lq9 block q's
 

I was getting ready to order some forged pistons and rods for my ls1 block, but figured why not step up to a 6.0 motor since the iron blocks are only 700 brand new... my question is, will a 5.3 head bolt up to that block? I have the set of heads already... they are milled .030 but i'm going to buy a dish piston so the compression won't be insanely high... i'm assuming if the 5.3 heads will bolt up the ls6 manifold will also? i don't plan on staying with it i just plan on using it to get the motor running and the switching to a the fast.... Also will any ls1 cam fit in that block? I have an f14 that i was going to use in the ls1 but i'm thinking about going bigger with the cubes... Also will a ls1 crank go into the lq9 block or will what stock crank will work? Also what else will it take to use that block in a ls1 car... I know these are kind of dumb newbie questions, i'm unsure on which block will take which parts... so someone help me out...

everything should swap right over...

Yep, direct swap

ok i thought there was some plug in the front that you had to switch... the ls1 crank will work in the ls2 block?

lq9 isnt an ls2 so the sensor should be the same

so u wanna sell that ls1 block???

I actually already have a ls1 block sitting in the garage that i was going to use, but i figure why not go for the extra cubes for the extra 500 bucks i see people selling them for... whats the difference between a ls2 block and a lq9 block. and i just might sell my ls1 block if i find another to buy...

the ls2 block is aluminum and the lq9 block is cast iron. so you can machine the lq9 block alot cheaper and bigger than you can an ls2 block because of the extensive work needed and then needing to get it re-sleeved.

LQ9 is gen 3 like ur LS1. LS2 is gen 4. u will need front, rear, valley covers, knock sensor harness, cam position sensor harness, for the LS2. maybe a couple things im forgettin

ok, so basically a lq9 is a gen 3 block but a 370... thanks for clearing that stuff up... i think i'll just go with that block to make things simple...

364 is stock Lq9. a .30 over is a 370

will i really see that much more horse power over the 346?

Its also about 80 pounds heavier than an aluminum block. i am going that route b/c you can use L92 heads... dirt cheap and very nasty. SDPC makes a GenIV conversion kit for about $300 bucks that includes all the valley pans and sensor extensions and front timing covers, etc.
Once the used LQ9 that I want wears out then I think a 408 stroker kit would have to happen. That would be worth the 80 pounds.

Oh, if you were to find a used one, the LQ4 has dished pistons and the LQ9 (escallade and SS Silverado) has flat-tops.

thanks for the info!!!

If you have an LS1 car, you don't need to change the pans, covers, sensors when using an LQ4/9. They're the same. The LQx engines aren't Gen IV.

Since your living in cali would smog be a issue?

Just thought I would throw that out there for someone that was looking to drop in a Gen IV.

Oh, and if you were to find a block a junk yard I think its a 2001 and later block that you want. The oiling is much better.

that's why you make friends with ppl at the smog place... hah... and i've been looking around for junk yards and i didn't think it would be hard to find one somewhere and these things are like unheard of around here...