Fuzzylogic

Hey all.

I have a '93 Mustang coupe with a 5-speed and 4cyl that just blew a head gasket. Can someone sell me on the advantages of going with the 5.3l LS engine over the larger sizes? I'm really not sure what the advantages would be, but I'm assuming less cost, less weight, better MPG...? What are my tranny choices?

I just want a reliable daily driver with a healthy chunk of power, and the best MPG I can get.

Take it easy, gents! ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

Fuzzylogic

Wow, sorry, I haven't been online in a long time and see some great threads about these engines right on the very first page. My enthusiasm got me carried away.

So more specifically, anyone swapped a 5.3 into a Mustang on here? I'd like to make it as painless as possible a swap.

firefighting1101

iTrader: (48)

just do a search in the conversions section. there have been numerous swaps into mustangs, but i would certainly go with a ls1 over a 5.3... remember there is no replacement for displacement

jfman

iTrader: (6)

The advantages are cheaper than the ls1 by about $1000. The savings arent that extreme because you still have to hunt down some ls1 specific parts to make it work but when you buy an ls1 swap, you are good to go. But also think that the cost of the motor is only a fraction of the total build. A lot of custom parts add up to a lot of money easely surpasing those of the motor and trans.

Another advantage is that you can find replacement just about everywhere and they are CHEAP. If you like to gamble with stock motors (big juice, big boost) a $600 5.3 is going to hurt you less than an $1800 ls1.


btw: 5.3 weight more than the ls1 unles it's a very recent one with the aluminum block. Fuel mileage should be almost the same, not enough difference to make it worthy of mention.

that being said the 5.3 still make some good power, they are far superior to a 302 anyway and I guess if you get tired you can always upgrade to a better lsx motor.

here's a guy that built a 5.3 fox.

http://www.theturboforums.com/smf/in...topic=114167.0

hulley

This months SuperChevy mag took a 5.3l truck engine did a tune/edelbrock heads/comp cam/headers and got 441hp at the flywheel. Not bad for a junkyard engine! Used the stock truck manifold and injectors.

themachasy

iTrader: (5)

Another poster here got 326whp with a z06 cam and valvesprings. The motors are strong, the real upside is they are CHEAP. Mine was $300. Can't touch an LS1 for that. For the same money as an LS1 I could have a 5.3 punched out to a 5.7 with pistons and rods and handle whatever I could throw at it. But its heavier and not aluminum, so if NA is your thing an LS1 would probably be a better way to go.

My $.02,
Josh

Fuzzylogic

I was thinking if I did absolutely anything to it I'd put a small hit of nitrous to it. Just for legal racing opportunities, few and far between. But nice to have. I just want to get this coupe on the road with an economical engine for cheap. You Chevy guys have a pretty decent MPG advantage over the Ford engines I think. Maybe I'll be boring and fix the retarded 4cyl in it.

Thanks for the posts.

magic

iTrader: (4)

It will still be retarded....

Fuzzylogic

I know, haha. I'm gonna find a 5.3 and just wade into this. I got a bunch of Chevy guys at work to help me when I get over my head. And I will. Almost immediately.

jfman

iTrader: (6)

Make sure you plan this right. The motors may be cheap but it's not gonna be "cheap" when its ready to drive trust me.

2.3cyl are around a hundred bucks. I sold the one out of my car for 100 with all the accesories.

Fuzzylogic

Yeah, I bought a spare engine and tranny for $120 haha.