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lq9 swap questions

which motor do you guys think

  • LQ9 cadillac 6.0L low end cost is $900 100k and up

    Votes: 5 55.6%

  • LQ4 pickup 6.0L runs about $900 for a 100k motor

    Votes: 2 22.2%

  • cheap 5.3L out of truck

    Votes: 2 22.2%
  • Total voters
    9
  • Poll closed .
79bonanza

79bonanza

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Georgetown, Kentucky
ok well ive already read all kinds of threads on here about 5.3 swaps and stuff and im fairly positve im going to swap a 6.0 in my truck instead of a big block.

well my first question is. what do you have to do to the computer to run a 6.0 or 5.3 in these trucks with a sm465 in it. i thought you had to change something so it will run with no trans sensors.

can you use the stock chevy gauges for the new motors.

what kind of motor mounts do you have to put on it
are there swap kits for mounts or what

and which is better to have a electric or cable gas pedal
 
all the intakes are interchangable. The problem you run into is clearance with the waterpump (i think its the waterpump) on the truck motors vs the car motors. Don't bother with an ls1 intake, there are much better options out there that can be had just as cheap. And don't buy the crap that the truck intake makes more low end torque either.
 
when i do swap it in i think ill just swap like a ls2 corvette intake and top cover just for fun haha. if it will work with the clearance. and imagine peoples face when you pop the hood of a 31 year old truck and it says corvette on it haha. did the corvette ls2 throttle bodies have cables or were they drive by wire. or can a cable driven throttle body just replace a electric throttle body.
 
79bonanza said:
ok well ive already read all kinds of threads on here about 5.3 swaps and stuff and im fairly positve im going to swap a 6.0 in my truck instead of a big block.

well my first question is. what do you have to do to the computer to run a 6.0 or 5.3 in these trucks with a sm465 in it. i thought you had to change something so it will run with no trans sensors.

You can tune out the trans, VATS, emissions, and various other stuff. You'll need a custom flywheel and pilot bearing for mating the sm465 to the gen3 motor. I have the part numbers at home and I'll post them later or you can search my posts. I posted them somewhere in here.
can you use the stock chevy gauges for the new motors.

Gauges are feed straight from the sensor.

what kind of motor mounts do you have to put on it
are there swap kits for mounts or what

Advance Adapters, Dirty Dingo, Edelbrock, etc. make a set of adapter plates or go custom.

and which is better to have a electric or cable gas pedal

That's a matter of opinion and you'll get pros and cons from both sides of the fence. I vote DBW.
Click to expand...

:popcorn:
 
79bonanza said:
when i do swap it in i think ill just swap like a ls2 corvette intake and top cover just for fun haha. if it will work with the clearance. and imagine peoples face when you pop the hood of a 31 year old truck and it says corvette on it haha. did the corvette ls2 throttle bodies have cables or were they drive by wire. or can a cable driven throttle body just replace a electric throttle body.
Click to expand...

The waterpump and the idler pulley on the truck are in the way when you do the swap you might as well replace the water pump for insurance. Just buy a waterpump for a car and dirty dingo makes a relocation braket for the idler might as well get the motor mounts from them also they offer the most adjustabillty of any conversion mount I have seen so far. I used them and did not have to cut my engine crossmember or move the trans crossmember.
truckintake.jpg

carintake.jpg
 
79bonanza said:
when i do swap it in i think ill just swap like a ls2 corvette intake and top cover just for fun haha. if it will work with the clearance. and imagine peoples face when you pop the hood of a 31 year old truck and it says corvette on it haha. did the corvette ls2 throttle bodies have cables or were they drive by wire. or can a cable driven throttle body just replace a electric throttle body.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, all ls2's were drive by wire. I have been looking into this swap recently. The problem you run into is the drive by wire is tied into the cruise control and the pcm. I have been talking to a friend who has done a ton of swaps and he said the easiest way is to run a cable throttle is to use a cable throttle body, a harness from a 4th gen fbody, and tune the pcm.

As far as the corvette covers... meh. Anyone that knows anything won't be impressed. Usually that only impresses people that don't know the motors are all pretty much the same. I.E. Ls2 is not a "corvette motor", since it was in the vette, ssr, and trailblazer ss.
 
As far as the corvette covers... meh. Anyone that knows anything won't be impressed. Usually that only impresses people that don't know the motors are all pretty much the same. I.E. Ls2 is not a "corvette motor", since it was in the vette, ssr, and trailblazer ss.[/quote]

ehh most of my friends are retards so they wouldnt know the diffrence and id just let tham think what they want haha:whistle:

is it hard to use the drive by wire gas pedal or is it just mount it and go
 
i was thinking of maybe a cadillac top cover
escalade_engine.jpg

or maybe this one
vemp_0711_08_z+double_top_c2_corvette+corvette_ls2_crate_motor.jpg

this would just be for kicks haha most people around here are still stuck on the whole big block vs small block and none pay atttention to ls series engines so they wouldnt know the diffrence hahaha
 
Just remember if you are going to run the car intake you will need an electric fan. You can run with out VSS but it is best if you have a VSS signal going to the ECM, you can get a signal generator that will allow you to still have your cable speedo and have the signal going to the ECM
 
ok so is the signal generator where the dakota VSS thing comes in. i think i seen someone do that.

do you think a single 16'' fan on the old 350 radiator will keep the lq9 cool. its not a four core or anything special
 
79bonanza said:
ok so is the signal generator where the dakota VSS thing comes in. i think i seen someone do that.

do you think a single 16'' fan on the old 350 radiator will keep the lq9 cool. its not a four core or anything special
Click to expand...

Yes that is the Dakota digital thing, I used to run one then i swapped over to all electric cause i got tired of destroying speedo cables wheeling

How many CFM does the fan flow?

I am running a windstar fan and only use one of the fan's. Also remember your ECM will control the fans so you can set there on and off temps in the tune. Where are you having your harness and tune done?
 
idk how many cfm it flows but it came off a newer jeep.

and im not sure yet where to get the computer tuned but im goin to buy the engine with computer and harness with them.

can you not run a stock harness and computer and run the engine or does it have to be tuned regardless
 
79bonanza said:
idk how many cfm it flows but it came off a newer jeep.

and im not sure yet where to get the computer tuned but im goin to buy the engine with computer and harness with them.

can you not run a stock harness and computer and run the engine or does it have to be tuned regardless
Click to expand...

the stock harness will have to be reworked for your application, and the ECM will have to be flashed to remove anti theft, add fans, delete EGR etc. get a hold of me on my email and maby i can give u a hand with the harness rework
wrbland at mtu.edu
 
ok cool thanks man

hey 1979jimmy350, do you use drive by wire or do you have a cable. what do you think of the drive by wire
 
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ok i got some more questions.

where do you take a computer to get reflashed to get rid of all the unnessary stuff and fans to kick on?

what temp should a lq9 be set for the fans to turn on?

will it hurt anything running with no VSS or make the motor run bad?

has anyone swithched to a ls style intake and moved the pully in the way. make any diffrence in power?

is there anything on a lq9 you have to move to fit in the old stlye frame rails 70's style frame rails?

would putting a cam in while the engine is out and while im gettin the computer flashed be worth it or does it already make enough power for daily driving and trail riding?
 
79bonanza said:
ok i got some more questions.

where do you take a computer to get reflashed to get rid of all the unnessary stuff and fans to kick on?

what temp should a lq9 be set for the fans to turn on?

will it hurt anything running with no VSS or make the motor run bad?

has anyone swithched to a ls style intake and moved the pully in the way. make any diffrence in power?

is there anything on a lq9 you have to move to fit in the old stlye frame rails 70's style frame rails?

would putting a cam in while the engine is out and while im gettin the computer flashed be worth it or does it already make enough power for daily driving and trail riding?
Click to expand...

I am running Drive by wire. I have a write up in the advanced tech articles that would answer a lot of your questions. I believe that only paid members can see that section, it is well worth the $25 to join the site.
 
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