I have a 2010 Sierra 1500 with a 5.3 lc9 with AFM and VVT, it’s getting close to 260k and the lifters are starting to go and I have an lq4 for basically free. is there anything I would have to do besides the reluctor, knock sensors, and timing cover/cam sensor. I’m also gonna do a small truck cam Because why not.

 

There’s a few companies who make a harness for all your sensors to work properly. You would also want a tune.

 

I wouldn’t bother. Sell the LQ4 and buy a 58x 6.0

 

Drop an L96 in there or an L9H if your set on adding cubic inches from a swap.

 

I vote L9H

 

im in the works of doing it

all the same block

LY6 is iron block, going to use that knock sensor map as a starting point

doing a cam so a front cover and vally plate are cheap and easy, biggest thing is finding a cheap 58X crank and one that is clean enought to make it worth swapping

im doing forged so the bottom end will be out anyways id so go for it

 

Why not use the one from your LC9? LY6 is not Flex Fuel, will have smaller injectors than L96 or even your LC9. Your LC9s heads and injectors might make more bottom end torque on that block.

 

You can use a Gen 3 block but not as it is. The whole "There is a harness or a conversion" BS needs to stop... that's not even remotely true. You can convert a 58 tooth signal to a 24 tooth to use a Gen IV in a Gen III app but not the other way around.

The problem with the LQ4 is the crank reluctor, the knock sensors and the cam sensor mainly. You could easily use your 5.3 as a donation to the LQ4 for everything though and have a stout setup. You need the 5.3's crank although that probably would require balancing. Otherwise you need someone to swap the reluctor wheel over for you. Next you need a Gen IV 4.8 or early 5.3 timing cover without VVT ( GM sells them as the LS3 timing cover but 4.8's are literally in every you pull it yard everywhere) so you can have a front mounted cam sensor. Last is you would need to drill and tap some spots for the knocks sensors to mount down by the pan rail.

Is doing this worth it? I dunno... up to you. That said though if you did dropping the LC9's 799 or 243 heads on the LQ4 with your gen iv intake coupled with a decent cam would be pretty strong... and honestly more fun than a lower compression L92 headed 6 liter.

Now if you can get a LY6 or L96 short block you could just dump it in but you may as well delete the VVT just like you would using the LQ4. Still though unless this is a strict high rpm setup a set of cathedral heads and intake ( which you already have in hand anyway) would be lots.