LQ9 Buget setup 415-430whp
LQ9 Buget setup 415-430whp I spun a bearing in the ls1. So, I am swapping in a lq9... Im wondering if my setup of lt's, true duals, ls6 intake, lid, and either a pat g custom grind cam in the low 230's, a 288r or the torquer v3 will get me past 400.
I will be reusing the 2001 241 stock heads... Will my CR be an issue? What am I looking at for hp? I plan on switching to ported heads or 243's castings down the road...... any advice for me? I will be performing the swap for the first time in my garage.
...Or should I just rebuild my by returning the crank and replacing the bearings seals ect.. Is it even worth it paying for all the labor and maching?
I will be reusing the 2001 241 stock heads... Will my CR be an issue? What am I looking at for hp? I plan on switching to ported heads or 243's castings down the road...... any advice for me? I will be performing the swap for the first time in my garage.
...Or should I just rebuild my by returning the crank and replacing the bearings seals ect.. Is it even worth it paying for all the labor and maching?
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 5
From: PA/MD
You should get close to your goal. Check your ptv clearance and possibly mill a little off the 241's before you bolt them on. You will need a 6.0 head gasket and I would recomend a .040" mls gasket to keep your quench nice and tight.
The 241 heads aren't that bad of a head with some work done to them.
The 241 heads aren't that bad of a head with some work done to them.
The LQ9 doesn't have heads on it? I would drop the coin on a set of stock 243s or 317s instead of the 241s. 317 heads can be had CHEAP so there is no excuse there. Also I would say for cam run the TQv2 or an MS3. The 6.0 likes a healthier cam than the LS1s do IMO. As for your power goals an LQ9 is really close to an LS2 in power so 400 rwhp should be easy with a nice size cam.
How much should I get milled off of the heads? And I wont be able to do heads for a year or so... So i'd rather get the cam spec'd out for the setup now....rather than wait for a different set of heads. Reminder... this is a budget build. So Im trying to use as many parts off my ls1 as i can.
Also..If im buying a stock lq9 shortblock. Is there anything I have to do other than swap the accessories over and drill a extra alternator bracket hole?
Also..If im buying a stock lq9 shortblock. Is there anything I have to do other than swap the accessories over and drill a extra alternator bracket hole?
How much should I get milled off of the heads? And I wont be able to do heads for a year or so... So i'd rather get the cam spec'd out for the setup now....rather than wait for a different set of heads. Reminder... this is a budget build. So Im trying to use as many parts off my ls1 as i can.
Also..If im buying a stock lq9 shortblock. Is there anything I have to do other than swap the accessories over and drill a extra alternator bracket hole?
Also..If im buying a stock lq9 shortblock. Is there anything I have to do other than swap the accessories over and drill a extra alternator bracket hole?
Here is another suggestion. Find an aluminum block 5.3. They already have 243 heads and will be within 10hp of an LS1 mod for mod. There was a guy on the S10 forum that bought one for $550 with less than 100k miles. A 228R would wake one up nicely and down the road you can make a 383 out of it.
I think Im going to go for the lq9 from thompson motorsports for 1900$ ..a 12 month warranty and it should be nicely paired up with a low 230's cam and I plan to spray a 150 shot.
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Here is another suggestion. Find an aluminum block 5.3. They already have 243 heads and will be within 10hp of an LS1 mod for mod. There was a guy on the S10 forum that bought one for $550 with less than 100k miles. A 228R would wake one up nicely and down the road you can make a 383 out of it.
I'd stick with the 6.0, but get your hands on some 317 heads and have them milled to get your compression back up. 317s can be had for $100 or less and a mill is pretty cheap. Or, as another poster said, pick up some 243s for around $300 and do the same. I did this (milled .026) on my 6.0 liter swap, through in a small cam and made the numbers in my sig.
Getting the big motor is the key, IMHO.
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 622
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From: Calgary Alberta
If you go find an LQ9 it'll already have 317 heads, but if you're looking for a 400+ ready built short block then you'll need a set of heads. You said you wanted a decent cam; take the money you were going to put towards cam / springs / pushrods and put it towards the best heads you can buy. If I could go back that's what I would have done. A cam would have been the last thing I did. Better heads will return you gains with zero compromise in driveability... You can always do a cam later.
