Hey couldn't you also use a flashlight and mirror to look at the back of the block?

Also aren't

LQ4 = iron block
LQ4 = alum block

I'm curious as well.

 

The Blocks are both IRON and they are identically marked

the ONLY way to tell them apart short of an accurate vin number is to look at the piston, it's a very small dish but but it's there in an LQ4

 

Well, damn.

 

Welcome to the nightmare lol

 

I was hoping there would be an easy way like, "look in the fuse box and if number 23 is red then it's an lq4" or something for when I got looking at silvys and sierras later in the year.

What's 90% likely is I'll get a 5.3 RCSB and swap in a crate L76 or LS1/6 with a cam.

 

If you looking for trucks, you can identify what motor it has by year and options, but looking at the motor you need to tear into it to know lq9/4

 

Yeah I know about RPO codes and looking at vins. What I meant is when someone says, "I'll sell you my LQ4/LQ9."

I can tell the difference in LS1/6/2/3 ect from a mile away. Well not really but you get my point.

 

Ok, That does suck, because you never know who you can trust.
I thought you were looking for a truck and wanted to know which motor it had.

 

Yeah, people try to pass off 305s as 350s all the time. Still!

You can't tell me it doesn't happen with LSx engines.

 

Hello folks. take a look at this. Reg Chris10an from Ls1Tech

4800

[edit] LR4
The Vortec 4800 LR4 is a Generation III small block V8 truck engine. Displacement is 4.8 L (≈293 cu in) with a 96.01 mm bore and 83 mm stroke. It is the smallest of the Generation III Vortec truck engines and was the replacement for the 5.0 L 5000 L30. The LR4 produces 270 horsepower (200 kW) to 295 horsepower (220 kW) and 285 lb·ft (386 N·m) to 305 lb·ft (414 N·m), depending on the model year and application. LR4s are manufactured at St. Catharines, Ontario and Romulus, Michigan.

LR4 applications:

2003-present Chevrolet Express 2500-3500/GMC Savana 2500-3500
1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra
1999-2006 Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon

[edit] LY2
The Vortec 4800 LY2 is a Generation IV small block V8 truck engine. Like its LR4 predecessor, it gets its displacement from a 96.01 mm bore and 83 mm stroke. The smallest member of the Generation IV Vortec engine family, it is unique in that it is the only member of that family that does not feature either variable valve timing or Active Fuel Management. It is rated at 295 hp (220 kW) and 305 ft·lbf (414 N·m) of torque for all applications.

LY2 applications:

2007-present Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2007-present Chevrolet Tahoe
2007-present GMC Sierra 1500
2007-present GMC Yukon

[edit] 5000
The Vortec 5000 L30 is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 5.0 L. It is a based on the Generation I small-block from Chevrolet. It was replaced by the 4.8 L 4800 LR4 for the 2003 full-size vans. In Van configuration it produces 230 horsepower (170 kW) Net Flywheel at 4,600 rpm and 290 Net Flywheel Torque at 2,800 rpm. The engine uses a hydraulic roller cam and high flowing, fast burn style vortec heads. Differences include bore and stroke, intake valve size, and smaller combustion chambers. L30 applications:

Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
General Motors C/K full-size trucks

[edit] 5300

[edit] Generation III
The Vortec 5300, or LM7/LM4/L59/L33, is a V8 truck engine. It is a stroked (by 9 mm) version of the Vortec 4800 and replaced the 5700 L31. L59 denoted a flexible fuel version, while the LM7 was the standard version of the engine.

Power output is 285-295 hp (213-220 kW) and torque is 325 lb·ft (441 N·m) to 335 lb·ft (454 N·m). Displacement is 5.3 L (5328 cc (325 cu in)) from 96.01 mm bore and 92.00 mm stroke. Vortec 5300s are built in St. Catharines, Ontario, Romulus, Michigan, and Silao, Mexico.


[edit] LM7
The LM7 Vortec 5300 was introduced in 1999, and can be considered the "garden variety" version of the Generation III 5.3 liter V8's.

LM7 applications:

2002-2005 Cadillac Escalade 2WD
2002-2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
2003-2007 Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
1999-2007 GMC Sierra 1500
1999-2006 Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL
1999-2006 Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon

[edit] LM4
The LM4 was an aluminum block version of the LM7, and had a short production life. It should not be confused with the L33.

LM4 applications:

2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
2004 GMC Envoy XL
2004 Chevrolet SSR

[edit] L33
The L33 was an aluminum block version of the LM7, and was referred to as the Vortec 5300 HO in marketing materials. Power increased by 15 hp (11 kW), to 310 hp (230 kW), over the LM7, and torque was unchanged. It was only available on extended cab 4WD pickup trucks.

L33 applications:

2005-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD
2005-2007 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD

[edit] L59
The L59 Vortec 5300 was introduced in 2002, and was a flexible fuel version of the LM7. Power and torque ratings matched that of the LM7.

L59 applications:

2002-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2002-2006 Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
2002-2006 Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL
2002-2007 GMC Sierra 1500