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  1. #1
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Lq4/9 strocker or ls2

    To make it short and to the point:

    I have a lq4 short block. Got it very cheap. ($300) Want to make a 408.

    So machine shop 30 over stroker kit. Done!

    Now to the questions:

    First is it worth the $1000 more to get the ls2 block for the weight savings?

    I know the l92 heads are a great budget head but is there anything else that has the cathedral ports on them?

    Last any pointers people have would be great.

  2. #2
    Slow'er'Ass Mr. Luos's Avatar
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    If you are having to pay retail for either block....then it is worth the extra 300.
    But if it is gonna be a grand...go iron.
    2008 Trailblazer SS
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  3. #3
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Luos View Post
    If you are having to pay retail for either block....then it is worth the extra 300.
    But if it is gonna be a grand...go iron.
    I got the iron block for 300

    To get a alum. block it would cost me 1100 just for the block

  4. #4
    Member LSXZ28's Avatar
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    Are you planning on any power adders? Do you have a good machine shop to do the machine work? Once you add it up, you may be better off getting a complete shortblock from one of the reputable builders... If you aren't doing a power adder, I would go 402 with the aluminum block. Or even look into an L92 block with a 4 inch stroker...

    GM EFI Tuner
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  5. #5
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LSXZ28 View Post
    Are you planning on any power adders? Do you have a good machine shop to do the machine work? Once you add it up, you may be better off getting a complete shortblock from one of the reputable builders... If you aren't doing a power adder, I would go 402 with the aluminum block. Or even look into an L92 block with a 4 inch stroker...
    Only power adder in the near future would be a shot of n2o other than that no.

    Machine shop cost I am blessed with a father with connections so to me that's not a big concern. Last motor I had bored and freshened up was only a few hundred.

  6. #6
    Member LSXZ28's Avatar
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    Well, in that case, I'd go 408... Wiseco pistons, Eagle crank, Compstar rods.

  7. #7
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LSXZ28 View Post
    Well, in that case, I'd go 408... Wiseco pistons, Eagle crank, Compstar rods.
    Now with that being said you would do the iron?

    I can spend 1200 more all said and done to save the 88lbs or so...

    Hmmm...so many choices...

  8. #8
    Member SScott's Avatar
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    88 pounds? Ha Ha Ha it's a LOT more than that! I have an LQ9 408 and I wish almost every day that I had gone with the aluminum block.

  9. #9
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SScott View Post
    88 pounds? Ha Ha Ha it's a LOT more than that! I have an LQ9 408 and I wish almost every day that I had gone with the aluminum block.
    Have you done any weight reduction???

    How much of a difference do you think it is?

    Would you have spent an extra 1200?

  10. #10
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    I'd go iron all day long. I like the fact they can be bored, and if you save a little, there will be something left for another rebuild down the road.

    Don't care for the aluminum, a hone and it's done. Resleeving is too expensive. Don't care about the weight, that's been debated before.

    If you are talking about the factory iron blocks, there was a comparison of bare blocks a while back, and the difference was only 65 lbs. Only when you get into the LSX blocks does the weight difference become significant.

    You can make up the weight difference easily, with a tubular K-member which takes almost exactly 60 lbs. off the nose. There are other things that can be done as well. Hell that's only the difference between a fat chick or a skinny chick in the passenger seat So I wouldn't sweat it unless you are NHRA class racing.

    As far as the LS3 style heads, I'm still not all that impressed with them. The exhaust side still sucks, which is why they need a cam with a 15 degree duration split to make power. In stock form they only flow 300-315 cfm on the intake side. Not that great when you look at the size of the ports, about a 260cc intake runner, and they are still a 15 degree head. You can get that out of a set of cathedral port 15 degree heads with only a 200-220 cc intake runner.

    What are you wanting to spend on heads?

  11. #11
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Firebirdjones View Post
    What are you wanting to spend on heads?
    If I can make a decent time on the track I would like to go cheap as hell. thus asking about the l92 head.


    Other wise I know to go fast heads have a big part in it and I understand that 2 grand will go quick on a used set.

    About the weight with the blocks I am not class racing I just want a fun track/street TOY! I would like to see a 10.99 run n/a in the next two - three years

  12. #12
    Veteran Firebirdjones's Avatar
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    If you want to go cheap, then those L92's are probably going to be the head for you.

    If it were me, I'd do the iron block, and take that money saved and spend that on a FAST setup for those L92 heads. You can find other ways to remove 60-80lbs. out of the car easy enough.

    Your ET is doable. Plenty of streetable 402/408's out there running well into the 10's on motor only.

  13. #13
    Member SScott's Avatar
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    My complete engine, heads, accessories, etc was over 120 pounds over the stock complete engine. In other words what I put in was 120+ pounds heavier than what I took out. I did the k member, upper and lower control arms, battery relocation (trunk), and AC delete.

  14. #14
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 02Sweet View Post
    If I can make a decent time on the track I would like to go cheap as hell. thus asking about the l92 head.

    Other wise I know to go fast heads have a big part in it and I understand that 2 grand will go quick on a used set.

    About the weight with the blocks I am not class racing I just want a fun track/street TOY! I would like to see a 10.99 run n/a in the next two - three years
    If you're trying for just barely in the 10s, I think you've got that setup now. Frost was pretty sure my car would break the into the 10s if I had a nice tire and a sub 1.70sec 60'.

    You're running an automatic, a stall and a soon to be much lighter car...we really need to go to the track before you start blowing money on this new engine.

  15. #15
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ls1camino View Post
    If you're trying for just barely in the 10s, I think you've got that setup now. Frost was pretty sure my car would break the into the 10s if I had a nice tire and a sub 1.70sec 60'.

    You're running an automatic, a stall and a soon to be much lighter car...we really need to go to the track before you start blowing money on this new engine.
    Yeah I think with a set of heads I will be in the 10s.

    But I still have to buy a new rear. That being said the motor upgrade will take awhile. I have such a small budget to upgrade my car it just takes forever! I only use part time job money and side work money.

  16. #16
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 02Sweet View Post
    Yeah I think with a set of heads I will be in the 10s.

    But I still have to buy a new rear. That being said the motor upgrade will take awhile. I have such a small budget to upgrade my car it just takes forever! I only use part time job money and side work money.
    You're on stock heads? Wow, I thought you had upgraded those. I'm already thinking of new heads for Nymph, so if you were interested and our time tables line up, I could sell you mine.

    I need to give you a list of stuff I want/need...you seem to be better at finding deals than me. The problem is that we're heading in the same direction, so we want the same parts.

  17. #17
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ls1camino View Post
    You're on stock heads? Wow, I thought you had upgraded those. I'm already thinking of new heads for Nymph, so if you were interested and our time tables line up, I could sell you mine.

    I need to give you a list of stuff I want/need...you seem to be better at finding deals than me. The problem is that we're heading in the same direction, so we want the same parts.
    You have the 5.3 heads right? If so I can't run those w/o flycutting. My PTV is already tooooo close as it is. I haven't decided what heads I want to run yet.

    Now don't get me wrong I did clean up my stock heads myself. Doubt it did anything but who knows.

    Give me a list of parts you are looking for and I will put them on my list of things to buy. You are a lot more further than I am with the mods though so I doubt we'll be looking for the same things.




    Side note to the locals. Anyone serious about getting a 9" in the next 6 months? I just got off the phone with MWC a little bit ago. With a small number of people we can save a decent amount. And considering shipping would be either free or close to it due to my full time job

  18. #18
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 02Sweet View Post
    You have the 5.3 heads right? If so I can't run those w/o flycutting. My PTV is already tooooo close as it is. I haven't decided what heads I want to run yet.
    Yeah, doesn't help that mine are milled as well.

    What cam are you running...you mentioned it at the party, but I forgot.

    Quote Originally Posted by 02Sweet View Post
    Give me a list of parts you are looking for and I will put them on my list of things to buy. You are a lot more further than I am with the mods though so I doubt we'll be looking for the same things.
    I'll PM you a list when I get home...I have a large whiteboard with everything on it.

  19. #19
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    I'm not THAT far along. We're at the same stage of weight reduction and front suspension though.

  20. #20
    Rockin the Ruckus! 02Sweet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ls1camino View Post
    Yeah, doesn't help that mine are milled as well.

    What cam are you running...you mentioned it at the party, but I forgot.



    I'll PM you a list when I get home...I have a large whiteboard with everything on it.
    242 244-610 612 112 lsa is the cam specs


    to the white board got a chalk board in the garage

    You ever figure out that vacuum leak yet?

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