I had a 2004 LQ4 that had the ls2 rods and floating pistons in it also. I would say get whatever you can get cheapest.

 

If you are running NA, or light boost the early LQ4 with the light rods will come on harder than the later. Those heavy rod engines swing another ~60g of weight per cyl vs the light rod. Lq9 with the higher compression will make up for it. The HD rod engines do have a much better piston and don't slap near as bad as the early mexico piston engines.

 

so i get a 2005 yp lq9 if i can find one. but if i find an lq4 for a good price i should get it and change pistions anyway and it will be just as good as lq9. i heard some of the lq4 or it could be lq9 dont fit in because it has a longer crank or somethings should i stay away from motors before 02.

 

99-00 have a longer crank.

Just buy the best deal.

 

where did u get a short block for 300? i didnt realize i could possibly ****** one that cheap. i wanna build a 6.0 now!

 

No, you can get any year LQ9 and it will have the updated parts, except for 02 and early 03 LQ9's which have the LQ4 rods. 05+ is when the LQ4 received the LQ9 bottom end

Honestly, unless you're planning major numbers or spinning to the moon, either will be fine

LQ9's have aluminum 317 casting heads, as do 01+ LQ4's

 

Good point, but if you ever go to part out the truck in the future it may be tougher to sell the custom converter as opposed to one that will swap right in...

 

I'll blow it up and build another before I ever part it out. The converter will work with any other LSx based block if I use the crank spacer needed for a LS to TH400 combo and my 2500 flat flexplate. So its really not a problem, I'm sure someone would be more them happy to buy this converter only needing a crank spacer to go to 4l60e. Plus its the Pro Truck, which means its lock up clutch is the same as what a 4l80e verter would have. Which still allows me to tow with my truck and Yank converter. When kids talk a load of **** then when its time for the track to open they can't get their car down there. It is funny when I can (and have) offered to tow them to the track "SMOKE THEM" and then tow them back home...

 

It came from Lingenfelter actually a buddy bought it off Ebay. GM had given a bunch of them to Lingenfelter for dyno testing and they never used them, they were brand new complete engines. they even had exhaust manifolds, waterpumps, coils and intakes. He ended up selling the short block to me. He was doing an l92 build to go in a third gen Camaro with a th400, the longer crank is perfect for a LS to TH350-400 build. He decided to buy diamond pistons for his build and go 370 cause it was gonna get an *** load of spray shot at it. I traded a core I had I bought for $50 and $250, to him, I ended up with the Virgin block. When we got it and pulled off the manifolds the exhaust ports were clean and the engine had never been ran.

 

Some of the 04 LQ4 had the ls2 rods and updated pistons. I just had one that was built in late 03 that had the floating rods.