New to the site. Just a few questions

Hey guys, first of all I would like to say this site is great! I've been reading around this site for the last few months to get a good idea of what all is involved with a swap I am planning. I decided to swap in a nice lq4 or lq9 in place of my old and tired 5.7 tbi. The project truck is a 1989 K1500 5 speed. I have a few remaining questions I need help with before I begin. Which Iron block 6.0 should I go with, and how can I properly identify it? There is a local wrecking service with just about everything I need to get. Only thing is, the place is 40 miles away, so I'm trying to keep the trips limited LOL. I will be reworking the harness myself. I plan on leaving just the bare essentials to run the motor. I know I will need to get the new pcm reflashed to operate properly. With that being said lets move on to the drivetrain. I will be running a wimpy nv3500 for now. What flywheel and clutch should I use to retain the trucks nv3500? I know it's a weak tranny but, I will be replacing it with an nv4500 a little further down the road. My next question is about fuel delivery. My tbi currently has 2 braided lines running into the throttle body. Can I just upgrade the pump and plumb those two braided lines into the 6.0's fuel rails? Lastly If using a DBC 2002 motor, what throttle cable should I get? I think the 95-99 vortec trucks are a direct swap, but I can't remember. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Go with an 02 up 6.0. As far as the other ?'s I have no idea. However many on here have done these swaps. There is alot of info on this site. The search button is your friend.

Cool. The yard I'm going to has a DBC 6.0 out of a 2002 2500 w/a complete harness and computer, 90k Mi. for $1000. I'll try and snag it next week.

Is the $1000 including all the accesories?

be sure you get the complete engine with all accessories, belts, hoses, pullies, wiring harness all the way back to the fuse panel and wiring going into the truck, get an OBDII under dash connector since your old one is OBD. Be sure your engine you get has the aluminum heads and not cast iron. I've not done a stick shift trans swap but I've read that you want a flwheel off a 4.8/5.3 engine that was manual. Don't forget to get the flex and pressure plates. Tell the salvage yard that if its still in the vehicle you want all the nuts and bolts they pull off it while removing the engine and to cut no hoses or wires. Dont forget to get the PCM that came with that vehicle if at all possible. As for the fuel lines, yes, you can use them. Replacing the intank pump to a high volume pump is a must do thing. Chances are the fuel rail on the new engine will be a single feed rail requiring you to setup the fuel system with a regulator or you can go to a Corvette internally regulated fuel filter.

98 vortec v8 throttle cable works well but its a little long. The Impala SS has a little shorter cable that works well. I used it on my 92 conversion.

$1000 for the aluminum headed motor, harness and pcm. I'm not sure if he is going to include any brackets or accessories. I'll look into that when I go to check it out. Thanks redheartbeat. I'll try and get as much as I can from the donor truck.

You will also have to run a special pilot bushing for the nv3500. I don't know the part number right off but I can get it for you. You can also use your factory clutch and pressure plate but you have the remove the alignment dowels from the flywheel. You could probably use the clutch from a 4.8 or 6.0 but may have to run a different throw out bearing.

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Originally Posted by 92 6.0

You will also have to run a special pilot bushing for the nv3500. I don't know the part number right off but I can get it for you. You can also use your factory clutch and pressure plate but you have the remove the alignment dowels from the flywheel. You could probably use the clutch from a 4.8 or 6.0 but may have to run a different throw out bearing.

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If you could get that number for me, that would be awesome. I forgot to mention that the nv3500 is from a 1992 k1500 w/a 305. I know that they were changed around a lot in the 90's but I don't think it will make much of a difference. Thanks to you guys I've compiled a list of parts needed to mate the lq9 to the nv3500. Let me know if I'm missing anything.
-A flywheel from a 5.3 or 4.8 truck that had a nv3500, or a pace performance flywheel
-The special pilot bushing mentioned above
-The existing clutch and pressure plate from the truck's current tbi setup.

Thanks again guys. I tried searching the forum for this stuff but haven't been able to find clear answers to a lot of these questions. :thanks:

Ok, I finally got a hold of the guy at the salvage yard. He hasn't been at the yard all week due to weather. I guess he plows too. At any rate, he has everything I'm looking for.

2002 LQ4, 60k mi(thought it was an LQ9 but it's from a 3/4 ton chev)
Wiring harness, fuse block & OBD2 connector
PCM
All accessories and brackets
Radiator hoses
Flywheel from a 6.0 manual (not sure if this will work or not)
$1700 for all of it. Do you guys think this is an ok deal? Or should I keep hunting?

Sounds high to me. We get LQ9s for that price. LQ4 should come with a transmission for $1700. Your area might just be more expensive, though.

IMO, I agree with RED. $1700ish usually includes a tranny. Just my opinion but I did a lot of research while searchin for a donor for my swap.

6.0s are awesome but you can get complete 5.3s for $500ish if you look hard enough. I got my 5.3 L59 complete with harness/ecm/accessories for $412.xx. 6.0s are great but I just thought I would throw that out there in case you start to feel overwhelmed with the costs (like I did).

Wow, I'm hoping to stumble across a deal like that. I have tossed around the idea of doing a 5.3 instead. If the price is right I may do the 5.3. It seems like everyone in my area (Pittsburgh) is getting away with charging outrageous money for the 6.0's. I called a wrecker just across the Ohio border and got a much better price. I'm gonna be patient and see what I can come up with. But I think I will also keep an eye out for a nice 5.3.

Try car-part.com - its like a huge database of salvage yards. Also try LKQonline.com Thats where I found my deal although it seemed like mine was a deal even among their deals.

Thanks for the advice, I now have them both book marked. They have some smokin' deals on 5.3's. I found an actual ls1 for $1200.

Ok, It's been a while but I think I finally found something...well, hopefully. Would I be able to use a ls4 out of a 2006 Monte SS? I have a feeling the answer is no, lol.

Ls4? Isn't that a v6? You can do anything you want. And it might be cool cause no one else would have one but why else? I don't think you'd have much power or torque to move your truck? Just my opionion

It's actually an aluminum block 5.3. 303hp @ 5600 rpm, 323 lb-ft at 4000 rpm. The only two things I am worried about are the bellhousing bolt pattern, and the location of the A/C. Since they were in mostly found in fwd applications, they have a slightly shorter crank, and it uses one super long serpentine belt.

Oh i didn't know they put a v8 in any monte Carlo of recent years. Well it sounds like a winner though. I'm sure you could find some sort of adapter for the bellhousing and then a crank spacer for the short crank. How is the ac mounted? One of Powers' ac relocator kits might work for that. Someone who is more familiar with the ls4 will probably chime in and tell you for sure.

Also, how did they do a fwd v8? Is it mounted sideways?

Yeah, they were also in Impala SS's, and Pontiac GXP's. The AC is mounted low to the right of the crank pulley if you are looking at it from the front. They did mount them sideways in those cars. I was taken by suprise when I discovered those cars had V8's. I heard a super mean sounding Monte go up my road one day and wondered how they got a V6 to sound so bad ass. lol

Transverse mount block is different.

Well there's a guy that'll know so just ask him....(red)

But I think it would be cool cause it would be different. But you might have to fabricate some stuff and become real good friends with your local machine shop lol.

I've been trying to find the doc I read about the LS4 block being made special for the transverse mounting but cannot find it. All I've located is about the crank and flywheel ends of the crank being short and the waterpump is odd. I know I've read about the LS4 block being different for the transverse mounting. :grr:

Yall are getting good deals. Around here they want $2000 to $2500 for an LQ4, complete, but engine only. and then they want like $1400-1800 for a 4l80e. :sigh:

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Originally Posted by 78 Chevyrado

Yall are getting good deals..... and then they want like $1400-1800 for a 4l80e. :sigh:

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LOL i traded an old 700r4 straight across for a 4l80e heh heh

I hope it's not too different. The ls4's are selling for way cheaper than lq4's up here. There are a number of them for sale between $700-1000 with less than 20k mi. I find that odd since they have an aluminum block. As long as the ls4 will accept a different oil pan, standard motor mount adapters, and perhaps a different accessory bracket I should be ok. I read somewhere that they use ls6 heads, so I know that the Schoenfeld truck headers will work.

Well, It turns out the ls4 has a different bellhousing bolt pattern. It only accepts the smaller v6 configuration. But I am Pleased to find L33 5.3 motors (aluminum block 315 hp) are reasonably priced around here. I think I found the one I am going to get. I just have some questions about it. It's a 2006 L33 w/ DBW and 62K mi. It has some damage though. It needs a valve cover and an Intake manifold. Would I be able to run a standard ls1 intake from a F-body? And also, which valve covers will fit this motor? I don't like the fact that the motor is damaged, however at only $440 (motor only), I cant really pass this one up. I can get everything else I need at my local yard.

L33 is a sweet find for the extra few horses. $440 IMHO isnt that great of a deal if its just motor and it has damage. I got my L59 complete from top to bottom with accessories, wiring harness, and pcm for $412.xx. i got the motor from LKQ but even still I think it was a real sweet find.

Yes, you can run ls1 intake but if you do you have to run ls1 accessories. I think pretty much any valve covers from an LS motor will work.

$412 is an insane deal on a complete 5.3 donor power plant. I'll take that if I can find it for sure. But it seems that all of the gen 3 and 4 motors are becoming more and more sought after. I'm trying to be patient and find a smokin deal, but as it stands now, I'm willing to spend the extra bucks to get the few extra ponies and aluminum block. I'm just a little skeptical because the motor hasn't been started.

Do the L33. It'll be sweet.

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Originally Posted by flattopwill

Yes, you can run ls1 intake but if you do you have to run ls1 accessories. I think pretty much any valve covers from an LS motor will work.

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You don't need the LS1 accessories. Just a water pump from a LS1, Camaro or Trans Am. Any LS1, LS6, LQ4 or LQ9 valve cover will work. The LS2 has a different mounting pattern for the coil brackets.

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Originally Posted by RADO_4U2NV

You don't need the LS1 accessories. Just a water pump from a LS1, Camaro or Trans Am. Any LS1, LS6, LQ4 or LQ9 valve cover will work. The LS2 has a different mounting pattern for the coil brackets.

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You have to run the ls1 accessories together so the belt will line up. If not, you have to run spacers with the pullies to align the belt. The trucks and vette accessories are different spacing than the camaro.

you may find something aluminum but you can t build it into what you can with the 6.0 also the iron block will hold if you ever want to add a poweradder. I got my 48000 mi 6.0 4 l80e harness, pcm , all accesiores, even the battery cables, throttal cable and hoses from aa truck and van parts in fw texas shipped to me 1900.00 its a 02 aluminum headed cable tb.

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Originally Posted by flattopwill

You have to run the ls1 accessories together so the belt will line up. If not, you have to run spacers with the pullies to align the belt. The trucks and vette accessories are different spacing than the camaro.

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Yes I know. A machined piece of aluminum will cost a lot less than buying a whole drive setup from a motor. $50 for a set of spacers or a hundred or more for a drive set. I think spacers would be cheaper. Or just slide the pulley on the shaft and run a weld bead around the inside of the pulley.

Hey if u wanna fabricate then you can run accessories from a spaceship if you want

Think I could sell them in a set if I made them.

I already have a line on them but if you can design, manufacture and sell a set for $50 knock yourself out.

http://www.ls1truck.com/forums/mecha...ck-engine.html

Sorry about the long hiatus guys. We got hit with a blizzard, and it is finally starting to warm up. 26" of snow at once is a pain in the ass! Anyways, I put some money down on a 06 L33. I have to wait a little bit to pick it up because the lease on the house we are renting is coming to an end shortly. I figure there is no sense moving the motor twice. During the wait I'm trying to pick out a cam to put in the motor before I put the motor in the truck. Can anyone recommend a nice cam for me? I want a decent low and midrange power gain and a bit of a lopey idle. I don't want to go to crazy, as this truck is daily driven and I use it to tow quite frequently in the summer. I would also like to retain my factory valve train if at all possible. The truck has 3:42 gears and 33" tires (I know, I should have at least 4:10's). I'm also going to have Shoenfeld long tubes on the L33.