Budget Rebuild Turbo 5.3
05-19-2015, 10:04 AM
#1
Budget Rebuild Turbo 5.3 I'm planning to rebuild my 5.3. It was boosted to 18 psi on stock bottom end. Pistons are shot.
My question is would you build this, or I have a 4.8 shortblock with stock Pistons.
This is my first time building an engine so all the help you can give is appreciated.
What forged parts would you go with?
I will post pictures shortly.
My question is would you build this, or I have a 4.8 shortblock with stock Pistons.
This is my first time building an engine so all the help you can give is appreciated.
What forged parts would you go with?
I will post pictures shortly.
05-20-2015, 08:05 AM
#6
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I'd slap the 4.8 in there and save up for a good engine build. If you don't go crazy with the boost it should be fine for a while. You can build up the 5.3 over time rather than skimping on more of a budget build now.
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05-20-2015, 12:41 PM
#9
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bore and clean block $250 or so
balance rotating assembly another $250
I like the Wiseco and now the Mahle pistons.
I scrounged up used stuff and saved quite a bit on lightly used manley rods with wiseco pistons and rings.
the short stroke 4.8 crank seems to be pretty strong and helps hook the car by rocking the torq higher up the RPMs
good luck!
balance rotating assembly another $250
I like the Wiseco and now the Mahle pistons.
I scrounged up used stuff and saved quite a bit on lightly used manley rods with wiseco pistons and rings.
the short stroke 4.8 crank seems to be pretty strong and helps hook the car by rocking the torq higher up the RPMs
good luck!
05-20-2015, 12:42 PM
#10
Depends on machine shop prices and what pistons/rods you go with
Quite a few sponsors on here sell rotating assemblies or piston/rod combos
Hinson supercars is having a sale on Pistons and rods right now
Might be worth taking a look
Quite a few sponsors on here sell rotating assemblies or piston/rod combos
Hinson supercars is having a sale on Pistons and rods right now
Might be worth taking a look
05-20-2015, 12:44 PM
#11
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For a budget i like the speed pro 4.8l flatop pistons 250$ .060. Thicker on the top ring land would run them all day on a turbo motor with proper ring gap after seeing these cast pistons go as high as they have
05-20-2015, 03:08 PM
#14
My local machine shop had them in stock
I asked for a gen4 5.3 with flat tops and a 24x wheel
He used these Pistons instead of stock 4.8s because it's what he had available.
I spent less than 1k on the shortblock including bearings and arp bolts.
I don't think the Pistons will take as much abuse as a decent forged piston, but they're working fine in my car at probably 700 wheel so far
I asked for a gen4 5.3 with flat tops and a 24x wheel
He used these Pistons instead of stock 4.8s because it's what he had available.
I spent less than 1k on the shortblock including bearings and arp bolts.
I don't think the Pistons will take as much abuse as a decent forged piston, but they're working fine in my car at probably 700 wheel so far
05-21-2015, 12:10 AM
#16
You need rods, bearings, pistions with rings, and pay for the price of machine work. Also some good head gaskets. Don't bother with ARP main studs but I would pick up ARP head bolts or studs. Change your valve springs and maybe have a valve job done. Might want to check if the valves in your heads are straight. I see piston kissing in those pics unless you cut valve reliefs.other than that I would use everything else you have and go on from there.
