5.3L is it worth it?
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Northern Oklahoma
Yes this build has been done before,Played with this idea myself if my old LS-1 block turns out to be bad.First thing you have to decide is what crank your going to use ?I believe the 5.3 crank is balanced to the smaller bore size pistons.So if your going use stock LS-1 pistons you would be better off to use a LS-1 crank.I think someone makes a over sized piston for the 5.3 crank, this may be an option but I have not researched it .Maybe someone that has done this could tell us?
Why cant ya get it rebalanced? Something with a LSX that prevents that? If I had to get a crank might as well stroke it a bit. But stroking it without aftermarket rod and pistons would be pointless right? Im curious what the CR would be with the ls1 pistons a.d 5.3 heads milled 0.030. Around 11.5?
You might want to check out LKQ recyclers. I just picked up a 2002 5.3 LM7 with 112k miles for 450$ complete from intake to pan with accessory brackets and most of the harness, they cut off the lead that ran to the relay box. It even has the coils and exhaust manifolds. They will actually ship in a unit that you need for no cost if one of their other yards has it.
I opted to get my motor with just a startup warranty as i plan to cam it before it even gets into the car. This saved 100 bucks off the original 450
. I'm going to be running the Kwik Performance alt only bracket as i will be converting to manual steering but LKQ has the alternators and power steering setups as well and for a killer price. I picked up a 130 amp truck alternator for 25 bucks, which is killer considering people here want 50-100 for stock 105 amp f body alts.
I opted to get my motor with just a startup warranty as i plan to cam it before it even gets into the car. This saved 100 bucks off the original 450
. I'm going to be running the Kwik Performance alt only bracket as i will be converting to manual steering but LKQ has the alternators and power steering setups as well and for a killer price. I picked up a 130 amp truck alternator for 25 bucks, which is killer considering people here want 50-100 for stock 105 amp f body alts. On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Northern Oklahoma
Yes you could balance your 5.3 crank thats a option, here in my area its 150 bucks to balance a LS crank, just had one done this past week.The cheapest way would be to go with the complete LS1 rotating assembly.So if you have the rods and pistons ,get that crank too.Which heads are you going to use the old #706 casting,if you use these you will difinitly get a bump in CR.
I haven't gotten anything yet. Its a future build I'm just getting some research done first. Here its 115 to get the rotating assembly balanced. I'm new to the LSX crowd and not sure how good the factory balancing is in these engines. I know its a great deal of difference on a older small block. Basically what I wanna do is, get a 5.3 and make it into a 5.7. Truck motors are hella cheap and everywhere. The 65 lb difference doesn't bother me. But the raised CR and cheaper seems like the way to go. However I will send off the heads to get ported and polished. Any castings to avoid with a 5.3?
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Verdad Gallardo On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Northern Oklahoma
No if your getting the heads ported ,it does not make a difference what casting you go with.Early 5.3 LM7 will have casting #706 or #862 these after a cnc ported program will flow with the best.These heads in stock form have a 1.89 intake valve.But if your just having a mild hand port and good vj you may want to consider going with later style castings #799 or some had the 243s which have 2.00 intakes.799 and 243s are pretty much the same just a different casting process.And the early ones can be machined to take up to 2.02 intake and 1.57 exhaust.All stock 5.3 heads are 1.55 on the exhaust side.
Yes they do I have an 07 Impala SS with a 5.3 and 243 heads on it at the shop I believe they have 303hp its hit pretty good in the front and I'm thinkin about taking it out and putting it in my S10 Blazer 89 with a small cam 224/228 or so( Love that cam in my Vette) LS6 Intake and headers probably make close to 400 hp or maybe more.
I believe it was Super Chevy that did a 5.3 build edelbrock heads 220/224 cam and boltons it made 441 hp, and with 243's on it already I don't think I'll be that far off there mark for a lot less money, especially in these lovely times.
found the link
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...53l_parts.html
I believe it was Super Chevy that did a 5.3 build edelbrock heads 220/224 cam and boltons it made 441 hp, and with 243's on it already I don't think I'll be that far off there mark for a lot less money, especially in these lovely times.
found the link
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...53l_parts.html
Last edited by john59; Dec 24, 2009 at 04:09 AM.
Lol, Just taking the motor, prob use a 4L60 or 4L65 behind it, It already has 3.73 posi 8.8 explorer rear in it so I'm good there, but I will have to mock up a driveshaft. theres a 350 tbi motor and 700R4 in it now edelbrock manifold and headers basically stock and it runs damn good, truck is light. So rather than deal with old school block and prob Vortec heads and such to make more power I'd rather go with new technology, that 5.3 is lookin mighty fine.. and its fresh with 36k on it.
I'm in the Collision Biz so I deal with Salvage Yards every day there are some great deals out there, your right you just have to look, and know what your looking at, I've built some pretty good combos from boneyard parts and have spent a lot less money on my builds because of it and make plenty of power..
Here are two informative links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine
http://www.fbparts.com/ls_general_charts.htm
I'm in the Collision Biz so I deal with Salvage Yards every day there are some great deals out there, your right you just have to look, and know what your looking at, I've built some pretty good combos from boneyard parts and have spent a lot less money on my builds because of it and make plenty of power..
Here are two informative links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine
http://www.fbparts.com/ls_general_charts.htm
Last edited by john59; Dec 24, 2009 at 04:42 AM.
Yes look for 07 and later 5.3s have these and 05-07 L-33 vin B ext cab 4x4 trucks.The L-33 used both 243 and 799 , again these are pretty much the same head.Some early 06 vettes got 799 heads, but most were 243s. 243s first appeared on 01 LS6. One advantage the old 706 and 862s have is their combustion chamber is only 61cc so that will help you get the bump in compression you want.And these heads are cheap and plentiful.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 100
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Went today to go pick up what I was told was an aluminum 5.3l out of an '06, thought it was going to be a L33. The engine turned out to be Iron block. It's an '06 with 706 heads on it and fly by wire throttlebody. The guy also has an '02 with 862 heads on it. My research shows they are basically the same heads and that GM just changed the part# somewhere down the road and that the 706 also have some sort of triangle something or other on the outside.
The guy wanted 1000 each, then dropped them down to 850, he said he wants to get 750 for them each. I checked car-part.com and a 5.3l engine is about 2000-2500 around here, its ridiculous.
The '02 has manual fan on it and has 77,600 miles on it. The '06 doesn't have the manual fan and has 108,700 miles on it. I already bought an LS1 intake, rails, injectors and will be needing to use a cable TB which makes me lean towards the '02 but i'm unsure if its worth buying that old of an engine. What are the differences between the 02 and the newer 06 engines? I remember reading that older engines had piston slap on start up and that this was no longer the case on newer engines.
The guy wanted 1000 each, then dropped them down to 850, he said he wants to get 750 for them each. I checked car-part.com and a 5.3l engine is about 2000-2500 around here, its ridiculous.
The '02 has manual fan on it and has 77,600 miles on it. The '06 doesn't have the manual fan and has 108,700 miles on it. I already bought an LS1 intake, rails, injectors and will be needing to use a cable TB which makes me lean towards the '02 but i'm unsure if its worth buying that old of an engine. What are the differences between the 02 and the newer 06 engines? I remember reading that older engines had piston slap on start up and that this was no longer the case on newer engines.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Vancouver, BC. Everything in Canada costs more. Trust me I've been searching everywhere in the local area(300 miles). You must have missed my transmission search. It took me 2.5 months before I found a 2wd 4l60e and it was 4.5 hours away and across the border! All that we seem to have up here are 4x4 tranmissions. The junk yards wanted $2000. I ended up lucking out and getting one last weekend out of a 2003 Savana for $500. With the prices they ask for 5.3's i'm afraid to ask how much they'd want for a 6.0!
Went today to go pick up what I was told was an aluminum 5.3l out of an '06, thought it was going to be a L33. The engine turned out to be Iron block. It's an '06 with 706 heads on it and fly by wire throttlebody. The guy also has an '02 with 862 heads on it. My research shows they are basically the same heads and that GM just changed the part# somewhere down the road and that the 706 also have some sort of triangle something or other on the outside.
The guy wanted 1000 each, then dropped them down to 850, he said he wants to get 750 for them each. I checked car-part.com and a 5.3l engine is about 2000-2500 around here, its ridiculous.
The '02 has manual fan on it and has 77,600 miles on it. The '06 doesn't have the manual fan and has 108,700 miles on it. I already bought an LS1 intake, rails, injectors and will be needing to use a cable TB which makes me lean towards the '02 but i'm unsure if its worth buying that old of an engine. What are the differences between the 02 and the newer 06 engines? I remember reading that older engines had piston slap on start up and that this was no longer the case on newer engines.
The guy wanted 1000 each, then dropped them down to 850, he said he wants to get 750 for them each. I checked car-part.com and a 5.3l engine is about 2000-2500 around here, its ridiculous.
The '02 has manual fan on it and has 77,600 miles on it. The '06 doesn't have the manual fan and has 108,700 miles on it. I already bought an LS1 intake, rails, injectors and will be needing to use a cable TB which makes me lean towards the '02 but i'm unsure if its worth buying that old of an engine. What are the differences between the 02 and the newer 06 engines? I remember reading that older engines had piston slap on start up and that this was no longer the case on newer engines.
