Oh crap, what did I just do???

[83GMCK2500]

Local CL find, running 6.0L LQ4 out of 1999 Silverado 2500... $300. Mine.

Been bouncing this idea around for a couple months, what I want is a powerful, reliable, durable, and modern engine for my '83. I'm spec'ing out two different builds for it right now, both builds involve a carburated LQ4. Option A: GMPP Front Distributor Drive w/Proform HEI Dist and all the other required parts. Option B: LS Controller Kit as found in Edelbrock Performer RPM LS1 Manifold package 7118. I'm pretty sure either option will use that manifold at this point. I haven't found any other reasonable dual plane manifolds for carburated LS applications.

I want sneaky, I want subtle...I want to pop the hood and have everything appear as stock as possible. There is going to be no chrome, no wild paint, just black and natural finish parts. I will be using a Quadrajet carburetor and, if I have clearance, my stock air cleaner setup. If I go with the LS controller I will be getting those new* Holley LS Coil Covers that, at first glance, look like BBC valve covers. I realize that the serpentine accessory drive will stand out, that is fine, I think it's a better setup anyway. There are going to be several things that stand out, I realize this...but at first glance I want the reaction to just be "clean". Then if it turns into "WTF ENGINE IS THAT?" I can just smile. Honestly the front distributor/vertical mounted fuel pump build is appealing to me just to make people scratch their heads.

I don't have any idea how much HP I want to build the motor for, I know I want it to be a good truck motor. Not building a race motor, hence the hunt for the dual plane manifold. I'm looking into a mild cam for it, and keeping my eyes open for the flat LQ9 pistons. Oh yeah, keeping the iron heads (back to that stock-appearing build).

Nope, no pictures of the motor yet, will get some soon. All I've done is purchase/pick it up, put it in a safe place, start researching.

[makman1297]

Now that sounds like fun. Good luck.

[cayoterun]

I loove those sleepers. Go for it.
Cayoterun

[y5mgisi]

Keep us updated!

[turbostang7]

i thought all ls style engines had aluminum heads??
either way you can paint them to look iron

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by turbostang7

i thought all ls style engines had aluminum heads??
either way you can paint them to look iron

99-01, IIRC, is iron head. Also the early 6.0Ls have a longer crank, I shouldn't need a spacer on mine.

Thank you everyone, I'm super excited. I just need some time now to start cleaning on and tear down this "running take-out" and see what I've got to work with.

[pwtr02ss]

They are all aluminum heads. Iron block aluminum heads

[turbostang7]

Originally Posted by pwtr02ss

They are all aluminum heads. Iron block aluminum heads

exactly what i thought, the hummer and escalade had aluminum blocks along with the camaro firebird corvette right?

[foamypirate]

Originally Posted by pwtr02ss

They are all aluminum heads. Iron block aluminum heads

Flat out wrong. 99-01s, as stated above, came with iron block/iron heads. After that, it was either iron block/aluminum heads, or if you were really lucky (in a truck), aluminum block/aluminum heads.

[pwtr02ss]

Originally Posted by foamypirate

Flat out wrong. 99-01s, as stated above, came with iron block/iron heads. After that, it was either iron block/aluminum heads, or if you were really lucky (in a truck), aluminum block/aluminum heads.

Wow I was wrong! Ive never seen a set to date and been around hundreds of them. Must have all been newer. Sorry about that

[83GMCK2500]

Thank you pirate... I was about to fly off the handle, had a really rough day at work. I've held two different sets of iron 6.0L heads in my hands...they are freakin' heavy. Big part of what makes the early engines so damned heavy. I am going to need a 4-caster engine stand for this mill.

[75ChevyGuy]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HL...e%7c6.0L%2f364
what about this intake?

[foamypirate]

Originally Posted by 75ChevyGuy

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HL...e%7c6.0L%2f364
what about this intake?

I don't think that intake really sticks to his "make it look almost stock" plan.

[83GMCK2500]

Lol, yeah, I saw the dual carb intake...not gonna lie it's tempting. My fabricator friend would HATE me if I brought him 2x of the tall air cleaner pan assemblies and ask him to make one oval out of them.

Leaning more and more towards the LS Controller route and not the front dist./fuel pump route.

[83GMCK2500]

Not much of an update, but I stumbled upon a set of emblems that I think will be very fitting for my truck when I'm all done with this swap.

These aren't mine specifically, just a pic of identical ones from the interwebs.

[y5mgisi]

Awesome emblems!

[Vintage Windmills]

subscribed!

[83GMCK2500]

Update: Still haven't torn the motor down to see what I've got to work with, need to help finish up another project to free up some room in the shop.

Found Holley's '67 shop truck that they built and I'm seriously considering going with fuel injection. After I saw how they fit a factory air cleaner to their injected LS...I dig it.