Iron LS3?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Iron LS3? So I want to repower my 2002 camaro.....
I asked my engine guy if we could just buy an LS3 crate engine and change the reluctor wheel to 24....bla bla and fire it up.
He said sure we could do it....with that and other changes as well.
He proposed a different alternative though....to save money and make more power.
He said we could bore an LQ9 block and and stuff an LS3 rotating assembly inside.....he said the blocks are cheap, the rods and pistons are also cheap and then put in a nice cam and ported LS3 heads would make 470-500RWHP.
Its a street car...not gonna be boosted sprayed or even raced....except for freeway onramps......
He says he could do the whole thing for like $3500 which is almost half the cost of the LS3 crate.....
What do you guys think.....can this guy technically do this?
Thanks
I asked my engine guy if we could just buy an LS3 crate engine and change the reluctor wheel to 24....bla bla and fire it up.
He said sure we could do it....with that and other changes as well.
He proposed a different alternative though....to save money and make more power.
He said we could bore an LQ9 block and and stuff an LS3 rotating assembly inside.....he said the blocks are cheap, the rods and pistons are also cheap and then put in a nice cam and ported LS3 heads would make 470-500RWHP.
Its a street car...not gonna be boosted sprayed or even raced....except for freeway onramps......
He says he could do the whole thing for like $3500 which is almost half the cost of the LS3 crate.....
What do you guys think.....can this guy technically do this?
Thanks
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
I did a search on "LQ9 max bore" and think I found my answer....
There were some "naysayers" in the posts but it most said it had been done and the engines were fine......(bore wasn't too severe)
Thats really cheap power.
There were some "naysayers" in the posts but it most said it had been done and the engines were fine......(bore wasn't too severe)
Thats really cheap power.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
What state is it in now?
Still 241 heads?
Still same LS1 manifold?
Any changes to the power numbers?
Thx
PS. thats a lot of miles in ?14 months. You might need a new seat too.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
I think its worth a go.....
Mine is a street car in need of more power.
I think adding an supercharger is just as much weight.
Part of the objective is to build a nice street car for under $10K.
I bought the 02 Z28 off craigslist for $2K, but it needs a trans and rear brakes....barely got it home. Other than that the car is clean.
I bought a set of Z06 spyders with tires off craigslist for $800.
Rear rotors from Amazon for $26 per side.
LQ9+LS3 internals+LS3 ported heads= good power for low $$.
The challenge is the trans.....hard to select....its an 4L60e
Got a mobile mech to slam in 3.73 Yukon gears for $300.
We'll see I guess....but I'm on track to stay under budget....
Wanna buy some 16" wheels?
Mine is a street car in need of more power.
I think adding an supercharger is just as much weight.
Part of the objective is to build a nice street car for under $10K.
I bought the 02 Z28 off craigslist for $2K, but it needs a trans and rear brakes....barely got it home. Other than that the car is clean.
I bought a set of Z06 spyders with tires off craigslist for $800.
Rear rotors from Amazon for $26 per side.
LQ9+LS3 internals+LS3 ported heads= good power for low $$.
The challenge is the trans.....hard to select....its an 4L60e
Got a mobile mech to slam in 3.73 Yukon gears for $300.
We'll see I guess....but I'm on track to stay under budget....
Wanna buy some 16" wheels?
Last edited by fasteddy; May 12, 2013 at 05:57 PM.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
4L80s need all sorts of conversion dohickies though.....would rather stay with the 60.
There are some "mass" rebuilders close to me in Riverside....
They can do a rebuilt unit installed with converter for $900 with a 2 year warranty.
Then there is a performance trans shop about 45 mins away that will do the bla bla build (Similar to Jakes stage 1) for $2100 installed....12 month warranty.
Thats a big difference. Its kinda like rolling dice.
The lady I bought my car from had 2 estimates from Trans shops for $2800 and $3200....which is why she just sold the car. But she kept it in her garage for the past 10 years which is why the thing is so clean.
There are some "mass" rebuilders close to me in Riverside....
They can do a rebuilt unit installed with converter for $900 with a 2 year warranty.
Then there is a performance trans shop about 45 mins away that will do the bla bla build (Similar to Jakes stage 1) for $2100 installed....12 month warranty.
Thats a big difference. Its kinda like rolling dice.
The lady I bought my car from had 2 estimates from Trans shops for $2800 and $3200....which is why she just sold the car. But she kept it in her garage for the past 10 years which is why the thing is so clean.
And yes, it's a lot of miles. I drive it a lot, usually about 60 miles on weekdays.
Absolutely. With the extra displacement, you can make enough power to offset the increase in weight, and make the power/weight ratio even better.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Thanks for the update and good to know the reliability is there.
While I was poking around through Ebay I found this.
Iron LS3 from Thompson.....fairly good price.
I guess its not that uncommon after all.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-ls3-lsx-based-iron-376ci-Thompson-Motorsports-TMS-coated-flat-top-pistons-/271122847340?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f202e566c&vxp=mtr
While I was poking around through Ebay I found this.
Iron LS3 from Thompson.....fairly good price.
I guess its not that uncommon after all.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-ls3-lsx-based-iron-376ci-Thompson-Motorsports-TMS-coated-flat-top-pistons-/271122847340?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f202e566c&vxp=mtr
We do make and sell them, The walls are thin and are sold as N/A motors. I have customers who are using them with small nitrous but really very small is recommended. You must make sure that you are taking material in the right places, It is very easy with GM blocks to bore off center as that is how most of them come.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
We do make and sell them, The walls are thin and are sold as N/A motors. I have customers who are using them with small nitrous but really very small is recommended. You must make sure that you are taking material in the right places, It is very easy with GM blocks to bore off center as that is how most of them come.
Any warranty with that?
Short block 6.0L LQ9
Hypereutectic pistons and TMS rings 4.065" flat top piston
Professional in house TMS machine work
TMS CNC ported LS3 heads
Dual valve springs good to .650"
Titanium retainers and chromoly spring locators
TMS 12pt head studs
GM MLS head gaskets
Melling select high pressure oil pump
Chromoly pushrods
GM rockers and pedistols
ls7 lifters
ls2 timing chain
ls2 cam sprocket
lifter trey set ls2
TMS Custom ground cam
$5669 with 90 day warranty
OR
$6769 with FORGED H-BEAM RODS/ARP rod bolts AND Diamond piston with a 1 YEAR warranty.
Hypereutectic pistons and TMS rings 4.065" flat top piston
Professional in house TMS machine work
TMS CNC ported LS3 heads
Dual valve springs good to .650"
Titanium retainers and chromoly spring locators
TMS 12pt head studs
GM MLS head gaskets
Melling select high pressure oil pump
Chromoly pushrods
GM rockers and pedistols
ls7 lifters
ls2 timing chain
ls2 cam sprocket
lifter trey set ls2
TMS Custom ground cam
$5669 with 90 day warranty
OR
$6769 with FORGED H-BEAM RODS/ARP rod bolts AND Diamond piston with a 1 YEAR warranty.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 177
From: ELSA, South TEXAS (956) 802-7700
Short block 6.0L LQ9
Hypereutectic pistons and TMS rings 4.065" flat top piston
Professional in house TMS machine work
TMS CNC ported LS3 heads
Dual valve springs good to .650"
Titanium retainers and chromoly spring locators
TMS 12pt head studs
GM MLS head gaskets
Melling select high pressure oil pump
Chromoly pushrods
GM rockers and pedistols
ls7 lifters
ls2 timing chain
ls2 cam sprocket
lifter trey set ls2
TMS Custom ground cam
$5669 with 90 day warranty
OR
$6769 with FORGED H-BEAM RODS/ARP rod bolts AND Diamond piston with a 1 YEAR warranty.
Hypereutectic pistons and TMS rings 4.065" flat top piston
Professional in house TMS machine work
TMS CNC ported LS3 heads
Dual valve springs good to .650"
Titanium retainers and chromoly spring locators
TMS 12pt head studs
GM MLS head gaskets
Melling select high pressure oil pump
Chromoly pushrods
GM rockers and pedistols
ls7 lifters
ls2 timing chain
ls2 cam sprocket
lifter trey set ls2
TMS Custom ground cam
$5669 with 90 day warranty
OR
$6769 with FORGED H-BEAM RODS/ARP rod bolts AND Diamond piston with a 1 YEAR warranty.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Short block 6.0L LQ9
Hypereutectic pistons and TMS rings 4.065" flat top piston
Professional in house TMS machine work
TMS CNC ported LS3 heads
Dual valve springs good to .650"
Titanium retainers and chromoly spring locators
TMS 12pt head studs
GM MLS head gaskets
Melling select high pressure oil pump
Chromoly pushrods
GM rockers and pedistols
ls7 lifters
ls2 timing chain
ls2 cam sprocket
lifter trey set ls2
TMS Custom ground cam
$5669 with 90 day warranty
OR
$6769 with FORGED H-BEAM RODS/ARP rod bolts AND Diamond piston with a 1 YEAR warranty.
Hypereutectic pistons and TMS rings 4.065" flat top piston
Professional in house TMS machine work
TMS CNC ported LS3 heads
Dual valve springs good to .650"
Titanium retainers and chromoly spring locators
TMS 12pt head studs
GM MLS head gaskets
Melling select high pressure oil pump
Chromoly pushrods
GM rockers and pedistols
ls7 lifters
ls2 timing chain
ls2 cam sprocket
lifter trey set ls2
TMS Custom ground cam
$5669 with 90 day warranty
OR
$6769 with FORGED H-BEAM RODS/ARP rod bolts AND Diamond piston with a 1 YEAR warranty.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 2
From: windsor, ont. canada - Home of the fastest LT1 6spd.
We do make and sell them, The walls are thin and are sold as N/A motors. I have customers who are using them with small nitrous but really very small is recommended. You must make sure that you are taking material in the right places, It is very easy with GM blocks to bore off center as that is how most of them come.
i am looking at doing a turbo, and was wondering which iron ls block was the one to go with, is the lq4 a better choice for a turbo build?
thanks!!!