Picked up an LQ4

[90'rado]

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.

[90'rado]

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.

[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!