After 8 months of driving my lq9 cruiser, I thought I would give my impressions.
When I first bought the vehicle in Boise back in 2013, it developed a light rod knock on the way home, and continued to get worse over the time I had it. After reading threads about not passing emissions, doubt to whether parts will be available for the 1fze for the near future, and a general disappointment in power the engine provided, I wanted an LS swap.
I wanted to do a Proffitt's LS swap since they were local, but they shut down. So I contacted Rockjock82 and asked him about doing a 5.3 swap. He convinced me to do a Lq9 swap, so I got the engine out of his cruiser.
I left my cruiser down there and this is what I got.
At first I want to use my stock radiator, but that was a no go. Jonathan had me contact Mike at Steel Nutz in Fontana to fab up a radiator. Mike was awesome to deal with, he said to give him a month, and it took a month to get it to Jonathan's door. Radiator is HUGE. I am running 2 14" spal fans instead of a mechanical fan.
For exhaust, I have a 2 1/2" in to a 3" out with a 18" magnaflow.
One issue was the front drive shaft would contact the trans oil pan, so Jonathan put on a Slee 4" lift. I also ordered a Taton double cardon front drive shaft from Tatton in West Valley. Here you can see were the driveshaft would touch without the lift.
Here is how the cruiser sits today
I am very satisfied with the swap. I was all smiles and giggles on the way back to Utah. The power is awesome; loved racing it from stoplight to stoplight, and the ability to pass, up a grade is satisfying. Even with a 6.0, I'm getting a little bit better economy than the stock 1fze. I would get around 14 mpg with the 1fze down to Arizona, and 16 mpg back to Utah. I am getting 15 mpg combined today.
The downside is this power is addicting. With larger tires, I want to regear to get that power back. It also gets hot in the transmission tunnel, so I'm contemplating putting down sound deadener when I redo the interior.
If you have the funds, I highly recommend doing a LS swap.
When I first bought the vehicle in Boise back in 2013, it developed a light rod knock on the way home, and continued to get worse over the time I had it. After reading threads about not passing emissions, doubt to whether parts will be available for the 1fze for the near future, and a general disappointment in power the engine provided, I wanted an LS swap.
I wanted to do a Proffitt's LS swap since they were local, but they shut down. So I contacted Rockjock82 and asked him about doing a 5.3 swap. He convinced me to do a Lq9 swap, so I got the engine out of his cruiser.
I left my cruiser down there and this is what I got.
At first I want to use my stock radiator, but that was a no go. Jonathan had me contact Mike at Steel Nutz in Fontana to fab up a radiator. Mike was awesome to deal with, he said to give him a month, and it took a month to get it to Jonathan's door. Radiator is HUGE. I am running 2 14" spal fans instead of a mechanical fan.
One issue was the front drive shaft would contact the trans oil pan, so Jonathan put on a Slee 4" lift. I also ordered a Taton double cardon front drive shaft from Tatton in West Valley. Here you can see were the driveshaft would touch without the lift.
Here is how the cruiser sits today
I am very satisfied with the swap. I was all smiles and giggles on the way back to Utah. The power is awesome; loved racing it from stoplight to stoplight, and the ability to pass, up a grade is satisfying. Even with a 6.0, I'm getting a little bit better economy than the stock 1fze. I would get around 14 mpg with the 1fze down to Arizona, and 16 mpg back to Utah. I am getting 15 mpg combined today.
The downside is this power is addicting. With larger tires, I want to regear to get that power back. It also gets hot in the transmission tunnel, so I'm contemplating putting down sound deadener when I redo the interior.
If you have the funds, I highly recommend doing a LS swap.
. It's not boredom just inquisitive of different options. Eventually I may even try boosting a 1fz or LS motor in an 80.
