deputydog

I'm building a max effort turbo 5.3 and looking for a motor start. Thought I had a deal on L33 but deal fell through. Was told find a 05 or newer 5.3 with better rods and pistons from a gen 4. After reading some articles I see gen 3's go till 06 and gen 4's started in 05. I found an 06 5.3 for a good price so is that a gen 3 or 4? Sorry for a dumb question but the years overlap and not sure on details.... can someone elaborate?

Thanks

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

Quite a lot of info can be had in the forced induction forum. Max effort refers to LSX block and all aftermarket internals.....couple thousand ponies.
If you're looking for the best of stock stuff then you're limited to late 06, 07 up and will pay more for it. Like nitrous, boost will inevitably find the weak link. This is why folks take whatever they can find cheap, double the ring end gaps and brutally murder it until another 600 dollar whatever liter pile falls in their lap..... Repeat cycle

deputydog

I'll clarify...a max effort budget low buck build...ie, stock long block, studs, ls9 gaskets, cam, 88mm or so turbo... its going in a 3000lb 25.2 caged ladder bar g body.... tired of high compression old school stuff and wanted learn something new,

deputydog

Ok...so after reading the forced induction section... my confusion remains.
I read a post saying to get an 05 4.8 or 5.3 gen 4 with the good rods. Isn't a 05 a gen 3??? bottom line I was going buy an 03 5.3 but was told it had the weaker rods........ so I found an 06 5.3....does the 06 have the better rods and pistons??

2muchboostNY

iTrader: (8)

So the confusion is that GM started using Gen 4 technology at some point in 05. For example, my 05 LM7 has the Gen 4 rods, timing chain etc but kept the 24x reluctor setup. Somewhere I had read that you can tell which 05 blocks have the upgrades by looking at the exhaust manifold bolts since they are allegedly different but I don't have any first hand knowledge to prove that.

Hope that helps a bit.

deputydog

I did some more research and hope someone can confirm what I found, if no one on here knows I give up.

In late 2004 GM changed the wrist pins to floating and upgraded the rods in the 4.8 and 5.3 motors so all 4.8 and 5.3 made 2005 and after have the good rods and floating pins.

For the 6.0's I read in late 2002 GM changed the wrist pins and upgraded the rods so all 6.0's made 2003 and after have the better rods. Also read all LQ9 6.0's had the good rods.

Is this correct???

1FastBrick

iTrader: (16)

Gen 3 started in 97 with the LS1 in the corvette and 99 in the Truck line up.

In the truck line up, the Gen 3 motor went until 07 classic. The SUV's switched in 06

The main difference between the Gen 3 and the Gen 4 is the block. They Moved the Knock sensors from the center valley to the side of the block and they also moved the cam sensor from the back of the block to the front timing cover.

Floating Pins started around 2003 in the LQ9 engines, Then in 05 in the rest of the Engines including the LQ4. I believe even the 2004 GTO's and corvettes had floating pins on the LS1 engines.

It's actually referred to as a 2nd design change when you look up parts.

example if you look up the floating pin rod 12607475 for 03 LQ9, 04 LS1 in a GM parts catalog You will see the following description.

For LQ9 application
ROD,CONN(USED WITH FLOATING PIN PISTON)(WITH PIN RETAINING CLIPS).FOR 1ST DES-SEE 12568734). Required: 08
For: CK1 5.3B(L33) (2005-2007) (2005 - 2007).
For: CK1 5.3T(LM7) (2005-2007) (2005 - 2007).
For: CK1 5.3T(LM7),(2ND DES) (2004-2004) (2004 - 2004).
For: CK1 5.3Z,FLEX FUEL(L59) (2005-2007) (2005 - 2007).
For: CK1 6.0N(LQ9) (2004-2007) (2005 - 2007).
For: CK1,2,3 6.0U(LQ4) (2005-2007) (2005 - 2007).
For: CK1,2,3 6.0U(LQ4),(2ND DES) (2004-2004) (2004 - 2004).


For LS1 application
ROD,CONN(FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER VIN VF040340740)(SEE 12568734 FOR 1ST DESIGN). Required: 08
For: V 5.7G(LS1),(2ND DES) (2004-2004) (2004 - 2004).

2muchboostNY

iTrader: (8)

^^great info

deputydog

Thanks guys...I found an L33 and was told $850 went to get it after Christmas and was then told $1150...I then found an 03 5.3 from a fellow racer but was told if starting from scratch get an 05+. Found an 06 5.3, 106k, intake to pan with manifolds for $650, pick it up Monday.