Beginning rebuild on Escalade LQ9 motor

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04Huck

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Will be watching this build. Hoping I can score an LQ4 or an LQ9 on the cheap later this year


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02EscaNate

02EscaNate

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Will be watching this build. Hoping I can score an LQ4 or an LQ9 on the cheap later this year


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Nice! I think the LQ4s are more common, and can be had for a bit less from what I hear. Only difference is dished pistons instead of flat-tops.


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bottomline2000

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L92 heads and ls7 cam are both going to hurt your low end power. You have to think big heavy truck, not corvette with these mods. Cathedral over square ports for torque..

Interesting article on GM cams in a 5.3..the 6.0 numbers would obviously be higher but overall effect the same.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ls-cam-test-comparison/


As an example I run a Vinci trucker cam in my 6.0 which I'm sure makes less power down low than a stock cam as mine doesn't start making power till 1900rpm, but I have a 3k stall and I don't see the lower rpm loss for the most part and jump right into the heart of the tq range and walk away from a stock 6.0 from there..

Look at the big picture and decide on your goals and decide how aggressive you want to go..I'm sure GM has a combo that will work for ya, but also consider the above options..

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02EscaNate

02EscaNate

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Weather is getting straight unpredictable here. 70 and sunny one day then cold and rainy the next. Haven’t been able to work on the truck much but figured I’d show my handiwork so far.

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I don’t think I’ve shared any pics of the outside, so here’s a couple. It’s actually a 2001.5 model year, since Cadillac technically skipped over 2001. Color is Aspen white, which was only offered for a few months until they switched to pearl. I think I like the bright white better though especially when it’s clean.

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Aaaand here’s the progress (?) so far. I probably didn’t need to take the manifold off, but it just gives me that much more room to maneuver around and it’ll be easier to get it attached to the hoist.

Next steps are all under the car, unfortunately. I’m in no way looking forward to attacking the rusty exhaust bolts, and the bellhousing bolts are going to be a royal pain to get to. All part of the experience I guess...



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bottomline2000

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Definitely. I’ve seen people just hook a chain to the block/heads, but this seems like a better route.


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The plate is much better route. I hooked a chain to the heads and pulled my motor, but there was always the chance of the motor becoming unbalanced and rocking in either direction. Hook the hoist directly to the pate and have at it. Either way without the intake is much better.

As far as the bellhousing bolts you can remove the trans cross member and lower the tran and get the upper bolts.. raise the trans back up and put the cross member back in. Then you can run straps to hold the front of the trans up and remove the remaining lower bolts.

I would do this after disconnecting the harness and everything else from the motor first. Pull the manifolds after you get the motor out.

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