LSX ironblock for c4
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Rovaniemi, Finland
LSX ironblock for c4
I thinking new engine for my c4...
What is the best choise of junkyards engines. I watching 5.3 and 6.0 engines, with low miles. Those engines are very cheap with ecm and harness.
My c4 is streetcar with zf6, dana44 and I have procharger D1SC for this setup. I thinking 700-800rwhp would be nice...
I want stay in stock engine, checking and stronger rods bolts.
To change camshaft is too possible, but idea is so originally that possible.
Could you tell me, what is the best option 5.3 or 6.0 and which is engines typecode ( example LQ9)
I found lot of story of 5.3. Is it better than 6.0 or is that popular for low price...
What is the best choise of junkyards engines. I watching 5.3 and 6.0 engines, with low miles. Those engines are very cheap with ecm and harness.
My c4 is streetcar with zf6, dana44 and I have procharger D1SC for this setup. I thinking 700-800rwhp would be nice...
I want stay in stock engine, checking and stronger rods bolts.
To change camshaft is too possible, but idea is so originally that possible.
Could you tell me, what is the best option 5.3 or 6.0 and which is engines typecode ( example LQ9)
I found lot of story of 5.3. Is it better than 6.0 or is that popular for low price...
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Newark DE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_LS_engine
The 4.0inch bore of the 6.0l engines will be a better platform form building power by not shrouding the valves on the larger stock or aftermarket heads. As long as you stay away from the first years that have a larger crank flange, you should be ok with any other years. The ECM that comes with the 2007+ Gen4 engines have better tunability, but the older gen3 ECMs have more documentation/experience available.
The 4.0inch bore of the 6.0l engines will be a better platform form building power by not shrouding the valves on the larger stock or aftermarket heads. As long as you stay away from the first years that have a larger crank flange, you should be ok with any other years. The ECM that comes with the 2007+ Gen4 engines have better tunability, but the older gen3 ECMs have more documentation/experience available.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Check the archives of Corvette Fever magazine as they did this and wrote a series of articles about the swap.
Corvette Central also swapped in a Corvette LS1 to a 1985 Corvette. You could possibly find their writeup about the swap.
I saw both of these cars at Corvettes at Carlisle and they looked very nice.
You could also PM forum member Ch@os who has swapped a LSx Corvette engine into his C4. He might be very helpful to you.
There is also a book that you could find on Amazon.com called "How to Swap an LSx Engine Into Almost Anything"
Good luck and keep us informed.
Corvette Central also swapped in a Corvette LS1 to a 1985 Corvette. You could possibly find their writeup about the swap.
I saw both of these cars at Corvettes at Carlisle and they looked very nice.
You could also PM forum member Ch@os who has swapped a LSx Corvette engine into his C4. He might be very helpful to you.
There is also a book that you could find on Amazon.com called "How to Swap an LSx Engine Into Almost Anything"
Good luck and keep us informed.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Rovaniemi, Finland
Thanks for advice!
I thinking 6.0 has better torque for low rpm, and driveability is better.
But is mechanical durability so good like 5.3? (with same torque/power)
Could you confirm this.
What is best motorcode for me, what I have to looking? LQ4 or something else....
Could you tell, what is good place shopping/ take order, one or maybe two engine...
I thinking 6.0 has better torque for low rpm, and driveability is better.
But is mechanical durability so good like 5.3? (with same torque/power)
Could you confirm this.
What is best motorcode for me, what I have to looking? LQ4 or something else....
Could you tell, what is good place shopping/ take order, one or maybe two engine...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Go for the 6.0, you can drop in a 4" crank without any clearancing and really up the torque.
Shouldn't be much difference in durability. I wouldn't go with the 5.3 unless you could find the Al block version.
Shouldn't be much difference in durability. I wouldn't go with the 5.3 unless you could find the Al block version.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
with the exception of I wouldn't even go with the aluminum 5.3 IRT a performance build. Some of the 6.0 truck engines have aluminum blocks and same head castings as the LS3. However, you'd need a cam swap to wake them up due to displacement on demand. Good news is there's a lot of performance potential in the 6.0 platform.
Mike
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Newark DE
Thanks for advice!
I thinking 6.0 has better torque for low rpm, and driveability is better.
But is mechanical durability so good like 5.3? (with same torque/power)
Could you confirm this.
What is best motorcode for me, what I have to looking? LQ4 or something else....
Could you tell, what is good place shopping/ take order, one or maybe two engine...
I thinking 6.0 has better torque for low rpm, and driveability is better.
But is mechanical durability so good like 5.3? (with same torque/power)
Could you confirm this.
What is best motorcode for me, what I have to looking? LQ4 or something else....
Could you tell, what is good place shopping/ take order, one or maybe two engine...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine
Lists all the motorcodes (RPO) for the engines. LQ4, LQ9 are popular GenIII, LY6 is the popular GenIV.
Not sure about shopping, a popular source here in the US is searching www.car-part.com, which is a large collection of participating salvage yards. You might contact some and see if they'll ship overseas.
There's no real reliability issues with the 5.3l vs 6.0l iron engines that I've run into as long as you stay away from the early (~pre-2003) model years.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
L76 and L92s have great head castings. The L92 has a bigger bore than the 6.0s and have a little more performance potential. Not trying to stir the pot but if youre shooting for 800 rwhp the money you'd save with a 5.3 over a 6.0 or 6.2 does not make sense. The money you save at the begining will cost you much more on the back end. Especially since you're shipping it to Finland.
Mike
Mike
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 37
From: Sawyer MI
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,679
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
dont mess aroudn with heavy, iron blocks if you are going thru the work of an LSx swap.
Your time is worth money and if you are investing the time into doing this (an LSx swap) then get the better motor (which is the aluminum one).
Crap, Id rather stay with the LTx then do an iron-block LSx swap. AFR heads have bridged the gap between SBC and LSx heads.
The only exception is if you are planning on building a 1000+ rwhp motor, then you want the iron block LSx.
Your time is worth money and if you are investing the time into doing this (an LSx swap) then get the better motor (which is the aluminum one).
Crap, Id rather stay with the LTx then do an iron-block LSx swap. AFR heads have bridged the gap between SBC and LSx heads.
The only exception is if you are planning on building a 1000+ rwhp motor, then you want the iron block LSx.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 554
From: Glenbeulah Wi
I thinking new engine for my c4...
What is the best choise of junkyards engines. I watching 5.3 and 6.0 engines, with low miles. Those engines are very cheap with ecm and harness.
My c4 is streetcar with zf6, dana44 and I have procharger D1SC for this setup. I thinking 700-800rwhp would be nice...
I want stay in stock engine, checking and stronger rods bolts.
To change camshaft is too possible, but idea is so originally that possible.
Could you tell me, what is the best option 5.3 or 6.0 and which is engines typecode ( example LQ9)
I found lot of story of 5.3. Is it better than 6.0 or is that popular for low price...
What is the best choise of junkyards engines. I watching 5.3 and 6.0 engines, with low miles. Those engines are very cheap with ecm and harness.
My c4 is streetcar with zf6, dana44 and I have procharger D1SC for this setup. I thinking 700-800rwhp would be nice...
I want stay in stock engine, checking and stronger rods bolts.
To change camshaft is too possible, but idea is so originally that possible.
Could you tell me, what is the best option 5.3 or 6.0 and which is engines typecode ( example LQ9)
I found lot of story of 5.3. Is it better than 6.0 or is that popular for low price...