Ls1olds

Being a user who surfs the only the conversion part im wondering what engines are best for the money. I have seen quite a few 4.8/5.3 for pretty decent price and the ls1/6.0 not badly priced either. Just wondering who is running what motor ? any pros/cons ? Im going to be using the carb. set up and the motor is going either in my olds or possibly a 68 c10 pending the sale of the olds. Thanks for any input!

Novas Forever

I really wanted an aluminum LS1 from an F-body but now I think I could have just used a 5.3 and saved some money. The all aluminum part is pretty cool though.

4OfaKind

I have a 5.3. Bought it from a member here because the price was so cheap. I am using it for mock ups now in my 56 chevy sedan. I am saving for an all aluminum LS2 block. But I could still just use the 5.3 if I so desire (it is only .7 L away from a 6.0 )

The benefits of the LS2 is weight and the larger displacement. Plus it removes the limits of which heads and pistons you can run allowing you to change displacement at your whim like the Gen I was so famous for.

My .02

Mal

bczee

iTrader: (12)

Either one is a good choice.. depending on what your expectation are !.. Daily Driver, Street/strip, racing, etc.. How much HP / TQ you are wanting to make it put out and what car/truck it i going into. I did my LS1/T56 into my 71 Chevelle, but I am thinking that for my 71 Nova.. I could get alway with a 5.3L and still be happy since the car is lighter than my Chevelle.

Either way.. you will not go wrong... just consider your end goal.

9540x

that is a good point. I am considering doing a 5.3 swap as well into my third gen firebird. The 5.3s are cheap and plentiful. While the stroke and bore are different from 5.7 and 6.0s, the block is the same. Therefore, heads, cams, intakes are all interchangeable. Swap on some flat top pistons and bump the compression ratio up to 10.5, mildly aggressive cam (LSA, say, 114), and LSX intake from a company like FAST and you'll be making 400+ HP/TQ in no time and you'll have spent less and have bragging rights.

Also, please note that this is my opinion. Not fact. Sure there are benefits to larger displacement, all aluminum block (even though the 5.3s can be had in all aluminum as well), but it may not be necessary for a DD. People will tell you that there is "no replacement for displacement" which is more or less true and that a 5.7 or6.0 has "more potential", but again, you have to consider your needs. Do you really need an engine capable of making 600 HP? Do you really need the
"potential" of making almost 1000HP with turbos and nitrous? If you intend for you vehicle to be a DD or regular "fun" car, probably not.

That's just my two cents.

hpmotorsports

iTrader: (5)

a 5.3 has the same stoke as a 5.7 and 6.0 the only difference is bore size, i love 5.3 they are great and cheap,also make plenty of power, i built a 5.7 with 8.89cr ,cnc ported ls6 heads,590 cam,ls6 intake, long tubes, for a turbo car and he wanted to save up more money before he put the turbos on it,so we tuned it NA
it made 350rwhp, my 5.3 made 350rwhp small cam & 2.00 intake valves, 750 holley, so cubes are not that big of a deal

Ls1olds

Thanks for the replies, that was pretty much the answers I was looking for. I was thinking that the 5.3 could be a little more cost efficient and still make the power i needed (300 - 500 range)

bczee

iTrader: (12)

As Nike saids.. Just Do It !

keep us posted..!

RacnJsn95

iTrader: (4)

The 4.8 has a smaller stroke, and longer rods than the 5.3... The 5.3, 5.7, 6.0 all have the same 3.622" stroke, and 6.098" rods. Just different bore sizes make the difference.

The 4.8, and the 5.3 both have a 3.779" bore. So if all you had access to is 4.8's you can buy one, and use the crank and rods from a 5.3/5.7/6.0 and have yourself a 5.3! The 4.8 is DIRT cheap too... Even cheaper than the 5.3. If you want to build a performance 5.3, and plan on getting forged crank, rods, etc you might be better off buying a 4.8. You can pick them up for a couple hundred bucks all day long. That's what I'm doing, I paid $207.50 for my 4.8 (but then I had to ship it, but it's still dirt cheap becuase there is NO LSx engines ANYWHERE here).

I've read here, on LS1Tech, that you can safely bore the 5.3/4.8 block out to take the 5.7 pistons, and still have room to go up another size or two if you ever had to... You'd pretty much have an iron block LS1 by doing that. In fact a lot of guys that plan on pushing a lot of boost go this route because the iron block can handle it better... The weight difference is only ~60lbs from the aluminum to steel counterpart...

You do the math

patgizz

iTrader: (6)

so YOU're the one i was cursing for outbidding me on that one!


but i agree with the above about the vortec motors versus the car motors.

RacnJsn95

iTrader: (4)

Eehh... I don't know what you're talking about If it makes you feel any better it cost me $250 to ship it

patgizz

iTrader: (6)

i wound up with a complete 50k mile 2002 5.3, with all accessories, wiring, starter, ecu, sensors, manifolds, ready to drop in, for 1175 shipped.

dajodsterman

dude your talking about two different beast. you can't say based on all those variables that cubes would not make a difference. a F/I setup that's running N/A is a poor example to use. Take both bore sizes, do the same thing to them and see which one makes more power. I'm not going to say it would be alot from 5.3 to 5.7. I will say that the difference in those cubes is not that big of deal.

If your looking at getting a 4.8 or a 6.0 for close to the same price and can afford it, get the 6.0L. That is a bigger diffrence in performance. Also if you want some great heads on a budget. The l92 heads are awsome but want fit on a 4.8L, 5.3L, or 5.7L because the valves are to big for the smaller bore engines. Now I would call that a big deal.