ls1 to lq4 help
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
ls1 to lq4 help Hello guys I got a few questions I blew a rod threw my block Friday night and I'm wanting to swap my 2001 Camaro ls1 for a lq4 2001-2005. I have read a few threads about the swap. But it hasn't answer all my questions running around in my head about the swap I know that you can use ls1 oil pan, pick up tube, water pump, and intake, etc? . But my questions are will it drop right in like will the motor mounts line up, the knock sensors, cam shaft position sensor,I have a 228 cam sitting in the house that I was going to put in the ls1 but will it fit in the lq4? and is there anything that I will have to put some work into to make this swap work. if you guys could help point me in the right direction I would love it and if there is a thread that will help me can you post it down below and plz don't blow up on me about this I'm just wanting/needing some help so anything is helpful thank again guys for reading this and answering my questions 
The lq4 (gen III) is a direct swap. Everything is the same as far as external mounts, knock sensors, camshaft, etc. You would run in to swap differences if you go from a 24x, which your car is, to a 58x crank reluctor (Gen IV). Everything you currently have on, in or for your LS1 will work. I'm sure there numerous threads on here that will help you out in greater detail, I'm just being lazy on the search, but maybe this will get you going in the right direction. I am currently removing an LS1 from my '01 Z in favor of an LQ4 stroker.
No problem. I was planning to put a regular LQ4 in mine when the time came, but I had already committed the one that I had to another rat roddish type setup and didn't have the heart to start over on it. That and I ran in to a pretty good deal on the stroker.
The only changes you will need to make are using your oil pan, accessories, car manifold/fuel rails, and drilling/tapping the hole in the driver's side "ear" of the block for the alternator bracket. It's a direct swap. Also, if you still have 241 heads currently, use the 317s on the LQ4/9 (maybe even have them milled to bump back up the compression if it's an LQ4).
Trending Topics
The only changes you will need to make are using your oil pan, accessories, car manifold/fuel rails, and drilling/tapping the hole in the driver's side "ear" of the block for the alternator bracket. It's a direct swap. Also, if you still have 241 heads currently, use the 317s on the LQ4/9 (maybe even have them milled to bump back up the compression if it's an LQ4).
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Is there anyway to know the difference from the lq4 and the lq9 like casting numbers etc the reason I ask is because a junk yard says they have a couple 6.0's they didn't know what I was talking about when I said lq4 or lq9 lol I should of known better 😂
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...g-numbers.html
The only real way to know for certain if it is an LQ4 or LQ9, that I know of, is to look at the pistons(LQ4 is dished, LQ9 is Flat). There is some better info in the link above.
As far as the 99-00, they came with cast heads so if it is a complete motor then you're looking for one with aluminum heads. The aluminum 317's that are on these have similar flow to the 243's with a larger combustion chamber.
LQ9 started in 2002. As mentioned above, if it has iron heads it is a 99-00 and has the long crank. If it has aluminum 317's it's a standard crank. Both LQ4 & LQ9 have "6.0" stamped in front and came with 317's, the only way to tell is to check the plug hole (or pull the heads) for a flat or dished piston. All production iron blocks require drilling the alternator bracket bolt hole for fbody accessories (unless you high-mount the alternator).
LQ9 started in 2002. As mentioned above, if it has iron heads it is a 99-00 and has the long crank. If it has aluminum 317's it's a standard crank. Both LQ4 & LQ9 have "6.0" stamped in front and came with 317's, the only way to tell is to check the plug hole (or pull the heads) for a flat or dished piston. All production iron blocks require drilling the alternator bracket bolt hole for fbody accessories (unless you high-mount the alternator).
I have a bare block so no way to tell by any of the above mentioned. So I guess a more direct question is depending on the block I have, will both the longer or shorter crank work no matter the year the LQ9 is? Like if I bought a new crank its all the same? Thanks
All iron 6.0 blocks are the same (except for LY6 iirc, it doesn't have a cam position sensor in the block). Yes if you bought a new crank it would fit, you could even use your LS1 crank. The long crank LQ4 is just that - a long crank. The block was the same (the crank was longer at the flexplate flange to allow an older transmission to bolt up prior to GM using the .400" spacer). You just need to figure out if it's a 99-03 or 04-up 6.0 as the head bolts changed.
The LY6 is a gen IV block. The valley will be different and the knock sensors in a different location. If it's stamped 6.0 and the knock sensors are in the valley, it's a gen III. Also, if you're building a stroker, ANY year LQ4 (or LQ9 for that matter) block will net the same end result. You wouldn't use the stock rotating assembly anyway.
