LSx Engine Identification
Another great way to tell if its a 5.3l or 4.8l if you cant see the crank casting number, is the rod casting numbers are different. If the heads are off measure from BDC on the top of the piston to the top of the block and if its 3.622 its a 5.3l.
Can anyone tell me which 5.3l i have? Its iron and had 862 casting heads. Im only asking because I saw a picture on here of a 5.3l with dished pistons but it was a smooth dish, it didnt have the + on the piston like mine has.
Can anyone tell me which 5.3l i have? Its iron and had 862 casting heads. Im only asking because I saw a picture on here of a 5.3l with dished pistons but it was a smooth dish, it didnt have the + on the piston like mine has.
Last edited by Snkebait95; Aug 1, 2012 at 12:30 PM.
I Am starting to look for a replacement engine for my car - thinking LS3 or L92 and am not sure what vehicles to look in - are there any L92's that dont have DOD or cam phasing? if so what vehicles should I be looking for and vin codes? I know the L99(auto version of LS3) has these features and I dont want to mess with removing them. other than the Vette and the 6 speed SS what does the LS3 come in? caddies? G8s?
I Am starting to look for a replacement engine for my car - thinking LS3 or L92 and am not sure what vehicles to look in - are there any L92's that dont have DOD or cam phasing? if so what vehicles should I be looking for and vin codes? I know the L99(auto version of LS3) has these features and I dont want to mess with removing them. other than the Vette and the 6 speed SS what does the LS3 come in? caddies? G8s?
The G8s, I believe, are LY6s, aluminum 6.0 engines with the L92 heads, and think the VIN code is Y.
So, for a source of 6.2 aluminum engines, think 2007 & later Escalades or some of GM's other BIG RWD vehicles. Camaro & Vette engines are probably rare as hen's in a salvage yard.
Not a big deal to restore a VVT or AFM (DOD) engine to make it an LS3, (almost an LS3 anyway). What's the vehicle you plan to drop it in? Because heck, you probably would want to change the cam, even if a mild one, regardless of what you wanted to put it in. (or not?) Further, depending on your vehicle and if it has an ECM, and if the ECM is compatible, a lot of guys prefer to keep the VVT in anything less than race cars, as aftermarket VVT cams can offer the best of both worlds. And to lose the AFM, just 8 lifters, lifter guides and a valley cover is all that's required. (or a full set of lifters, as they are dirt-cheap)
And I know this because..... I'm searching for information myself. I've got a 2008 Escalade engine (or so I was told) but found that it has VVT AND AFM. Doesn't matter, for my application it's all out the window. But I am curious as to exactly what engine I do have.
Last edited by Scotty_82; Aug 26, 2012 at 05:16 PM.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
Another great way to tell if its a 5.3l or 4.8l if you cant see the crank casting number, is the rod casting numbers are different. If the heads are off measure from BDC on the top of the piston to the top of the block and if its 3.622 its a 5.3l.
Can anyone tell me which 5.3l i have? Its iron and had 862 casting heads. Im only asking because I saw a picture on here of a 5.3l with dished pistons but it was a smooth dish, it didnt have the + on the piston like mine has.
Can anyone tell me which 5.3l i have? Its iron and had 862 casting heads. Im only asking because I saw a picture on here of a 5.3l with dished pistons but it was a smooth dish, it didnt have the + on the piston like mine has.
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Teching In
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Southwest, Iowa
I have the exact same pistons in my 5.3 from a 2003 Tahoe L59. VIN says it is a flex fuel even though this chart says "regular unleaded".
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: Easton ny
Hey guys, just my personal experience with identifying a 5.3 vs 4.8. I bought an engine off a guy on craigslist for a 240z project. It was listed as a 5.3. Being a bit of a noob to this generation of engines, I got it home and started reading a bit about the engines on the net. Came across a couple of enraged people saying they bought what they thought were 5.3s and they turned out to be 4.8s. I also came across a few posts saying you could identify the engine size by the tab that sticks out from the head gasket. It didn't make much sense to me that GM would ID engines this way, but I went out to the garage and checked the tab. It said 4.8!!!
As my blood pressure started to rise, I remembered seeing someone say the 4.8/5.3 cast into the back of the block might have one or the other highlighted with paint. No highlighting on this one. I decided to grab a spark plug socket and see if I could tell by looking at the piston tops, as the 4.8s came with flat tops and the 5.3s dished. No way, unless you happen to have a scope, which I don't. Besides, GM apparently had flat tops in the 5.3 H.O. and at some point, switched to flat tops in all 5.3s.
At this point I was ready to hunt down the guy that sold me this engine. Well after some thought (and words of wisdom from the wife), I decided to go ahead and pull the pan and check the crankshaft casting number...12552216. It is a 5.3!
The moral of the story...pull the pan and look at the crank. I've since read about a few people with gasket tabs that say 4.8, but they have 5.3 cranks. Oh and BTW, I'm 99.999999999% sure the heads have never been off of this engine....in fact I'm 99.99999999% sure NONE of the bolts have ever been off of this engine since it left the factory.
My 2 ¢
Good luck.
As my blood pressure started to rise, I remembered seeing someone say the 4.8/5.3 cast into the back of the block might have one or the other highlighted with paint. No highlighting on this one. I decided to grab a spark plug socket and see if I could tell by looking at the piston tops, as the 4.8s came with flat tops and the 5.3s dished. No way, unless you happen to have a scope, which I don't. Besides, GM apparently had flat tops in the 5.3 H.O. and at some point, switched to flat tops in all 5.3s.
At this point I was ready to hunt down the guy that sold me this engine. Well after some thought (and words of wisdom from the wife), I decided to go ahead and pull the pan and check the crankshaft casting number...12552216. It is a 5.3!
The moral of the story...pull the pan and look at the crank. I've since read about a few people with gasket tabs that say 4.8, but they have 5.3 cranks. Oh and BTW, I'm 99.999999999% sure the heads have never been off of this engine....in fact I'm 99.99999999% sure NONE of the bolts have ever been off of this engine since it left the factory.
My 2 ¢
Good luck.
Way off dude, gonna confuse people!!!! 5.3 and 4.8 have same bore! Different strokes. 5.3, 5.7, and 6.0 are all same stroke with different bores!!!!
I have actually looked at tabs on engines.....stated 4.8, pulled it apart and it was a 5.3 as it was suppose to be. So that's not a sure way to tell. Get a scope and look through the spark plug hole for a flat top or a dished piston in most cases.
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
i dont know if this is where i should ask this question but is the 5.3 out of a front wheel drive impala ss the same as out of a rear wheel drive car? the front drive for all he acc. is different and the intake is backwards. i can get it kinda cheap. it is out of a burnt car but the fire did not get into the engine compartment. thanks for any help
i dont know if this is where i should ask this question but is the 5.3 out of a front wheel drive impala ss the same as out of a rear wheel drive car? the front drive for all he acc. is different and the intake is backwards. i can get it kinda cheap. it is out of a burnt car but the fire did not get into the engine compartment. thanks for any help