mcmuscle3

iTrader: (10)

Hey guys, I am thinking on swapping a lq4 into my car. My ls1 runs great with 118k on it but i want more. Rather than upgrading everything on this engine I kinda want to go the cast iron block in case i go forced induction in the future. Is a decently built lq4 with heads,cam, intake going to be a waste of money instead of building my ls1?

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

IMO, unless you are going BIG with boost...then maybe.

The LS1 is 100lbs lighter and with a good rotating assembly (which you will need with a serious lq4 as well) will handle a lot of abuse too.

On the other hand you could sell the ls1 as a running engine and make a lot of profit to put into a iron 6.0l. Just depends on what your goals for the car are.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Stock LQ4= relatively low compression(less than 10:1<9.4?>dish pistons) so you would want to mill heads or run smaller chambers to get compression back up to LS1 levels or higher. Otherwise you might not gain much until you went FI. Just something to think about. If you're building the motor that's something you can take care of with combo of pistons, heads, etc. LQ9(10:1) might be a better drop-in now for building later depending on the timeframe of your plans.

I know the .5 or so SCR you lose isn't much but neither is 18 cubic inches that you gain.

mcmuscle3

iTrader: (10)

I really just want something that will handle boost better. based on what I read 6-8 psi is considered safest you want to go on the ls1. By the time I sell my engine, and build a lq4or9... I figured I could have a nice setup.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

LQ4 is good for boost. Just consider that if you build a motor to handle a good bit of boost(>8PSI as you indicated), it likely wont run all that well NA compared to a motor with higher compression. It sounded like you *might* do boost later and you would want to build differently if you don't end up with boost.

HCI2000SS

iTrader: (2)

The LQ4 will be better for boost. As far as n/a power is concerned both can be built equally for that. Although the LQ4 will have the cubes advantage

Fry_

Those numbers sound a bit conservative and also are likely referring to the stock rods and pistons not the block actual LS1 block. With a good tune you could safely make 550hp with a stock LS1 shortblock, at that point you'll have more important things to work about like your transmission and rear diff.