cobalt964

first, there are many ways to do this, na, boost, different cam and heads, so on. but this one has worked for me.

my l33/243 longblock with 8k miles was 600.00. 12k mile oem ls2 cam and springs 150.00, ls6 intake 300.00, ebay .080 pushrods 85.00, arp rod bolts 90.00, ebay 8740 headstuds 68.00, oem gaskets and seals 190.00, lq9 injectors 50.00, 78mm ported oem throttle body 65.00, truck 85mm maf 35.00, ebay stainless headers 195.00, made my own stand alone harness 0.00, hptuners setup 600.00. easy 400crankhp, likely more like 440-450chp. but who cares since it is in a 2280lb car with a 5 speed. @$1700.00 before hptuners not bad cost wise, runs on pump gas and very repeatable by many.

this is on stock compression 243 heads, for another small bump in hp you could jump the compression to match the 706/862 heads 62cc chambers.

again in no way is this the only way or the best way, but I have built it and it works and runs like a superbike on four wheels.

post script; what gm says the l33 is.

The Vortec 5300, or LM7/L59/LM4/L33, is a V8 truck engine. It is a longer-stroked (by 9 mm) version of the Vortec 4800 and replaced the 5700 L31. L59 denoted a flexible fuel version of the standard fuel LM7 engine. Displacement is 5.3 L (5,328 cc (325.1 cu in)) from 96.01 mm 3.78-inch (96 mm) bore and 92.00 mm (3.6 in) stroke 3.622-inch (92.0 mm) stroke. Vortec 5300s are built in St. Catharines, Ontario and Romulus, Michigan.

The Gen III Vortec 5300 is available in a new lighter, higher output variant optional on some 2005 Silverados and Sierras. RPO L33 will be introduced in short bed, extended cab versions of these pickups. The L33 features an aluminum engine block, new cylinder heads and a high-lift cam. Torque will increase, and horsepower is expected to exceed 300 in final production trim.

One of the L33’s distinguishing features is its engine block. As with the 2004 LM4 Vortec 5300, the L33’s foundation is a cast-aluminum block with pressed-in iron cylinder liners, similar to the block used for GM Powertrain’s LS1 and LS6 car V-8s. The L33 block is exceptionally light; as a result, a fully dressed L33 is 100 pounds lighter than cast iron-block Vortec 5300s (RPOs LM7 and L59).

The L33 takes its cylinder heads from the LS6. Originally developed for the Z06 Corvette, these heads improve airflow in and out of the engine. With their pent-roof combustions chambers and new flat top pistons (the pistons in other Gen III Vortec 5300s have a slight sump in the piston deck), the L33’s compression ratio increases from 9.5:1 to 9.9:1. This increase improves the engine’s volumetric efficiency yet still allows it to achieve full power with regular grade gasoline.

Finally, the L33 is equipped with a higher-lift camshaft. Maximum valve lift increases from 11.6 mm on the LM7 and L59 to 12.5 mm. The new cam and compression ratio are the primary sources of the L33’s increased horsepower.

The L33 camshaft and cylinder heads were developed in conjunction with the new Gen IV Vortec 5300 (RPO LH6). The design objective was more horsepower for customers who need it, without requiring a step up to the Vortec 6000 (and an increase in operational costs). RPO L33 expands GM Powertrain’s lineup of Vortec V8s and gives GM’s truck customers even more flexibility and choice.

The L33 Vortec 5300 will be built at Powertrain’s Romulus, Mich., engine plant. With its introduction, Powertrain will cease production of Vortec 5300 RPO LM4. The Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL, previously equipped with the LM4, will now be powered by the Gen IV Vortec 5300 with Displacement on Demand. The 2005 Chevrolet SSR will be powered by the new LS2 truck V-8.

cobalt964

for those who say just build a 6.0 or ls3 or whatever else, not everyone needs cubes or wants to spend that kind of money is my point. it depends first on their goals and second on their budget. yes I have built a lq4 with patriot heads and cam and it makes a conservative 500hp, I have built a ly6 with ls3 intake/heads .600lift also makes conservative 500hp, also have a ls3 with hotcam that makes a conservative 500hp... point being there are several different ways depending on how you go about it. but also keep in mind on those motors I spent a lot more coin as well. so the l33 is a good little motor with some nice factory pieces and if you do it right is a nice budget build for some decent na hp. just my .02

schreurs1

A good example of putting together some nice used parts for some cheap horsepower.

1997trans-am

iTrader: (2)

Nice selection of parts... It's amazing what you can get for 1700 if you are patient and know where to look!

fieroguru

iTrader: (1)

Here is my aluminum 5.3 build:

18K mile 2007 LS4 (aluminum 5.3 w/799 heads): $1000 for engine transmission/harness/ecm.
LS7 MAF: $60 for sensor and pigtail
LS2 TB, Intake, & Injectors: $375
224/232 DoD camshaft, springs, pushrods: $750
LS7 exhaust manifolds: $150
Reworked stock harness: $50 (for pins and heat shrink)

Never pulled the heads or did any porting, just bolted together and tuned.
So $2385 for the basics, or $1810 after I sold the transmission for $575. Best part is when I break it, I can just get another LS4 engine, swap over the parts and do it again. Resulted in 382whp at 6800 rpm and 335 wtq at 5000 with a manual FWD transmission, so it has about 430 fwhp.

Eventually I will fail a DoD lifter and I will eliminated DoD at that point.

jjamm7667

cobalt964 I like your post. Its just what I want to do and it's very affordable.

cobalt964

thank you all for the kind words. I hope my experience can help others too. fieroguru I followed your build on pff, nice build.

Jeff Smith

iTrader: (44)

awesome job..
Fieroguru, what dyno hp# when you done.

fieroguru

iTrader: (1)

My car dyno'd 382whp at 6800 rpm and 335 wtq at 5000 on a dyno jet. The dyno sheet is in my build thread here:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...ed-swap-8.html

Maybe next spring I will swap cams and port the intake to try and break the 400 wph mark.

cobalt964

very respectable guru, so around 430 crank hp

cobalt964

over on the truck forums there are guys breaking 400rwhp on na 5.3's

cobalt964

the od of the cylinder sleeves in the 5.3's is the same od as the ls1 and ls6 blocks. you could bore the l33 to ls1 /ls6 specs but I don't know you would gain enough hp/tq per dollar to be worth it. lots of other mods you could do for the same money that would yield better results. imo.

Birdracing

I am still in the build process of my 5.3 build so I don't have any numbers yet but so far this build have cost me very little here is what I have.

5.3cast ironblock with 706 heads free
LS1 intake manifold free
LS1 throttle free
LS1 Cam out of a 98 Formula 496/496 lift free
Heads cost me money to get checked everything is good.

There are so many ways to get some h/p out of these motors, I am on a budget with this seeing that I have another car that I like to spend money on. I am hoping with what I got with a set of headers, converter, full exhaust, I should see 400h/p at the crank, that is what I am going after.

cobalt964

I currently have 7 different 5.3's for various builds im doing. I like the little motors. but don't get me wrong I have 3 6.0's, 2 6.2's and 1 7.0. I am always on the look out for something fun to stuff a 5.3 into tho.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

I ran a 2002 5.3 with the same cam, heads (stock compression), and intake for a while in a manual transmission car with a 3.70 rear. Trap speed ballparked it in the low 300s at the crank. I never ran it on a dyno.

Hero

I cant locate the truck forums or is there another site in particular your talking about I am building a 5.3 for a 89 2wd shortbed and needing good guidance but want to make her mean as possible

Dusty B

iTrader: (1)

Google is your friend!

http://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/tags/l33/

AlexTVR

I'm building a L33 at the moment

Cleaned up stock heads (799's)
Trick flow titanium ret and spring kit
Comp push rods
Comp lifters
Comp trunnion upgrade
Comp 231/239 lsr cam
Fast 90 with TB
Arp rod bolts
Cold air feed
Free flowing exhaust
Melling hp oil pump
Ls3 front end

Now idea on power, but will post up when it's dyno'ed

Hero

thanks but after I noticed it there you could have just said the top of the page

cobalt964

I have 2 extra l33 blocks if someone needs one. 450. each.