Steve1969LS1

iTrader: (1)

Thoughts?

I'm better with LS1,2,6, etc.. but I thought it would cool to do a story on a super budget build (and install).

5.3L pull out engines are dirt cheap, so I was leaning that way. but I would want the engine in the car to be a manual trans. All the 5.3 harnesses would be auto ones though, right?

What would be your recipie for a down and dirty budget build. Would I be better off finding a cheap LS1?

Anyways, thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Rodder

iTrader: (2)

Whatcha gonna put it in? If it's another 1st gen fbody, I think you may need Fbody intake (for hood clearance) and accessories (for intake clearance) as well. And a cut Fbody or aftermarket pan too. Any of that would cost more than reworking the harness for a T56.

slow

iTrader: (7)

5.3 into a S10 with automatic, performance truck for cheap, use a 2002ish truck so you can integrate the wiring to the stock pcm. Use LS6 intake and 98 vette lines.

Ryan

jmarsa

iTrader: (1)

Steve,

This is a great idea. Complete low mileage 5.3's (30K) are avail for less than $1K. It's hard to get a longblock LS1 (missing covers ect.) that needs rebuilding for that.

There's not much 5.3L love over here since it's the passenger car engine site (but they do like those 6.0 truck motor blocks). It seems that the truck side (performance trucks) runs a lot of 5.3's boosted.

I think a 5.3 would respond well to 5.7-6.0 take off's like:

A 224/224 cam along with a LS6 intake, 32'ish injectors, a stage II port job and milling the stock heads to go from 9.9:1 to 11.0-.5:1 with a thin gasket. Maybe a 90mm TB. One argument I've seen lately is whether upgrading the intake valve to 2.02 would cause too much valve shrouding with small bore.

Please don't make it a 5.3 to 5.7 overbore conversion, base it on an aluminum block build up. I think 375-400rwhp would be about max for a street motor.

--JMarsa

Schitzo

iTrader: (6)

I would go 5.3/T56. Auto harness is no big deal all you need is to wire in the reverse lock out into the harness and have the PCM flashed with M6 program.This is what I did on my last setup.

I think if done right, the article would encourage alot of people to swing the LSx way

Steve1969LS1

iTrader: (1)

Don't know.. thinking low buck first gen.. down and dirty

Would def do the intake.. can't stand the truck one.

G-Body

iTrader: (4)

I think that the 5.3L`s in the SSR were available with a manual (t56 I think), but that would not be very budget.

All the 5.3L`s did have auto harnesses, but it is relatively easy to convert them to controlling a stick. However the 4.8L trucks were available with a 5 speed sitck. You could either use a 4.8 (yeah I know it a small engine) or you could buy a 4.8L 5 speed trans, PCM, and wiring harness and use a 5.3L engine, as its simple enough to retune the PCM to control the 5.3L

01WS6/tamu

iTrader: (37)

If it's going into an s10 let me stop you in your tracks. There is no such thing as cheap or budget when and LS is mentioned. Feel free to cruise down to our 70 page long thread and investigate.

lt4malibu

iTrader: (39)

would the "budget" just apply to the motor or the whole car? i dont see a first gen F-body being an attainable project(of course i guess it depends what the budget really is)

i was reading a thread over on corral.net about how the LSx swap isnt really cheaper than making the same HP as a 302/351 in a ford, and since more stuff is available now for the fox swap id say do a 4door fairmont(fox platform) and build the WHOLE car on a budget(maybe do a cost comparison for swapping a ford motor and getting the same power)... just my opinion... but we all know what those are like

BLWN1

iTrader: (6)

78-81 Malibu or SS monte would be awesome....!

ls1_chevelle

iTrader: (9)

Pff, you need to pull your bling card out of your wallet and put it aside for this story.

5.3l, z06 cam/springs/. t76 turbo. Done lol.

AmericanMuscle313

iTrader: (5)

I think this is an awesome idea. I like the idea of a budget daily driver first gen Nova. A 62-65 body style with a tci front clip, 5.3 with either a tko or t56. You could have a "reasonable" budget and have a cool daily driver that gets 20+ mpg. A small cam 224/224 114 (maybe even smaller) and some WCCH stage 1 heads. It would make excellent torque in a light weight car and be fun to drive.
Maybe even do a "Street fighter" theme with the new Weiand intake that is designed for a low to mid range power band. The less bling the better and use as many oem accessories and components (things the average hot rodder can pick up at the junkyard) as possible.

79nova

need to put it in 75 to 79 nova,and with richmond 5 speed

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Steve, are you talking totally stock heads too?

How cheap is a pull-out 5.3 these days?

I sold the longblock out of my 2000 Camaro for like $1500.

BLWN1

iTrader: (6)

I can get them for 500, complete minus alt and starter.

jmarsa

iTrader: (1)

Complete 5.3 engines with about 30K miles are less than 1K around here.

--JMarsa

72Elkytpi

iTrader: (47)

I have a 5.3 sitting in my garage without a home. I am just wondering if the stock ls1 or ls2 cam will make it wake up. I like the Z06 cam idea or a hot cam.

Also what turbo setups would be cheap for this. The exhaust manifolds can be turned around and faced forward, does anyone have a link to turbo parts to be used with the manifolds.

bgblockelcamino

iTrader: (9)

pretty much my recipe too. building 2 vehicles with a very similar setup

V8Rumble

iTrader: (9)

My 2c (and I'm honestly not meaning to offend anyone with this):

The 5.3 build-up is a great idea - it's a great "budget build" engine that's easily attainable, & can still make some pretty decent power.

But come on - ANOTHER 1st-gen project??!?? At what point does that officially become "overdone"? Personally, I'd LOVE to see a project that uses an "alternative" platform that the average guy has a chance at finding, and perhaps more importantly, finding parts for, without taking out a 2nd mortgage, or tunneling into Ft. Knox...

I don't much care what it is (although my preference would be something that's not a heavy "tank", so that you could afford to drive it when it's done) let's just try to hop out of "the same old rut", & also be a little realistic about what the average reader might be able to duplicate...

BTW, thanks for asking for our feedback/opinion...

MSchreiner

I love the idea as well. The 5.3 is more attainable for your average Joe as a pull out, and ultimately at the gas pump as well.

5.3 with a t56 would be a thread I'd subscribe to!