Tear-Down and Re-Build Of An LQ4 6.0L On A Bare-Bones Budget - Horsepower S12, E21

The popular LS smallblock is a proven performer. Horsepower hunts down a junkyard candidate, tears it down, cleans it up, and builds it back on a bare-bones budget. Plus, a visit to Capitol Records' Pub Crawl for high performance and country music.

[@markdavid4897]

The VORTEC 6.0 iron-block in my 2008 Chevy Express 2500 van is a great motor. Only 45,000 miles on it, and it does everything so well. Smooth, powerful, quiet, reliable. The HP and TQ are nearly identical to the LS-1 motor on the 2004 Corvette. Another great motor from Chevy.

[@edwardburns3781]

I have the same one in my 01 Silverado with 270,000 miles on it, engine still runs great but the transmission is on its way out.

[@dwebster68]

I have a 2008 Suburban K2500, 6.0. Lost o-ring on oil pick up and now I have a damaged engine. I suspect the o-ring went bad due to age so I would suggest replacing yours asap.

[@stephenhodge6441]

I also have a 6.0 from a Chevy Express van. Granted this van was wrecked. Now that engine is in my 1970 Chevelle. Made a few tweaks here and there to it, and it runs amazing. You'd never believe it's just a van motor that I put a cam in.

[@madmikescustomDaily]

I grew up, watching the first generation of the show every day fresh early as a little kid

[@americanpatriot2.06]

13:16 You know this is old when you see Kenny Rogers alive and well. RIP Kenny Rogers.

[@n9nefour635]

Redoing my first engine ever and im so glad I came across this video

[@MerlinOpeth]

Loved my 04 Yukon Denali she had a lq4. I used to plow snow with her.

[@dylantroutman4363]

I have a 2004 Yukon Denali XL as well. Never plowed snow though

[@Noone-bl4wn]

You damn right “there will be more horsepower after this” 😂 👍

[@CrossingRover]

Yeah this is from the mid 2000s so the prices were a lot higher. $1200 was probably a screaming deal back then. They really need to put the original air dates on these videos.

[@dylantroutman4363]

Oh, I was wondering why a used LQ4 was so expensive. I even adjusted for inflation and was thinking 2 grand was a bit high for an old engine. I never thought to put that the LQ4 was brand spanking new back then into consideration.

[@Hated_Sien]

@@dylantroutman4363 Where i am, people seem to think an lq4 with rod knock is a 2500 motor.

[@davidgomez3737]

Just how everything was cheap everyone got paid cheap too

[@maxwellhughes7821]

They do at the end. It's 2008.

[@cfields8507]

I bought an LQ9 3 years ago, running, with harness for $750. I put $400 into having it cleaned and bearing slapped🤣 $400 cam, $180 springs, $100 pushrods, and stock rockers. 3 years and ALOT of nitrous passes later, still partying

[@bigredracer7848]

81👍's up guys thanks again for taking the time for us all to be part of your story

[@generalsixty2133]

I wonder what the hot rodding world would look like if the General never created the LS platform.

[@jessevella7616]

A lot slower

[@davidmessicr9]

Boring

[@Ahamilton1804]

So 1200 bucks for a 6.0 20-ish years ago when this was filmed was probably a good deal. The razor phone on the sales guys desk was a dead giveaway.

[@jtp682]

love your video! I am hoping to get your opinion on something. I have a chevy 350 that I want to freshen up without machining. I specifically want to replace the main and rod bearings to increase engine longevity. So regarding the rod bearings, can I just replace them, do the clearance checks, and retorque them without having to change the rod bolts/nuts? Its just a stock, average HP late 70' engine that is just a daily driver. Thoughts on this?

[@benadams4807]

13:00 But don’t go too far because there’s more Horsepower after this. All right, Buddy Hendricks. Sounds good.

[@vicreyes9237]

I need this!!!

[@Dieselfitter01]

Abrasive wheel for decking block and heads!! WOW

[@JoseCruz-qf6ui]

What’s the correct way? I’m in the process of rebuilding my first lq9.

[@LTXwooshie]

$1200! Holy shit. The last 6.0 I pulled myself cost $275. That's a huge upcharge for a fancy pallet, and them pulling it for you.

[@diduck6878]

Finder's fee.

[@CrossingRover]

The episode is from 2008

[@dylantroutman4363]

In 2008, the LQ4 was only a few years old and not that many were in junk yards. They were a bit rare and with rarity comes price.

[@Hated_Sien]

Cant find an LQ4 in vegas from under $2k.

[@LTXwooshie]

@@Hated_Sien That sucks dude. I'm outside Joliet IL and Ive found them at area you pull it yards for several years.

[@AlchemistHawk]

They put ARP sutds on the mains and ARP bolts in the rods and thought no one would see that? You'd have to get the rods honed and the block aligned honed to use ARP hardware like that. Not to mention a stud kit is like $300+ for mains. $2000 my ass.

[@gettothechase636]

Bs! You could have taken the time to lap those valves! It would have sealed that valve!

[@lcee6592]

Did y’all mention how many miles on on the truck engine?

[@fredbach6039]

I like Buddy's teardown. During assembly there was no mention of checking the ring gaps on the new rings. Can you tell me why?

[@drchevyphdeez7253]

Or didn't check bearing journals on crankshaft and measure clearance

[@ziggyc4474]

@@drchevyphdeez7253 what is measure clearance used for im just learning

[@clys69]

No mention of the $600 in ARP hardware that went into the new motor hey?

[@matthew-on9nz]

I wish i had a list of what parts they used so i can use them

[@199jl]

Horse Power!!!!!!!!

[@austindoud273]

You guys are rebuilding ls's?

[@johngreene6783]

How strong is Buddy that he can manhandle a cylinder head one handed? Geez dude

[@bmstylee]

The heads are aluminum. Not super heavy. More awkward than heavy.

[@wsfwsf1497]

His **ckin' hand?

[@armedtotheteeth1974]

Yeah. I saw that one handed move too.

[@mikemarchand9080]

What was that place called where they got the engine?

[@Steverinomeister]

Joe calls an old wrecking yard an eyesore? LKQ charges an arm and a leg for their motors. I would much rather pull an engine out myself and pay two or three hundred at a pick-n-pull. In fact I have done that recently for my 97 Camaro. A good LT1 for 250 dollars and I got a one year warranty or an additional 60 dollars.

[@austindoud273]

Lkq is highway robbery

[@pmotorsports8276]

What LKQ gives a 1 year warranty?

[@ziggyc4474]

Lq4 vs ls which is better and cheaper to swap and add horsepower on them on a budget?

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Lkq has all that add on pricing that kills a good deal

[@yungtooli]

okay we get it your so MACHO because you’d rather pull an engine on your own 🙄

[@GrandPitoVic]

Where is this salvage yard at?

[@sad8181]

there are two different LQ4s, one with iron heads (99-2000) and one with aluminum. Always wish that it would be more distinguished. I have the all iron lq4, so it’s hard to find a build on it.

[@cliftonluce1534]

Different cam

[@SOUTHSIDESUPERSTAR]

Just swap heads and cam then a good tune you would love it and gain some big hp

[@jeffguimont3210]

Put some 862 or 706 heads on it and an rv cam. You’ll get another 40-50 hp/tq with a tune

[@Lightning7474.]

What's the place called again?

[@ericadams4226]

What a great new way to run a pick-a-part!

[@jomommajokes5836]

Not really Miss going into yards and seeing what they have. Now you sit in a waiting room No thanks

[@texasstreettunes1310]

The ones that are like this are usually overpriced. Most of the pick n pulls here are from 150-300 for any engine. He just paid 1200

[@brennanbailey4083]

@@texasstreettunes1310 To be fair this video is pretty old

[@robertemmons2260]

Although $1200.00 might seem like a great deal, one can find an entire vehicle for the same cost or less. The last time that I had checked their website, that 6.0 engine mentioned is not available, nor did they have the 5.3 for the '99-05 Silverado. The web page displays the message "Certified Auto Recyclers, Inc. does not have your part inventoried. Please request a quote."

[@ScoutPL]

That's not uncommon for a recycler to say they don't have the part. Request it, they'll contact you when they have one.

[@NVzla]

Try car-part.com Add your info vin# whatever and shop local wrecking yards.

[@robertemmons2260]

@@NVzla Hell that's easy if you live in an area where there's a half dozen wrecking yards in your city, but I live 2.5 to 3 hours away from the nearest one that's semi decent. Fortunately sometimes though someone can get lucky on marketplace on FB. Even then I still had to travel two hours in order to pick up a running 2001 suburban that had 227,000 miles on the old 5.3.

[@LTXwooshie]

@@robertemmons2260 227k? Now it's almost broken in. Lol.

[@dylantroutman4363]

@@LTXwooshie hahaha

[@manoloaycartg4266]

Where can we find in the web that recycling place, need an engine for my 87 Bronco. 😉👍

[@MerlinOpeth]

Was just thinking the same for my Datsun.

[@sergeantscumbag2116]

Have one in nh called bow auto parts walked in and picked a 5.3 off the shelf lol

[@sergeantscumbag2116]

and a tr6060 for 1600$ thing had 26k on it

[@flagcityparts]

@@MerlinOpeth if your near ohio cherry pick in toledo has a few 280z. but you have to pull it yourself

[@vedicstudent]

I have ls motor for days

[@SOUTHSIDESUPERSTAR]

Guys that say they can get a 6.0 in the yard for 350 bucks are lucky or lying lol Most guys around here in the yards know these 6.0 and 6.2 demand and charge.

[@pjstartv6798]

Good luck hitting that $2k budget in 2022. You can get the engine much cheaper than the $1200 they paid for that one but to do an entire engine swap is going to cost you more than $2k. You could do just a top-end rebuild with new valves, springs, and camshaft, not even touch the rods and pistons, and stil be over $2k especially if you're swapping it into something that didn't come with an LS. You're looking at harness and computer, motor mount adapter kit, transmission mount kit, fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, and new fuel lines plus loads of miscellaneous stuff that will nickel and dime you to death. You could easily hit $4k on a complete swap.

[@gearjammergamer8560]

Why in gods name they tore that engine apart is beyond me. Stick a cam in it and go until it blows up and buy another one

[@pjstartv6798]

@@gearjammergamer8560 Absolutely! I don't think they ever said how many miles were on it but that thing looked CLEAN. After seeing how clean it was after pulling off the valve covers and oil pan I would have put in an upgraded cam, spring upgrade, new lifters and push rods and slapped it back together. Probably would have went ahead and did a high pressure oil pump while the timing cover was off but that's about it.

[@theogiemofo1507]

did not know LQ4 came with arp main studs lmao

[@africanhomestead]

Yeah, they seemed to have forgotten to mention that when detailing the build cost. 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

[@user-te5xg5xg4g]

Yay! Courtney woo-hoo! ❤

[@bruceshook1781]

Just one question? Where have you been hiding Courtney??? WOOOO HOOOO

[@sedrickwells8545]

How bout putting a parts list in the description.

[@rukus100821]

so normally you can go to rockauto or a1 auto even summit racing will have what you need. 6.0 lq4 engine.

[@EChunter]

You couldn't get just the engine out of the yard around here for 2k.

[@joshhoover4919]

Need to do a 5.4

[@joshhoover4919]

@Dave Stephens I know its a ford need to build one

[@bob119911]

what thickness bearings?

[@Cultofpersonality09129]

I dunno about blasting them pistons like that especially where the rings go.

[@scubastevoo8404]

i have been sandblasting pistons for 20yrs but yeah you are right! smdh

[@adamdiaz8442]

Think they where vapour blasting

[@brandonsanchez1443]

Should of picked that 8.3 v10 viper

[@dylantroutman4363]

That;s what I'm saying

[@richardcoleman9645]

What is the name of this compony he got the engine from??? Website too if you have it?

[@richardcoleman9645]

Never mind. I found it. Thought it was there but missed it the first time.

[@edgarreyna5815]

What was the name ?

[@Lu-e]

If I’m planning on running an LQ4 (03-06), but want to mate it to a 6 speed manual trans what do I need to make it all work.

[@Redbikemaster]

It'll bolt up to any manual used in the trucks. Other than that I don't know

[@dylantroutman4363]

All LS engines after a certain time have the same connecting parts between the engine and transmission, so any transmission that can bolt on to another LS will work on yours. I recommend looking at the T56 though.

[@ZeginMakesMusic]

That very same engine is $249 at my local pick and pill.

[@philipallen7956]

What's your point? It was pulled cleaned and put into the back of his truck for that price. You have to pull the engine at pick and pull, you don't know if it runs, and if your lucky they might have a replace for you when you get it home and find out it doesn't run... I buy at pick and pull regularly, don't compare that essentially self help yard to and actual and that pulls cleans and inventories there stock. Try and call a pick and pull right now and check stock, all they can say is we have x of those vehicles currently, and we can confirm what oart it has left.

[@peterjedsawyer4364]

Wouldn't it be more ideal to use steel wool or a wire brush to clean off an aluminum block mating surface. That sanding disc looked way too overkill. I did afm lifters on a 6.2L vortec and with an aluminum block I treated the mating surface like an angel. Only using a wiring brush and some steel wool.

[@stoweby]

Using an aluminum oxide sanding disc is the correct option for corrosion prevention. When using steel wool or wire it can embed into the aluminum and create rust that you would be unable to see until it was too late.

[@iankerr1549]

Where do you see an aluminum block

[@peterjedsawyer4364]

​@@iankerr15495:30

[@mikegho6347]

New Parts are in... Subscribe to stay updated on this 🔥🔥 Build !! Check out the other vids kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWGQfGB-ocmWeas

[@nathanbeight418]

For $2k I’m building a lot more than a stock rebuild. $1200 for a budget build is is horrible, $350 at a local pull it yourself. Half of what was replaced was unnecessary. Remember, pick a wrecked truck, it drove itself to the accident. Use all the money you save at pull it and put some power under the hood. Cam, heads, turbo, can all be done for about $2k

[@dylantroutman4363]

I've got the LQ4 engine and $4K. Are you willing to do all that?

[@philipallen7956]

@@dylantroutman4363 lol you know he's not, every comment like this is someone who is either not valuing there time or giving it away for free which will drive you out of business real quick.

[@elebeu]

I didn't even get 1 1/2 minutes into the video before an advertisement?? Come on.

[@bighoss234]

My 6.0 ls has 300 000 miles on it, it's an lq4 it's due for a rebuild. But it's still runs and drives. Starts right up no problem.

[@dman3962]

Is your shit ticking mine sounds like a diesel sometimes

[@bighoss234]

@@dman3962 exhaust manifold bolts is why mine ticks, they break off and u gotta drill them out and replace.

[@abutler0311]

You skipped the cam, timing chain and oil pump install.. just to name a few

[@art_n5x]

Half the tools used in this cost more then the engine

[@approachingtarget.4503]

1200? Ouch.

[@rukus100821]

as a toolmaker i would not recommend wd-40 please dont, use oil this will preserve your metal or steel from rusting. wd-40 has water in it and will evaporate and rust will settle in.

[@jamess9196]

It stands for water displacement?

[@rukus100821]

@@jamess9196 What?

[@TOXIXIFY]

Lol as a machinist, no it doesn't have water in it; it has solvents. Oil is definitely better though.

[@carllyth3815]

So what should I do to make my 2000 bone stock corvette run better? Do i need to swap engines, or is it realistic to upgrade a stock LS1 with 56000 easy miles?

[@davida6261]

A stock ls1 is a perfectly fine motor. If you want to make it more powerful you don't need to swap engines, you can just give it upgrades.

[@gearedupproduction8290]

Cams head intake exhaust just to name a few

[@dewholdingsllc1050]

$1200 doesn’t sound like a real deal. It’s a 3/4 ton pickup so should have taken the 4L80 transmission.

[@michaeljohnston243]

So… it’s a legal chop shop lol

[@PIMPSID]

Why mark the head?

[@rukus100821]

mating surface for those rookies.

[@Filzkiiz]

Mate...u BLOkeS are nuMbeR 1oNe!!! 😁😊😎👊👍😚👌🤙💯!!

[@justinballard7242]

Didn't check a single clearance not the mains or rods or ring gap.

[@fabslyrics]

if you love your freedom, Cars and Combustion engines, it's all still at stake ! So, November 3rd Guys, don't miss !

[@deathproofpony]

Yep! I'm voting for Biden and his sweet '67 Corvette Stingray. Thanks!

[@timp21117]

@@deathproofpony A car that won't be able to move under its own power in 15 years if Stingray Joe gets his oil plans implemented.

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

@@deathproofpony say goodbye to your guns and hello to $10 a gallon gas then.

[@bertgrau9246]

@@richfarfugnuven6308 Man, you guys picking on SOME GUY like he's a democrat or something. He does sound somewhat unintelligent though, voting for biden is kind of like putting liquid glass In an engine and expecting it to run

[@alecmurray8339]

@@richfarfugnuven6308 we’re halfway there in some parts of the country now 😂

[@jorgemontoya37]

0:14 Lmaoo

[@rudy_6776]

😭

[@ni_wink84]

I’d rather spend the 180 bucks to have the block washed and honed with a plate, only a couple shameless plugs for junk spark plugs and other sub standard parts in this out dated video, so glad power block tv is not on the air giving half assed Info anymore

[@captaindaddy8645]

Fuckin guy skipped the cam install. Im screwed now

[@cristianesquivel5875]

I think they mean it’s an lq9? They mentioned the donor was 05 truck they came with the later model 6.0 which is the lq9 not the lq4.

[@christopher3067]

Has dished pistons which came in LQ4. LQ9 had flat tops

[@mitchellmoore3443]

Lq4 and lq9 were both out at the same time. They just had different compression ratios.

[@yungtooli]

guy totally trashed that engine with his sanding disc

[@ronaldbertin9455]

Why wouldn't you change up the cam ,,, ls motors respond well to cam change ,,,, never did see you put any cam in yhat motor

[@dylantroutman4363]

There are follow up videos with the cam swap

[@criptolis]

no i will not tuch my deck surfice with a sanding bit

[@anandabilal9620]

Hope they could help me to get one cause i'm in Indonesia which having hard time to get even a damn LQ4

[@dylantroutman4363]

Haha, not sure how many LS or Vortec engines they have in Indonesia. I'd imagine it would be like finding a Porsche engine in America.

[@peterkroeker753]

That's stupid expensive I can get an engine trans all accessories and computer for half that

[@diduck6878]

Barely and pulling it yourself

[@dzroc]

Sadly these arent 1200$ anymore😟

[@rukus100821]

they are 1200 brand new.

[@dylantroutman4363]

@@rukus100821 haha, yeah. You can get a LQ4 for a 12 pack of Natty

[@rukus100821]

@@dylantroutman4363 lol

[@veenoable]

Valve lapping

[@dgrg112001ify]

They getting paid anyway so what's up with that making millons off good honest workers such as us????

[@bertgrau9246]

WOW, lots of social distancing there . Actually it's good to see folks acting like real folks and not scared of everything

[@ericmartin2470]

you're misinformed... the election is over and so is the pandemic.

[@kennethpigg8782]

Eric Martin big facts

[@ericmartin2470]

@@kennethpigg8782 November 4th was the official end of the KungFlu.

[@osquad1346]

This was filmed a long time ago

[@pwilk924]

this was literally in 2008 over a decade ago.....

[@fordfairlane662dr]

$1200 for a used Motor ..what a rip off..if you guys are smart with cars..you are foolish with money!!

[@ScoutPL]

engine, wiring harness, computer. Sure it'd be nice to have a lower price, but that's not bad.

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

In CO, it would be way more than that...

[@allanb3222]

Remember this was a few years back to though.

[@dylantroutman4363]

@@allanb3222 A few years my ass. That was 13 years ago. When the LQ4 was almost new and rarely in junk yards.

[@spedward8609]

Building a $2000 engine using $100,000 worth of equipment 🤦

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Those aluminum blocks are not that great.

[@fastguys2247]

Liars!!! SHOW ME A W8 W/WIRING HARNESS AND ECU, LOL I THINK NOT.

[@CharmleysChopShop]

Seems like a waste of time and money. Send it

[@lopezart2853]

Let’s play a game called ….spot the black guy 👀