5.3 went down ...
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
5.3 went down ... Well my truck is down.. and I'm pretty sure ive got a spun bearing. I had been having a wierd problem with my oil pressure being low at idle, but i had good pressure up in the rpms. I took it down the road and done a 1st-3rd pull and after i let off about 10 seconds later i could hear a tapping sound and knew something wasnt right. As soon as i heard it i looked down and the oil was around 30psi, and i was only a quarter mile from my driveway so i just turned it off and coasted it on home. After i pulled it in the garage i fired it to start checking it out and had 0 oil psi now, the knocking/tapping sound wasnt really that loud but i have this awful squealing kind of sound coming from the bottom end right at the front near the oil pump area. I am crossing my fingers hoping my oil pump just went by by and that everything else is ok. I have a gut feeling i have a rod or main bearing gone though 
but I'm just gonna hope for the best. If any of you guys have any input on this please let me know....
but I'm just gonna hope for the best. If any of you guys have any input on this please let me know.... 
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
In the case that I have to get another block I will most likely grab a 6.0 .. I am gonna keep my fingers crossed and try putting an oil pump in it first and just see what happens. I would be more than thankful if thats all it needs. Im just a little puzzled with it because ive never heard a sound like its making from any other engine before.
We blew up a buddies GTO that had a nice knock and squeal to it. Spun two rod bearings. It doesn't take much to spin em when you have no oil psi. Best of luck but I don't think I'd push bearing material through a new pump and ruin it.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Yea I thought more about that after I had posted... I'm gonna start by getting the oil pump out first and take a look and if I can't spot the prob I guess it'll be time to pull er out..
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
well I got in to the oil pump and found that my pump didn look to bad but the front main bearing was chewed up and hanging half way out.. 
. now I guess its time to plan another build. I dunno for sure if I wanna go back with a 5.3 or just got ahead n go with a 6.0..
. now I guess its time to plan another build. I dunno for sure if I wanna go back with a 5.3 or just got ahead n go with a 6.0.. 
