fasteddy

So I want to repower my 2002 camaro.....
I asked my engine guy if we could just buy an LS3 crate engine and change the reluctor wheel to 24....bla bla and fire it up.

He said sure we could do it....with that and other changes as well.

He proposed a different alternative though....to save money and make more power.
He said we could bore an LQ9 block and and stuff an LS3 rotating assembly inside.....he said the blocks are cheap, the rods and pistons are also cheap and then put in a nice cam and ported LS3 heads would make 470-500RWHP.

Its a street car...not gonna be boosted sprayed or even raced....except for freeway onramps......

He says he could do the whole thing for like $3500 which is almost half the cost of the LS3 crate.....

What do you guys think.....can this guy technically do this?

Thanks

fasteddy

I did a search on "LQ9 max bore" and think I found my answer....
There were some "naysayers" in the posts but it most said it had been done and the engines were fine......(bore wasn't too severe)
Thats really cheap power.

BaddBird

iTrader: (6)

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ron-block.html

KCS

iTrader: (20)

Yup. Nothing trick to it. This car is my daily driver and I have over 20k miles on this engine now.

fasteddy

Nice TQ curve.

What state is it in now?
Still 241 heads?
Still same LS1 manifold?
Any changes to the power numbers?

Thx

PS. thats a lot of miles in ?14 months. You might need a new seat too.

low2001gmc

iTrader: (148)

very nice info as this is some i am considering for down the road as id like the extra cubes....

BODUKE

Can you live with the added weight of the iron block?

fasteddy

I think its worth a go.....
Mine is a street car in need of more power.
I think adding an supercharger is just as much weight.

Part of the objective is to build a nice street car for under $10K.
I bought the 02 Z28 off craigslist for $2K, but it needs a trans and rear brakes....barely got it home. Other than that the car is clean.

I bought a set of Z06 spyders with tires off craigslist for $800.
Rear rotors from Amazon for $26 per side.

LQ9+LS3 internals+LS3 ported heads= good power for low $$.

The challenge is the trans.....hard to select....its an 4L60e

Got a mobile mech to slam in 3.73 Yukon gears for $300.

We'll see I guess....but I'm on track to stay under budget....

Wanna buy some 16" wheels?

Stumped1215

iTrader: (9)

I would get a 4l80 off of craigslist, and put a shift kit in it.

fasteddy

4L80s need all sorts of conversion dohickies though.....would rather stay with the 60.

There are some "mass" rebuilders close to me in Riverside....
They can do a rebuilt unit installed with converter for $900 with a 2 year warranty.

Then there is a performance trans shop about 45 mins away that will do the bla bla build (Similar to Jakes stage 1) for $2100 installed....12 month warranty.

Thats a big difference. Its kinda like rolling dice.

The lady I bought my car from had 2 estimates from Trans shops for $2800 and $3200....which is why she just sold the car. But she kept it in her garage for the past 10 years which is why the thing is so clean.

KCS

iTrader: (20)

It's still got the 241's and the LS1 manifold. I haven't fixed the clutch issue as I am driving this to work everyday, but I plan to do it this summer. We think the slave is what's causing the problem, but I'm going to replace the clutch and flywheel anyways. Once I can see what it's really making, I'm working on a nasty set of 243's for it and go with an LS6 intake and 1-7/8" headers.

And yes, it's a lot of miles. I drive it a lot, usually about 60 miles on weekdays.

Absolutely. With the extra displacement, you can make enough power to offset the increase in weight, and make the power/weight ratio even better.

fasteddy

Thanks for the update and good to know the reliability is there.

While I was poking around through Ebay I found this.
Iron LS3 from Thompson.....fairly good price.
I guess its not that uncommon after all.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-ls3-lsx-based-iron-376ci-Thompson-Motorsports-TMS-coated-flat-top-pistons-/271122847340?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f202e566c&vxp=mtr

thompson

iTrader: (4)

We do make and sell them, The walls are thin and are sold as N/A motors. I have customers who are using them with small nitrous but really very small is recommended. You must make sure that you are taking material in the right places, It is very easy with GM blocks to bore off center as that is how most of them come.

Eddie Aop Benjamin

iTrader: (2)

sounds like a good build ,

fasteddy

Any thoughts on the price of this as a long block with ported L92 heads set up for 11:1 and a "torque monster" street cam?
Any warranty with that?

thompson

iTrader: (4)

Short block 6.0L LQ9
Hypereutectic pistons and TMS rings 4.065" flat top piston
Professional in house TMS machine work
TMS CNC ported LS3 heads
Dual valve springs good to .650"
Titanium retainers and chromoly spring locators
TMS 12pt head studs
GM MLS head gaskets
Melling select high pressure oil pump
Chromoly pushrods
GM rockers and pedistols
ls7 lifters
ls2 timing chain
ls2 cam sprocket
lifter trey set ls2
TMS Custom ground cam
$5669 with 90 day warranty
OR
$6769 with FORGED H-BEAM RODS/ARP rod bolts AND Diamond piston with a 1 YEAR warranty.

low2001gmc

iTrader: (148)

GOOD TO KNOW....OPTIONS

fasteddy

Thanks....thats great! and a warranty....thx

thompson

iTrader: (4)

^^I don't think anyone will beat our warranty.

taner

iTrader: (6)

not to take this thread off topic.... but if you want to make 4 figures with the aid of one or more turbo's, it sounds like an LQ9 block is not the way to go.

i am looking at doing a turbo, and was wondering which iron ls block was the one to go with, is the lq4 a better choice for a turbo build?

thanks!!!