LS3 or LQ4 complete swap?

[bcwilson_1]

Ok so I'm tired of searching literally thousands of threads to find the short answer so here goes.
Has anyone on here with a 67-72 truck done the ls3 or lq4 swap, with auto transmission, that can give me a quick rundown and costs involved? I'm trying to get a close estimate on a complete turn-key swap, either brand new or used. Also, what vehicles should I look for at the junkyard for a complete donor? Thanks!

Oh and as usual, please post pics! Or point me to your link if its already been posted.

[GASoline71]

There is a sub-forum in the Engine & Drivetrain forum that is just for nothing but LS stuff...

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...play.php?f=206

Gary

[Kennuck]

I used an LM7 but the cost should be pretty much the same. I put about $2500 into my swap that included the cost of the 5.3 engine and 4L60e trans, engine mounts, fuel pump, trailblazer SS manifolds, fuel lines, trans lines etc. I was able to reuse my drive shaft by changing the trans yoke, and also used the stock radiator.

I bought the engine and trans with all the wiring, computer, intake filter, fan etc and modified the harness myself and sent the ECM out to Brandon at LT1swap.com.

This cost did not include the dual SS exhaust I installed.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by Kennuck

I used an LM7 but the cost should be pretty much the same. I put about $2500 into my swap that included the cost of the 5.3 engine and 4L60e trans, engine mounts, fuel pump, trailblazer SS manifolds, fuel lines, trans lines etc. I was able to reuse my drive shaft by changing the trans yoke, and also used the stock radiator.

I bought the engine and trans with all the wiring, computer, intake filter, fan etc and modified the harness myself and sent the ECM out to Brandon at LT1swap.com.

This cost did not include the dual SS exhaust I installed.

Awesome! Thanks for the short answer and the info. I heard about the trailblazer ss engines. What year was it from?

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

There is a sub-forum in the Engine & Drivetrain forum that is just for nothing but LS stuff...

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...play.php?f=206

Gary

Thanks Gary, but that's where I have spent time already and why I started this thread, so there would be a short list of the mods with total costs, without having to go through thousands of pages. I'm just interested in how much, not what all details were involved necessarily, for now anyway.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by bcwilson_1

Thanks Gary, but that's where I have spent time already and why I started this thread, so there would be a short list of the mods with total costs, without having to go through thousands of pages. I'm just interested in how much, not what all details were involved necessarily, for now anyway.

Did you ask this question there? There are a number of cats that just hang in there and are a wealth of info.

Gary

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

There is a sub-forum in the Engine & Drivetrain forum that is just for nothing but LS stuff...

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...play.php?f=206

Gary

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Did you ask this question there? There are a number of cats that just hang in there and are a wealth of info.

Gary

I pm'd one guy so far, but I guess I was just hoping for a specific thread. Maybe I should have started this thread there.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by bcwilson_1

Thanks Gary, but that's where I have spent time already and why I started this thread, so there would be a short list of the mods with total costs, without having to go through thousands of pages. I'm just interested in how much, not what all details were involved necessarily, for now anyway.

Well, what Gary is saying is that not only is the LS Swap forum the place this thread belongs, it is the best place to get what you are after. What you do is create your own thread specific to your needs and the answers will come. You can report your own thread, I suppose, and they will move it. They'll move it if someone else does.

[CG]

Originally Posted by Kennuck

I used an LM7 but the cost should be pretty much the same. I put about $2500 into my swap that included the cost of the 5.3 engine and 4L60e trans, engine mounts, fuel pump, trailblazer SS manifolds, fuel lines, trans lines etc. I was able to reuse my drive shaft by changing the trans yoke, and also used the stock radiator.

I bought the engine and trans with all the wiring, computer, intake filter, fan etc and modified the harness myself and sent the ECM out to Brandon at LT1swap.com.

This cost did not include the dual SS exhaust I installed.

2500 bucks all in for the things you listed is way below what I figured these swaps cost.

[mongocanfly]

a ls3 is going to be big bucks...I gave 6500 just for the engine and tr6060 with all the dodads..my lq9 was 1600 complete about 5 yrs ago..and my lq9 install came in around 3k total, trans and all... lq4s usually run around 1500-2000 now and lq9 are 2k or more...prices going up with demand...although not a 67-72 the process is still the same..and costs will be close.....doug thorely makes ls headers for the 67-72s but not for cheap

[Ghost's68]

I’ve spent north of 10k for my LS3 swap, but then again I’m doing more then just a basic swap. I’m not done yet either. It would be cheaper to go with LQ4 IAH

[mongocanfly]

thing about a lq4 is its just 322hp..i was going to buy a 5.3 for my truck but got talked into the lq9 at 345hp....most later model 5.3s are over 300hp and with minimal expense can do more than the lq4....everybody gets hung up on a 6.0 for some reason...I bought the ls3 because it was cheaper to buy it at 424hp than building a 5.3 to that level...
heck hot rod mag had a 4.8 turning over 1200hp...
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-...g-bang-theory/

[bcwilson_1]

Thanks for the input everyone. Ya after searching several used engine websites and some new ones and pricing plug n play packages, it seems for a new ls3 with a trans (6l80e) the price ranges anywhere from 10k- 15k for a base setup. Some used drop out completes are as low as 6k with around 40-60k miles. Obviously completes don't come complete for a swap but...it seems going the used route with low mileage would be the way to go for someone in my case who wants a reliable daily driver swap for less than the price of a newer truck.

That's my thoughts anyway. I would rather put 8-9k including install into my 72 than go buy a newer 10k+ truck that looks like everyone else's.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

thing about a lq4 is its just 322hp..i was going to buy a 5.3 for my truck but got talked into the lq9 at 345hp....most later model 5.3s are over 300hp and with minimal expense can do more than the lq4....everybody gets hung up on a 6.0 for some reason...I bought the ls3 because it was cheaper to buy it at 424hp than building a 5.3 to that level...
heck hot rod mag had a 4.8 turning over 1200hp...
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-...g-bang-theory/

That's what I was thinking. The lq4 seems to be popular but really how much better off would I be than keeping my carb'd 350?

The lq9 seemed like a nice upgrade for towing and overall power.

But I looove the sound of a modestly modded ls3.

[bcwilson_1]

Ok mods if you are reading this, please move this thread where it belongs. Sorry for the mishap.

[StingRay]

Originally Posted by bcwilson_1

That's what I was thinking. The lq4 seems to be popular but really how much better off would I be than keeping my carb'd 350?

The lq9 seemed like a nice upgrade for towing and overall power.

But I looove the sound of a modestly modded ls3.

That LQ4 is is only about half a point lower compression than the LQ9. The stated 322 HP is single exhaust with a stock intake and stock tune. When swapped with duals, better yet headers and duals and a good tune and that number goes up quite a bit. Drop in a cam and well above 400 is very common. The big deal with the 6.0 is availability, relatively low cost and potential. You drop a set of LS3/L92 heads on one and you get steak horse power at a hamburger price. I bought a set of LS3 heads for 200 bucks and an L92 Intake for another 100. I bought my parts truck and parted it. I kept the LQ4 and sold the rest. Purchased a 2WD 4L80E and am still quite a bit of money ahead. Like I have MORE money than I started with! A more than free engine and trans with about 70K on them. I've built more than a few SB Chev's in my time and have built my last one. The LS is strong, cheap, fuel efficient and will far outlast any of my old small blocks. I love old Chevy's too but they belong in collector cars and trucks not what most of us going to drive on a regular basis. LS is just modern day hot rodding.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by StingRay

That LQ4 is is only about half a point lower compression than the LQ9. The stated 322 HP is single exhaust with a stock intake and stock tune. When swapped with duals, better yet headers and duals and a good tune and that number goes up quite a bit. Drop in a cam and well above 400 is very common. The big deal with the 6.0 is availability, relatively low cost and potential. You drop a set of LS3/L92 heads on one and you get steak horse power at a hamburger price. I bought a set of LS3 heads for 200 bucks and an L92 Intake for another 100. I bought my parts truck and parted it. I kept the LQ4 and sold the rest. Purchased a 2WD 4L80E and am still quite a bit of money ahead. Like I have MORE money than I started with! A more than free engine and trans with about 70K on them. I've built more than a few SB Chev's in my time and have built my last one. The LS is strong, cheap, fuel efficient and will far outlast any of my old small blocks. I love old Chevy's too but they belong in collector cars and trucks not what most of us going to drive on a regular basis. LS is just modern day hot rodding.

Awesome ya my goals really are to make this my daily driver to putz around town, be able to start in cold weather on the regular, fuel efficient enough to drive to the nearest Wally-World (180 mi round trip) and reliable for years. I'd rather not mess with having to part one together, as i don't have the time or the know-how. My plan is to find a used plug n play with no more than 80k mi and take it to the local hot rod shop and pay them to do everything quickly to get it back on the road. If someone with a 67-72 truck is on here that has completed an LS3/4L80E auto swap and has pics/costs could chime in that would be all I need to know how/when to move forward into the EFI C20 world.

[StingRay]

I don't recall the year or designation but the later 6.0 in the vans and work trucks have the L92 heads. Tons of potential with nothing more than a cam, exhaust and tune. Even just a tune and you will have something. Just a stock LQ4 with exhaust and a tune equals a pretty well built 350 or even a nicely warmed 383 for power.

For a 6.2 don't look for an LS3. Look for an L92 as other than the intake and the solid valves is pretty much an LS3 Almost as powerful too. They are in tons of trucks and SUV's and it will be far more affordable.

[mongocanfly]

if your gonna have a shop do your install make sure that they chassis dyno the truck....well worth the few hunderd bucks...he got 35-40hp more outta mine over the base tune and said he could go more if I wanted...

[Nodnarb76]

I was in a similar situation with my swap. I had never done a motor swap before and wanted to focus on reliability over power/speed.
I ordered a complete used LQ4 with about 95,000 miles, and a reman 4L80 transmission with standalone harness and computer for about $4000 shipped from LSX4u.com. Only had a few wires to hook up. Motor started on first try and I now have about 9,000 miles on it and running strong!

[mongocanfly]

I agree with Brandon. ..if you can remove and replace a smallblock you can install a ls....I was impressed with how simple the process was...there are a few things you have to work around but nothing serious...

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by Nodnarb76

I was in a similar situation with my swap. I had never done a motor swap before and wanted to focus on reliability over power/speed.
I ordered a complete used LQ4 with about 95,000 miles, and a reman 4L80 transmission with standalone harness and computer for about $4000 shipped from LSX4u.com. Only had a few wires to hook up. Motor started on first try and I now have about 9,000 miles on it and running strong!

sounds like a site I need to visit! Thanks!

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I agree with Brandon. ..if you can remove and replace a smallblock you can install a ls....I was impressed with how simple the process was...there are a few things you have to work around but nothing serious...

That's what I like to hear! So I could reasonably get by without having to pay a shop to handle the install then? I'm sure there is some electrical changes to deal with since I would have to order an upgraded instrument bezel to handle the different gauges and such.

[mongocanfly]

nope ..not even a need to change gauges...your oil sender screws right in the LS where it does on a smallblock...you will need metric to npt adapter...your water temp can feed from your pass side head..the driver side head is where the ecm reads from..
all the LS harness needs is a switch on hot ,a constant hot, and grounds...you will need to wire in the fuel pump but that's no biggy...it feeds from the harness fuse block...I would recommend a quality aftermarket harness..i used PSI..there are others as well..depending if your going to run elec fans or not ,those will need wired thru relays to the harness fuse block..they are controlled by the ecm..

depending on what trans you use..you can adapt from pulse to cable driven and you can keep your stock speedometer..i used a dakota digital convertor on mine

the LS will drop right in with adapter plates and stock small block motor mounts...you may have to move your trans crossmember depending on your choice of trans...

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

nope ..not even a need to change gauges...your oil sender screws right in the LS where it does on a smallblock...you will need metric to npt adapter...your water temp can feed from your pass side head..the driver side head is where the ecm reads from..
all the LWS harness needs is a switch on hot ,a constant hot, and grounds...you will need to wire in the fuel pump but that's no biggy...it feeds from the harness fuse block...I would recommend a quality aftermarket harness..i used PSI..there are others as well..depending if your going to run elec fans or not ,those will need wired thru relays to the haress fuse block..they are controlled by the ecm..

depending on what you trans you use..you can adapt from pulse to cable driven and you can keep your stock speedometer..i used a dakota digital convertor on mine

the LS will drop right in with adapter plates and stock small block motor mounts...you may have to move your trans crossmember depending on your choice of trans...

Awesome now we're getting somewhere, thanks!