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Old Dec 16, 2010 | 01:13 AM
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Default L33 Questions

Hi I'm looking to pick up a used l33 to swap into my miata and i just had a few questions about it. I was thinking of overboring it to 5.7l and using some forged ls1 pistons and rods, aftermarket cam, ls6 intake, and an f body ported throttle body. Hoping for around 420hp. Plausible? Any advice or comments are appreciated.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 01:49 AM
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From what I understand if 420hp is all you're looking for you won't have to do any boring. Since it already has the "poor man's" LS6 heads, I've heard you can go with an LS6 or even LS7 cam with some modification as well as valve spring upgrades and make good power. I'm really not sure how much, because I have yet to see any numbers. I'm sure with a good finishing job on the heads, a more aggressive cam, maybe rocker arms and good tuning you could probably make that much power or more. As I said I haven't seen numbers so I hope somebody else chimes in.
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 01:32 PM
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I keep seeing mixed results if I can even overbore the l33 so thats good news if i could make at least 420. A little curious of the potential of the l33 NA if someone could chime in
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Old Dec 19, 2010 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by cowboys647
I keep seeing mixed results if I can even overbore the l33 so thats good news if i could make at least 420. A little curious of the potential of the l33 NA if someone could chime in
The L33 is great choice ,with lots of potential and should not have any problem reaching your 420 hp goal. But forget about boring the aluminum block , max overbore is .010 .But if your heart is still set on turning a 5.3 into a 5.7 it can be done, you just need to go with a cast iron version 5.3 these can be bored to 3.898 with no problem.
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Old Dec 20, 2010 | 04:40 PM
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Are the ls3 rods the same length and are they any beefier than ls1 rods?

Last edited by cowboys647; Dec 21, 2010 at 03:59 PM.
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Old Dec 21, 2010 | 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by cowboys647
Are the ls3 rods the same length and are they any beefier than ls1 rods?
LS3 or L33 , please clarify.
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Old Dec 22, 2010 | 12:38 PM
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Ls3. Because the ls1 and l33 rods are the same aren't they?
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Old Dec 22, 2010 | 06:43 PM
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Default LS3 Rods

Originally Posted by cowboys647
Are the ls3 rods the same length and are they any beefier than ls1 rods?
Yes LS3 rods are the same length 6.098" most factory production LS rods are standard length ,exceptions 4.8 and LS7 rods. The LS3 rod is better rod it has bronze bushing and set up for floating pins.The LS3 and LS2 . are basically the same rod .The LQ9 is also a floating pin design. LS1 and LS6 are pressed fit design. In conclusion LS2 ,LS3 and LQ9 are floating pins. LS1 ,LS6 are pressed.
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Old Jan 4, 2011 | 07:33 AM
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Alright thanks alot omc
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Old Jan 4, 2011 | 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by cowboys647
Ls3. Because the ls1 and l33 rods are the same aren't they?
Supposedly the L33 has the good floating rods, also 2005+ LQ4 has them too.
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Old Jan 4, 2011 | 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Hank Peabody
Supposedly the L33 has the good floating rods, also 2005+ LQ4 has them too.
Well I have heard that some car magazines have suggested that 05+ LQ4 have floating pins. I have not seen any thing from a creditable source to confirm this ,car magazines are known to get there facts wrong from time to time.I hope you are correct , as I have both L33 and a 2005 LQ4. But I believe that the LQ9 was probably the only GEN lll engine to get floating pins.
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Old Jan 5, 2011 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by omc8
Well I have heard that some car magazines have suggested that 05+ LQ4 have floating pins. I have not seen any thing from a creditable source to confirm this ,car magazines are known to get there facts wrong from time to time.I hope you are correct , as I have both L33 and a 2005 LQ4. But I believe that the LQ9 was probably the only GEN lll engine to get floating pins.

If you search the google you can find offical "whats new for 2005" white papers from GM claiming the 2005 LQ4 has floating rods. I cant find it now specifically for the LQ4 in 2005, but here on the gm site it says ALL 5.3s had floating pins in 2005 so the LQ4 would have too:
http://archives.media.gm.com/divisio...ain/index.html

Here is text supposedly taken from GM literature at some point:

1. Floating Pin Pistons

"The Vortec 6000 RPO LQ4 is fitted with new floating pin pistons. Introduced on the Vortec High Output LQ9, these pistons feature wrist pins that "float" inside the rod bushing and the pin bores in the piston barrel. Other Vortec V-8's (read and weep 5.3L owners) use a fixed pin assembly, in which the connecting rod is fixed to the piston's wrist pin, and the pin rotates in the pin bore.

"In the (2004 LQ4) Vortec 6000's (ah yes, in the province of Denali's), snap rings retain the wrist pin in the piston, while the rod moves laterally on a bushing around the pin. the floating pin assembly allows tighter pin to bore tolerances and reduces noise generated during engine operation."

It sure is a mystery whether or not the 2005 LQ4 has the upgraded rods! It sure seems like an internet consipiracy if in fact it doesnt! I do know though that the non floating weaker rods will take a beating, mine is a 2003 model and it makes quite a bit of power.
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Hank Peabody
If you search the google you can find offical "whats new for 2005" white papers from GM claiming the 2005 LQ4 has floating rods. I cant find it now specifically for the LQ4 in 2005, but here on the gm site it says ALL 5.3s had floating pins in 2005 so the LQ4 would have too:
http://archives.media.gm.com/divisio...ain/index.html

Here is text supposedly taken from GM literature at some point:

1. Floating Pin Pistons

"The Vortec 6000 RPO LQ4 is fitted with new floating pin pistons. Introduced on the Vortec High Output LQ9, these pistons feature wrist pins that "float" inside the rod bushing and the pin bores in the piston barrel. Other Vortec V-8's (read and weep 5.3L owners) use a fixed pin assembly, in which the connecting rod is fixed to the piston's wrist pin, and the pin rotates in the pin bore.

"In the (2004 LQ4) Vortec 6000's (ah yes, in the province of Denali's), snap rings retain the wrist pin in the piston, while the rod moves laterally on a bushing around the pin. the floating pin assembly allows tighter pin to bore tolerances and reduces noise generated during engine operation."

It sure is a mystery whether or not the 2005 LQ4 has the upgraded rods! It sure seems like an internet consipiracy if in fact it doesnt! I do know though that the non floating weaker rods will take a beating, mine is a 2003 model and it makes quite a bit of power.
Do you have a direct link from GM claiming Floating rods for 2005 LQ4 . I do see from the link you listed that 5.3 got floating pins but no mention of the LQ4 that I could see. And no luck goggle search . just some one another board that claims all 6.0 2005+ received floating pins.
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Old Jan 12, 2011 | 08:18 PM
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Bump for answer
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Old Jan 19, 2011 | 06:43 PM
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Can anyone confirm that 05+ LQ4 had Floating pins ?
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Old Jan 19, 2011 | 08:15 PM
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I was scratcing my head about this also until:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine#L33
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