Lq9 engine tuning book

Feb 21, 2018 so i finally made time to do my engine swap. This is a must buy in my opinion if you want to rebuild an ls based engine. In 2005, gm began putting the lq9 floating wrist pin rods in the lq4 engines, but the company utilized dished pistons instead of. The customer plans on running a 80mm turbo with 15 psi of boost, says the owner of golen engine service, chad golen. Both hp tuners and carputing, llc, offer online assistance for basic tuning issues and troubleshooting. Like its predecessor, the lq9 is a highly valued engine for budget. Gm truck suv dyno tuning optimizes your performance upgrades increasing. With the increasing popularity of gms lsseries engine family, many enthusiasts are ready to rebuild. For a primer on the entire ls engine universe, read ls engines 101. This is a discussion on lq9 engine within the external engine forums, part of the lsx technical help section category. Ive been looking every where and i cant seem to find alot of engine mods for a 4. Introduced in january 1995, it is a clean sheet design with only rod bearings, lifters, and bore spacing in common with the longstanding chevrolet small block v8 that preceded it as the basis for gm smallblock v8s.

I just noticed the lq9 has only one fuel inlet, while the lq4 has what i am assuming is a fuel pressure and a fuel return. Guys, i didnt invent the ls engine, this video is just intended to clear up some of the muddy information ive gotten over time. As an allnew edition of the original topselling title, ls swaps. Are all the wiring harnesses going to be different. The tsp 408 cid 620 hp lq9 turnkey package will have a lopey idle and will require a minimum of 2,800 rpm stall speed torque converter for automaticequipped vehicles.

We build standalone harnesses as well as full direct factory fit harnesses for the gen ii lt1 engine with both the original pcm and with the 24x conversion utilizing the ls1 pcm. This book explains how the efi system determines engine operation and how the calibrator can change the controlling parameters to optimize actual engine performance. While there may be some delays, we are doing our best to provide the service youve come to expect. Now scale the vcm editoreditengineairflowmaf calibrationmaf airflow vs. An introductory overview of the gen iiiiv ls engine family. Below are some other upgrades that will improve the performance of the lq4 and lq9 engines. Lq4 and lq9 are gen3 engines, not gen4 like the ls2, ls3, l76, due to the location of the cam sensor and knock sensors. This book had a lot of information and was very very helpful in making a lot of decisions on what to do with my engine. This book is an allnew color edition of a previous best seller.

How to tune supercharged and turbocharged ls engines ls. They stayed true to the pushrod smallblock and continued to develop this technology to the point that building a dailydriven, 500plus hp car is no big deal. It explains variations between the various lsseries engines and elaborates upon the features that make this engine family such an excellent design. For optimal performance you will need headers, chassis dyno tune and 36lb injectors.

In 2005, gm began putting the lq9 floating wrist pin rods in the lq4 engines, but the company utilized dished pistons instead of flattop pistons. Your engine s optimum idle speed is the rpm that allows the lowest possible engine speed while allowing a stable idle. Ls big cam idle master engine tuner efi tuning information. A 900horsepower lq9 shortblock going together in under. Engine is compatible with a vehicles existing gen iii controller, but tuning is required. Using the latest and greatest technology available, weve put together a complete line of camshafts that are designed to meet every goal, from mild to wild. Before this book even begins, i wish to make it perfectly clear that this is not an engine design or combustion theory text.

Noteworthy are the chapters on cooling, exhaust and the ignition system. Although gen iii pcms are powerful control modules, they are of little use without tuning software tochange engine and transmission operating parameters. The lq4 was introduced in 1999 as one of the first ls truck. Before reading about my engine installation, you might want to check out my lq9 engine overview the engine rebuild and installation project started in december 2004, when i decided to explore the possibility of installing a gm gen iii engine in an 8898 pickup. Expect big mid to upper end power, will have a noticeable idle. Though the work of this book is basically over, we wanted to leave you with some final information that will help ensure your engine enjoys a troublefree reinstallation.

Smog information we no longer will process an engine to be smog compliant. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Superchevy posted an article showing a budget build 6. Congratulations on a job well doneyouve got a newly rebuilt ls sitting on an engine stand. Find great deals on ebay for lq9 engine and lq4 engine. Output frequency table positive to get the ltfts back to where they were when it was mafless sd.

The chapters are well planned and contain a wealth of detail, tables, and calculation methods. Its not easy to get a big cam to idle smoothly at 650 rpm but it may be possible, so you want to go for something easy first. When we do find one, it will be on an engine stand until my 4. Once the mafless sd ve table is correct and the mass air flow sensor is reconnected, the ltfts will go positive. Lq4lq9 everything you ever wanted to know chevy tahoe. Gen iii 3 ls engine basics getting started ls engine diy.

Shop our huge selection of in stock performance parts including engines, transmissions, and connect and cruise packages. This engine is very similar in design to the current generation of mediumdisplacement v8s used in gms cars and light trucks. The lq4 served in anything from breadvans and boats to suvs between. Before you go, make sure to install a colder thermostat to open up the tuning window. This would be the budget engine of choice in my book for any cool truck or. Summit racing is open and ready to help keep you on the road. So my plans are to mod the living s out of it before i put it in. With nearly 20 years experience in building harnesses, bp automotive is committed to building the highest quality ls standalone harnesses on the market. Many popular online enthusiast forums, as well as hp tuners web site, devote space to flashmemory tuning. They are based on regularproduction engines and make great swap choices for replacing a tired engine, while also enabling creative engine builders to start with an economical production engine and add their preferred powerbuilding accessories. It also makes it easier tune for a bigger cam and injectors later on. It may be possible to process an engine to meet todays requirements, but may not be compliant by the time your project is completed. The ls based smallblock engine is the primary v8 used in general motors line of rearwheeldrive cars and trucks.

Turnkey ls engine packages texas speed and performance. Current laws and regulations are constantly changing. Like its predecessor, the lq9 is a highly valued engine for budget rebuilds of stock engines that can be pushed to a higher horsepower level. Apr 30, 2016 superchevy posted an article showing a budget build 6.

I dont want to end up with a simple motor swap that turns into a wiring ecm nightmare to forever look at at a service engine soon light. The superchevy crew were able to build one that produced 464 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 437 lbft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Apr 17, 2015 so your engine is all apart, and youve got containers and boxes of old parts seemingly everywhere. Modern engine tuning achieves this end, and presents engine tuning as an art as well as a science. Then we go through all the windows of the vcm editor software, showing. The only difference between an lq4 and lq9 is the piston.

Anyone got a lq4 tune i could try out, my friend has a laptop with software to upload a tune. Our engines are built for strength, durability, and power, so your new tsp turnkey engine is ready for whatever you can throw at it. It is a musthave for tuners and calibrators and a valuable resource for anyone who wants to. Idle tuning really only need to do this if you have installed a cam. Theyre handbuilt, balanced, and blueprinted using topquality parts. Summit racing has created a series of comprehensive guides for each engine in the ls family, so engine builders and tuners can have a handy reference for their projects.

How to rebuild gm lsseries engines is the first book of its kind to help you rebuild your gm lsseries engine. The difference between the lq4 and the lq9 it still runs. The basic ls variations use cast iron blocks, while. Modified pe, and worked on torque management, shift points, limiters. I can get an lq9 from a local dealership, it was a short block that was removed from an escalade. There is a paper sticker applied to the back of the driversside head at time of manufacture that indicates the type of engine. The longblock engines are commonly found in various car, truck, and van models including the gmc sierra, ford f250, chevy silverado, and chevy corvette. Ive also been seeing alot of sts turbos going into silverados but they only offer them to the. The gen iii lq4 engine was capable of achieving 300 horsepower at 4400 rpm and 360 lbft at 4000 rpm, while the lq9 was rated at 345 hp at 5200 rpm and 380 lbft of torque at 4000 rpm.

And talk about how engine harness ecm plugs connect to your ecm. Before you go, make sure to install a colder thermostat to open up the tuning. Lq4lq9 gen iii short blocks performance crate engine. If you are looking for a custom crate engine, call 8667212315 and speak to one of our high performance engine specialists. The aftermarket is strong, crate engines are available, and used motors are often cheaply sourced through junkyards. This is the most comprehensive efi tuning and calibration book available and that is why it has sold in 36 countries worldwide and is used as the efi tuning text book by technical schools such as school of automotive machinists and studied by students at lincoln tech and wyotech. Everything you ever wanted to know about the lq4 lq9 engines.

How to swap gm ls engines into almost anything covers the right way to do a spectrum of swaps. Building the chevy ls engine manual book ls1 ls6 ls2. This is where a book like greg banishs engine management. Find lq9 and lq4 from a vast selection of complete engines. Once an iron lq9 block was acquired, golen went to work to set all the specs exactly as he wanted them, to have a perfect base on which to build. Please book your dyno tuning session or parts installation in advance. So what if i picked up a lq9 and rebuilt it and just swapped out the motors. Jun 01, 2008 how to rebuild gm lsseries engines is the first book of its kind to help you rebuild your gm lsseries engine. Bolting an older transmission to an ls engine requires specialized spacers. Tuning software and equipment includes instructional photos, checklists, and stepbystep instructions on upgrading to the gm gen iii lsseries pcm, ecm, electronics, and powertrain control systems. There are no embossed or etched exterior markings on the block or heads to indicate one over the other.

These ironblock truck motors produce 345 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 380 lbft of torque at 4,000 rpm from the factory. They allow you to tune the engine for a multitude of parameters, help. Theres no such thing as too much when it comes to engine displacement. Home gm crate engines ls short blocks lq4lq9 gen iii short blocks. I plan on keeping it stock engine with chinese gt45 69mm or 80mm with new valve springs. We finish up our 408 lq9 budget engine build by installing a comp camshaft, hardware from scoggindickey parts center and ls3 cylinder heads. They later 04 lq9 switched to the beffier ls2 rod with a floating pin flat top piston. So we decided on an lq9 block for overall strength.

The gm performance parts ls series cylinder blocks are designed specifically for late model smallblock engines that run the ls family cylinder heads. A lot of this has to do with the state of wear your engine parts are in, but it depends even more so on the desired characteristics of. Special thanks goes out to ws7 on idle limiters go to edit engine idle idle rpm target idle speed vs ect idle speed. Your engine may not necessarily come with all components listed, but they are listed as our recommendations of.

Tuning engines can be a mysterious art, all engines need a precise balance of fuel, air, and timing in order to reach their true performance potential. This short block is built with a mild compression ratio great for easy tuning on pump gas or running a small shot of nitrous. Below are more upgrades that will improve the performance of the lq4 and lq9 engines. Renowned engine builder and technical writer david vizard turns his attention to extracting serious horsepower from smallblock chevy engines while doing it on a budget. The geniii ls1, ls6, lq9 engine family represents a large step forward in performance and. Now scale the vcm editoredit engine airflowmaf calibrationmaf airflow vs. Would somebody please tell me what the lq9 engine is.

These engines continue the grand tradition of one of the most important engines in automotive history. Start off with full bolt ons, then worry about a cam later when you are actually swapping the engine as said before, the ls platform of engines arent slouches, and bolt ons will keep you satisfied for a bit fwiw, the hotcam you spoke of earlier is. Advanced tuning takes enginetuning techniques to the next level. If you liked this article you will love the full book. Sep 01, 2009 we finish up our 408 lq9 budget engine build by installing a comp camshaft, hardware from scoggindickey parts center and ls3 cylinder heads. Lq9 is the rpo regular production option code for the 6. I have swapped ve, maf, and timing tables with a 6. The engine featured 300 to 325 horsepower and 360 to 370 footpounds of torque, depending upon the type of engine heads early models were equipped with castiron heads. Yes the lq9 piston is the same flat top piston used in the ls2. The lq9 is ussually found in the high end caddy suv, ss truck, and the vho optioned crew cabs now in the first designlq9 piston i believe they used a standard ls1 rod with a pressed pin. Hp tuners 101 beginners guide gm ecm tuning overview. The lq9 featured a bigger cam and higher compression flat top pistons for an extra 10 horses and 10 lbft output over the lq4.

The major negative comment for most owners was related to fuel consumption associated with this engine. The goal here is for the educated enthusiast, skilled technician, and automotive engineer alike to all be able to come away with something. Tick performance proudly offers our elite series of camshafts designed specifically for 4. Click the button below and we will send you an exclusive deal on this book.