5.3 What car to put it in?
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Joined: Feb 2020
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5.3 What car to put it in? I have a 5.3l truck motor i want to drop into a car and turbo. My question what is the best bang for my buck when it comes to cars to put it in. I’d like to put it in a older Supra or RX7 but is there advantages to doing a S10 or foxbody instead? I guess if the motor is the same is any chassis superior platform to go faster easier or cheaper?
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Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Mississippi
Supras are rare and cool but parts are expensive. Probably best for handling...
Foxbodies probably out pf the cars you listed is probably best for drag racing. Parts can be cheap but expensive. I just hate going to the track and thats all you see...
Rx7- cool car thats kinda overlooked...
S10- cheap but making one hookup at the strip could be very tricky and expensive.
I had a 79 LUV truck... 400 horse estimated and i never got traction. Death trap or i say a casket on wheels.
Foxbodies probably out pf the cars you listed is probably best for drag racing. Parts can be cheap but expensive. I just hate going to the track and thats all you see...
Rx7- cool car thats kinda overlooked...
S10- cheap but making one hookup at the strip could be very tricky and expensive.
I had a 79 LUV truck... 400 horse estimated and i never got traction. Death trap or i say a casket on wheels.
People also assume since it's a small truck that they are light, They still have a heavy full length steel frame and weight wise are about the same as a 90's Camaro. My S10 is actually a pig but it's an extended cab with an Iron 6.0 with LSA supercharger and still has A/C... It's almost 3,800lbs.
I do agree that the Fox Body is the way to go unless you can do your own fab work.
G-body will drop right in but it's not a light car and the swap parts are reasonably priced, They sell swap kits for the RX7 and they are light but I believe the rear end is the weak link. What do you plan on doing with the car, Street or drag or both?
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On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 112
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From: Vancouver, WA
I've had this same dillema. I've had the LM4 5.3l for 2 years, still in the donor vehicle. I'm slowly amassing all the hard parts. 4l80e, Jakes rebuild kit, slip yoke, flywheel, new rear main, hptuners as I have other vehicles I can use it on, NGK wideband,
I still need: pac 1218, ls7 lifters, trans cooler and a car style intake to clear a hood on most vehicles.
Ive put a ton of time into a what to use for the swap vehicle and the best dollar per performance is hands down a Mustang.
So much aftermarket support for suspension, its unreal. They are also getting reproduction part love from the classic auto group for the interior/exterior items.
I personally will be using an Edge Mustang as they were the hotness when I was highschool. I personally think year for year the Mustang has looked better than F-body, despite me owning F-body's.
I still need: pac 1218, ls7 lifters, trans cooler and a car style intake to clear a hood on most vehicles.
Ive put a ton of time into a what to use for the swap vehicle and the best dollar per performance is hands down a Mustang.
So much aftermarket support for suspension, its unreal. They are also getting reproduction part love from the classic auto group for the interior/exterior items.
I personally will be using an Edge Mustang as they were the hotness when I was highschool. I personally think year for year the Mustang has looked better than F-body, despite me owning F-body's.
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Joined: Feb 2020
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My son and I are doing this currently so far just change the oil pan to LS1 with a couple mods to the windage tray to make the pickup tube fit use the LS1 stock motor mounts on the 5 3 it bolt right in we're also using an LS1 intake with slight modifications to the alternator bracket and relocating The idler pulley
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
My son and I are doing this currently so far just change the oil pan to LS1 with a couple mods to the windage tray to make the pickup tube fit use the LS1 stock motor mounts on the 5 3 it bolt right in we're also using an LS1 intake with slight modifications to the alternator bracket and relocating The idler pulley .5.3 into 02 v6 Camaro
A little "different" approach....a number of folks out there in the 9's with JY turbo motors.
http://www.volvojo.com/2017/03/21/60...-vs-the-world/
http://www.volvojo.com/2017/03/21/60...-vs-the-world/