1950 LQ9 conversion

[Kabwe]

Yeah I had to buy one off of ebay but I paid 35 bucks I think.

[cajundragger]

anymore pics? Im about to mock my ls6/t56 up friday and hope to have it in for sure by this weekend...

[cajundragger]

what oil pan did yall use?

[Kabwe]

I used the oil that came with the 5.3 engine, but I think I'm going to modify it because it hangs about 2 inches lower than my crossmember.

[cajundragger]

I think Im going to use a Camaro one...I have dimensions from street and preformance and its like the same as the truck pan but the sump is not as deep...

[Kabwe]

So the camaro one is a rear sump also? If so I will do the same

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

So the camaro one is a rear sump also? If so I will do the same

I would go with the Camaro pan it seems to fit better. That's what I have and it cleared the crossmember.

[Kabwe]

Thanks for the heads up on the Camaro oil pan, I will start looking for one. Here is a pic of the engine, trans, and ride height mockup ( I use round stock instead of springs and shocks because springs take time to settle. I running coilovers waiting on time right now). It all has to come back out so that I can blast and paint the frame. Its nice to have it sitting on four wheels again its been so long even though its going to be strippe back down.

[cajundragger]

think I can fit long tubes in there?

[Tri5Nerd]

Yeap, just get some Pacesetter long 1 3/4" long tube, get the racing kind that has no EGR connectors if you're not going to use the EGR stuff. You will need to do a little massaging on the drivers side where the primaries merge with the collector, it needs to be move in about 2".

[Detroit3100]

I am going to try and use OBX long tube headers.

I have to post some more pics of the new mounts I made.

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by Detroit3100

I am going to try and use OBX long tube headers.

I have to post some more pics of the new mounts I made.

I don't know much about the OBX but the Pacesetter long tube tuck really nice with the Camaro clip with minor mods.

[chevyrestoguy]

Man, following this thread is ruining me! I was all set and ready to build a 496 for my '55, but after seeing this thread and also after getting the latest Car Craft (May 2007), I might be changing my mind. It seems that Chevy is offering the badass (310 cfm ports, 15 deg valve, big valve) L92 aluminum heads for $798.50 a pair COMPLETE. Car Craft had to buy rocker arms, stands, bolts, and LS-6 valvesprings also, but it only came to an extra $250. So, for a little over a grand, you've got a set of heads that match the numbers that the aftermarket heads have for a third of the price. Also, GM has a carb manifold for $299. As far as a Big Block buildup, I'm looking at over $2600 for aluminum heads and intake. That $1250 difference in price between the two could go towards finding a 6.0 shortblock.

So what I'm getting at.....Car Craft took a stock 6.0 bottom end, bolted a set of L92 heads, intake , 850 Holley, and a mild cam (228/230 @.050, 571/573 lift on a 112 LSA) and made 551 horsepower! What I find so cool about this combo is that- 1: it's all aluminum and lightweight. 2: You are making big-time power with a relatively mild combination. 3: The LS series engine technology is extremely impressive. 4: Car Craft built this combo for $4999. Yeah, that's alot of scratch, but 550 horsepower for that money with mostly brand-new high tech parts is impressive.

My younger brothers are big LS-series fans, and I drove one of their cars with a stock 5.3 long block, long tubes, mild cam, and an LS-6 intake with 4.10 gears, and it was a rocketship. I became a LS-series fan as soon as I romped on it and it went sideways in second gear. GM really did their homework on this motor, and if you ever get to see one torn down to the bare block, you will be blown away at the cool details they put in it.
________
Mercedes-Benz Cls-Class

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Man, following this thread is ruining me! I was all set and ready to build a 496 for my '55, but after seeing this thread and also after getting the latest Car Craft (May 2007), I might be changing my mind. It seems that Chevy is offering the badass (310 cfm ports, 15 deg valve, big valve) L92 aluminum heads for $798.50 a pair COMPLETE. Car Craft had to buy rocker arms, stands, bolts, and LS-6 valvesprings also, but it only came to an extra $250. So, for a little over a grand, you've got a set of heads that match the numbers that the aftermarket heads have for a third of the price. Also, GM has a carb manifold for $299. As far as a Big Block buildup, I'm looking at over $2600 for aluminum heads and intake. That $1250 difference in price between the two could go towards finding a 6.0 shortblock.

So what I'm getting at.....Car Craft took a stock 6.0 bottom end, bolted a set of L92 heads, intake , 850 Holley, and a mild cam (228/230 @.050, 571/573 lift on a 112 LSA) and made 551 horsepower! What I find so cool about this combo is that- 1: it's all aluminum and lightweight. 2: You are making big-time power with a relatively mild combination. 3: The LS series engine technology is extremely impressive. 4: Car Craft built this combo for $4999. Yeah, that's alot of scratch, but 550 horsepower for that money with mostly brand-new high tech parts is impressive.

My younger brothers are big LS-series fans, and I drove one of their cars with a stock 5.3 long block, long tubes, mild cam, and an LS-6 intake with 4.10 gears, and it was a rocketship. I became a LS-series fan as soon as I romped on it and it went sideways in second gear. GM really did their homework on this motor, and if you ever get to see one torn down to the bare block, you will be blown away at the cool details they put in it.

Don't lose you head now, I saw the article and I've been looking at doing the same thing with a 6.0 LQ9 motor that I have, however there's other ways to go about getting the same horse power, with the EFI setup. I've priced some stuff.
A L76/l92 car intake manifold, complete with fuel rail and 40lb injector with drive by wire throttle body can be had for $529.
L92 heads and rockers are $1050 or you could get CNC ported set with dual valves springs for $1499, this has showned to produce >30HP over the stock head.
A killer cam for another $500, Cometic gasket and ARP head bolts another $300,
For $2379 or $2828, you can get a more effiecient setup, that's what I'll be doing with the 6.0L after putting some miles on my 5.7 LS1 motor.

I'm sure if you look around you can find a 6.0L motor for under a $1000, so for around $4000 you can have a nice setup.
A word of caution, make sure you have the rearend to handle this kind of power. I have a 9" with 3.70 gears and a 4 link.

[chevyrestoguy]

Thanks for the info on the EFI. Is there any limitations with the EFI if you're running a big cam? Most systems have a limit to where the MAP can accept the low vacuum signal that a big cam inherently produces. As much as I like the EFI, my truck has kind of a street-rod gasser look and I think the carb would look fit the look better. My truck has a narrowed 9-inch with a 3.70 posi, also. It has been narrowed with 29x15.50 tires, but is a leaf-spring set-up. It was originally going to be a shop truck thrasher, but I wanted a big tire and the low-buck thing went astray.
________
IOLITE VAPORIZER

[Detroit3100]

I am getting motivated again. My wife had our fourth son 4/21/07-william. So I have been distracted. I kind of figureed out my trans, traded w/a guy of craigslist.. Kept the AWD transfercase as a spare for the SSS.



now I can weld up the transcross member.
How much angle should I have in the engine?? Any way to measure it w/o an angle tool?

[solidaxel]

How about the driveshaft clearing the rear crossmember behind the cab, will you have enough clearence?

[Tri5Nerd]

Just by looking at it, I think it's a little too high, you might have problems with the tunnel. You should try to get the engine as level as possible. Good job on boxing the frame! What type of shocks are you using with the front bags?

Tri5

[Detroit3100]

I am not worried about the tunnel, my floor has a little rust for to aft is where I dont want to mess with the fire wall. Engine is level, the buble sits on the line giving it a slight lean to the back. The SHocks came with the Airbag kit...which I am questioning b/c it might keep me off the drag strip, still deciding to keep the bags or get some springs.

I am going to clearence the shaft and the crossmember using some tubing welded into the crossmember, and in the pic it is off b/c I have the jack under there, when I took it out the engine leveled up nice, and my home made motor mounts worked, I gave myself 50/50 odds at them working the first time.

oh yea the frame is not boxed yet, just the pic I guess

[Kid]

just to give an example of the engine height in relation to the cab (51 GMC), here is a couple of pics that show the installed height of engine. first pic shows the bottom of the A/C compressor mounted on a 5.3 truck motor & the notch I cut in the cross member of the 84 Monte front clip. The second pic shows the trans protruding into the floor. I could not get around moding the floor & keep the motor where I wanted it. I did raise the front clip up to get the stance I want tho. so this might not be the best example to make comparisions to. Still have not driven it yet because I'm still working on the body, but it sure sounds good!

[cajundragger]

go buy an angle reader...5 bucks are home depot. You want it at 3 degrees back...

[1-ton of fun]

just make sure the angle finder is right. the one i bought from home depot is 2 degrees off. set it on a level and make sure it zero's out.

[Detroit3100]

update july/august.
real dont know what to do next?? any suggestions? I am going to pull the cab back off and start the floors and frame mounts so it can bolt up to the frame. I have a bunch of other stuff, fuel tank brakes, plumbing. Anybody know good places that sell kits to get the entire project done at one time?

[pgf545]

I don't know of any kits, but what you need to do is take that young man and teach him how to weld and turn wrenches and that you can have him do it while you drink beer....LMAO.

Bernie

[solidaxel]

I don't know how true it is, but someone told me that when you remove the center crossmsmber and cab you might have trouble lining up the hood when you start the re assembly. So let me know how your mock up goes on re assembly !!!!