was planning on a 5.7 but...

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Aug 10, 2006 | 12:25 PM

FATTCJ7

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From: Raleigh, NC

was planning on a 5.7 but...

There is an '05 5.3L for sale on this website complete for 1500....I was planning on getting a 5.7 but wanted to know what you guys think. THis motor will be going into my 1986 Jeep CJ-7 and i plan on putting a NV4500 behind it and a Dana 300. I will be riding trails with this jeep and driving it on the weekends and to the beach and stuff. Is 1500 as good of a price as i think it is and should i settle for it or wait and get the Corvette 5.7 like i was planning on? any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Chris

Aug 10, 2006 | 12:43 PM

Bo185

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From: Beebe, Arkansas

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATTCJ7

That seems high for a 5.3. I got a complete 5.3, with harness, computer, air box to cats for 1000 bucks it had 24,000 miles on it. I would go with the 5.3 then find you a used 6.0L long block, you can stroke to a 408, to swap in later thats what I did for my IH Scout II.

Aug 10, 2006 | 01:10 PM

bczee

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From: Concord, CA

It depends on what you expect out of the engine.. low speed torque or high speed HP.. is mileage a factor, cause it is with my 4x4 when I getting waaaayyy out in the woods. I would think (my option) that the 5.3L truck would work out great for your Jeep.

Is Weight factor..? 5.7 F-Body/Vette will save a few lbs over the 5.3 truck engine.

you might be saving a few $$ on the 5.3L that can be used in the swap.. a good 5.7 or 6.0 might cost $1k to $2k more. (with or without trans and accessories).

As usual.. what are your requirements and what are you expecting out of the swap ?

good luck

Aug 10, 2006 | 01:38 PM

POWER ON

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Quote:

Originally Posted by FATTCJ7

For that kind of usage I would get the 5.3. If you plan to keep up with the street cars on the road, maybe the 5.7 is a option (but a CJ is not meant to go that kind of speeds, 120+) unless you don't value life that much. $1500 is a little on the high side I think. The 5.3 I got in my wife's CJ is way more than enough power. It keeps pulling on the freeway till you let off because it gets CRAZY fast in seconds. Get the conversion parts with the extra cash you save from not getting the 5.7. You are looking for lower end torque which I think the 5.3 will do better. I too was in the game for a 5.7 and glad I got the 5.3. Like others has said next step on the back burner is the 6.0 for more low end torque.
Thanks

Aug 11, 2006 | 07:09 AM

shanekennedy

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aluminum block 5.3's are available also

Aug 11, 2006 | 08:00 AM

digitalsolo

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From: Fort Wayne, Indiana

The low end torque is more a function of intake/tune/cam then it is the engine itself. Given those were equal the 5.7 will make more torque.

That said the 5.3L is a perfectly good engine and should be great for the swap.

Aug 12, 2006 | 07:14 AM

bygblok

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From: pensacola fl

I've got a complete 5.3 with a 4l60e still attached to it, harness, PCM etc that I'll let go for as close to $2,000 as I can get for the whole thing and would even help in delivery within a few hundred miles of Pensacola Florida(just pay for my fuel cost) The whole combo only had a shade over 8k miles on it. I really want to do a 6.0 in my 3rd gen car now so this needs to go away.