99hugcam

iTrader: (9)

I will be picking up an lq9 soon. Few ?'s. It comes w/ the oil pan, will that work in an f bod? What all do I need to do to run this. Plan is to run a vindicator cam w/ some stock 853 heads for now. Any electrical problems. Which head gaskets? Thanks for the help. Also, what will my compression be?

s346k

iTrader: (4)

no, the oil pan will not work. you need an fbod oil pan.

use stock gm gaskets (.055) unless you want ptv problems as the vindicator is tight on ptv.

compression should be around stock ls1 compression as the lq9 utilizes a flat-top piston, as well. i believe 10.2:1.

only electrical problem(s) i can see is using a gen. 4 harness with a gen. 3 intake/injectors. speartech makes adapters for this issue.

99hugcam

iTrader: (9)

I thought all the connectors where the same? Guess I was wrong! Thanks for the help. Is speartech a sponser, if not do any sponsners sell this?

NemeSS

iTrader: (127)

u will need to remove truck damper and install, fbody one
will also need all fbody accesories, intake, fuel rail, injectors,wp.
oil pan, pickup tube, windage tray, check knock sensors, sometimes they rust out in iron truck blocks, lq9 has steam ports like ls6.
the lq9 heads are better than the 853's, if u do youre seriously downgrading,
the lq9 heads flow as well as ls2/ls6 heads.
bad idea to use the 853's.
more compression is not a bad idea if the heads are alredy off, have them milled some.
check for tru lq9, if the piston has ANY kind of dish looking piston, it is not a tru lq9.
ive had someone try to pull a fast one on me with a lq4 for lq9

99hugcam

iTrader: (9)

wont the lq9 heads lower my compression? What would it be w/ .055 gaskets and no mill? If I do mill how much and would the vindicator still fit wo flycutting? Also, is the casting #317 for lq9 heads? So I do or dont need a harness for injectors or anything?

I have all the acc., ls6 intake, ported tb, etc. So if I ran the lq9 heads w/ either a trex or vindicator would that be a descent setup? Not looking for a big build, this is on a TIGHT budget! Thanks for the help!

99hugcam

iTrader: (9)

also, just wondering why you cant use the truck damper? Will my March work that I had on my ls1? What is the part# for arp rod bolts for the lq9? Im assuming the are diff from ls1 rods. Thanks again.

s346k

iTrader: (4)

do not mill or use a thinner head gasket with any of the cams you've listed. you will have ptv problems. if this engine is going in an fbody you need the fbody accessories, as stated previously. you cannot mix the 2 because the pulleys will not line up. rod bolts are the same for an lq9 as they are an ls1, ls2, lq4, etc etc. i would suggest katech.

99hugcam

iTrader: (9)

Thanks, I cant afford heads right now, but will i be losing THAT much power running 853s? I know people are making good power w/ these cams on 346 but should I go bigger w/ a 370 or is it not worth it cuz I dont have the heads to support it? Thanks again.

s346k

iTrader: (4)

you can't go much larger than a t-rex or vindicator if you're using a stock shortblock, as the ptv will not allow. the extra cubes will definately soak up some of the cams' temperments and lower (rpm-wise) the peak and curves a little. i'd guess you'd make ~20whp on a similarly setup ls1 just because of the extra cubes you're running. these engines are good for about 1 whp/cubic inch with bolt-ons, and obviously much more when aftermarket cams make an appearance. basically, find a cam only vindicator/t-rex car and add about 20whp to it, that's where you are with stock 853s. i'd say you would gain 25-30 whp with a *great set of heads vs. the stock ones on a setup like that. i'm thinking tfs 215s or something. a much better flowing head that also bumps the compression..

99hugcam

iTrader: (9)

Thanks for the good advice man. Gonna stick w/ the 853s for now then.

99Ls1fever

iTrader: (3)

What do the LQ9 s Flow??? I have been trying to find something on these for a while...