Doing my homework
#1
09-13-2018, 09:36 AM
Doing my homework
I am starting to do my research on an engine swap on a 83-88 Monte Carlo SS. I think I have settled on the LQ4 motor for the block and L92 heads. I haven’t decided on carbureted or fuel injection yet but if I do go EFi it will be with a LS3 intake and 90mm tb. I am right now looking to make 400 whp and 450 wtq with possibly forced induction down the line. From what I read the stock crank should be fine for my build but I was curious about the pistons. Are the stock sufficient or would you change them out? Any advise is greatly appreciated.
#2
09-13-2018, 04:02 PM
As with the transmission thread, you really need to decide on if you're really going to do forced induction or not before deciding what you're going to do to the bottom end.
At 400 whp, I wouldnt touch anything - crank, pistons, any of it - especially if you end up with a 5.7 or 6.0. Good size cam, heads, headers, and bolt ons will get you there no problem. Heck, with big enough heads/cam setup you could probably almost pull it off on a 5.3.
The reason I say the aspiration is important is because that'll dictate a few very important things:
-what compression ratio
-what cam
-what size fuel system
etc
If you do a 400 whp NA build, it isn't going to be optimized for boost. Further, if there is a strong chance of doing boost - you may as well just swap in a stock 5.3, loosen the rings up, add ARP rod bolts, and just go to boost as soon as you can. ThE money you'd save buying a less desirable engine and skipping the NA mods would get you close to being able to buy boost.
At 400 whp, I wouldnt touch anything - crank, pistons, any of it - especially if you end up with a 5.7 or 6.0. Good size cam, heads, headers, and bolt ons will get you there no problem. Heck, with big enough heads/cam setup you could probably almost pull it off on a 5.3.
The reason I say the aspiration is important is because that'll dictate a few very important things:
-what compression ratio
-what cam
-what size fuel system
etc
If you do a 400 whp NA build, it isn't going to be optimized for boost. Further, if there is a strong chance of doing boost - you may as well just swap in a stock 5.3, loosen the rings up, add ARP rod bolts, and just go to boost as soon as you can. ThE money you'd save buying a less desirable engine and skipping the NA mods would get you close to being able to buy boost.
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