Flat top pistons in 5.3
Flat top pistons in 5.3 I have a set of pistons out of a newer aluminum block 5.3 that I want to put in my 04 iron block 5.3 both blocks had the floating rods just wondering if they will work. I remember reading somewhere that the aluminum 5.3 had a different deck height
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2013
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I have installed the 4.8/5.3 flat tops into a 5.3 iron block with no issues.
Easy enough to just weigh each of the two different pistons and if the difference is less than say 10 grams then it probably won't matter. The GM balancing used to be around 30 grams on GEN I stuff; LS might be a little better but doubtful that it's less than 5g like a performance shop would do.
I swapped out my 04' gen 3 rods/pistons (i lifted ring lands on 2 pistons on a nitrous backfire) for a set of gen 4 rods/flat top pistons. They were taller than the deck surface by .003 to .005 (approximately) if I remember right. Weight difference was 35 grams and I decided to chance it and not re-balance. I don't have many miles on it yet just been running it to work on the tune and a few pulls to 5k but everything feels good so far.
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The 4.8L and 5.3L pistons have the same pin height.
The difference being that the 4.8 piston is a flat top and the 5.3 has a -8cc dish.
The L33 is the exception being the only 5.3L that received flat top pistons from the factory in an aluminum block.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2013
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Gen 4 pistons are flat tops but the deck height is the same as in a gen 3, and the piston pin height is the same as a gen 3. but don't try to run 4.8 rods in your 5.3 as the piston will stick out of the hole.
