Who should I buy a short block from?

[atvtrailrider]

I have a gen III LQ9 with a spun cam bearing. Thinking of buying a new LQ9 short block and moving my heads over.

Who would you recommend buying a short block from? ATK has one for $2399 free shipping?

Thanks for the input.

[mongocanfly]

shortblock for 2399? wow...I'd just get a complete pullout engine....and start over..or rebuild what you got....spun cam bearing is usually not detrimental to a block...

[atvtrailrider]

Machine shop said $500 to line bore and fix can bearing.
Now add clean and hone and deck. Then new pistons, rings, main bearings and installation.

I think I end up more than just buying a short block.

[mongocanfly]

did you spin a cam bearing or a crank bearing?......

[atvtrailrider]

Cam bearing

[davepl]

Wow... I wonder how that happens. Debris in the oil that gets into the bearing? Just seems so unlikely that a cam could rotate a billion times over a couple of years and then one day just grabs the bearing!

Why would you need new pistons and all of that? LS motors run a long time... you'd think they could tear it down, fix the cam journal and bearing, and put it back together.

[atvtrailrider]

Probaly poor maintenance but according to machine shop it is pretty common. I think truck it came out of had 170,000+ miles.

[Clyde65]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12679002

[Clyde65]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19353405

[7 Devils]

Originally Posted by atvtrailrider

Probaly poor maintenance but according to machine shop it is pretty common. I think truck it came out of had 170,000+ miles.

Wow, that seems crazy to me. My 06 LM7 (5.3) has 258k and still runs awesome. I tend to agree with Greg though. I've pulled many of the LS based truck motors from parts yards and slapped turbos on them (10-14 psi) with very little modification and had them go several seasons.
ATK does have pretty good reputation and customer service though. Dealt with them commercially off and on for years

Dan

[atvtrailrider]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12679002

If I bought the bare block I assume I could move everything over? Reuse pistons? Just new main bearings and and rings and assemble?

[sprint_9]

Originally Posted by atvtrailrider

If I bought the bare block I assume I could move everything over? Reuse pistons? Just new main bearings and and rings and assemble?

Depends on how much debris went through the oil and how damaged everything is.

I would think at minimum you will need a cam and lifters, and all bearings/rings if swapping blocks. From there you might need pistons if they are scored and crank work if it is scored or damaged, which at 170000 plus miles with poor maintenance the chances of both of those is pretty high.

I'd tend to think at this point you might be further ahead to use you engine as a core at a salvage yard and get a completely different engine.