Cammed LQ9 budget?

ScottyBoy

ScottyBoy

The LED Man
Apr 6, 2012
1,320
21
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What kind of money would I realistically be looking at to put a mild cammed LQ9 or LQ4 in my truck? I will need to purchase a good running low mile engine and then the parts for the cam swap, some long tubes, and I'm sure a few other parts. Can I realistically do this for around $3500 or less?
I never really entertained an engine swap because I know I can't afford one. But I found out that I am the beneficiary on an insurance policy that my mom had. So after I pay off a shitload of medical bills, I can probably spend about 4k on my truck.
 
Silver04

Silver04

DA04
Aug 7, 2012
1,385
224
63
Firebaugh Ca
If you can get a good 6.0 under $1000 I'm sure u can do it with that budget. But that's not including the price the machine shop is going to charge you to go through it.
 
Jared

Jared

Administrator
Feb 8, 2012
20,572
117
63
North Dallas
You plan on keeping it a while? Happy with it? If so then dump the money...

you should be able to find one under $1k like mentioned above. My LY6 was $1k complete minus ecm. Sold quickly for $1500 because I needed the money.

Cam kits or piece things together slowly. Eddie has a nice parts list that can help you out some. Cal speed or equivalent headers under $500 shipped. Tune for 300ish, maybe a tad more. Cams can be had around 350-450 depending.
 
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ScottyBoy

ScottyBoy

The LED Man
Apr 6, 2012
1,320
21
38
Yes, I plan on keeping this truck a while. I've already had this truck for almost 9 years now, and I've dumped too much money into it to get rid of it now. I just had the transmission rebuilt barely two years ago now, so I figure if I swap the engine and go through the rear end , then the drive train should give me at least 10 more years. My wife and I have discussed buying me a new truck, but shit came up. We had to buy her a new car last year because she wrecked hers, and no way I am even gonna TRY and swiing two car notes, one is bad enough.
 
Dirtmafia

Dirtmafia

Hella
Jan 24, 2011
380
7
18
California
Under most circumstances I wouldn't pay a dime more for an LQ9. Find yourself a decent LQ4 for a reasonable price and go from there, $3500 should get you a proper freshened up/ cammed 6.0.

For reference, My cam swap came to about $500 plus my time ( all new parts).

Keep us updated, this sounds fun.
 
Samuel6731

Samuel6731

Cant Get Right
Mar 11, 2012
674
1
18
New Roads La.
motor id expect depending on miles and age 800-1500
springs 150-250
pushrods 100
cam 300-450
tune 200-450
Very basic if you were to build yourself and not buy one already with a cam in it. So high side id say 2750ish low side (motor cheaper or using cheaper maybe used parts) id say 1550ish. So its very well inside of your budget just considering the basics.

Other thoughts:
comp trunion upgrade is a nice piece for 120 to protect against needle bearing failures
buying a used motor id replace the oil pump if not done so
depending on money left over you could probably still afford a nice billet converter

If you're looking for one already done/freshened up/rebuilt, i still think you are very will inside of budget. As mentioned above dont pass a nice lq4 for a good price.
 
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Fiesty

Fiesty

Active Member
Jul 28, 2013
2,698
13
38
30
Kansas City, MO
Samuel6731 said:
motor id expect depending on miles and age 800-1500
springs 150-250
pushrods 100
cam 300-450
tune 200-450
Very basic if you were to build yourself and not buy one already with a cam in it. So high side id say 2750ish low side (motor cheaper or using cheaper maybe used parts) id say 1550ish. So its very well inside of your budget just considering the basics.

Other thoughts:
comp trunion upgrade is a nice piece for 120 to protect against needle bearing failures
buying a used motor id replace the oil pump if not done so
depending on money left over you could probably still afford a nice billet converter

If you're looking for one already done/freshened up/rebuilt, i still think you are very will inside of budget. As mentioned above dont pass a nice lq4 for a good price.
Click to expand...

pretty spot on numbers here. deff get an oil pump. dont forget headers too. under drive pulley if you want since the crank pulley will be off. if you can find a NNBS/TBSS intake mani then even better.
 
Khaos

Khaos

Bed Dent Club Founder
Mar 24, 2012
20,378
1,566
113
Albany, NY
I'm gonna throw this wrench in the mix and say pick up a used MP112 (like this one: radix mp 112 - PerformanceTrucks.net Forums ), tune, and be under budget and have gobs of power on tap.

Not saying no to the cammed 6.0, because that would be badass, just giving you other options to make some power with the same budget.
 
J

j.mo

Well-Known Member
Apr 24, 2012
7,497
735
113
Nor Cal
I'm on track with Chris.
If I could go back and do it over, I would have just thrown a SC on and called it. Would have had more giddy up, and less worries with emissions.
 
ScottyBoy

ScottyBoy

The LED Man
Apr 6, 2012
1,320
21
38
Ginger said:
im glad to see you atleast had a little luck, and can pay off you bills scotty.

you should be able to do it under 3500 if you do the work yourself.

just remember you will need to take it semi easy on the tranny
Click to expand...

The trans was built with reinforced hard parts, like a hardened sunshell and other stuff. But I have no idea how much HP it can handle.

And hopefully, I can get my credit cards paid off and the medical bills we still owe. But I ain't paying my brothers student loan off. I know it's in my name, but fuck that. He can pay his own shit off. He was the beneficiary of a 100k policy that my grandmother bought years ago. She "trusted" him to share it with the rest of the brothers, but he is not doing that. He is keeping it all. And legally he can since he is the only beneficiary listed on that policy. Fuckit, I ain't worried about it, I don't miss money that I never had to begin with. But I know this much... if his sorry ass doesn't pay that student loan off, then we will have some SERIOUS fuckin beef. He should have well over 80k left after the funeral costs (the funeral is being paid from that policy) so if he can't pay off a 27k student loan, then he needs an ass whoopin.
:endrant:

Back on track now, I just found out that I am the beneficiary on a another picy she had through her work (and I am the SOLE beneficiary :p ) so I still need to find out exactly how much I'll be getting. All I know is that it will be at LEAST 10k. So I'm just now starting some research on doing an engine swap. It won't be till next summer at the soonest.
I think a facelift is in the works too. I'm debating on whether to do a 06 Silverado front clip or to just do a 01-02 HD hood and grill along with a HD bumper cap. But these mods will all depend on how much I actually get, because the bills come first and then the truck.
 
J

j.mo

Well-Known Member
Apr 24, 2012
7,497
735
113
Nor Cal
No one will be getting shit when I kick the bucket.
Maybe a negative balance bank statement when I bounce my last purchase.
I've made that clear to everyone already. Money makes people ruthless, especially in a death situation
 
ScottyBoy

ScottyBoy

The LED Man
Apr 6, 2012
1,320
21
38
j.mo said:
No one will be getting shit when I kick the bucket.
Maybe a negative balance bank statement when I bounce my last purchase.
I've made that clear to everyone already. Money makes people ruthless, especially in a death situation
Click to expand...
Yep. Ain't that the damn truth. Which is why I ain't gonna fight with my brothers about any inheritance bullshit. I think that's part of the reason my brother Jeff started shit with me and my wife. My mom was paying a lot of his bills since he doesn't have a job, and now he is panicking about what to do for money. She didn't leave a will, or least not one that anybody knows about yet. I wasn't even expecting to get a dime until the benefits guy from my moms work called me to tell me that I was listed as the sole beneficiary. But as far as her house and shit, we are still up in the air as far as what to do. She owes a lot on her house, about what it's worth. So we'd be lucky to break even on that selling it to pay it off.
She has a credit card with a balance on it that will have to be paid, and she has a few grand in the bank. But the money in the bank will most likely be used to pay the house note until we get rid of it.
Her credit card company has already called me trying to arrange payoff on her account. I explained to them that she hasn't even been dead two weeks, so politely fuck off until we figure her estate out.
 
ScottyBoy

ScottyBoy

The LED Man
Apr 6, 2012
1,320
21
38
Still been looking into this. MFers are mighty proud of these damn 6.0's around here. Fuckers wanting $2000ish for a used engine with 150k+ miles on it. Fuck that. I'll keep looking.
I did find an LQ4 about 3 hours from here and the guy want $1500 firm. He claims it has 129k on it.
 
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