LQ4 V8 Swap - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

nmctacticz · 12-24-2016, 05:21 PM

Hey guys hopefully you can help me out
Ive been wanting to do an engine swap for a while now. I have the money put aside and im keeping this under $10,000. Theres obviously alot of questions raising in my head. First off, although Im still leasing the car I do want to buy the car off in the end. Is this going to be a problem? (This seems like a dumb question and the answer is probably YES) anyhow...
I got my hands on a LQ4 V8 6.0L engine which came from a 2004 Chevy Tahoe (decently cheap) $1500
The plan is to completely strip and rebuild the engine. LS3 camshaft and push rods, LS3 cylinder heads, LS3 intake etc) From my research I know the LQ4 iron block is super reliable and handles boost pretty good. The reason why I went with LQ4 is because its a cheaper platform and has similar potential... everyone seems to go with 2JZ or LS1, LS2 etc engines but I've decided to take my own route on this one.
My question is has anyone ever done this kind of swap before? Using an Iron block v8 platform, What precautions should I take and what power am I to expect? Any tranmission suggestions? Etc

Summerwolf · 12-24-2016, 06:58 PM

You..... need to do a LOT of research.

nmctacticz · 12-24-2016, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

You..... need to do a LOT of research.

Thanks tips... im trying.... ur comments are not helping nor educating me

Leonardo · 12-24-2016, 07:38 PM

Here is my advice: Pay your car off. Then sell the silverado engine and buy a LS engine. They build hp and tq differently than the LS motors. Have not heard of someone using a old nissan transmission either.

Now, you will probably need, ballpark figure here another 15k. If not more.

Engine swaps are expensive. Keep reading and saving. Good luck.

gramicci101 · 12-24-2016, 07:50 PM

Also, if you want to do a swap that no one or very few people have ever done, then everything will need to be custom made. Engine mounts, bell housing adapter plates, driveshaft, wiring harness integration, cooling solution, exhaust, suspension, etc... The word "custom" adds at minimum a few thousand to the price tag. Hopefully your mechanic is a talented fabricator, because otherwise "custom" can also mean "shoddy."

If you really want to do an engine swap and you want it to work right the first time instead of spending a long time troublshooting and re-fabricating, you would be better served to go with something that a kit has been developed for, such as an LS engine. Plus, the LQ4 weighs about 100 lbs more than an LS. That much additional weight in the front will have a significant effect on handling.

It would be easier and cheaper to go to Full Blown, get a built FA20 block, heads, and turbo kit, then go to Jack's Transmissions and get an upgraded gearset for your transmission. You'd make just as much power, if not more, and the difficulty level would be dramatically less.

Marat · 12-24-2016, 07:50 PM

sell the LQ, get an LS and T56. If you want to go the Z tranny route, look into CD009, but i'm not sure how different it is from T56 size wise so fitting it into the FRS might require custom work to the tunnel. Personally I'd go with a T56.

Summerwolf · 12-24-2016, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmctacticz

Thanks tips... im trying.... ur comments are not helping nor educating me

Good.

Google and ls1tech is your friend. There are many many differences between the ls1 and the lq4. First is displacement. Second is iron block as opposed to aluminum. Personally in a lightweight car like the twin I would hold out for an aluminum block.

.... you are most likely in over your head, and so is the mechanic that is hoping to do this swap.

Check out the multiple ls swap threads here and see the issues people run in to. Have another car and a lot of money on hand if you're seriously attempting this.

wutsaiu · 12-25-2016, 01:32 AM

There is a guy who lives close to you who did a LS V8 swap on his FRS.
He did it without any shop or help. Some say he was the first in Canada to have a V8 FRS/BRZ. Needless to say he knows a lot and could answer most of your questions. Worth a shot to ask him, you never know he might be a nice guy.

nmctacticz · 12-25-2016, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutsaiu

There is a guy who lives close to you who did a LS V8 swap on his FRS.
He did it without any shop or help. Some say he was the first in Canada to have a V8 FRS/BRZ. Needless to say he knows a lot and could answer most of your questions. Worth a shot to ask him, you never know he might be a nice guy.

You're the guy Ive been looking for this whole time... I saw your car at a FRS/BRZ meet last year. Your car looked bone stock from outside, you had the hood of your car opened with the V8 already in there but you were no where to be found around your car so I dont think we got to talk at all.
I just PM you, hope to hear from you soon!!

Spartarus · 12-25-2016, 06:38 PM

Faith in humanity restored.

wbradley · 12-25-2016, 07:17 PM

Imagine the look on the dealer's face when you bring the car in for minor service! Even better, returning it at end of lease.

nmctacticz · 12-25-2016, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbradley

Imagine the look on the dealer's face when you bring the car in for minor service! Even better, returning it at end of lease.

I wouldnt be taking my car to toyota for service after an engine swap lool

wbradley · 12-25-2016, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmctacticz

I wouldnt be taking my car to toyota for service after an engine swap lool

Even if you go to the dealer, you wouldn't be taking "your car". That's the point, the car belongs to Toyota.

Tokay444 · 12-25-2016, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmctacticz

You're the guy Ive been looking for this whole time... I saw your car at a FRS/BRZ meet last year. Your car looked bone stock from outside, you had the hood of your car opened with the V8 already in there but you were no where to be found around your car so I dont think we got to talk at all.
I just PM you, hope to hear from you soon!!

He's not the one with the swap...

12-24-2016, 07:38 PM	#4
Leonardo Country Boy 4 Life Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 19' & 06' Ridgelines, 13' FR-S Location: EUGENE Posts: 5,228 Thanks: 6,719 Thanked 5,293 Times in 2,720 Posts Mentioned: 47 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Here is my advice: Pay your car off. Then sell the silverado engine and buy a LS engine. They build hp and tq differently than the LS motors. Have not heard of someone using a old nissan transmission either. Now, you will probably need, ballpark figure here another 15k. If not more. Engine swaps are expensive. Keep reading and saving. Good luck. __________________ I LIKE TIRES!

12-25-2016, 06:38 PM	#10
Spartarus ...Just add nauseum Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: 2003 (AP1) S2000 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 546 Thanks: 310 Thanked 785 Times in 335 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Faith in humanity restored. __________________ There are many ways to displace. -Spartarus

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12-24-2016, 06:58 PM	#2
Summerwolf Panda Trueno Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: No twin now. Location: North Indiana Posts: 3,349 Thanks: 2,113 Thanked 2,409 Times in 1,332 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	You..... need to do a LOT of research.

12-24-2016, 07:50 PM	#5
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Also, if you want to do a swap that no one or very few people have ever done, then everything will need to be custom made. Engine mounts, bell housing adapter plates, driveshaft, wiring harness integration, cooling solution, exhaust, suspension, etc... The word "custom" adds at minimum a few thousand to the price tag. Hopefully your mechanic is a talented fabricator, because otherwise "custom" can also mean "shoddy." If you really want to do an engine swap and you want it to work right the first time instead of spending a long time troublshooting and re-fabricating, you would be better served to go with something that a kit has been developed for, such as an LS engine. Plus, the LQ4 weighs about 100 lbs more than an LS. That much additional weight in the front will have a significant effect on handling. It would be easier and cheaper to go to Full Blown, get a built FA20 block, heads, and turbo kit, then go to Jack's Transmissions and get an upgraded gearset for your transmission. You'd make just as much power, if not more, and the difficulty level would be dramatically less.

12-24-2016, 07:50 PM	#6
Marat Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Drives: '15 Ultramarine FR-S Location: Ontario Posts: 107 Thanks: 52 Thanked 52 Times in 27 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	sell the LQ, get an LS and T56. If you want to go the Z tranny route, look into CD009, but i'm not sure how different it is from T56 size wise so fitting it into the FRS might require custom work to the tunnel. Personally I'd go with a T56.

12-25-2016, 01:32 AM	#8
wutsaiu Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 2015 Raven V8 Location: Aurora Posts: 194 Thanks: 111 Thanked 263 Times in 81 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	There is a guy who lives close to you who did a LS V8 swap on his FRS. He did it without any shop or help. Some say he was the first in Canada to have a V8 FRS/BRZ. Needless to say he knows a lot and could answer most of your questions. Worth a shot to ask him, you never know he might be a nice guy.

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