Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

5.3 vs 5.7

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-13-2014, 11:53 AM
  #1  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
 
NewOrleansLT1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 1,707
Received 13 Likes on 9 Posts

Default 5.3 vs 5.7

With all mods being the same on a 5.3 and 5.7, about how much power would the 5.3 be down?
Old 12-13-2014, 12:06 PM
  #2  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
ULTIMATEORANGESS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: eatontown,nj
Posts: 10,976
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 15 Posts

Default

are we discussing NA OR FI?
Old 12-13-2014, 12:25 PM
  #3  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
 
NewOrleansLT1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 1,707
Received 13 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

NA preferably, but I'm listening to all opinions..
Old 12-13-2014, 12:28 PM
  #4  
10 Second Club
 
big hammer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: over dere
Posts: 3,428
Received 152 Likes on 104 Posts

Default

some.
Old 12-13-2014, 01:03 PM
  #5  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
ULTIMATEORANGESS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: eatontown,nj
Posts: 10,976
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 15 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by big hammer
some.
lol,a man of few words but to the point.

Last edited by ULTIMATEORANGESS; 12-13-2014 at 04:06 PM.
Old 12-13-2014, 03:09 PM
  #6  
10 Second Club
iTrader: (37)
 
JRENIGAR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: 72396
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

7% give or take a few hp.
Old 12-15-2014, 04:27 PM
  #7  
On The Tree
 
Joe69z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Dirty South
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

In stock form about 10 hp
Old 12-15-2014, 10:32 PM
  #8  
10 Second Club
 
big hammer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: over dere
Posts: 3,428
Received 152 Likes on 104 Posts

Default

in stock form, apples for apples, there's more like a 40 hp difference between the two. the earlier non HO 5.3 came with basically the same heads as an ls1, and was around 310 hp. ls1's were 345-350 hp.

later 5.3's got LS6 style heads and were bumped to 325 hp.

it's not a matter the percentage of displacement loss. the 5.3 is basically an underbored ls1. smaller bores change the flow characteristics of the heads.

so how much less will a 5.3 make than an ls1? some. but if you get an iron block 5.3 you can bore them out to ls1 specs.
Old 12-16-2014, 05:19 PM
  #9  
On The Tree
 
Joe69z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Dirty South
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Every thing being the same there is not 40 hp difference. There is only 10 - 15 rwhp difference between the two.
Old 12-16-2014, 05:27 PM
  #10  
TECH Fanatic
 
98SS Blackattack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

From scratch I would go 5.7. If I had a 5.3 already I would build it.
Old 12-16-2014, 10:17 PM
  #11  
10 Second Club
 
big hammer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: over dere
Posts: 3,428
Received 152 Likes on 104 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Joe69z28
Every thing being the same there is not 40 hp difference. There is only 10 - 15 rwhp difference between the two.
non HO headed 5.3's had maybe 310 hp.

ls1's were all around 345-350 hp.
Old 12-17-2014, 12:32 PM
  #12  
On The Tree
 
Joe69z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Dirty South
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by big hammer
non HO headed 5.3's had maybe 310 hp.

ls1's were all around 345-350 hp.
And what LS1 are you quoting that made 345-350 hp . I do hope your not trying to use some old exaggerated factory gross rating. In order to compare this you need see what theses two put down to the ground , not some inflated factory gross rating. I will say it again there is not 40 hp difference between the two.
Old 12-17-2014, 01:20 PM
  #13  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
thunderstruck507's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Northwest AR
Posts: 8,357
Received 21 Likes on 17 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Joe69z28
And what LS1 are you quoting that made 345-350 hp . I do hope your not trying to use some old exaggerated factory gross rating. In order to compare this you need see what theses two put down to the ground , not some inflated factory gross rating. I will say it again there is not 40 hp difference between the two.
LS1s were under rated at 305-320 hp in many forms...but the truth is all LS1s make ~345hp crank they just wanted the corvette to look better on paper

5.3s were rated at 270hp-295hp depending on year, the HO 5.3 at 310hp due to higher compression flat top pistons and 799 heads


A fairly good indicator is that the ls1 in an automatic trans car will make 290-310rwhp while a 5.3 truck will make low-mid 200s (mine made 220rwhp with dual exhaust and a mild tune). It's common for cammed and longtube 5.3s to be in the same rwhp range as a stock ls1 car. (some of that will be due to higher drivetrain loss).
Old 12-17-2014, 01:40 PM
  #14  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
thunderstruck507's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Northwest AR
Posts: 8,357
Received 21 Likes on 17 Posts

Default

If I remember correctly a few years ago someone took a 5.3 and swapped on: ls6 intake, 243 heads, ls6 cam, and longtubes. It made around 350rwhp in a swapped car.

A 5.7 ls6 car with longtubes will make a solid 20-30rwhp more than that.

That's the closest comparison I can think of.
Old 12-18-2014, 01:18 PM
  #15  
TECH Addict
 
gagliano7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Monroe,NY
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 0
Received 112 Likes on 89 Posts

Default

Plus don't forget the 5.7 will have more torque to get you going.
Old 12-19-2014, 02:46 PM
  #16  
On The Tree
 
Joe69z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Dirty South
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by thunderstruck507
LS1s were under rated at 305-320 hp in many forms...but the truth is all LS1s make ~345hp crank they just wanted the corvette to look better on paper

5.3s were rated at 270hp-295hp depending on year, the HO 5.3 at 310hp due to higher compression flat top pistons and 799 heads


A fairly good indicator is that the ls1 in an automatic trans car will make 290-310rwhp while a 5.3 truck will make low-mid 200s (mine made 220rwhp with dual exhaust and a mild tune). It's common for cammed and longtube 5.3s to be in the same rwhp range as a stock ls1 car. (some of that will be due to higher drivetrain loss).
Thunder , I do respect what your saying and you do make some good points. But the key to this comparison is everything being the same . All the key components need to be the same , except bore size , to have a accurate comparison . If a chassis dyno is going to be used to measure power it should the same vehicle . A full size Silverado with a LM7 vs F- Body LS1 is not a good fair comparison. The closest factory examples to compare would be 5.3 L33 vs LS1 , they both have a close CR 10:1 , the LS1 has a much bigger cam , but the L33 does have better flowing 799 heads . so its pretty much a wash . I think you will find they make similar numbers real world. But to really have a real accurate comparison everything needs to be the same all key components same intake , cam , heads , cr ,exhaust ,ect .ect.
Old 12-19-2014, 03:03 PM
  #17  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
thunderstruck507's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Northwest AR
Posts: 8,357
Received 21 Likes on 17 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Joe69z28
Thunder , I do respect what your saying and you do make some good points. But the key to this comparison is everything being the same . All the key components need to be the same , except bore size , to have a accurate comparison .
I agree, just not a perfect comparison available. I took the OP's post more as a comparison of factory available engines.

The ls6 equipped 5.3 versus a true ls6 was the closest comparison I could think of since both use GM parts rather than trying to find similar builds using the same aftermarket cam/heads/intakes.

If you search truck forums you might be able to find some accounts of people boring a 5.3 to accept ls1 pistons and get a better feel for how they stack up. Before and after, but more likely the person also upgrades cams when they get more displacement.


HP will end up being relatively close IMO, but the 5.3 will be down on torque.
Old 12-19-2014, 03:45 PM
  #18  
On The Tree
 
Joe69z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Dirty South
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by thunderstruck507
I agree, just not a perfect comparison available. I took the OP's post more as a comparison of factory available engines.

The ls6 equipped 5.3 versus a true ls6 was the closest comparison I could think of since both use GM parts rather than trying to find similar builds using the same aftermarket cam/heads/intakes.

If you search truck forums you might be able to find some accounts of people boring a 5.3 to accept ls1 pistons and get a better feel for how they stack up. Before and after, but more likely the person also upgrades cams when they get more displacement.


HP will end up being relatively close IMO, but the 5.3 will be down on torque.
True and agreed .... and the Truck forum would be a good place and top pro engine builders that do these every day have the dope on this too .
Old 12-19-2014, 04:34 PM
  #19  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (35)
 
99Bluz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: C. V., Kalifornia
Posts: 9,705
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Also add the fact that even with the exact same cam in the 5.3 and 5.7 , the 5.7 will run smoother, so you can go with a bigger cam. Furthermore. all else being with the engines equal cubic inches rule, if you're strictly running a naturally aspirated engine an want to make maximum hp/tq.

Last edited by 99Bluz28; 12-19-2014 at 04:52 PM.
Old 12-24-2014, 03:24 PM
  #20  
TECH Fanatic
 
MuhThugga's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Wilmington, De
Posts: 1,671
Received 228 Likes on 153 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by big hammer
non HO headed 5.3's had maybe 310 hp.

ls1's were all around 345-350 hp.
That's cool.

The early 5.3s also had dished pistons, puny cams, and truck intakes. So, those ratings aren't exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, are they?


Quick Reply: 5.3 vs 5.7



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:48 AM.