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I've got a 79 C10 that I recently swapped an LQ4 in to. It runs plenty good, but I need more. I have a 2.0 that makes more power (and less torque, but still), and I can't let that stand.
Current specs:
Clean but milage unknown LQ4, 317 heads
BTR Stage IV truck cam
LS3 valve springs
BTR 11/32 pushrods
New Melling standard oil pump
New Cloyes stanard timing chain
LS2 timing chain damper
42 lb injectors
Full length headers, 2.5" mandrel exhaust with X pipe
Built 4l80e
Circle D 3200 converter
Yukon posi w/ 3.73 gears
This combo made 371/363 after tuning. I am considering swapping over to a set of 862 heads that I can get for a decent price. They're already ported, I'll have them checked out, touched up, valve job, all that. I figured I would go ahead and do a TBSS intake at the same time. For now I'll be keeping the original tb and using an adapter. If I do this, I figured I will have them milled and go for a nice 11 or 11.5 compression. I would expect that this will run me around $1200 or so, and should net 30-40 HP at the wheels along with some torque. Seems like a great upgrade, but I'm pretty sure that's less power than a stock LS3 which kind of annoys me. I could always run a shot of nitrous, but honestly I hardly ever drag race so forced induction would really be a better choice for me over nitrous.
On the other hand, I could use one of these Vortec centrifugal kits (which is going to mean another fuel injector upgrade of course) and put down a lot more power. For the difference in price, it may be worth it.
Thought I'd see what your opinions are on the head and intake swap. I know with those that a different cam would probably do better than the truck cam, but I'm not really down to swap it again (had troubles with the crank bolt threads, not sure I can get that bolt back out without destroying the crank). Also curious what you all think on the valve size - are the smaller intake valves on the 862 heads going to hurt me, if so I can always just steal the larger valves from the 317 heads, not like they're ever going to get used again.
If I go with the Vortec, I'm guessing it may not help going with the TBSS intake - or will it? I'd think the head swap would not be worth the effort with the Vortec, since most of the value in running those 5.3 heads would be in the compression, which I wouldn't want with the blower.
Anyway, let's hear what you all think! I hardly ever get online to use forums anymore and I don't know anybody here, so I'll post a few pics of my swaps since I know we all like pics.
i have a lq4 sitting waiting to be installed in my truck, it will have more cam and 243's with the bolt on goodies thinking it should make 400ish to the wheels but thinking of dumping it and doing a worked over 6.2 instead and try to get 450rwhp out of it with a nice flat torque line
i think compression will help you how much im not sure, is it worth $1,200? if your not happy then sure 30+ hp with a bump on torque all day long
my 87 c10 was pushing around 350hp wheel with a SBC 383 weight about 3800lb truck ran high 12's consistently 1.7x 60' suspension was just a 2" spindle and shackles/hangers in the back on drag radial, had a crappy Holley injection on it never could get anyone to tune it right i bet your lq4 runs way better you probably have a mid 12 second truck now
Yeah now when I say SBC I mean "LS", after a few decades of dealing with old engines and carbs from any make, I'm done! Easiest 371 horses I've ever made (well, the engine work was easy anyway, the swap was quite a project). The 350 it replaced made a whopping 250/300 with Vortec heads and a baby cam. Night and day difference for sure.
The more I look at the level of effort and cost, I'm really thinking I'm just going with a Vortech blower. Around $3500 for the tuner kit plus injectors, it's hard to beat the amount of power. I love turbos, but after having spent all that time and money fabbing the exhaust I really don't want to replace or re-do it. The LSA setup looks great aside from having to run it on the accessory belt, and the prices aren't all that great now that everybody wants them. We'll see what happens, but I'm thinking that even if I can hit 410-420 with the heads and intake, it's not impressive enough by today's standards!
The cam is great but not ideal for either setup but as mentioned I'm not going to mess with that one again.
Unfortunately, it's not a money is no object situation or I'd have a very different setup. Too many other cars here need attention besides my old beater.
Here's the only exterior pic I could find, before the swap and the drop.
these old C10's are really the only trucks i every liked two tone paint jobs on, thats a nice truck you have there!
i think 400 - 450 wheel is a solid number and makes for a fun truck but agree it dont impress many today im looking to crack 700 wheel hp in my car witch wont really get looked at when at a car meet (ill be in the slow car group) seams like every thing is 1000hp + on the street even ford has a f150 with 750hp you can buy with factory warranty
when i built my c10 the LS thing just starting coming around into the swap world and every thing was really expensive and i didnt have the knowledge i do today i so build at the time a hi dollar 383 with stealth ram fuel injection, dart pro 1 ported heads and every thing else you can do to a SBC made about 350 wheel for what i spent it was depressing, my son has a 04 short box we swapped put a pretty much stock (ls6 cam) lq4 & 4l80e in he makes 340 wheel his swap cost about 30% of what it cost me for that 383 and his engine and trans was rebuilt, i felt like an idiot thinking about the money and time i invested. his truck is very dependable (knock on wood) that c10 left me stranded so many time last few years i owned it i didnt even put 200 miles on it was happy to see it leave
02-23-2020, 02:45 AM
6.0 swap done, want more.
