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I need y'alls advice on a new motor...

If you search in the right places you'll find a LS2 (400 hp) that will fit your $5000 budget. If you'r in the mood to spend $5000 there is NO WAY IN HELL that I would buy anything other than a LS2. The LS2 block is super strong and if you mount it correctly you won't have any issues with damaging the block.

Just another word of advice. Don't fall victim to the LQ4/LQ9 sellers that say with some headers and a CUSTOM tune you will get 400HP. Those guys have no ****in idea of what their talking about. :dunno: A full dyno tune with mass air or speed density tuned will only gain around 20 HP on a stock engine or one with the average bolt-ons AND that's with a repuitable tuner.

I personally have had a 5.3 (320 HP), WS6 TA (325 HP LS1), Corvette (LS1 345 HP) and a Trailblazer SS (400 HP LS2). After having all 4 of these engines and modding all four I would take the STOCK LS2 over any of them. A stock LS2 is a beast and will suprise you every time you stand in it. You also can't beat the STOCK torque rating of 400 and a factory redline of 6800!!! thumb.gif

This is just my opinion on things.
 
YOUNG said:
I personally have had a 5.3 (320 HP), WS6 TA (325 HP LS1), Corvette (LS1 345 HP) and a Trailblazer SS (400 HP LS2). After having all 4 of these engines and modding all four I would take the STOCK LS2 over any of them. A stock LS2 is a beast and will suprise you every time you stand in it. You also can't beat the STOCK torque rating of 400 and a factory redline of 6800!!! thumb.gif

This is just my opinion on things.
Click to expand...

I have also heard this to be true and it was a big reason I went with the LS2. I've heard people state some reasons why GM reduced the stated power output of the LS2 to meet some sort of emissions requirement or some ****. I've even seen a suppossed dyno of a bone stock LS2 that had nearly 475hp on some LS forum somewhere. I'm not sure how much truth is behind it all. I don't really care either. If you read some Corvette forums nearly everyone who drives an LS2 after owning a modded LS1 says that the LS2 seems WAY more powerful. It may just be because the 2 has way more power lower in the rpm band.

Anyway, I'm emailing you the info on where I got my engine ...

J. J.
 
lq4 6.0 is what i'd do. intake, good tune, exhaust and ls2 injector and your in 400hp or so without even goin in the motor.
theres a bunch of little stuff you can do. pulley's throttle body and thermostat can net you a few little hp's
 
Thanks for the opinions guys. Part of me wants to say **** it and go with the LS2 while the other part says get the LQ9. I'm going to think on it and see what deals I can find. As for pricing, what would you guys consider a "good deal" on a complete LQ9 and an LS2 with accessories. I need an idea of what I should be paying. I see a lot of high priced crap out there. Like I said I'm willing to pay a little more for a complete setup but I will still wait around for a good deal to come my way. I'm in no hurry.

Another thing, what trans should I run? Built TH400, 4L60e, 4L80e? Buggy is a trailer queen obviously. Right now I've got 4.56 gears and a 4.3 Atlas and would like to keep those obviously. Also have a 2.7 klune but I figured I'd sell that unless you guys think it would be a good combo with an auto. I've had a manual for so long I'm in the dark on autos now.
 
I have a 4L60E behind my 5.3. It was the original trans from the S10, but it was rebuilt about 20K ago with a good rebuild kit and some upgraded stuff. I didnt put any aftermarket hard parts in there, but with 400+ HP, I would look at upgrading a few things inside other than the clutch packs. The 4L60e has a lower first gear than the TH350/400 (not much diff between those 2 BTW) which is a bonus and you can still control the trans pretty easily by holding back the shifter in first or second. you can also get the reverse manual valve bodies with compression braking if you wanted it. I really dont know much about the other autos, 4L80e is beast and is a bit bigger than the 4L60e if I remember right. You will also need to figure out what torque convertor you would want to run, I have the stock style S10 converter in mine and it works pretty decent.

The 5.3 I have in my rig has a LS6 cam/springs and a tune and it runs pretty good. I found my motor for 350 bux with the harness and ECM, 30 day warranty (which did no good for me since it was almost a year before I put it in..lol) I had to buy a starter and alt and a belt. I reworked the harness myself and had a buddy do the ECM, so I didnt have that much money into the entire swap.

Brian
 
My buddy works for a salvage yard so I got him to put his feelers out. Here's what he's found for me so far. Let me know what you guys think on these deals

-'06 ls2 from a Vette that was rear ended, 25k miles, engine, harness, ecu, thorottle body, all brackets, sensors, ac compressor, ps pump, alt, wp, starter, and throttle pedal to my door for $6250. That comes with a 90 day parts warranty

-'06 LQ9 complete with everything like above, 56k miles, $2300 to your door. 90 day warranty, same deal essentially
 
I agree and I was really leaning towards the LQ9 until Young and Patooyee chimed in on how badass the new LS2 supposedly is. After reading that I was drool

I've got my feelers out on both motors, I guess I'll try and decide based on the best bang for the buck deal I can find.
 
I got 3 , 6.0's now...can get more....$750 Or whatever else you want...LS1/LS6/LS2/5.3/6.0 whatever...and cheap.
 
Just make sure that motor goes wooooooo poooooooow when you get it all done. You gotta have a woo pow motor!
 
redneckengineered said:
My buddy works for a salvage yard so I got him to put his feelers out. Here's what he's found for me so far. Let me know what you guys think on these deals

-'06 ls2 from a Vette that was rear ended, 25k miles, engine, harness, ecu, thorottle body, all brackets, sensors, ac compressor, ps pump, alt, wp, starter, and throttle pedal to my door for $6250. That comes with a 90 day parts warranty

-'06 LQ9 complete with everything like above, 56k miles, $2300 to your door. 90 day warranty, same deal essentially
Click to expand...


Get you buddy to look for a LS2 out of a TrailBlazer SS 2006-2007. The Trailblazer SS LS2's usually run cheeper than the Vette due to truck intake and such. I have seen them sell for as little a $3000 with all the acc. and harness.

The LQ9 is a good motor and has better rods and pistons than the LQ4. You also get the 10.1 compression ratio with the LQ9 that will help out alot if you decide to mod it down the road. My buddy has one in his buggy with a 230+ duration cam and DYNO TUNE and she runs REALLY well even pulling 6000 lbs.

HOLD OUT FOR THE LS2!!! :fish:
 
LS1's are old-school nowadays. :) LS2s are getting there. Soon you're going to see LS3s going into ****. I see LS3s go for about $10k complete. 525 hp out of the box. :)

J. J.
 
redneckengineered said:
My buddy works for a salvage yard so I got him to put his feelers out.  Here's what he's found for me so far.  Let me know what you guys think on these deals

-'06 ls2 from a Vette that was rear ended, 25k miles, engine, harness, ecu, thorottle body, all brackets, sensors, ac compressor, ps pump, alt, wp, starter, and throttle pedal to my door for $6250.  That comes with a 90 day parts warranty

-'06 LQ9 complete with everything like above, 56k miles, $2300 to your door. 90 day warranty, same deal essentially
Click to expand...

I try to stay out of these discussions because everyone has there own opinion on what is just enough or to much money. I do have a lot of experience with installing turn key engines though, so I will give you my opinion on what I feel like is the best way to go about it.

With you wanting some where around the 400 hp number then you are going to have to add a cam shaft to pretty much any engine you choose. If you are planning on doing a mail order tune then you should call the tuner and buy the cam shaft that they tell you too. Don't try to source it out your self and end up with some thing that will be a pain to mail order tune because a guy at a speed shop says they tuner them all of the time. When a engine is sitting on the dyno you can get away with so much more.

If you plan on getting it tuned on a dyno tell the guy tuning it to pick the cam for you and tell you what to expect.

Still the most pain free option has been a turn key engine from a reputable engine builder. After I got hooked up with MAST Motor sports it really opened up my eyes to just what all cam with a full turn key engine. You get an engine with a 2 year warranty, fully dyno tuned, fuel system, and the best part is true customer support. I can't tell you the head ache you can go through when your engine is not running right and every one that has worked on helping you get it running is laying blame on the other guys that picked the cam, tuned, or flashed the computer, or cut down the harness.   When with a crate engine you just have to call one person and they can help you out.

They are more expensive to start with but it is one money spent.


You are headed down the right path with getting you a salvaged engine.

Give me a call at the shop and I will talk over with you what all I have been through and what was the best bang for the buck. 615-962-9135

-'06 ls2 from a Vette that was rear ended, 25k miles, engine, harness, ecu, throttle body, all brackets, sensors, ac compressor, ps pump, alt, wp, starter, and throttle pedal to my door for $6250.  That comes with a 90 day parts warranty

Don't buy this engine because I can sell you a 420 hp crate engine for around $6500 with fuel system included. Brand new with a two year warranty.

Please give me a call I think I can save you some money and time.
 

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