Starting LQ9 Swap
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Starting LQ9 Swap hello guys well my 99 trans am blew a hole in the block so i found a 50k mile LQ9 out of a 2006 silverado 2500 HD.I have read around but still a little confused.
so far i know i have to change out oil pick up,pan,tray,and front accesories from my LS1.JUST DONT KNOW ABOUT THE HEADS AND INTAKE.
1.Can i just swap the entire LQ9 engine With heads or should i put my Ls1
heads
2.will my car be at-least drivable until further tuning
3.Will it be best for me to use my ls1 factory cam
4.what can i shave the ls1 heads to if i do use them on the LQ9
so far i know i have to change out oil pick up,pan,tray,and front accesories from my LS1.JUST DONT KNOW ABOUT THE HEADS AND INTAKE.
1.Can i just swap the entire LQ9 engine With heads or should i put my Ls1
heads
2.will my car be at-least drivable until further tuning
3.Will it be best for me to use my ls1 factory cam
4.what can i shave the ls1 heads to if i do use them on the LQ9
You also need to drill the hole in the block for the alternator bracket. 05-07 was a transition for GM so verify that it's not a 58x wheel (some say they phased it in on 06-07 LQ4/LQ9, others say they never put a 58x in 6.0s except LS2 and LY6, just check to be safe). You can leave the 317s on it (they are pretty much the same as 243s just with a larger chamber, so they flow really well), I would not recommend 241s over 317s on an LQ9. LQ9 has 10.4:1 vs LQ4 has 9.5:1, so you wont need to worry much about trying to bump the compression. I'd also invest in an LS6 intake on that setup (or consider an LS3 top end). LS1 and LQ9/LQ4 use the same cam (and its pretty much a broom stick), I'd would recommend putting an aftermarket cam in it while it's torn down. You'll need to tune it, a decent mail-order would work out.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
You also need to drill the hole in the block for the alternator bracket. 05-07 was a transition for GM so verify that it's not a 58x wheel (some say they phased it in on 06-07 LQ4/LQ9, others say they never put a 58x in 6.0s except LS2 and LY6, just check to be safe). You can leave the 317s on it (they are pretty much the same as 243s just with a larger chamber, so they flow really well), I would not recommend 241s over 317s on an LQ9. LQ9 has 10.4:1 vs LQ4 has 9.5:1, so you wont need to worry much about trying to bump the compression. I'd also invest in an LS6 intake on that setup (or consider an LS3 top end). LS1 and LQ9/LQ4 use the same cam (and its pretty much a broom stick), I'd would recommend putting an aftermarket cam in it while it's torn down. You'll need to tune it, a decent mail-order would work out.
