Forgot to mention there are dozens of crate engine options as well from the links over here >>>>>>> but I believe they are more than $3500 to start.

 

Thanks for the help! My only concern is that I only have 1 exhaust pipe. What do I need to buy to make it work? Or does my engine look like that too, and there is a part that merges them into one? Sorry my wording is pretty bad.

 

It'll work just fine. Your engine has 2 as well. Should just be a direct swap. Take yours out, put this one in, have your PCM tuned for it, and you should be good to go.

 

Also just to throw this out there, you could also do a 5.3 swap, which won't get you much more HP than your current 4.8, but they're also a LOT cheaper (i've found 10 for 450 dollars at my local salvage yard). You could spend the extra coin you save on some on the motor to get the extra power your searching for.
Start here.
https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...llsize-395748/

 

Yours has has 2 into 1 as well. It just says as 1 pipe out the back. the larger engines had 2 into 1 but had a split 2 back to the muffler and 1 out.

Cadillac's had the badge on the cover

The Vortec max red lettering cover was 06-07

In 03-05 it was Vortec 6000 in silver

The LQ9 was only available with the 4L65E option RPO code was M32

The 4L65e is the same basic 4L60E transmission but had a few minor upgrades internally like 5 pinion planetaries to help with the higher output.

Speaking from experience there is quite a difference in going from an LM7 5.3 to the LQ9. Even the LQ4 has a much stronger feeling in stock form.

Your only going to be able to max a 5.3 out around 380RWHP with out going forced induction. The 6.0 will probably get closer to the 440 RWHP range.

In my opinion the money your going to spend on a 5.3L with bolt ons you would be better off spending up front on going with a 6.0L. At least you will notice a significant gain right away. Then you can save up again and start building from there if you have a quest for more power.

If you have a real small budget then the 5.3L cost around the same as the 4.8 and I would definitely put a 5.3L in over the 4.8 any day of the week.

 

BTW you can get a complete LQ4 for $1000-$1500 and save a few bucks vs. getting the LQ9.

The only reason the LQ9 has a higher HP rating is because of the compression and tuneing for the higher ocatne.

You could get an LQ4 for now and later install 243 heads and achieve basically the same thing.

 

Thanks for all of the advice. Will the LQ9 have a timing chain? Or a timing belt?

 

Chain.

 

So the engine in the link is or isn't from a Cadillac with the Vortec Max cover?

I agree with the 6.0 vs 5.3 suggestion. Unless of course you add forced induction

 

my 4.8 in my ecsb 4x4 with 3.73 gears likes to downshift going up hills on the highway, i am on a tight budget so thinking of getting a 5.3 for it, does the 5.3 have enough more power than the 4.8 that it wont have to downshift on every hill?