79' Malibu LQ4/4L65E build

[79loserbluebu]

Title says it all really. I've done quite a bit of research on LSx swaps (over 2 years research to be exact). Pulled the trigger late last August and picked up a 59k mile LQ4 for $300 from a fellow Illinois Malibu owner who swapped an LS7 in his. Basically, after going to countless cruise nights and shows last year, I decided that my ratty Malibu needed something to stick out from all the other SBC I cars... So I said why not, right? Well I planned on putting the 6.0 in and getting a 2004r trans, and calling it quits and drive it forever. You all know how that goes!


Engine specs:
Stock internal 03' LQ4
Katech rod bolts
TR224 112LSA cam
918 valve springs
Hardened 9.4" pr's
Titanium retainers (got talked into them by a co-worker)
243 02' Z06 heads w/ hollow stem valves
LS6 intake
Speed Inc. fuel rails
P&P TB w/ matching MAF
CTS-V oil pan, dipstick, windage etc.
Lokar universal throttle cable
MSD wires
Pacsetter F-body LT headers

Trans specs:
Undecided between an FLT Level 4 4L60E, and an SS Mega Monster 4L60E from Monster Transmission
Yank 3600 stall
Aftermarket cooler

Rear end specs:
8.5" GM Grand National/442 housing
Detroit TruTrac differential
GM 3.73 gears
Rebuild kit (from when 3.23 gears were installed)
Undecided on brand of axles, either Superior or Moser

Misc. specs:
83' Turbo Regal fuel tank w/ sending unit
Walbro pump
Painless 60608 complete vehicle harness
ES poly body bushings
BRP Hotrods motor mounts and trans crossmember
F-body accessory setup
Kwik Performance accessory relocation brackets
Stock A/C
Undecided between LS1 front and rear brakes, w/ Grand National Hydroboost setup

That's it really. I'll post up some pictures from before and after I did the interior on it. The car still needs to get painted but I wanted to do all the mechanical work before I painted it, because I know I'll screw up the paint somehow.

Click to read more...

 

[Mook]

thread definitely needs pics

 

[The Broken Regal]

donde esta las pictoras

 

[Euro]

Sounds awesome, in for pics!

 

[79loserbluebu]

Haha alrighty here we go

The car, $3500 on eBay from WI. Was originally an AZ car and still sports the Midway Phoenix Chevrolet badge on the trunk lid

The 355 before I spun a bearing being a stupid boy thinking I had a 4 cyl. haha

Don't mind the family heirloom post hole digger lmao

Pypes 2.5" exhaust w/ x-pipe and factory tail pipes

Seemed like a good idea at the time

Original dash, not so good

Dash painted, Monte SS steering wheel, Cutlass tilt column

Shot of the rest of the interior

87' Cutlass radio, with a 3.5mm jack ran through the front console to hook up the iPod to

What one winter yielded so far

Rear end

And now pics of engine stuff. The engine hasn't moved since I brought it home, I'd rather assemble it within days of it going into the car. Mainly worried about the cam lube washing off the cam.
Engine

Heads

Accy bracket

I wasn't sure if there is a picture limit per post, so please let me know and I'll edit as needed. The pictures say it all really. I didn't post a picture of the Painless harness because, well a bunch of wires is just nothing to look at. But it is a pretty neat part, but for the cost it better be! If anyone has any questions or input feel free.

I plan on getting the heads worked on at Midwest Engine Tech in Mokena, along with my father's knocking 403 for his 87' Cutlass.

 

[Jean Ralphio]

good job with the interior.
should make for a fun combo

 

[Mook]

thats awesome

 

[Euro]

Wow that interior turned out great! Are you going to repaint it white?

 

[Riski]

cool cool

 

[Eagle]

Olds 403s.... fun stuff. I had one of those in my 79 TA.

This build should be pretty cool once its done. When are you thinking you'll be finished?

 

[Yaj Yak]

my dad has a olds 403 in his 79 ta.



but wait. 300$ for an lq4. you gotta be shitting me. ill buy two for that price. wt f

 

[JDHedman]

Very Nice

Subscribed

 

[79loserbluebu]

Yeah I couldn't beleive the guy only wanted $300. I actually just posted as a joke and when he PM'd me saying he's gotta get rid of it I jumped all over it!

The car is actually "Pastel Blue" but it's so hard to tell unless it's sitting next to a white car. But yep, gonna repaint it the same color and everything. I used SEM interior paint and I think it turned out pretty good. I bought some new seat buns for the bucket seats over the winter, the old buns are pretty worn and you can see in the pics that the new seat covers didn't fit very well. Hopefully I'll have some progress by the end of the week!

 

[Fast Motorsports]

Looks like a neat build!

 

[Junk86]

Damn that Bu is clean! Sounds like a fun build. You will love the 6.0!!

 

[firemandan1700]

Very nice

 

[99PONTIACGP]

I know a guy in Peoria who restored one of these too. Car looks great.

 

[79loserbluebu]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I forgot to mention, the car will be getting a Dakota digital dash

I figured since the 4L60E is an electronic output, the cost of converting the signal with a Cable X box, from Abbott, is already $300. Plus, the speedometer goes to 115, and makes noise, and the trip and odometers are inop, as well as dark and dingy.

Ordered the dash from Dakota today. Free shipping in case anyone else was going to get one soon haha.


Quick questions, with my setup, do you all think that titanium retainers are a good idea vs the factory ones? A co-worker has them on his LS1, but his car is a little more radical than this will be.

Also, I bought a TSP ported and shimmed LS6 pump used, off of LS1 tech a while back ago. I also bought the TB and MAF from the same buyer. Costed only $75 so I figured why not. Well should I try the pump out? Or just do it right and buy a brand new one that I know will be good?

And lastly, what stall converters does everyone think I should go with? The recommended stall is between 3200-3600, but I'm torn between brands. Yank seems to have the best rep in terms on durability on the track, but this is a street car and $700 does seem steep for a part I'll never see but maybe 15 minutes before the trans is in the vehicle. I've seen people use Circle-D converters, as well as Vigilante ones. I've also heard *****r stories about TCI and B&M converters.

Appreciate the guidance everyone

 

[Yaj Yak]

just so you know there is a group buy on torque converters on here somewhere...

 

[skeezer]

i would not put a used oil pump in my engine.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

i wouldnt put a new part on my motor without disassembling and cleaning it myself
even BNIB shit has crap inside

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

great job on the interior, car looks clean !

should have gone with a 6spd !!

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Damn that's a nice car. The new interior looks sweet....though I liked the bench seated interior too

 

[HILROD]

+3 on the used oil pump. Any time I have an LS motor apart it gets a new oil pump, usually an SLP. Also buy the best converter you can afford, or you may be buying a trans. Cheap converters will bite you later.

 

[79loserbluebu]

Alright appreciate it guys. I was looking at the price of an SLP pump and really $170 does not seem to be too bad of an expense after I bought the fuel rails that I didn't need. Going to end up going with that, an SLP t-stat, and a Yank 3600. It's getting closer and closer to warm weather and I'm still transmission-less!