Carbureted LSX forum - LQ4 Questions

I bought a 5500 mile 2004 LQ4 Friday. The block is in great shape. I also have a complete 2009 5.3 with 799 heads that I'm going to rob parts off of. I've researched building the 5.3, but I'm lost on the LQ4. So I have a few questions that I can't find an answer too.

1. I have a set of LS7 lifters. Should I change out the stock LQ4 lifters for the LS7 lifters, or use the stock ones?

2. I have a single bolt comp cam 220 220 .581 .581 112LSA. Will the single bolt cam work on the LQ4? I haven't found a single bolt GEN III cam gear.

3. The LQ4 has the knock sensors in the valley cover. I have a LS2 valley cover I bought to use on the 5.3. Can I just remove the knock sensors and run the LS2 cover?

4. One of the pistons got scratched by a screw driver at some point. Can I just sand it down and run it? The scratch isn't too bad.


Parts I have...

Victor Jr carb intake
750 Edelbrock carb
26926 Duel valve springs .675 lift
Built 700R4
Flexplate adapter
1967 Chevelle 12 bolt rear with 3.73 gears/posi.

All of this is going in a 1953 Chevy 210 hardtop.

Car currently.
http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd353/jsanford1974/IMG_2882Medium.jpg

1. I have a set of LS7 lifters. Should I change out the stock LQ4 lifters for the LS7 lifters, or use the stock ones?

From #4 it seems the heads are loose or you are planning to remove them. Knowing that, I would swap them out. You already have the LS7 lifters and the heads are already off. Cheap insurance
2. I have a single bolt comp cam 220 220 .581 .581 112LSA. Will the single bolt cam work on the LQ4? I haven't found a single bolt GEN III cam gear.

You will have to run a Gen IV gear.

3. The LQ4 has the knock sensors in the valley cover. I have a LS2 valley cover I bought to use on the 5.3. Can I just remove the knock sensors and run the LS2 cover?

Yes

4. One of the pistons got scratched by a screw driver at some point. Can I just sand it down and run it? The scratch isn't too bad.
v

Just gently do it so everything ends up smooth without any sharp edges. Should be good

I guess I got to get rid of a cam. Thanks.

Thats what I would do. Just run a 3 bolt cam. Otherwise you end up with a gen IV cam sensor and a gen III crank sensor. I think swapping the cam is the cheapest solution