Well, i figured it out. According to a book i bought on the weekend about building LS1's and such, they say that the LQ4 have a throttle cable, whereas the LQ9 is throttle by wire. If thats the case, shes a LQ9. Of course, they also say that a LQ4 is a 6.0L displacing 364ci and the LQ9 is a 6.0L displacing 377ci !??!?!

 

The book is wrong. They all are have throttle by wire from 2003 till today. Sorry. If you can find the VIN in the engine I can run it and let you know what is from. I have a 2002 LQ4 that has a cable, 2003 went to throttle by wire in the trucks. PM me the VIN if you have it.

 

sooooo you can only get the LQ9 out of an escalade?

 

The LQ9 applications are as follows:

* 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade
* 2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade EXT
* 2003-2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV
* 2003-2007 Chevrolet Silverado SS
* 2004-2005 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Vortec HO Edition
* 2006-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra VortecMAX Option

 

just to add to the confusion, my 2004 lq4 had a cable, not wire, which doesnt agree with some info-it was out of a 2004 3500 express van
i never searched my block, but if the serial #is on it, the last 8 digits would tell what it is, if you have a nice parts guy

 

unless it's a pre 01 then you need a spacer because the crank is a little longer.

 

the PCM that come with the engine will have the VIN programmed in it...8th digit..will tell you.

V=4.8L LR4
Z=5.3L L59 Flex Fuel
T=5.3L LM7
U=6.0L LQ4
N=6.0L LQ9
G=8.1L L18

 

Mine came out of a 2003 express van and its a cable driven throttle. It is an lq4. However, a came change and some reflashing of the computer, your gonna have 400 hp with a set of good headers. With the lq4 and lower compression, you won't have to worry too much about the octane.

 

May be picking up a 2500HD with an LQ4. Do you think I can get adaquate times by running the stock setup?

 

thought stock were .060 gaskets?

 

Hi guys, sorry for insisting on this thread. I got my "LQ9" (or that's what the guy who sold it to me said it was) today, I took a plug out and went with a piece of wire all over the piston and I did not feel anything, I felt it flat, but still have my doubts.
How easy would be to feel the not flat pistons on a LQ4?

 

Still feeling it flat... but not sure.
I just took this pics...
I need to leave feedback for this engine on e-bay.

 

some lq9's came with a 035 head casting
9 out of 10 times a 317 head will be a lq4.
lq4 came with 8cc spherical dish piston and 317 head casting

 

I pulled a head off of mine to verify flattops. Is there not an easier way to tell? vin # on block anywhere? No numbers anywhere to differentiate a lq4 from a lq9?

 

Since you already pulled out a head, how easy do you think it is to feel the top of the piston through the plug hole? Can you really figure it out like that?

I think that the one who can answer this easy is someone with a LQ9 and a LQ4 in his/hers hands. But it seems that there's none with that in here.

 

Found this usefull link.
http://www.performancetrucks.net/for...ght=lq9&page=2

 

I just found this posting. I have a 2001 GMC Sierra C3. It is factory with a LQ4 and is fly by wire. It was the only a 1 year truck. The next year these became the Sierra Denali. Hope this helps someone.

 

My vin on my 2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 LS is 1GCGK23UX4F232367

 

99-02 6.0 were dbc, 03-newer dbw, except 03-04 3500 vans still dbc. I have seen lq4 and lq9's with 317's. only way to differentiate is pistons.

 

my dads 06 van has a cable throttle on it.