage and is usually cheaper from they yards as they are common in silverados.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Yeah I just have a hard time going with a heavier solution that (2002 Camaro vs 2004 LQ4) only makes another 30 ft lbs of torque.

TXsilverado

iTrader: (18)

is it a full blown race car, or a weekend cruiser? the cost to save that 80lbs is usually quite a bit. people still think a LS1 is worth its weight in gold even though they are miled the hell out by now. junkyards are tripping over lq4 engines and basically give them away.

Doug G

A nice 5.3 and a little hair dryer would really help with the weight difference

Sixtoes1313 has a nice little 98 ? Vette 5.7L with a Maggie....talk about sleeper Had NO clue it was anything other than stock until he spun it up some and you hear the zing (best I seen was 11.32 @ 120)
Just an idea
Listen to the dry hop at about the 17 second mark...

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Power adder 5.3s are cool but this car is just a cruiser, and I want it to have the manners of a late 90's Cadillac.

Other builds will get cams.

VLS1

Can't imagine that an LQ motor with alloy heads is going to be heavier than the average SBC engine?

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I don't mind making the car lighter. Its not that heavy actually.

67rally

iTrader: (5)

I'd go for an LQ9 over the LQ4. Higher compression, more HP/TQ. But it sounds like you have your heart set on an LS1 already.

If you're going the LS1 route, I'd actually look for an LS6 (still an aluminum 5.7L, but improved block, heads, intake, cam, etc). Or swap an ls6 intake and heads onto an LS1 block.

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (25)

If money is not the subject, I would say get the LS1, some 243/799 castings, whatever cam to match and call it good.

You said cruiser so that's my opinion.

If power was the desire, it is near foolish to do NA without at least the 4" bore.

So, being that raw power is not the case, I say save some weight and go aluminum with the 30 more cfm heads.

What kind of cam you looking for? Something that sounds good and produces power when needed? There are a ton of options I'm sure you know.

Anyway, that's what makes sense to me.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Cam would be either LS6 or something small like under 224/224.

I'm open to a 4.000 bore engine just wanted to see if someone could tip me one way or the other (LS1/LS6 vs. LQ4/LQ9). If I luck into a good deal LY6 that might trump all. The L99 in my 2010 Camaro SS runs good, car runs 12.06@113 stock internal @ 38xx raceweight.

Bigtoyz

iTrader: (2)

I have a LQ9 in my 04 truck and it is by no means a slouch. Being in a 5500 lb pickup, I still knock down 18-22 mpg's at times and being all stock. So being in a car I could see nothing but good things even with its iron block. So I wouldn't totally rule one out.

Doug G

Gears make a world of difference too.
I drove a 2014 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.08's....thing was a pig.
I then drove the same truck with 3.42's and it was MUCH better. So that's the one I bought. I don't tow and haul a lot, so it fit the bill.