So last weekend we started up my LQ9 pickup for the first time. It's been 6 months in the making and finally all the work seems to be paying off. I bought an LQ4 engine out of a wrecked 2002 3/4 ton pickup, tore it down, installed an LQ9 rotating assembly, rebuilt, and installed in my 95 pickup. I also bought a junkyard 4L80e trans and rebuilt that with a level 10 performance friction kit and transgo shift kit. The big challenge was integrating the new engine management system with my old truck, which seems to have been successful too. All systems so far are working besides the cruise control which needs a longer cable, and the airbag warning light is on, presumably because the old PCM is missing. I'll get around to fixing both of those problems eventually. There was a small problem with an injector plug not being seated fully that caused a dead cylinder, and a "small" problem of no reverse in the transmission that was caused by me forgetting to install one of the transgo components. Both of those are fixed now and the truck drives. However, I don't have the front exhaust pipes on yet, so I can't really drive it anywhere. Here is a startup video and two pictures, will get some better ones later today.
LQ9 startup - 3MB
Patrick