how's it going, new to the site and to ls engines ingeneral. just looking for some adviceand thoughts on my first rebuild of my 5.3 lm7. I know there is tons of info onthis, but am mainly looking for tips and whatnot on my specific set-up androute I am wanting to go with it. I dohave a budget, don't really want to spend over 6,500 on this. so this is what I'd like to do.
A TSP cam pkg w/ springs and rods
TSP lt headers- 1 3/4
fast 102mm in take
nick williams 102mm tb
33lb injectors
4.8l flat top pistons
4l80e trans with a 40k transcooler
getting my stock heads ported
and of course a tune afterwards
I guess that's about it... isthere is anything I should add or change?
Are the brand of parts a goodfit? or are there better alternatives?
any feedback would be greatly appreciated.thanks a lot, love this site

 

$6500 budget for a 5.3?
N/A is NOT the way to go with $5k+ for a budget.

 

what are your goals?

 

what would you suggest then?
it is going in my 2000 sierra rcsb 2wd
my goals, well to get the most out of my budget, whatever that may be. I have contemplated an ls3 as well but would still need the bigger trans, converter and all that so just figured I could get the most hp out of those mods.

 

sorry don't know what N/A is...

 

Naturally Aspirated.

Anytime you have over $4k for a budget, boost becomes an option. It is FAR more cost effective.

 

For reference, I'm in the market for a RCSB 99-02 2wd Silverado/Sierra, exactly what you have. For $2500, I plan on doubling the stock horsepower through the stock exhaust and stock cam. Then trading up for a newer/nicer truck or cash, and starting all over until I eventually have a brand new truck lol.

 

ok thanks.
I do want to go as far as I can being n/a. sc may come down the road. I'm just sayin I want to get as much as I can done before that.

 

also very curious about the proper cam for a build like this. should a 224 on 112 lsa work or should I switch that up. thanks again for helpin me out. trying to jump in and yall really seem to know a good bit.

 

I hear you, good way to do it. this is my favorite truck and its an extra so I'm completely rebuilding it all the way. suspension and all.

 

You can do heads, cam, headers, FAST intake, pistons, aftermarket injectors, ported heads, etc.. and make 200 HP less than my 100% factory bone stock 4.8 does with a $1500 turbo setup. mine will idle, cruise and drive nicer.

If you really want to dump that much money in a 5.3, have at it. If you had a $1500-$2000 budget I would just tell you PRC heads, Speed Engineering headers, Cam/springs and a tune. Since it looks like you actually have some money to spend, be smart about it.

 

I thought about different heads but have done quite a bit of reading that says the heads on it once ported flow really well so I put that money else where. with all those parts up there I'm at 4400. that seems a good deal since motor has 250k on it and needs a rebuild anyway. ill put the rest in suspension and all that. IF that is the best ill be able to get out of the engine with those parts. if I had more money I would like to throw a 6.2 in it

 

*Facepalm*

I give up.

 

another option would be not to go fast intake and just do a nnbs/tbss intake maybe have it ported. spend the money on some ported heads.

http://peakspeedshop.com/Zen_Cart/in...58a144c8a7987d

getting new rods would be smart as the ones in a stock 2000 5.3l aren't as strong as the newer ones.

 

definitely porting heads, and the cam pkg has springs, rods and rockers.

 

He's going N/A, rod strength doesn't matter much.

 

so that ported tbss intake on that link, that is the same as the fast 102? the price difference is crazy.

 

no its a stock intake that is on the 07+ trucks or the trailblaser ss. they cut it open to port it to get a little more flow and glue it all back together. might not me as high flowing as the fast 102 but would keep some lower torque and be cheaper doing it then the fast to have money to spend else where. also did fast fix the fitment issues they use to have where they were a pain to get a good seal?

 

to the face palm, haha....
our posts got mixed up... I get what your saying and appreciate your input.

 

with the kind of budget you are looking at I would see about working in a bigger engine from Thompson Motorsports