strutaeng

Hello, I'm a first time poster long time lurker. So years ago I bought this LQ9 complete engine, but I later realized it has a spun bearing. I talked to a machine shop in DFW and they told me they can machine it for about $150. The engine is complete with all wiring and computer. I originally was going to swap it into my '99 Silverado 4.3. However, I recently bought a 2000 K3500 (CK-series square body) SRW crew cab with a 5.7/4L80E 4.10. The truck feels pretty strong and the engine seems to run good at 200k miles. I hauled 3,000 lbs. of rock and didn't feel too sluggish.

Would it be worthwhile to swap the 6.0 into the K3500? Or just run the 5.7? I'm going to be using the truck for hauling construction materials for a house addition I'll be working on. I was thinking just selling it later, but may hold on to it and make it a project truck or something.

Smitty454

If it runs strong and does what you need it to do then I wouldnt bother swapping in an LQ9. I think the LQ9 would be more fun in your 99 Silverado. Just my opinion.

hokeplaya05

iTrader: (3)

if it were me, I'd put the 6.0 in the 3500 and sell the 99 4.3 to fund the swap (though it would be pretty cheap to do since the truck already has the drive train to support the 6.0). if you were to put the 6.0 in the 99 you would need a 4l80e (if auto)to put behind it and likely need to upgrade the rear since those 10 bolts are weak. plus for me, the gmt400 is a much better looking truck than the early gmt800's. my.02

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

hokeplaya05

iTrader: (3)

if we were talking about 5.3's then I would agree keep the 5.7, but since it is a 6.0 I don't think he will be disappointed at all with the swap. plus the added aftermarket/tuning capabilities that the 6.0 with the newer computer has over the 5.7. that's one of many of the reasons I will be replacing the 5.7 with a 6.0 in my 96. he has a 3/4 ton drive train behind a 1/2 ton power plant, why not finish it off?

Fast355

My opinon on this. Save the effort and disappointment of swapping in a 6.0L. The 5.7 makes ALOT more torque in the off-idle to 3,000 rpm range than the 6.0L. Find an 8.1 rather than the 6.0L for that truck. 8.1 drops right in on the 350 engine mounts and pads and if you find one from an Express/Savanna van it uses the OEM compressor and alternator location for the 5.7. 8.1 makes its peak torque and hp over 1,000 rpm sooner than the 6.0L. With the 8.1 you can also use standard big block headers for a TBI era truck. If you are using the truck for hauling the 5.7, 6.0, and 8.1 will all get about the same fuel mileage. I only paid $800 for an 80,000 mile 8.1 with accessories and the PCM from a fullsize cutaway van based party bus. I bought a 2nd one recently with the 4L80E still behind it for $1000.00 but it had 150K on it. One is in my 1983 G20 van and the 2nd is going into my 1999 Tahoe.

Fast355

If it is only the computer, swapping to an 0411 or even the 1 meg PCM with the L31 is possible. GM ran the L31 with both of those PCMs. I have driven a L31/5spd GMT800 whatever the call the Tahoe in Mexico. For towing I would keep the L31 over a 6.0L, especially if I stroked the L31 to a 383 or 396.

I have a friend that has a heads/cammed 6.0L backed to a 4L80E and 4.10 gears in his GMT400 ECSB. Lets just say he will not run my L31 Express van from a dig. I have a stock bore, 6" rod 350 with flat top pistons, Assault racing (Dart Pro1 knock off) 200cc aluminum heads, Comp custom grind 215/224 @ .050 cam, L31 marine intake, Thorley Tri-Y headers, EFI Connection 24x swap, 2004 Blue/Green PCM with a custom tune and flex fuel operating system, 4L80E with the GM B82 converter and 5.13 gears in the 10.5" 14-bolt. On E85 that 10.4:1 350 is a monster.

hokeplaya05

iTrader: (3)

I know all about the 411 swap, that was my original plan with my truck; 411 swap, cam, marine intake and forced induction of some sort but for what I would've had to pay for the marine intake I have a 370ci heads/cam lq4 with a fresh rebuilt 4l80e with shift kit with tons of room to grow. for the money you put into that 350 (marine intake alone is around 1k) you can easily get 500hp+ out of a lq4. for the OP's situation I think putting the 6.0 in the 2000 would be the best bet, it can be done pretty cheap (especially already having the 3/4 ton drivetrain) if you can do wiring and have basic mechanical skills or save it for another project. putting it into a 4.3 truck means you'd want to upgrade the whole drivetrain to handle it.

Fast355

Except I only have about $500 into my whole marine intake swap. My coil per cylinder swap cost me about $350. PCM swap was essentially free.

I have a fresh LQ9 shortblock sitting on the stand I picked up fresh from the machine shop to not assembled. I have a LSA blower that I bought for $350.00. I have a set of rectangle port LY6 heads too. I could easily have 500 ft/lbs from off-idle to redline if I wanted to drop the $$$. I wouldn't waste my time on the 6.0L in a heavy truck that will see towing. Go big block or diesel or go home!

350SS

iTrader: (38)

can you give some details on this? i've been wanting to do this but the eficonnection stuff is pretty pricey... did you just do their 24x reluctor and use the distributor signal for the cam signal or something else?

Fast355

I used their reluctor and sensor kit that comes with a new timing cover and cap for the OEM distributor. I used D585 coils salvaged off a wrecked LS truck in the salvage yard. I custom made a coil mount out of sheet metal to mount the coils to the rear of the engine in the location of the stock distributor. I reused the L31 wires. I do not have room to mount the coils on the fancy brackets in my application so my custom setup worked just fine for me and simplified replacement parts. You still need the OEM distributor to drive the oil pump, so reusing it as a cam sensor works perfectly fine.

350SS

iTrader: (38)

cool, thanks...for some reason i thought the cam signal the 24x setup wanted was different than the l31 dist signal.

Fast355

Nope, very same 1x signal. You can also run the L31 on a 58x and 4x cam signal. The last of the 4.3s have a 4x cam sensor that takes place of the distributor. I chose to avoid the 58x stuff because the ECMs require a different pin style than the 0411 and 1 meg PCMs which are the same as the L31 pins. I came close to using a 58x setup though so that I could run a 6L80E behind my L31 just did not feel like completely rebuilding a custom wiring harness from the ground up.

350SS

iTrader: (38)

interesting...

tfi racing

iTrader: (2)

Indeed. The 411 swap on my 2000 K2500 7.4 crew cab got put on the back burner over the summer, reading this got me back to thinking of finally getting around to it soon...

G Atsma

LOL I think we lost the OP. He never came back...