I'm looking on a stock bottom lq4 with a turbo what are my question whats the most I can push in hp in a stock bottom end on the lq4

 

What year lq4 and how long do you want it to last?

 

It's a gen iii I want to last a while

 

Well the 04.5 up engines have better rods in them. With a well seasoned o4 up engine and everything perfect they will live with 900~1000 HP for awhile, and years in the 7~800 HP range but one misshap and you're done. It is all in the tune, and need lots of meth inj, or E85.

 

Might consider looking for a 04 and up LQ4.

 

Is there any way to identify if an 04 motor does indeed have the better pistons and rods outside of pulling the pan off and taking a gander? I am thinking of picking up a 5.3 for a backup motor since my LQ4 is on the stock bottom end and it is an 03. A local yard has two 04 5.3's for $500 - 125k and $550 - 113k. I was going to go take a look at them this weekend and pick one up if it has the better parts in it.

 

my '01 lq4 (weaker rods) lasted all season at 650whp. Then up to 740whp, it bent 3 rods. Pics in my 2012 build in my sig. When everything else is right, the rods will be week link and will bend.

 

I don't know that this method is 100%, but from what I've seen, the newer Gen IIIs with the LS2 rods have 13mm bolts on the exhaust manifolds and lifter valley cover. The older one's have 10mm bolts.

 

x2

I have seen the same.

 

This as well as the shorter even length head bolts. Pull a center head bolt and if it's short you should be good. Also 04.5 up 5.3L would be > than early 6.0L. Maybe in a light car the early rods will survive but in my truck at 4850 lbs the early rods bend at 10.50's and high 120's on mph. Been times in sig and more with a 06 lq4.

 

Yeah I am a little worried about my motor although my car is light. I am upping the fuel system and going for more power. I think I may pick up one of the 5.3's if they are indeed the "good" ones and sell off the LQ4. I imagine I could make higher power with the 5.3 on my current turbo. Then I will have to start worrying about my trans. It never ends, ha.

 

are the newer modle lq4 with stronger rods dbw also and older dbc?im trying to figure this out with my engine i have now and has me a lil worried.any other ways to tell? part numbers anywhere on block/rod piston? thanks

 

Just because it's DBW does not mean it's a newer engine. My 03 LQ4 is DBW and has small rods. There is a number cast into the block near the water pump that tells you when the block was cast. It's not the final say in what rods were put in it, but it gives you a clue. My block was cast 1 year before the truck was made.