Poor Man's LS2 - For five grand...
 

OK- so I've been doing some research on a SBC build that will net 400+whp NA on a $5,000 budget. Some say LS1, some say LQ4/9, some say just muster up the extra cash and buy an LS2. I'd love to hear some head/cam/tune builds that meet exceed these numbers and were build on a budget.

my LQ4 was built for around that range...

your goal is pretty doable. my build is as follows and should pass the 400rwhp pretty easily

new lq9 longblock= $2600
243's with a VJ and bowl work=$1300
cam+valvetrain=$1000

The LQ route sounds like a good way to go! Any more LQ guys care to chime in?

LS6 with cam and springs.

I made 404hp and 375 trq.

Stock shortblock LS1 w/ cam and supporting mods should get you where you need to go.. keeping it simple.

i have an lq forged motor built for boost

used block 350
all machine work $1000
forged crank $900
forged rods $500
forged pistons $800
ARP studs everywhere $800
gaskets $350
bearings $200
now add heads cam lifters oil pump chain pushrods valvesprings etc etc it get pricey, but for the money you can have a badass motor!

just look at my sig

2000 truck LQ4 925.00 with harness and ecm
cam and springs 700.00
Dyno tune and wiring 1000

413 at the tire


If I would do it all over again I would have gone with a carb

Thats an easy goal to hit, using an LQ4 iron block would be the cheapest route.

My first setup was a stock 01 LS1 block, PRC 5.3 stg 2.5 heads, a 226/232 .609/.604 113+2 cam, a ported FAST 92 and NW 92mm TB, headers and all the usual bolt on stuff and hit 443rwhp.

My new setup uses a forged shortblock which you dont need but its stock size. In that block I use the same heads(milled to 58cc chambers and 11.5:1 compression) with a 235/240 .620/.609 112+4 cam and im running a 9" rearend and chromoly driveshaft instead of the 10 bolt and aluminum driveshaft and made 468rwhp and 435rwtq.

Thanks for all of the feedback guys. I think I am going to go with the LQ block to get started. Also, this motor is going into a Nissan, so I am going to need to come up with a grocery list of accessories to get it ready to run.

Is there a budget-minded accessory kit available (i.e. alternator, pumps, etc) or is it best to buy parts individually?

I've done 400rwhp in cars with a cam and longtubes for years. It doesn't take a full long block build to do that. Old SBC guys just aren't used to making that much power so easy. ;)

A stock LS1 short block, stock 243/LS6 castings, the right cam, right exhaust setup, and the right tuner will make 420-440rwhp all day depending on the drivetrain.

You need to check into the conversions/hybrids forum as well...

can any of you guys tell me which rods are better the lq4 or ls2 or are they the same thing?

Shouldn't the extra weight of an iron block be of greater concern in a Nisson VS (assuming here) the much greater front end weight of a Camaro/Pontiac F-Body than the Nissan?

2005+ LQ4's has the same crank and rods as the LS2. That includes full floating rods.

id do it with the LS1, you can do some crazy stuff with that kind of money and definately hit that number easy!

I agree, save the extra money for supporting stuff.

Correct me if I am wrong the iron block is 65#s heaver than the alum.

CALLING ALL STOCK-BLOCK LS1, LQ4 & LQ9 MEMBERS...

Anyone pushing 400whp+ with an NA stock block, post your heads/cam/intake/exhaust setup along with dyno numbers! I'd love to get some ideas of what parts to start buying :cheers: