In search of an lq4
02-03-2011 | 05:53 PM
#1
In search of an lq4 Well I've had it up to here with the lt1 in my 96 impala and I want to spice things up with a nice motor swap, and I've been leaning dowager the lq4 as a base platform to build from. I'm feeling some boost in the near future and I know I want a somewhat low mileage ( I'll go as high as 60-70 thou, maybe more if the price is right) but I want to know what year to look at and what the best donor is for the swap. I'd like to keep it manual tb if possible, so where do I begin my search?
Thankyou
JB
Thankyou
JB
02-03-2011 | 06:08 PM
#2
LQ4
The Vortec 6000, or LQ4, is a V8 truck engine. It is a bored version of the Vortec 5300. Displacement is 6.0 L (≈366 cu in) from 101.6 mm bore and 92 mm stroke. It is an iron/aluminum (2000 model year engines had cast iron heads) design and produces 300 horsepower (220 kW) to 325 horsepower (242 kW) and 360 lb·ft (488 N·m) to 370 lb·ft (502 N·m). LQ4s are built in Romulus, Michigan and Silao, Mexico.
LQ4 applications:
Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Pickup, 3500 Pickup, Crew Cab, and Chassis Cab/GMC Sierra 2500 HD Pickup and Crew Cab, C3, Denali, and 3500 Pickup and Chassis Cab, 1500HD Crew Cab
Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL Denali
Hummer H2 SUT
GMC Yukon Denali
LQ9
The Vortec HO 6000 or VortecMAX is a special high-output version of the Vortec 6000 V8 truck engine originally designed for Cadillac. This engine was introduced in other truck lines as VortecMAX for 2006. It features high-compression (10:1) flat-top pistons for an extra 10 hp (7.5 kW) and 10 ft·lbf (14 N·m), bringing output to 345 hp (257 kW) and 380 ft·lb (515 N·m). LQ9s are built only in Romulus, Michigan. GM also listed it as based on LS architecture.[1]
LQ9 Applications:
2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade
2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade EXT
2003-2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2003-2007 Chevrolet Silverado SS
2004-2005 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Vortec HO Edition Only [Badging on truck]
2006-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra VortecMAX Option
The 99-00 6.0L had the longer rear main flange on the crank. It was 1.25 inches thick. They also came with Iron Heads. in 01- up the swithched to the standard more common crank flange thickness which measures .857 at the rear main flange area. They used a spacer between the crank flange and fly wheel to compensate for the extra thickness need to get the fly wheel to bolt up with the 4L80E Torque converter. As a result the Bolts are also longer... 01 6.0L was also the first year for the Aluminum Heads on the 6.0L
The camshaft is the same in the LQ4 and LQ9. It has same part number on it.... The diffrence is the pistons and rods... The LQ4 which is pretty standard for the truck line up has a slight dish in it while the LQ9 has a flat top piston... The LQ9 is ussually found in the High end caddy SUV, SS Truck, and the VHO optioned crew cabs
Now in the first designLQ9 piston I believe they used a standard LS1 rod with a pressed pin. They Later (04 LQ9) switched to the beffier LS2 rod with a Floating pin flat top piston.
Yes the LQ9 piston Is the same flat top piston used in the LS2. They have a floating Pin. The conecting rods are also the same.
The difference In power comes from the added compression and the factory programing. The LQ9 is tuned for more performance with the bump in compression.
Factory camshaft part numbers
The 99-00 LQ4 6.0L used the 12560967 - this is also used in the 5.3L
The 01-up LQ4 6.0L used the 12561721
The 02-up LQ9 6.0L also used the 12561721
Factory Camshaft specs are:
12560967 191/190 duration at .050 0.457/0.466 lift on a 114 Lobe center
12561721 196/207 duration at .050 0.467/0.479 lift on a 116 Lobe center
HotRod mag has done a supercharger on the LQ4. They got 700hp with a stock bottom end. You can change the heads to the GM L92's they say their the best stock heads for $800
99-00 LQ4s have cast iron heads. Later ones have aluminum heads, the same head as the LQ9.
LQ4s have a 9 something compression ratio; LQ9s have a 10 something compression ratio.
LQ9/late LQ4 heads have the same ports and valves as LS6 engines. They have slightly bigger combustion chambers. The LS6 has about the same compression ratio as an LQ9, the pistons are different. LS6 heads will get you over 11:1 on an LQ9, which is probably too much for the street.
As already said, the LS6 manifold is a direct fit and worth some power, but only at the high end. Low end power is very close to the same between LS6 and LQ9. The LQ9's truck manifold should actually make a little more torque down low.
LQ4 and LQ9 have iron blocks.
The Vortec 6000, or LQ4, is a V8 truck engine. It is a bored version of the Vortec 5300. Displacement is 6.0 L (≈366 cu in) from 101.6 mm bore and 92 mm stroke. It is an iron/aluminum (2000 model year engines had cast iron heads) design and produces 300 horsepower (220 kW) to 325 horsepower (242 kW) and 360 lb·ft (488 N·m) to 370 lb·ft (502 N·m). LQ4s are built in Romulus, Michigan and Silao, Mexico.
LQ4 applications:
Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Pickup, 3500 Pickup, Crew Cab, and Chassis Cab/GMC Sierra 2500 HD Pickup and Crew Cab, C3, Denali, and 3500 Pickup and Chassis Cab, 1500HD Crew Cab
Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL Denali
Hummer H2 SUT
GMC Yukon Denali
LQ9
The Vortec HO 6000 or VortecMAX is a special high-output version of the Vortec 6000 V8 truck engine originally designed for Cadillac. This engine was introduced in other truck lines as VortecMAX for 2006. It features high-compression (10:1) flat-top pistons for an extra 10 hp (7.5 kW) and 10 ft·lbf (14 N·m), bringing output to 345 hp (257 kW) and 380 ft·lb (515 N·m). LQ9s are built only in Romulus, Michigan. GM also listed it as based on LS architecture.[1]
LQ9 Applications:
2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade
2002-2006 Cadillac Escalade EXT
2003-2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2003-2007 Chevrolet Silverado SS
2004-2005 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Vortec HO Edition Only [Badging on truck]
2006-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra VortecMAX Option
The 99-00 6.0L had the longer rear main flange on the crank. It was 1.25 inches thick. They also came with Iron Heads. in 01- up the swithched to the standard more common crank flange thickness which measures .857 at the rear main flange area. They used a spacer between the crank flange and fly wheel to compensate for the extra thickness need to get the fly wheel to bolt up with the 4L80E Torque converter. As a result the Bolts are also longer... 01 6.0L was also the first year for the Aluminum Heads on the 6.0L
The camshaft is the same in the LQ4 and LQ9. It has same part number on it.... The diffrence is the pistons and rods... The LQ4 which is pretty standard for the truck line up has a slight dish in it while the LQ9 has a flat top piston... The LQ9 is ussually found in the High end caddy SUV, SS Truck, and the VHO optioned crew cabs
Now in the first designLQ9 piston I believe they used a standard LS1 rod with a pressed pin. They Later (04 LQ9) switched to the beffier LS2 rod with a Floating pin flat top piston.
Yes the LQ9 piston Is the same flat top piston used in the LS2. They have a floating Pin. The conecting rods are also the same.
The difference In power comes from the added compression and the factory programing. The LQ9 is tuned for more performance with the bump in compression.
Factory camshaft part numbers
The 99-00 LQ4 6.0L used the 12560967 - this is also used in the 5.3L
The 01-up LQ4 6.0L used the 12561721
The 02-up LQ9 6.0L also used the 12561721
Factory Camshaft specs are:
12560967 191/190 duration at .050 0.457/0.466 lift on a 114 Lobe center
12561721 196/207 duration at .050 0.467/0.479 lift on a 116 Lobe center
HotRod mag has done a supercharger on the LQ4. They got 700hp with a stock bottom end. You can change the heads to the GM L92's they say their the best stock heads for $800
99-00 LQ4s have cast iron heads. Later ones have aluminum heads, the same head as the LQ9.
LQ4s have a 9 something compression ratio; LQ9s have a 10 something compression ratio.
LQ9/late LQ4 heads have the same ports and valves as LS6 engines. They have slightly bigger combustion chambers. The LS6 has about the same compression ratio as an LQ9, the pistons are different. LS6 heads will get you over 11:1 on an LQ9, which is probably too much for the street.
As already said, the LS6 manifold is a direct fit and worth some power, but only at the high end. Low end power is very close to the same between LS6 and LQ9. The LQ9's truck manifold should actually make a little more torque down low.
LQ4 and LQ9 have iron blocks.
Last edited by ucanthangwme; 02-03-2011 at 06:13 PM.
