Bought a lq4 with 799 heads and unknown cam and other valvetrain upgrades. Was gonna just put new headgaskets on and call it a day but decided to look into it and discovered a cracked ringland. What’s my best option without having to change valve clearance and using stock rods and stock 4’ bore.. also is there a way to add a little compression? Any advice helps this is my first motor build

 

This is the stock ring pack for most Vortec 350 motors. I put fresh rings and bearings in a 1996 Vortec 350 and used this ring pack. (Only applies to stock pistons. Most replacement pistons use standard rings, not metric).
snaptube vidmate

 

Flat top pistons are always best for performance, however longer duration cams may require valve reliefs to clear them

 

gen3 or gen4 lq4?

 

ALL LQ4's are Gen 3. Gen 4 6.0's have different designations.

 

should have specified gen 3 or gen 4 rods lol
my bad

 

If your keeping stock bore and rods, I'd just go with LQ9 pistons. That is of course if they will clear with the unspecified cam. That could cause issues. You'd have to measure.

 

I just bought a set of LQ9 pistons for gen 4 rods from Ebay.
$269
Decent looking pistons. Complete with rings etc.
Checked the pin in the rod, all good.
The brand is Enginetech



You can also find stock GM pistons pretty cheap. But they don't come with pins or rings. So I suppose on the down low, you could re-use your pins and rings and just buy pistons. You would want to keep the rings in the original cylinder.

 

These fit my 2001 Lq4 really nice after a $300 rip at the machine shop. They came with no rings but with nice pins but the locks where pretty scary but I guess a little wire is all that's needed. The rings are great and cost like $130 and pistons about $250 so there are about a lot of ways to go here, good luck with your decision Op