Which LSx for '56 Chevy on budget?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Which LSx for '56 Chevy on budget? Hi,
Super glad to find this site because I have a '56 Chevy that I want to put a fuel-injected engine and 4 spd tranny in. The LS1's are nice and preferable but probably out of my budget. On the otherhand, it seems that 4.8L and 5.3L engines can be found with low mileage for pretty cheap. Any opinions on going this route?
How do the 4.8L and 5.3L compare in size to the standard 350? Has anyone else on the site used one of these engines in a hybrid? Do all of the LSx series engines have the motor mounts in the same place?
Thanks.
Super glad to find this site because I have a '56 Chevy that I want to put a fuel-injected engine and 4 spd tranny in. The LS1's are nice and preferable but probably out of my budget. On the otherhand, it seems that 4.8L and 5.3L engines can be found with low mileage for pretty cheap. Any opinions on going this route?
How do the 4.8L and 5.3L compare in size to the standard 350? Has anyone else on the site used one of these engines in a hybrid? Do all of the LSx series engines have the motor mounts in the same place?
Thanks.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,148
Likes: 12
From: Downers Grove, IL
Go for it 
I am running a 5.3L in my El Camino and it is great. The engine has 120 thousand miles on it and I just took it to a dyno day, put out 253HP at the wheels on a mustang chassis dyno. If you can find one cheap a 6.0L would be even better. As far as dimensions I did not take exact measurements but you should be just fine, the intake cleared my hood so I would think it should clear yours, the engine is about the same length, you may have some heaterbox interference depending on where you mount it. The oil pan may not fit either, I know S&P notches oilpans for tri 5`s but I am not sure if that is absolutely needed, everyone said mine would need to be notched and I fit mine in with a camaro pan (more ground clearence) and cut the heaterbox to clear the coilpacks. The exhaust manifolds may not fit but any LSx series manifold will bolt up so you should be able to find something that fits. The mount bolt patterns are the same on all LSx engines and in the same spot on the engine.
I am running a 5.3L in my El Camino and it is great. The engine has 120 thousand miles on it and I just took it to a dyno day, put out 253HP at the wheels on a mustang chassis dyno. If you can find one cheap a 6.0L would be even better. As far as dimensions I did not take exact measurements but you should be just fine, the intake cleared my hood so I would think it should clear yours, the engine is about the same length, you may have some heaterbox interference depending on where you mount it. The oil pan may not fit either, I know S&P notches oilpans for tri 5`s but I am not sure if that is absolutely needed, everyone said mine would need to be notched and I fit mine in with a camaro pan (more ground clearence) and cut the heaterbox to clear the coilpacks. The exhaust manifolds may not fit but any LSx series manifold will bolt up so you should be able to find something that fits. The mount bolt patterns are the same on all LSx engines and in the same spot on the engine. Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Thansk G-body. Did you have a tough time finding your 5.3? Do you mind me how much you paid for it?
How do you like it? Smooth? Plenty of power? What do you like most about the swap?
How do you like it? Smooth? Plenty of power? What do you like most about the swap?
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,148
Likes: 12
From: Downers Grove, IL
Finding a 5.3 is easy, I just checked www.car-part.com I paid $800 for the motor, computer, wiring, and all the accys except the A/C compressor. Then I bought a 4l60e for 200. I like it a lot better than the 305 I had previously, my dad liked it he said it was better than most of the GEN I SBC cars he had. It dropped my quarter mile time to 14.00 / 13.90`s but of course I wish I had more power but even if I had 550hp at the wheels I would probably still be wishing for more 
It is pretty smooth, idles perfectly even when it is 0 degrees outside. Thing I like most is that I am getting 13-16mpg in the city and I drive it very hard, its basically twice the power I had before and better fuel economy. Sure if I kept my foot out of it I would probably get better mileage but what fun would that be 
You may want to look for a 6.0L if you can fit it in your budget, theres no replacement for displacement
It is pretty smooth, idles perfectly even when it is 0 degrees outside. Thing I like most is that I am getting 13-16mpg in the city and I drive it very hard, its basically twice the power I had before and better fuel economy. Sure if I kept my foot out of it I would probably get better mileage but what fun would that be You may want to look for a 6.0L if you can fit it in your budget, theres no replacement for displacement 
