Van LQ4/4L80E

[slotard]

I found a 2005 box van, SRW, 8 lug that was crashed and is being parted out. 131k on it. He says it's the 6.0, and I believe it should be a 4L80E. I can get engine/tranny/accessories/wiring for a good price (for here), $1300.

Is there any reason not to go with a van engine/tranny?

[foamypirate]

No reason at all not to use that over a truck LQ4. $1300 is a deal for an LQ4/4L80E. I paid $1500 alone for my LQ9 (granted, the LQ9s are a bit more expensive).

[jamesjones]

My LQ4 is from a van. No reason not to go with it at all. The only minor things you might have to change are the oil pan and power steering pump. The vans have a funky oil pan that is kind of big and the power steering pump is a weird remote reservoir one. They may work for your application but I needed to change them on mine.

[slotard]

I know the LQ9 has a few more ponies, but if I decide to throw a little boost at it the lower compression of the LQ4 might be nice. Not sure how likely that is, and I'll have to see how I like it NA before any real planning. I'll probably pull the heads, clean up any carbon, replace water pump, replace oil pan gasket, replace valve cover gaskets, probably put some LS9 head gaskets on, and that's about it for now unless there's something else important to do. I want streetable, not big power.

[BR3W CITY]

I like van motors better. Most didn't tow, just had a lot of hours/per mile. I bought my oddball midyear van motor with like 60k on it and the cylinder crosshatch still looked brand new.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by jamesjones

My LQ4 is from a van. No reason not to go with it at all. The only minor thingsreallymight have to change are the oil pan and power steering pump. The vans have a funky oil pan that is kind of big and the power steering pump is a weird remote reservoir one. They may work for your application but I needed to change them on mine.

My van LQ4 had a truck oil pan on it, pretty sure they all do. Now dipstick and oil fill t ube, those were really long!

[BR3W CITY]

btw you might actually have a PS pump for a hydroboost equipped vehicle if its got 3 hoses.

[Tilt]

My 4L80 came out of a van. You'll want to find a truck dipstick to replace the original. The van one is LLLOOOOOOONNNGG.

[slotard]

Are all LS truck dipsticks compatible?

If it is hydroboost that would be nice, I'll have to see in person.

[BR3W CITY]

They all interchange, just held in with the grommet at the bottom, and the lil bolt that braces it.

Know what manifolds your going to run first. Some of them interfere with dipstick position, and its a ton easier to modify the tube first if needed.

I actually like the van trans dipstick better, since it dumps out in an easy to reach spot, but it might hit the trans tunnel/firewall depending on your motor position.

[slotard]

I was planning on putting it fairly far back, don't see much reason not to.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

btw you might actually have a PS pump for a hydroboost equipped vehicle if its got 3 hoses.

Vans have remote mounted power steering reservoirs with a single big hose feeding the pump, the returns will be on the reservoir.

[slowcpe]

My lq4/4l80e came out of a van. I've sine sold the trans since I'm going 6-speed. $1300 was a good deal.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

Vans have remote mounted power steering reservoirs with a single big hose feeding the pump, the returns will be on the reservoir.

Is that the case for all of them (HB and non HB)? My PS unit was off an Astro, which had 2 lines on the res,. but we switched to a truck HB which had all 3 onboard.

[slotard]

I'd like to be able to use it as a truck, and truck manual trannys aren't easy to find. Overdrive is a must, so the easy to find options are 4L80E, 6L80, 6L90. If I come across an NV4500 or NV5600 for the right price I'd be delighted, and probably go MS3 LSX PnP Gold... with an electronically controlled tranny I think I'm likely better off starting with a stock ECU.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Is that the case for all of them (HB and non HB)? My PS unit was off an Astro, which had 2 lines on the res,. but we switched to a truck HB which had all 3 onboard.

I always just thought it was a van thing and that they all had them, but now that I think about it, I dont think I have seen a van with an LS engine that didn't have hydroboost. Maybe thats just the way vans were from around 2003 on up?

[slotard]

Uh, related... anyone know what kind of axle they come with? I guess it's unlikely it has the locker I want but it might be geared taller (4.10s on 30" tires aren't so freeway friendly).

[BR3W CITY]

No clue, but its not usually worth running the late model rear axles IMO. The track width is off, and even some of the latemodel still had drum rears. Not much to be gained over a picking up an older 12 bolt and putting good axles in it.

[slotard]

My truck is a C20 so it has a 14FF that should be near impossible to break, I'd just like a posi of some sort (most likely a locker, that seems to be what's around) and 3.73s would work better for me than 4.10s. I'm pretty sure the 3/4 ton trucks of the era the van is have rear discs, don't know about the van. Doing spring perches and shock mounts isn't a problem for me, but I've never set up gears before, so the right deal on the right rear end is what I'm hoping for.