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Thread: Picked up an LQ4

  1. #1

    Picked up an LQ4

    Well I'm happy to report that I've joined the ranks of LSx owners I picked up an LQ4 that is complete from intake manifold to oil pan (minus accessories) for $350.... I'm planning on completely tearing down and rebuilding it, and collecting the other odds and ends ( as time and money allow... Then, I'll be dropping the engine into my 90 RCSB OBS... The TBI 350 will continue to provide motorvation until I'm finally ready to yank that SBC and drop the 6.0 in it's rightful place.

    Thoughts?
    1990 RCSB|T56|14bolt|4.88|TrueTrac|Cam|.060 over|ported_polished|Headers|3" duals, "H"|E-fan|Ult TBI|2"/2" drop|DIY tune|6lug swap|16x8 AR-Atlas

    Slowly gathering parts for LQ4 swap

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    san antonio TX
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    1,365
    nice what are you plans for the motor? building a stroker?
    1982 c10 lsx swaped, NP tuned, true duals, 4:11s, trutrac, e-fans, CAI

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Humble/Houston TX
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    2,586
    you must be pretty strong to pick up a lq4 longblock!

    old mod list: H/C/I/N/E/G 408
    new mod list: 5.3, gears/posi, mufler and tune : (

  4. #4
    The plans are to just tear down and look over everything and make sure all the hard parts are good and reusable. The engine looks great from what I've seen so far. I would like to just replace the bearings and rings and reuse the stock rotating assembly. I've been looking around at rebuild kits (rings, gaskets, bearings) for these engines and well they're quite a bit more expensive than what I'm used too.

    Which by the way, since I'm new to this LSx thing..... If anyone could recommend places that sell engine kits for these that are affordable, I'd appreciate it. Or at least more affordable than the place I've found so far which is RPMmachine.com

    If a stroker ends up being not much more expensive than just a ring/bearing/gasket set then I'll probably go for a stroker.

    The guys at the yard said it ran fine when pulled, but, it smoked a little. Based upon what I've seen so far, it looks like the valve seals were at fault more than anything for the oil control issue. The one head I've removed so far is pretty chocked w/ carbon and soot in the ports. The cylinder bores look like they would clean up no problem with just a light hone.

    I made sure to get an 01+ LQ4 since I'll probably be using my current T56 and converting it to an LSx style transmission. I guess 01+ is when GM started using the common LSx crank flange but WITH a spacer to accommodate the 4L80 that was behind it from the factory.

    Yeah I'm pretty strong!!

    Anywhichways enough of my rambling here's some piccage.


    The suspect in question


    Intake, rails/injectors, coils, valve covers, manifolds, etc.


    317s. Pretty good heads from what I've read and heard.




    A peek inside the block


    bore pic


    6 liters of fury




    I might add that this is my first ever aluminum headed engine and when I first pulled the head off I was amazed at how light it was. I mean I knew it would obviously be pretty light compared to the cast iron heads I'm used to but wow.
    Last edited by 90'rado; 01-13-2011 at 08:20 PM.
    1990 RCSB|T56|14bolt|4.88|TrueTrac|Cam|.060 over|ported_polished|Headers|3" duals, "H"|E-fan|Ult TBI|2"/2" drop|DIY tune|6lug swap|16x8 AR-Atlas

    Slowly gathering parts for LQ4 swap

  5. #5
    Since bolting the LQ4 to the engine stand I've taken the oil-pan off to have a look at the bottom end. It looks great. It looks as if there are only 10,000 miles on it.... Also, I couldn't get a pic with enough detail to show the bores up close, but there is STILL a slight crosshatch pattern visible in ALL of the bores. There are no ridges in the bores either. Since the engine looks as good as it does I've changed my plans to just replacing the head-gaskets, get some reusable ARP head bolts or maybe studs, a cam, and headers.

    I will fully rebuild the heads and probably do another DIY port and polish plus & valve job.

    I'm going to snap the head back on temporarily and do a leakdown test just as soon as I can get or make the tool to do so. With the cylinder bank parallel to the ground, I tested the ring seal by pouring a bit of motor-oil into the bores to see if it would leak past the rings over the course of several days, didn't lose any.



    Last edited by 90'rado; 01-30-2011 at 06:46 PM.
    1990 RCSB|T56|14bolt|4.88|TrueTrac|Cam|.060 over|ported_polished|Headers|3" duals, "H"|E-fan|Ult TBI|2"/2" drop|DIY tune|6lug swap|16x8 AR-Atlas

    Slowly gathering parts for LQ4 swap

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Victoria, TX
    Posts
    326
    Gonna have to follow your progress myself, just relized by 91' is done, time for a 6.0l. Only difference is mine has a turbo 350 behind it instead of the t56.

    Take lots of pics!


    2011 4x4 6.2 Silverado ltz 6" fabtech lift 20" XD spy 35" nitto mud grappler

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Tuscaloosa, AL
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    256
    Quote Originally Posted by TXsilverado View Post
    you must be pretty strong to pick up a lq4 longblock!
    No kidding! I thought I was doing well putting a 4l80e on my shoulder, but this guy has me beat!

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Sport91
    Gonna have to follow your progress myself, just relized by 91' is done, time for a 6.0l. Only difference is mine has a turbo 350 behind it instead of the t56.

    Take lots of pics!
    Cool. Can't go wrong with a 6.0 in an OBS.



    Quote Originally Posted by Atomic
    No kidding! I thought I was doing well putting a 4l80e on my shoulder, but this guy has me beat!

    Since you missed the point of my thread, and apparently know very little about cars, you can always run your mouth... You're lettin' that bulldog mouth overload that puppy dog ass.
    1990 RCSB|T56|14bolt|4.88|TrueTrac|Cam|.060 over|ported_polished|Headers|3" duals, "H"|E-fan|Ult TBI|2"/2" drop|DIY tune|6lug swap|16x8 AR-Atlas

    Slowly gathering parts for LQ4 swap

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    West Texas
    Posts
    406
    Sounds like a good set up! Hope ya get er running good.
    RUN WAT U BRUNG!!!!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    Posts
    256
    Since you missed the point of my thread, and apparently know very little about cars, you can always run your mouth... You're lettin' that bulldog mouth overload that puppy dog ass.
    Easy killer. I know the internet is rough place, but try not to get your feelings hurt so easily. Congrats on the engine, you're only the 1,235,546th person to do this swap.

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