LQ9 intake swap

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mobileaudio25

G-Body Guru
Jan 12, 2012
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after realizing how hideous the truck intake is on my LQ9 is considering an intake swap. I plan on building a turbo motor I would like to make around 800whp. My budget is around 8-10k and I already have motor accessories harness transmission ect..

I’ve read that the only intakes that will fit the LQ9 with 317 heads is the ls1, ls2 and ls6. Most say the ls6 is the best of the 3. I think the mm is less on the ls6 compared to the stock intake and TB on my LQ9 so would that hurt me then since I’m going FI?

Also if I were to swap to the ls6 intake what else would I need to do to my motor? I think I will need new accessories or can I still use my current accessories and instead buy new brackets? Anything else ? What about wiring . Thanks
 

Injectedcutty

G body LS mafia
Nov 24, 2014
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You're suffering the same issue I recently went through-how to deal with that ugly intake! The good part, the truck intake flows like a beast, the bad it's just plain ugly. I have a stock intake cover for sale that will fit and cover the ugly if interested.
You're correct, only the LS1, 2 and 6 intakes will fit as there all cathedral port. If you run any of the car intakes you will have to change the water pump to a LS1/3 style. The LS6 does flow the best, but be ready to shell out $$$ for a complete unit with fuel rails and such.
The throttle body size doesn't matter as much on an FI or boosted car. It's basically just an air valve, and when boosted the air is being forced in anyway. You can find stuff on LS1tech all day of people making stupid power with a stock throttle body!

Google the LS 20 intake test done by hotrod.
I can't justify using the ugly intake either, so I splurged on a Holley Mid Ram for my 5.3. You just need to make sure you have plenty of hood clearance with anything taller than the truck unit. I still need the 92mm throttle body, and different injectors but it looks WAY better than that stock truck unit!
20171229_171045.jpg
 
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motorheadmike

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Nov 18, 2009
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TBSS intake or nothing. Most torque, most power of any factory intake.

That being said - look at the Dorman LS2 intake results are showing it flows as well as the TBSS and looks better.
 

64nailhead

Goat Herder
Dec 1, 2014
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Use the truck intake or go aftermarket. It's the only way to not give up performance to improve appearance. It is hard to believe that the truck intake works so well, but damn is it hideous appearance wise.

Injectedcutty has identified the best solution IMO, the downside is the cost. My son went the route of an Edelbrock Vic Jr made for a carb, but we put a Holley elbow on top with a Chinesium 105mm TB. It's about the same height as the Holley that Injectedcutty is using, but it was a little bit cheaper because he found the intake, rails and FPR used. The advantage of the Holley stuff is that Holley offers all of the accessories as bolt on parts, i.e. throttle brackets, rails, MAT sensor, etc. and of course mounting hardware.


Mike mentioned the Trail Blazer SS intake, yes they are better than the truck intakes, but still ugly and hard to come by in this neck of the woods.
 
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motorheadmike

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Typically the car manifolds sacrificed flow for packaging. The trucks obviously didn't have to make the same concessions and benefitted from shorter runners and increased plenum volume... and then they just kept getting bigger and bigger (TBSS and L92).

The technology in the truck intakes came from racing (like WRC and GTP/Lemans series).

This may be the best compromise once it is released: https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-induction/1889150-new-btr-cast-intake.html
 
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Injectedcutty

G body LS mafia
Nov 24, 2014
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Typically the car manifolds sacrificed flow for packaging. The trucks obviously didn't have to make the same concessions and benefitted from shorter runners and increased plenum volume... and then they just kept getting bigger and bigger (TBSS and L92).

The technology in the truck intakes came from racing (like WRC and GTP/Lemans series).

This may be the best compromise once it is released: https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-induction/1889150-new-btr-cast-intake.html
That's pretty slick looking! Weight and heat soak, such an issue lol ;)!!
 
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motorheadmike

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Nov 18, 2009
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Injectedcutty

G body LS mafia
Nov 24, 2014
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motorheadmike

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Nov 18, 2009
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