Builds 1996 LX450 6.0L LQ9 Swap

[mtkreitz]

Wheels are back and 37" Toyo's are mounted. They look awesome! Something is up with the balancing though. Huge amount of weights on the wheels, some on opposite sides of one another. Going to have them force balanced to see if the wheel shop's balancer wasn't handling the big meat correctly.

Vehicle is still on jack-stands as I am mocking up some step sliders. Those should be wrapped up in a week or two. Thinking about champagne powder coat with a black grip tape along the length.

 

[mtkreitz]

Very sad day yesterday. I dropped her down off of the jack-stands so I could unload something into the shop.

I started the engine and boom. She threw a rod through the side of the motor. We are assuming it hydro-locked on a leaky/stuck injector.

I am absolutely beside myself. Two motors down, now looking at yanking (what was a new crate motor) and having to install a 3rd.

Might need to start a GoFund Me at this point if this nonsense keeps up...

 

[dallen341]

Hole in the front of the block?

 

[mtkreitz]

Hole in the front of the block?

Yep.

 

[dallen341]

ouch

 

[Saddletramp]

Crazy stuff right there, I’m sorry for your loss.

 

[mtkreitz]

Trying to keep a stiff upper lip and see the bright side...

1) I get to clean the engine bay without the engine in the way
2) Not going to worry about the tire balancing for a bit
3) The new motor will likely be 450HP, so that lines up with the 450 in the LX.

Going to start pulling the motor out so I can figure out what definitively caused the failure, so I won't repeat it on the new motor. Feels like starting at zero all over again...

 

[Saddletramp]

Trying to keep a stiff upper lip and see the bright side...

1) I get to clean the engine bay without the engine in the way
2) Not going to worry about the tire balancing for a bit
3) The new motor will likely be 450HP, so that lines up with the 450 in the LX.

Going to start pulling the motor out so I can figure out what definitively caused the failure, so I won't repeat it on the new motor. Feels like starting at zero all over again...

will try to stop by tomorrow if you are planning to be ther

 

[mtkreitz]

Thanks to @Saddletramp for coming to the shop today to lend some moral support and to help remove the hood off the broken beast.

 

[thatcabledude]

Jeez man, that SUCKS!

After one of the first few starts when I was wrapping up my swap I had a massive amount of gas dump out of the manifold. (Injectors had sat for a while) I felt like I dodged a bullet.

 

[mtkreitz]

Jeez man, that SUCKS!

After one of the first few starts when I was wrapping up my swap I had a massive amount of gas dump out of the manifold. (Injectors had sat for a while) I felt like I dodged a bullet.

Indeed you did. I wish I had been that lucky. There was fuel running down the OUTSIDE of the exhaust. It had come through the joint between the header and downpipe. At first I thought it had dripped but it came from the INSIDE of the exhaust. There must have been a ton of fuel in one of the cylinders.

Injectors were new, only a few weeks old. I replaced the original injectors because I was having trouble with rough idle and hesitation. Still had issues with new injectors so I took it to a different tuner who got it running awesome! I was so stoked...

Truck had been sitting for 3-4 weeks while wheels were getting refinished. It sat far longer on the old injectors, sometimes a month (or more) between starts. We are assuming one of the "new" injectors is at fault. Once I pull the motor I will post some pictures of the carnage so it can be a cautionary tale for those doing swaps like us.

 

[thatcabledude]

Sounds like a defective injector maybe. Mine were stock and now that I think about it when I said “by a while” I mean they sat for about a year. Lol

 

[mtkreitz]

Just waiting a day or two to think it through before clicking the "Place Order" button... I will still rebuild the LQ9 if it is salvageable. A buddy said he may have a cast iron 6.0 Gen III block laying around that I can have.

This should allow me to move over all my accessories, throttle body, computer, etc. Just need new intake, fuel rails, injectors and TB adapter. Any suggestions are welcome but I am not planning to do anything that requires any major changes. I am about exhausted and need something that drops-in without too much fanfare.

@RockJock82 Any thoughts?

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ACDelco 12598646 - ACDelco Replacement Fuel Injectors

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[thatcabledude]

I say just call up Texas Speed and tell em SEND IT

 

[mtkreitz]

I say just call up Texas Speed and tell em SEND IT

Oh I have thought about it, but this is the best way to recoup the majority of my investment in brand-new accessories.

 

[lazy]

I've thought about a trailblazer SS intake....thoughts? $130 on rock auto. sorry hearing about throwing a rod....

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[White Stripe]

Maybe get a short block instead of a long block. Perhaps a stroked 6.0...

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[RockJock82]

Let’s scrap it and put in an LS3 and 6L80e... it’s just money right

 

[mtkreitz]

Let’s scrap it and put in an LS3 and 6L80e... it’s just money right

Can I use your MasterCard?

 

[Feldrian]

Man - Truck looks great on the new tires and wheels. Really sorry to hear about the engine, especially considering how meticulous you've been.

I like the 450HP LX450 comment. I've thought exactly the same thing ... which I'm assuming means I'm OCD.