I did a LQ4 swap a little over a year ago. Slide into a curb, knock a hugh hole in the oil pan, end up rebuilding an engine that had 30 k since it was rebuilt. Drove it to work and took it to the track a pew times. It ran 13.3s stock (99-00 Cast Iron Heads). Daughter Graduated for college has a great job and living on her own. Now it's time to do what I intended to do with it. I had some 706 casting heads ported, LS2 intake ported, and a set of Melrose 1 3/4 headers. I plan to get a BBK 90 mm TB and a set of new LS7 lifters, and a harden set of Push Rods. I have a 2800 stall Convertor, that I'm going to put in. My plan is to have it ready for March with 2 good tunes for it, 1 for the track and 1 for diving around on.
Randy

 

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That is really cool man! how did the install go for you?? I am currently undertaking a similar build with a 00 lq4, what did you use for pcm?guages stock or aftermarket , stock transmission auto or manual? i have a stock 700r4 that i am trying to figure out the vss with using stock speedo ...

any help you can offer is greatly appreciated!!

cheers

 

You might be able to get a trans shop to put a tone/reluctor ring in your tail hsaft and run a 96 VSS or You are going to need a controller to convert the signal I put a 4L60 in mine and ran a 96 VSS. GL

 

The install was easy thanks to Ch@0s thread. I did a lot of searching different threads, but I basis did most of the things Ch@0s did in his thread.
I use the 96 VSS and 40 Tooth reluctor. The PCM you can go to a salvage yard and pick up one for $40 and have if Flashed. It took me about two days to get it in, and having it running. I had open heart surgery about 3 1/2 months earlier, so I had to take it easy. The thing is to get all the parts and understand the wiring. I started my engine up before I put it into the Vette, so that made it a lot easier for me. Follow Chaos thread and you won't have any large problem. some times you can have the same exact car and things fit a little bit different.
I rebuilt a 4L60 transmission before the swap, I just made a bracket on the T/B to hook up the detent cable, but Bowtie Transmission sale a kit for $169.
Randy

 

curious if you could post/talk about about cost numbers for this.
like: how much did the LQ4 cost you (est)?
source of the LQ4 engine (what truck/suv it came out of?)

i realize it sounds like most of the other work you've done yourself.
i mainly ask b/c i read this:

http://www.lsxtv.com/tech-stories/en...ags-to-riches/

and it was an interesting article....i of course have no idea how to do this, but it intrigues me!!!!

 

I kinda kept up with my cost here is a run down.

Cost to do an LS swap in a C4. Here is a list. Some of this stuff is optional. Note the guy was asking $2500 for the engine but i talked him down. I gave him a PC and $1300.

without the "Optional stuff".. I also did all the labor.

Engine, Ecu and wiring $1300
Transmission and converter $1750
Racetronix 255 Fuel pump kit $120
Speehound motor mounts $100
Advanced Adapters 4L60E to 700R4 tail shaft adapter $214
A/C compressor high mount adapter $150
Corvette power steering pump,bracket and pulley $140
Corvettte alternator $100
Powerbond balancer $145
Fbody oil pan $225
Melrose headers $800
Oil pan gasket $50
Starter from fleabay $56
Balancer bolt $14
gm Hoses, and fuse block $80.00
TB cable $50 Tuning $325
Two O2 sensors $120
wirring and terminals $60
Transmission cooler and lines $220
Fuel lines and fittings $70
Radom Tech Cat cons $200
Dual spring kit $300

Spent $6589 Total

This is optional: Melrose Headers $800. Converter $550 Powerbond balancer $145 255 pump $120 Transmission cooler and lines $220 Dual Spring Kit $300

- optional $2135 Total $4454 without Optional parts.

So far I have made $2945 to offset the cost from sales of my old stuff. I still have a few parts lying around. I also need to add an A/C Compressor.

 

I did the bargain basement deals. I paid $1000 for my LQ4 (2000 Iron Head) it was a rebuilt Jasper engine. The person I brought it from had it in a pickup truck, a one of his friends wreck the truck, so he pulled it and sold it. I paid $150 for complete LS1 intake w/ injector, t/b, and fuel rails.
$50 Starter
$80 oil pan with tray and dipstick
$75 Power steering Pump off a wreck Zo6
$40 wiring Harness (99 Camaro) it needed 2 sensor pigtail and 1 ECM connect $40
$90 engine plates
$60 exhaust manifolds
$50 water pump
$80 exhaust flange ( I brought elbows and made 2 flanges)
$98 Harmonic balancer
$270 Holley Accessory Bracket Alt & PS AC
I spent a few hundred more in misc. items
I knock a hole in the oil pan (Dumb*$$ me) and it cost about $500 machine work, parts, and C5 oil pan
The trans was rebuilt the year before 4L60.
I did all the work myself.
(Part II) This winter I brought some 5.3 ported heads $1200, Melrose Headers uncoated $635. Ported LS2 Intake w/ 33 lbs injectors


Randy

 

Thx for the info guys! One thing about headers ... I see melrose is a option but expensive ... Has anyone heard of c5/6/7 headers being used at all? Adapting ....Also the melrose how do they fit ? Where does the collector dump? I'm looking into obx eBay rear piping but they only make the ss for the lt1 and the pipes are two different lengths near the collector just curious how they would mate up to equal length headers (lt1 different length )

Cheers!

 

I used 98 corvette stock manifolds originally read my post.

If you are serious read through this.https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...x-my-swap.html

 

Wow Randy that's awesome. The Original swap was really only $2500.

One thing most people don't take into account is the most expensive part of the swap used to be the engine. LS engines are plentiful now. Once you have the engine ..any Ls engine in place the swap is done and only opens the door for way more HP,

 

thanks for all the information above and giving cost #s!
very helpful!

 

Hello sahhas, That article i seen prior to my build it was another piece of literature puching me towards the swap!

My costs so far( still in planning and parts collecting stage)

lq4 complete w/harness and pcm-800 (all prices canadian $)

mount adapters-50

lsa supercharger-1200(serves as intake manifold also)

L92 heads ( not bought yet) 600-1200

250-300 lph fuel pump to go in tank 150

injectors bosch 400 or ida 1200, stock 250(undecided which route to take) planning for around 85 lb hr

Tuning 600+

Plans are to adapt stock L98 accessorie drive to this engine costs unknown

Trans 4l80 e 750

rebuild+transgo shift kit installed by self 700

driveshaft 250

Rear end dana 44 swap 1500

oh i probably forgot something but in the end it'll be all in around 6k