71K20chevy

LH6 is Gen IV though correct? I'm trying to stay Gen III where possible, mainly so I can use the F body harness. I've got my heart set on a LQ4 now, with a cam, headers, and possibly some heads if I have the money. I've had quite a few people tell me to go 6.0 if I want to make power, yet I've seen some pretty impressive 5.3 setups. I'll probably just buy a whole wrecked truck, because I'd like some nice Silverado seats in mine. Then I'll resell the truck to offset the cost.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

Smart move there to recoupe some of your expenses. If you end up with a
LQ4 which is 9.5 compression, you can remove the 317 heads which flow
nearly as well as the 243 heads, have a fresh valve job done w/new springs
(PSI beehives work great) and mill them .030". Then run a Cometic .045"
head gasket and your compression will end up around 10.2-10.3. You will
still be able to fit a decent 218-230 duration cam (depending on your stall)
with lift in the .560"-.580" and have decent piston to valve clearance. That
combo would really move that heavy truck and have great street manners.

71K20chevy

I'm really looking at the 228R cam with a 3500-3600 or so stall. I'd say I'm probably looking at around 450 crank HP, and my truck only has about 250 crank HP now. So the LQ4 should be a little bit of an upgrade lol.

There's a guy in my area that bought a whole wrecked truck, pulled the motor, and sold the truck for what he paid for it. I'm gonna definitely try that.

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

Care to back that up? Every example I have seen points to this...

Boost is boost. 10 lbs thru a turbo and 10 lbs thru a supercharger will result in nearly the same power levels.

Birdracing

If you are on a tight budget why don't you get yourself a set of Vortec heads to put on your 350, that will wake it up big time. For the vote I would go with the 5.3. I got a 5.3 here myself that I am getting ready to do.

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

I agree. I built my 355 with stock Vortec heads, a 268h cam (218/218 .454/.454 110) and about 10.3:1 compression with a carb it makes awesome power thru an sm465 trans. Haven't had it dyno'd but it will keep up with my 02 Tahoe with the 5.3 and would probably out run it with more gear.

I'd say it's making 350-375 at the crank and equal or better torque.

71K20chevy

I had considered that..but I've got my heart set on an LS swap. I really want the reliability and gas mileage that I definitely won't get from an SBC lol.

71K20chevy

now I'm having second thoughts about putting an LQ4 in. Mainly because of yard cost, availability, and fuel mileage...I understand the LM7 and LQ4 are rated 30 hp apart, but can't decide if the difference is really worth it...


So, back to square one for now I guess. Anybody else have any thoughts?

Dwill432

I'm in the same boat, I have my heart set on turbocharging the lq4, but I've herd it's better to go with the 5.3 because it doesn't pressure up like the lq4? I'm confused plus I'm a fresh noob at this so please be patience.

MonmouthCtyLS7

iTrader: (6)

Being on a fairly tight budget its a no brainer, the 5.3 is much cheaper.

speer13

I'll throw my 2 cents in here.....

Heres a few things... I've done a lot of older chevy trucks and they are pigs in consuming power and for gas mileage especially if you are staying with the T350 tranny.. you have a heavy vehicle now and your throwing 33's into the mix with steep gears, definatley not the recipe for gas mileage for starters

You want to be a little different well the LS swap is not so different anymore and is very common around here in older trucks... but the LS is definatley the best engine for your truck...

I can't see the 6.0 or the 5.3 getting 20 miles to the gallon in a heavy truck like this, as much as people like to say they get it..its probably not happening unless you live where theres no hills or traffic and stay at 50 mph and maybe 1 of 10 tanks. Newer and some lighter trucks can't get the advertised MPG and the 6.0 trucks I've been with all get around 13 mile to the gallon 15 highway and the 5.3's some creep up intothe 18 range.... definatly not getting those numbers with a t350..

Now with that said either a 5.3 or a 6.0 is going to be a huge difference over the 350 you have now and will probably make more power than it even if you added a cam to the 350... now you want a budget build my suggestion is to find a 2001 and newer 6.0 so you have a slightly better output and aluminum heads and don't touch it.... other than exhaust! Its going to cost you hundreds of dollars in head bolts/gaskets/springs when it is not needed for your application, a low mileage ~ 100k 6.0 will put out as much or more power and torque than a vortech head/cam 350... no need to rip into the thing... A 5.3 if it were to be your choice would probably need a cam to help it out some moving the truck but still even in stock form will out perform your 350 with a cam all day long... I dynoed one of my K20's with a 400SBC a small crane cam and weiand intake and it only made 200 at the wheels and got 11 MPG's....

My last comment will be get that thought of turbo's out of your head.....plain and simple if chosen properly with a correct set up a turbo is going to perform, lag is a thing of the past and a turbo would be the way to go if you wanted better MPG's with your truck power/torque when you need it...why do you think turbo's are going on everything now?

Bottom line spend the 1000 on a 6.0 and leave it alone...... or spend 500 on a 5.3 and another 1000 on cam/springs/gasket/pushrods

PS I'm not a 5.3 hater at all I have a 4.8 going in my 69 corvette as we speak but for your application I'd say 6.0

82Cutlass Calais

Super chargers are belt driven via the crankshaft. They consume power spinning the belt. Its Parasitic drag like someone mentioned. Turbos are exhaust driven. Free power. No belts to break. No bottles to fill. Street manners, reliability & fuel milage until you stand on it.

jsmith564

so a guy once built a c10 with a 5.3 and later put in a 6.0

I think the answer is clear.

nascarnate326

iTrader: (1)

big cam 4.8...dz302 style

if not 5.3...just can't beat it.

95LSX454

iTrader: (1)

5.3 without a doubt!!!!!!!

E.rodz

iTrader: (4)

the answer is right in front of you.lol opinions are like ******** everyone has got one and here is mine. let craigs list,ls1 tech,ebay make your mind up for you. either one will be a great choice and you have some resale with the drive train you have sell it while it runs and if you can't wait take the time to make a video of it running and the gauges while it is running. this is important to any potential buyers. let the deal come to you keep checking your local area and see what pops up. either way ls swap the easy way.