Scored a LQ9...but have questions

[03TahoeZ71]

So I got a LQ9 for $300.00 from a buddy. It's out of a 04 Escalade and had a 106,000 on the clock. So here's the deal the owner replaced it because it was making one hell of a noise. However my buddy found out when he got it that the serpentine tensioner was toast.

So the motor appears to be in good condition. He pulled the heads and and everything was in good shape except there was a slight lip at the top cylinder bores. Everything turned over nice, no shavings ,oil was real clean,cylinder walls were in good shape.

I was thinking of getting push rods, a gasket kit and new head bolts and running it the way it is. Or am I being dumb? Should I at least do a full stock rebuild? I'm thinking this thing has a lot of life left before it needs a rebuild.

Thoughts?

 

[07Burb]

If it was me I'd just do the rebuild not and save yourself a lot of time and money in the future by doing it all right the first time rather than putting it all back together with a known issue.

Btw, nice score on the motor man

 

[blueflamed03]

I think you should send to me, not worth rebuilding........j/k LOL. Nice buy


I say while its out, new bearings and re-ring it. Then at least you know.

 

[Travieso]

i would rebuild for piece and mind even though these motors are pretty strong i would rather have piece and mind..

if it was me i would bore it out and put a cam while it's out.

 

[smurphy80]

I def agree...rebuild it as long as its out. The added money now will be well worth the savings down the road and heartache. Like above, atleast then YOU KNOW for sure.

 

[Z-56 Hoe]

Rebuild / freshmen up!!!! While out bore and stroke and do a cam and some head work. Spend the money now and have peace of mind for another 8 or so years

 

[03TahoeZ71]

I think you should send to me, not worth rebuilding........j/k LOL. Nice buy


I say while its out, new bearings and re-ring it. Then at least you know.

Can you re-ring without doing a complete rebuild? I'm assuming run a hone on a drill to get the crosshatch pattern and then put the pistons back in with rings and bearings.

 

[07Burb]

Rebuild / freshmen up!!!! While out bore and stroke and do a cam and some head work. Spend the money now and have peace of mind for another 8 or so years

I'm liking how you're thinking

 

[03TahoeZ71]

I'm liking how you're thinking

I would love to. However this is a budget build at this point. I'm probably at least gonna do a cam and a stall.

 

[THE-HOE]

If your on a budget I wouldn't even worry about doing bearings. A lq9 with just slightly over 100k on it still has lots of life left. If you have some money saved up then go ahead and do it right and replace some stuff. IMO do a cam and valvetrain while you have the engine is out of the vehicle.

 

[indian mark]

Depends on your budget, what it's going into, and how mechanically inclined you are. Those things rock right out of the gate. I'd be tempted to put it in the way it is. With a new tensioner of course.

 

[blueflamed03]

yes, pull rods from crank, new bearings, hone it and add new rod, main and rings.

 

[03TahoeZ71]

So a little update. Buddy called yesterday. He had already promised that motor to another guy. However it's actually good news for me. Turns out the motor he was gonna sell me Actually had more like 160,000 and was out of a 04.

We've been friends for a long time so he has this other LQ9. He was gonna keep that one for himself. But he knows how bad I wanna LQ9 for my Tahoe. So he said he would sell it to me for the same price as the other one. And it's a better lower mile engine.

The history on that one. Apparently that one is out of a 06 Escalade and has a 106,000 on it. The owner blew a oil cooler hose and immediately shut the motor down as soon as he saw the oil light come on.

So I think I'm gonna inspect and replace all the bearings. Throw a new oil pump in it and a nice cam and just run it.

 

[07Burb]

Sounds like a great deal man

 

[03TahoeZ71]

Found out the whole scoop on this motor. The truck belonged to a shop owner. It was his personal vehicle. He had a oil cooler line that he bought from Napa burst. He shut the truck down as soon as the oil light came on. Apparently he spends 10-20 thousands on parts threw Napa per month. He put alot of pressure on them and they gave him a rebuilt motor to replace it.

 

[dropmech]

Takes lots of pics and post up your work.

 

[dwmmatt23]