Aluminum vs. iron block switch?
02-01-2016, 03:04 PM
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Aluminum vs. iron block switch? My goal is a 6.0 Gen IV all-aluminum, L92 type heads, planning on replacing pistons and rods for turbo use.
Can't find an L76 etc.
If I begin with a (cheaper, easier to find) 6.0 Gen IV iron block truck engine, can I re-assemble all the parts into a Gen IV aluminum block? Are there any hardware, plumbing, accessory bits that's won't transfer over?
Any other hints that come to mind: thanks in advance.
I'm a MoPar guy from 1970, this is all new to me!
Can't find an L76 etc.
If I begin with a (cheaper, easier to find) 6.0 Gen IV iron block truck engine, can I re-assemble all the parts into a Gen IV aluminum block? Are there any hardware, plumbing, accessory bits that's won't transfer over?
Any other hints that come to mind: thanks in advance.
I'm a MoPar guy from 1970, this is all new to me! 
02-03-2016, 09:23 AM
#4
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Hi I'm new to ls1tech, but when I seen KCS has a 440ci Lq9 I had to join to ask how do you get a Lq9 to come out to 440 cubic inches? I would like to purchase a iron block and duplicate that.
02-03-2016, 09:41 AM
#5
Staging Lane
Gen three to gen four What about swapping over from gen three iron block to gen four alum? I want to use my same stroker kit in alum block. Crank and can sensors? Etc?
Its all already there. 
02-03-2016, 01:33 PM
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I wonder why he chose that route being that aluminum is lighter and blocks are relatively cheap. I would think it would cost a lot more to machine iron versus aluminum. I thought it was built using a standard Lq9 block.
02-03-2016, 01:42 PM
#9
My 440ci LQ9 is still in the works, but I'm using a 4.250" stroke crank in a LQ9 block that's been bored 4.060" and DOES NOT have Darton sleeves. The cylinders are still the stock 5.5x" length.
It's tricky to stuff that much stroke into a standard deck block, especially with stock length cylinders, but it's doable. I have a link to my build thread in my sig which you can click on. I'll be documenting every step on how it's done in that thread so we don't derail this one.
02-03-2016, 01:46 PM
#10
The blocks have a few differences which are well documented throughout this site. The rotating assembly will swap right over, but like you mentioned, some of the sensors are located in different spots so a few changes need to be made. I believe TSP and/or Scoggin Dickey sell complete comversion kits.