Boxy_Bruiser

so i'm planning on swapping out the 305 thats in my '90 Caprice with a newer gen motor and i'm putting together a list with prices to help with my decision, I'm between the 6.0 or the 5.3. I cam across this LQ4 that's a couple of hours away and wanted to get your thoughts on it, on of my concerns is hood clearance with that intake manifold that it has Carb'd LQ4

Doug G

Mine has the Vic Jr also and I don't think it is much or any taller than the SBC with the Vic Jr that was in there.

Not a bad price either...BUT
mileage ?
Raced ?
Sprayed ?
Cam pretty large.

Boxy_Bruiser

they guy says the bottom end has about 60-70K. He purchased it for use in a 1/2 ton pick up but didn't do his homework prior to the purchase and found out it wont be just "drop" in with out having to do some notching to the frame. So now he is so far invested in the motor that he cant finish with the rest so he is selling it. I dont know about the spray or if its been raced.
I asked if he had any power numbers, which he didn't, but guesstimated to be around the 600Hp range. That's alot more than what i'm looking at making, i want to stay around the 450RWHP range and operate in the mid band. I'm also looking at maybe a 5.3 with either flat pistons or a stroker kit but without increasing the bore, like a 363.

I see you're in MD as well. You recommend any good shops in the area that would take on a carb'd LS swap?

Doug G

No sure on a shop really.... do 90%+ of all my own stuff.

That motor should give you that 450rwhp you're looking for no doubt... but may be a pain on the street ?

Boxy_Bruiser

yes i was thinking the same thing since the car wont be seeing any track time and will be mainly a weekend street car with possible long drives. This is one of the reasons i'm leaning towards the 5.3.

VLS1

Why would you want less cubes for what is essentially just street driven?

Boxy_Bruiser

I'm not against the idea of a 6.0 it's all going to depend on what's available and the price when the time comes

Doug G

LQ4 (317) heads are 72cc
LS3/L92 heads are 70cc
Yes, with that cam the pistons would need fly-cut (if heads are milled / not sure on stockers)
Yes, it's a big cam...but the LSA/ICL will build cylinder pressure.

IF you were to get that motor and have no track plans....cam swap is in order.

As for the 5.3 Vs. 6.0....I think either would be fine in a street car....hell, they use 5.3's in 1/2 ton trucks from the factory. My 2014 Silverado 1500 Double cab weighs 5400ish pounds I think it was ? and tows my car and trailer (another 5300ish pounds) OK with the 3.42's Vs. the 2500HD x-cab 6.0 with 4.10's I use to have.
All comes down to what your plans are for the use of the vehicle.

Boxy_Bruiser

Thanks for the input. I'm definitely leaning more towards the 6.0 vice the 5.3 just not this particular motor.

I got a quote on a 6.0 bare block and oil pan for $750 and found a yard near by that is advertising a complete 6.0 motor with 255K miles for $850, just not sure if the $850 motor has been pulled or still in the truck. The plan is to have the bock prep'd for a stroker kit, should i be concerned with a 255K mile engine?

Doug G

$850 for a complete motor ?
Shop to go through it for the normal stuff like a hone job and check clearances, new rings, bearings, oil pump, gaskets, cam, lifters, ETC....say about $2500ish and end up with basically a "new" motor ?
That's the route I went since the motor I bought knowing it had no oil pressure and needed a once over.

Boxy_Bruiser

$800 LQ4

Ill be calling them first thing in the morning see if there is a catch. I found couple more around the same price and mileage within a few hours drive.

Doug G

Before making a jump like this, call a machine shop and ask what they want for a rebuild so you know what you're dealing with

Boxy_Bruiser

will do...i do have my eye on an already cleaned and honed L33 that has had new bearings installed pistons cleaned and reasembled, the guy is asking 950 plus shipping. with this one i would stroke it but leave the stock bore and itll save me on some machine shop work.
With the 5.3 i would need the holley oil pan to install into my caprice which is an added cost of around 350 over the 6.0 block which i was told i can use the stock oil pan.

My goal is around 450/450 at the wheels and have the power operate in the mid range. The caprice weighing about 3900lbs

Boxy_Bruiser

well made some calls yesterday and this is what I got.

The $800 dollar engine comes with a $150 core charge but after speaking to a couple machine shops I was advised to try and find a unit with less miles. This one had around 255K

Was able to get a hold of 5 machine shops, whos info I got from this forum, and got some prices for a short block tear down, cleaning, inspection and assembly and another price for a stroker install. the basic rebuild prices ranged from 1000-2800 and the stroker prices ranged from 3000-4500 with the shop acquiring all the parts.

I also went ahead and submitted my info to one of those nation wide salvage sites and got a call back for a LQ9 from an '03 escalade with 48K miles for 1299 with shipping. That's been the lowest price and mileage I've come across, what you guys think.

speedtigger

iTrader: (16)

Depends on what you want. That is a good deal on the LQ9 for sure. If you go stroker, I would go square port on the heads if it were me.

Doug G

Yes, stock for stock on the heads is only maybe .1 difference ?
Mine were shave .050 and fly-cut pistons, so about 10.4-10.5:1.

Boxy_Bruiser

well after doing a little internet research and some info from another yard i decided not to get that low mileage LQ9. The place that is "selling" it has had some really bad reviews and pissed off customers.

Doug G

Reason why ???

Boxy_Bruiser

when i was calling around i asked for prices based on reusing the parts that were able to be reused minus any consumables. So i guess when i mentioned it they were concerned about an engine with such high mileage maybe needing extra machine work.

I'm still awaiting some call backs on some LQ9s that i was quoted reasonable prices but with out mileage. And some pictures from a LQ9 Block that a gentleman is selling for 600.

Boxy_Bruiser

well today I found a suitable lq9 engine,104k mile for 1100 shopped. it is going straight to the machine shop where is going to be torn apart inspected and put back togetheralong with replacing all bearings piston rings rod bolts and main bolts. the rotating assembly will be reused if they are all still within specs.