Lq4 build
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Ontario canada
Lq4 build Hey everyone, tried to find my original post for a long time ago but can’t.
so, I have a 1970 Monte Carlo, I have a 2004 lq4 317 heads bone stock right now, 4l80e for a trans and 12 bolt 243 rear gears with a posi.
i want to try and get as much out of this as I can safely, so what can I do, other than a cam swap, iam looking at an ls6 intake, other than that, what’s everyone’s thoughts, I will be beating on this thing
thanks, Chris
so, I have a 1970 Monte Carlo, I have a 2004 lq4 317 heads bone stock right now, 4l80e for a trans and 12 bolt 243 rear gears with a posi.
i want to try and get as much out of this as I can safely, so what can I do, other than a cam swap, iam looking at an ls6 intake, other than that, what’s everyone’s thoughts, I will be beating on this thing
thanks, Chris
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2017
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The truck intake is probably better than the LS6. Only convenient one that would be an improvement would be the TBSS, and that's not even by all that much, without LOTS of other things first.
What gears? Converter? Exhaust? I can't honestly believe you'd leave the 2.43s in it?
What gears? Converter? Exhaust? I can't honestly believe you'd leave the 2.43s in it?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Ontario canada
No I know the 243’s will not be good, I need to figure out what 12 bolt diff I have in order to know what gears I can do, I know a lot of people go right to 4.11 but I was thinking more like 373
converter anything between 3-3500 2.5 header back exhaust, most likely shorty speed engineering headers
converter anything between 3-3500 2.5 header back exhaust, most likely shorty speed engineering headers
No I know the 243’s will not be good, I need to figure out what 12 bolt diff I have in order to know what gears I can do, I know a lot of people go right to 4.11 but I was thinking more like 373
converter anything between 3-3500 2.5 header back exhaust, most likely shorty speed engineering headers
converter anything between 3-3500 2.5 header back exhaust, most likely shorty speed engineering headers
How much money you got?? That will determine how much you can get out of it...
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Ontario canada
The rear gear will not have nearly as much effect as a good torque converter will, so I would just go with a 3.73 if highway cruising is gonna be a common thing unless your rear tires are gonna be more than 28".
If money isnt a problem then the sky is the limit.... everyone has a budget so
Best bang for the buck would be
$3000-4000
flat top pistons
L92/Ls3 topend
so something like the summit 8707 cam
Pushrods and valvesprings
your looking at 500+Hp at the flywheel Cost will depend on how patient you are on getting good deals but
run a good 3600+ stall and enjoy!
Otherwise the sky is the limit, 408 stroker, aftermarket heads, fast intake, ect ect ect ect.... at that point you could just buy a aluminum 427 from texas speed....
If money isnt a problem then the sky is the limit.... everyone has a budget so
Best bang for the buck would be
$3000-4000
flat top pistons
L92/Ls3 topend
so something like the summit 8707 cam
Pushrods and valvesprings
your looking at 500+Hp at the flywheel Cost will depend on how patient you are on getting good deals but
run a good 3600+ stall and enjoy!
Otherwise the sky is the limit, 408 stroker, aftermarket heads, fast intake, ect ect ect ect.... at that point you could just buy a aluminum 427 from texas speed....
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Ontario canada
The rear gear will not have nearly as much effect as a good torque converter will, so I would just go with a 3.73 if highway cruising is gonna be a common thing unless your rear tires are gonna be more than 28".
If money isnt a problem then the sky is the limit.... everyone has a budget so
Best bang for the buck would be
$3000-4000
flat top pistons
L92/Ls3 topend
so something like the summit 8707 cam
Pushrods and valvesprings
your looking at 500+Hp at the flywheel Cost will depend on how patient you are on getting good deals but
run a good 3600+ stall and enjoy!
Otherwise the sky is the limit, 408 stroker, aftermarket heads, fast intake, ect ect ect ect.... at that point you could just buy a aluminum 427 from texas speed....
If money isnt a problem then the sky is the limit.... everyone has a budget so
Best bang for the buck would be
$3000-4000
flat top pistons
L92/Ls3 topend
so something like the summit 8707 cam
Pushrods and valvesprings
your looking at 500+Hp at the flywheel Cost will depend on how patient you are on getting good deals but
run a good 3600+ stall and enjoy!
Otherwise the sky is the limit, 408 stroker, aftermarket heads, fast intake, ect ect ect ect.... at that point you could just buy a aluminum 427 from texas speed....
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Not a bad deal, I would still do flat top pistons cause there cheap and will bump your compression on up to 11:1 with the 243 heads. Or don’t tout how the bottom end and slap a turbo on it
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Verdad Gallardo Then all you need now is a decent cam, and valve springs, and gaskets of course.
Even with the dish pistons if I remember right you will be about 10:4-1 compression witch is good enough for any decent street motor.
Even with the dish pistons if I remember right you will be about 10:4-1 compression witch is good enough for any decent street motor.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
The rear gear will not have nearly as much effect as a good torque converter will, so I would just go with a 3.73 if highway cruising is gonna be a common thing unless your rear tires are gonna be more than 28".
If money isnt a problem then the sky is the limit.... everyone has a budget so
Best bang for the buck would be
$3000-4000
flat top pistons
L92/Ls3 topend
so something like the summit 8707 cam
Pushrods and valvesprings
your looking at 500+Hp at the flywheel Cost will depend on how patient you are on getting good deals but
run a good 3600+ stall and enjoy!
Otherwise the sky is the limit, 408 stroker, aftermarket heads, fast intake, ect ect ect ect.... at that point you could just buy a aluminum 427 from texas speed....
If money isnt a problem then the sky is the limit.... everyone has a budget so
Best bang for the buck would be
$3000-4000
flat top pistons
L92/Ls3 topend
so something like the summit 8707 cam
Pushrods and valvesprings
your looking at 500+Hp at the flywheel Cost will depend on how patient you are on getting good deals but
run a good 3600+ stall and enjoy!
Otherwise the sky is the limit, 408 stroker, aftermarket heads, fast intake, ect ect ect ect.... at that point you could just buy a aluminum 427 from texas speed....
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Ontario canada
So I just picked up the heads, one thing I didn’t get was push rods, when I do go ahead and order a cam do most mild cams reuse the push rods? I know they guy I bought it off of has the push rods still, so I can scoop those up, but will they work?
G Atsma, is 10.07:1 still a decent street compression?
For the stall I would love to get everyone’s opinion, like I said, it will be street driven but I would like to be able to hit the highway for car meets/cruises, so I’d like to be able to cruise decently
G Atsma, is 10.07:1 still a decent street compression?
For the stall I would love to get everyone’s opinion, like I said, it will be street driven but I would like to be able to hit the highway for car meets/cruises, so I’d like to be able to cruise decently
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,308
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From: Central Cal.
And I recalculated it comes out around 10.1:1 with stock .051 head gasket, you can use the WS6 store gaskets witch are .045 and get a small bump to around 10.25:1 (not exact)
anyways Its still decent for a street motor, the flat tops will get you about 11:1 though....
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Ontario canada
Ok guys, so here’s where iam at, iam going to leave the bottom end stock (for the time being) I’ve got the 243’s, iam going to have my machine shop give them a once over, most likely not going to mil at this time. What I need to know,
what head gasket should I run?
what trunion kit do you recommend?
i was quoted by BTR stage 4 truck cam and their beehive springs, will the push rods from a 5.3 (where the heads came from) work? Or should I stick with my lq4 push rods?
what lifters to run?
what stall converter to run
what head gasket should I run?
what trunion kit do you recommend?
i was quoted by BTR stage 4 truck cam and their beehive springs, will the push rods from a 5.3 (where the heads came from) work? Or should I stick with my lq4 push rods?
what lifters to run?
what stall converter to run
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,308
Likes: 3,625
From: Central Cal.
Q- Which head gasket should I run? A- How much compression do you want?
Q- Which trunnion kit do you recommend? A- CHE
Q- Will the push rods from a 5.3 (where the heads came from) work? A- All stock 5.3 and LQ4 pushrods are the same
Q- Which stall converter to run? A- Where is your power band?
Q- Which trunnion kit do you recommend? A- CHE
Q- Will the push rods from a 5.3 (where the heads came from) work? A- All stock 5.3 and LQ4 pushrods are the same
Q- Which stall converter to run? A- Where is your power band?
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 663
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From: South Carolina
The stall recommendation is in the cams description 2800 - 3200
CHE Precision Trunnion Kit
Most run the LS7 lifters or the Morel 6504
"Baseline" pushrod length without machine work, stock head gasket thickness, camshaft less than .600" lift is 7.4" That said it's always best to measure. If the used pushrods are 7.4" and can be had for a good price that may be a good option. New pushrods (non custom) run about $100 a set. If you buy new Summit ships with a free shipping return label if you need to return for a different length, unused of course.
CHE Precision Trunnion Kit
Most run the LS7 lifters or the Morel 6504
"Baseline" pushrod length without machine work, stock head gasket thickness, camshaft less than .600" lift is 7.4" That said it's always best to measure. If the used pushrods are 7.4" and can be had for a good price that may be a good option. New pushrods (non custom) run about $100 a set. If you buy new Summit ships with a free shipping return label if you need to return for a different length, unused of course.
