Poppster

Okay so last summer I bought a 99 formula ws6 M6. After putting less than 500 miles on it the engine spun all 4 cam bearings and 2 rod bearings (I'm assuming they were all shot when I purchased)...dumso now I've decided to swap out the ls1 and swap in a used lq9 to get it running before summer returns. My question is what all do I need? I know I need the intake, oil pan with windage tray and pick up tube and all the accessories. Is there anything else? Pcm? Harness? Also need a new clutch and probably a fly wheel any thoughts there?

mad-hatter

iTrader: (3)

Sub'd to follow. Looking at a LQ4/LQ9 swap in a couple of years...so I'd like this info as well.

Fry_

You can just use all of the parts from your LS1, and for a clutch I'd suggest a Monster level 2. If funds allow now would be a great time to swap in a mild cam, you'd want to keep it fairly mild due to the lower compression of the LQ9 but it would still be a nice bump in hp.

Poppster

Yeah I was probably going to swap in a tsp 228r cam as far as a clutch I don't think that's in the budget so I might go with an ls7..

93Z2871805

iTrader: (5)

I know I need the intake - Yes
oil pan with windage tray - Yes
pick up tube - Yes
all the accessories - Yes
Is there anything else - Drilling the alternator bolt hole at the ear on the 6.0 M10 x 1.5 IIRC
Pcm - Same, just need a tune
Harness - Same

93Z2871805

iTrader: (5)

LS1 10.1:1
LQ9 10.0:1

Not a huge difference.

LQ4 is 9.4:1.

Poppster

Thank you for all the help and advice!! Should be picking up the new motor soon and it will be going in the end of February! Will keep you up dated!

Fry_

Just make sure its a LQ9 and not a LQ4.

Poppster

Yeah ive got that part down.

What would my options be for headers for the car? Ls2 style?

Fry_

All LS headers interchange, they need to match the car not the motor.

93Z2871805

iTrader: (5)

For what you're doing, I'd go with a set of 1 3/4 primaries.

Fry_

^^^Completely disagree with that. It has been proven that there are zero losses in low end torque on a stock LS1 using 1 7/8's header and a LQ9 wouldn't be any different. By using 1 3/4's headers now he would be limiting his hp gains from future mods like a cam, heads, boost, or n2o.

93Z2871805

iTrader: (5)

I'm not saying that from a power perspective, I'm saying it from a practicality standpoint. 1 7/8 are a pain to do plugs, change starters, or just work around in general. Considering his potential cam selection won't really be limited by a "mere" 1 3/4 primary, I don't think he'll be missing much.

Fry_

They wouldn't limit his cam selection but they would limit his hp gains from a cam. As for working around them, they're a 1/16th of an inch closer to the spark plugs, and at most a 1/4 inch closer to the starter. Why would you let those small differences in clearance limit future hp gains, it may just be a stock motor for now but maybe down the road it will have TrickFlow 235 heads and a FAST 102, then those 1 3/4 headers would be holding back 20+hp.

93Z2871805

iTrader: (5)

That's what I said above, just worded differently.

On both sides of the plug. My wires require boot protectors to keep from cooking.

My 1 7/8's require a blanket for the starter. The blanket consumes all of the available space between the header and the starter.

To make it more maintenance friendly. This doesn't sound like a max effort build, but more of a street toy. I don't disagree that there's more power to be had, but if it's something that's not really a max effort setup, is it worth the extra grief to work around? By comparison, my buddy's WS6 is noticeably easier to work around with 1 3/4's.

Poppster

Yeah this is nothing but a street toy to drive around. I plan on keeping the car for a long time. If there are any more mods other than headers it won't be for another 5 to 10 years so im not even thinking about it.

My next issue is tuning. Id like to do it myself with hptuners software. Does anyone have any experience with this or know how tricky it is??