Found a used LQ9 6.0 motor, harness and computer out of an 05 Escalade. Plans so far are LT headers, camshaft, new springs, gaskets, timing chain, oil pump, new head bolts, valve seals and guides. After I get it on the stand, tear it down I'll know more. No hurry wanting to drop it in, I'm shooting for a February or March finish time. All boils down to how the internals look.
Got the motor on the stand. Couldn't find any M10 x 1.5 bolts to mount on the stand, even Fastenal would have to order. Amazon has some but a lot of negative reviews on them being to short. Tried one of my A/C mounting bolts in the stand and block... perfect! Went to the Cadillac stealership and told him I needed four of those bolts. Fixed me up for $1.74 each so the motor came off the floor. For reference if anyone having the same issue finding bolts, the part number is 11516109.
Removed the waterpump, a/c brackets, cooling lines and wiring harness.
I'm can't remember if I was that impatient when I was young, probably was just can't remember?
Ok to start off we do actually have an LQ9. Flat top = LQ9, Dished = Lq4 woot!
Putting some heat on the crank bolt and my Impact easily removed it.
Chrysler balancer tool loaner from Autozone worked well except the small rod that goes into the crank was to short. Used the loosened crank bolt and brought her home with a big socket.
Happy to see the lifter valley was clean and under the valve covers as well.
Used a couple water pump bolts as handles when removing the camshaft.
It was challenging getting to the rear cover with the engine stand head covering the bolts. I had the perfect 10mm wrench, long and offset. That was the first time I've used that oddball wrench.
All the rod & mains looked really good as did the crankshaft.
Now off to the machine shop for a hot bath and some rejuvenating.
The salvage company listed it as a 6.0 from an 05 Escalade. When I went to look they had a room with about 30 to 40 engines. This one was sitting alongside about 8 or 9 other LS engines. Of course they all look alike except some with DBC and the newer DBW throttle bodies. He showed me this and two others he said were 6.0's. These three had the 6.0 cast on the rear of the block. Long story short I didn't see the engine in the Escalade (Escalade's only had LM7's and LQ9's) so I took his word it was out of that vehicle. The only sure way to tell is seeing the piston. I wasn't surprised, but more relieved if that makes any sense.
Yeah really happy about that, even the exhaust manifold bolts came out with no struggle. I don't think I'm going to even have it bored, just honed and a new set of std pistons. Same with the crank just polish and std bearings.
...or a heartbreak after installing and yanking it out for (fill in the ___). This way I'll have a fresh motor in a decent looking old truck that should last until I keel over. I'll be sixty on the 12th, It's a Saturday too... somebody better buy me a beer!
Whatever it needed except for catastrophic issue like a cracked block, heads or toasted crank... then cried.
Not much done today but what a greasy mess tearing down a motor, cleaning up and putting tools back in the box took most the day. I did find some time to clean the intake though. One of the two plastic clips on the manifold that holds the MAP sensor is broken off. Looks like that piece is replaceable, anyone know? I'll look at the exploded on gmpartsdirect.
Since you went through the effort of tearing the engine down, I would replace the cam bearings. IIRC, you are a man of details. Could you enjoy driving knowing that bearing has a chip in it?
Should only be about $60 - $70 for hone and bearings. I would ask them to "glue" the cam bearings in place to prevent spinning one. Also, make sure they fit the cam to the new bearings. There's a really good chance they'll install them and your cam just wont go in without some massaging of the bearings.
You could switch to a DBC TB and not worry about DBW stuff?
From my research if I go with the DBC... the 05 PCM (service number 12589463) that came with the LQ9 doesn't support the idle air control stepper motor (IAC) that controls air flow in a DBC setup. The PCM I have for the 4.3 (service number 09354896) dose have support for the IAC but has the wrong parameters to get me running. Also the 05 harness dose not have the wires for IAC or the throttle position sensor, so I'd have to pull wires and find a TPS plug to make the pigtail. It may just be easier to install the DBW pedal and TAC module. I found the pedal, wires and TAC for $90. It would cost that just to send my 4.3 PCM to get flashed with the Escalade vin.
Read some of this and let me know what you think would be the easiest way.
As far as the machine work, I can see the machine shops loading dock from my back door (wintertime). My neighbor of 30+ years just sold the machine shop business a few years ago. A younger guy runs it now and he leans more to the racing side than straight rebuilds. I've heard a lot of good things about his work. Looks like I'll be paying him a visit soon.
CSB moment: twenty years or so, three good friends of mine worked at Industrial Engines & Equipment (IEE) here in Charlotte. One a machinist, a parts guy and the other an engine builder. The engine builder "Jim" I showed him how to build his first engine right after he graduated high school. He became their lead engine builder then moved to warranty with a white shirt, company car, an office and a secretary. Steve worked in parts and when I needed parts, he was the man. Id get company discounts and he'd bring me whatever I needed. His older brother Jack was the machinist. Man he'd run my stuff through the backdoor, cranks, heads, blocks etc. usually costing me nothing. The company was sold and dissolved but man I sure had gotten spoiled with having those connections. Steve's wife worked for a company that mixed automotive paint and Id get first class service whenever I needed any paint supplies. We all kinda lost touch through the years. They are still in the machine business I'm pretty sure. Id feel like a total douche getting in touch after all these years just to do my work... ah the good ole days lol.
Pistons have been soaking in diesel for three days to loosen the carbon deposits. It's a slow cleaning process but worth the effort. Took about three hours for just two pistons. Couple hours cleaning and then carefully cleaning the ring grooves with a couple broken rings. The top cast ring easily snapped in half, the second ring must be steel, it took a couple pairs of pliers to bend quiet a bit to snap. Number four's wrist pin didn't feel right only floating in the piston bore and not very free on the rod. Popped out the circlip and cleaned the rod end and the pin until it would drop through.
The cams for the LS are pretty expensive. I was going to buy a streetable cam then decided to just go with the stock piece until I had the funds for a performance cam kit. Then I started watching the "Sloppy Mechanic" "don't BS Me" build videos on YouTube. He's running a $250 (shipped) Elgin E-1840-P 228/230. Elgin has three different grinds that Comp, Trickflow and other cam company's buy white box, put in in their box and raise the prices.
The price to performance ratio for the cam is great tho. Slide in 50hp for $375 plus springs............seems worth it. Considering the motor is just sitting there, outside of the truck, waiting, do it up.
Ive picked up a 227/234 .614"/.576" 113+2 for $250 off of LS1tech. The deals are out there if youre patient.
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