I'm getting ready to install a LQ9/4L65E combo out of an '03 Escalade into my '72 K5 Blazer. I'm looking to get 450-550 hp/tq at the flywheel N/A. What can I do to get this bad boy up to those levels? I need this thing to run on pump gas, be reliable, and be streetable. I'm going to be running headers and a true dual exhaust system and all the smog equipment will be taken off and tuned out, that should help a bit. Is this asking too much? Any ideas are much appreciated.

Thanks
James

 

It depends... what is your budget??

 

I would start with a blower.....Radix would be nice!

 

would you now??

James, you're gonna more than likely need heads, cam and to spin it pretty high to make that power in a big heavy pig like the blazer. boring it like .040" over and a big cam and a set of sweet heads would probably do the trick though. forged internals and an LS6 intake manifold with a set of custom made longtube headers.

 

Supercharge it.

 

Yes Slow, I would when a question like the above was asked.

 

I'm hoping to keep the $$$ down as the swap alone is going to run me some serious cheese. I was hoping since the LQ9 is already putting out 345/380 stock that I could get another hundred out of it with some work on the heads, cam, headers, and a way less restrictive dual 2.5" exhaust. I mainly want to get the torque up there as this is going to be a street/desert driven daily driver. What do you guys think?

 

I think its gonna be a tuff job without a stroker kit. However, a good choice in cam and ported cylinder heads will help the Blower. I think a Radix would be a great choice in an effort to retain streetability, and people on here have reported HP levels around 400RW with a properly tuned 6.0 and Radix, so that should be right around what your looking for at the flywheel.

 

I did heads/ conservative cam/ and headers on my 04 silverado SS with the LQ9 and made 383 HP and 389 FT/LBS at the wheels so that would put you in the 480HP at the flywheel ballpark. THe truck really hauls the mail now.

 

it could be done VERY easily without a stroker kit, but it's not going to be easy to do it. you can do what you are trying to do WITHOUT a blower or stroker, but you'll have to do some research and make good choices as to what parts you use. with 450 at the wheels, i figured about 20% drivetrain loss (probably be more for AWD) and at that, you're only talking 350-370 range depending on what the percentage is. SO, like i said, get a nice heads/cam setup and a set of headers, some tuning and you're VERY close, if not farther along than you were hoping to be.