Dez305

Im staring a 89 Box build, but im stuck on deciding which motor to use. I have a dude in Crystal river with a motor, tranny and computer harness or 2750, but i was gonna buy a LQ9 and build it from the short block up by my friend told me a LQ4 is better for naturally aspirated horsepower...looking for some input and direction?? Anyone do a build like this before??

SS10Tech

The major difference between an LS1 and LQx is the LS1 is all aluminum and LQx's are cast iron blocks.

LQ9's have flat top pistons, LQ4's have dome style pistons for a lower CR using the stock 317 casting number heads. with LQ9's you have to be careful with piston to valve clearance for any head/valvetrain swaps - taking into consideration the depth of your headgasket as there are no valve reliefs in those pistons from what i understand.

the cranks in all of them are good for 1000RWP or more - no need in buying aftermarket unless you are building a stroker motor.

This is all one noob to another so i am sure there is alot more that can be stated here - but its a start for you in the right direction.

zracer323

iTrader: (12)

http://www.lsxtv.com/tech-stories/en...ags-to-riches/
This should help you out. An LQ9 will make a little more NA than an LQ4 due to the higher compression.

anheuserbusch08

iTrader: (11)

LQ4S have dished pistons, just fixed for ya nothing extra milling cant fix so u can get the same amount of hp/tq like an lq9

SnIpEz

iTrader: (4)

An LQ4 or LQ9 is a 6.0L iron block, the LS1 is a 5.7L aluminum block. The LQx block architecture is identical to the LS2, but the LS2 is an aluminum block.

Your friend was wrong, an LQ9 will be better for naturally aspirated power.

LS1 is 346 ci, LQx is 364.

I'm doing a forged LQ4 build, 370ci myself.

Rtzracer

iTrader: (8)

Sorry to open an old thread but from what I'm reading, but LQ4 and LQ9 6.0L are iron blocks?? I was told that one of them were an aluminum block. So would a 6.0L from a 09 Silverado Vortec Max be an iron block?

billetproof97'

the LQ platform is iron and the LS series motors are aluminum

Brandon

BOBS99SS

iTrader: (2)

;billet is correct

2win_SS

iTrader: (1)

I was talking to lemons about this... He said a LQ9 with full bolt ons, LS3 heads from TSP, LS3 intake, and a cam from TSP(we didn't talk about how big) can make 500rwhp... This is the route im going to go if I can get my hand on one decently priced...

lebedin8654

iTrader: (2)

to me it all depends what you can find and for what price. You can make good power with all of them. The ls1 is just lighter, lq4 is more common and cheaper, and the lq9 has the most torque...just my thoughts

billetproof97'

That modded LQ9 sounds nice. A ls3 l92 sounds like another route maybe. I've looked at some good things on the forum. But I am a newbie to this. I've just gotten back into the LSX platform. Been gone for too long at basic and AIT For the army. Stock for stock the lq9 is a bit better with the CR

Brandon

2win_SS

iTrader: (1)

^^^ I was talking about LQ9 with LS3 top end(TSP heads)... Bolt ons and Cam(TSP) and your at 500rwhp I've been told. Makes me 2nd guess building my LS1... I'll just put that in my Chevelle if I go LQ9 route...