6.0L or 5.3L for 56 chevy
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
6.0L or 5.3L for 56 chevy I have a 1956 chevy truck that i am restoring, and I have a 2003 6.0L out of a 1500HD truck and I also have a 5.3L out of a 2001 Suburban. Which should I use as they both need to be rebuilt. The 5.3L runs but has a flat spot on the cam making a skip but has 173,000 miles on it. The 6.0L locked up for some reason, havent yet pulled apart to see whats broken, but maybe use the heads off the 6.0L and put on the 5.3. Also i might want to swap the intake out and put a LS6 on. ANY IDEAS at all. I dont know what to do. O, I also want to run fuel injection.
The 5.3 and 6.0 are both proven motors but I would go with the 6.0 Liter out of them engine choices because of the torque and the little horsepower difference for that heavy truck. More torque and will pull your 1956 truck down the road. Good Luck I hope it works out either way you go.
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
From: Lake Jackson TX, south of Houston
you need to decide what your plans are for the truck, race or cruise. i say 6l race 5.3 cruise but both will do. If I were in your shoes i would basic rebuild the 5.3 get it running, rebuild the 6l swap them and sell the 5.3. Keep the truck intake if you can its better and the car intake will require changing out all the accesoies
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 3
From: Upstate NY
you need to decide what your plans are for the truck, race or cruise. i say 6l race 5.3 cruise but both will do. If I were in your shoes i would basic rebuild the 5.3 get it running, rebuild the 6l swap them and sell the 5.3. Keep the truck intake if you can its better and the car intake will require changing out all the accesoies
If you dust out the bores a little during a rebuild, call the 5.3 a "327".
If you want more grunt, and need a cam anyway, you can get a custom cam that will compliment your truck and driveline. Personally I'd use either stock exhaust manifolds or LS6 ones, and have the cam made for that combination.
Jon
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I definitely want some power there when I want it, but I also dont want to build a truck that has 500+hp because I then get put into the prostreet class and I dont plan on putting a roll cage and all that stuff. Guys this is very good info and could use alot more. I did find out that the 6.0L does have broken connecting rods, but if it is a more suitable motor then I will take it to the machine shop to get checked out. Also, does anyone know how big of a pain it will be to wire the fuel injection up. I plan on buying the painless wire harness for my entire wiring system but I have yet to see a harness for a 5.3. Is this the same as a ls1?? What cam? what converter or do I need one? I have a 3000 stall that is in my turbo 350 tranny but it dont think that will work. also the casting on the 6.0 heads are 317 i think
Trending Topics
Not sure if the harness is the same...maybe try a sponser before throwing money into a premade harness.I am having an LT1 harness redone for my truck and saving about half of the price on the premade harness.
As for the cam...I would go that route rather than put money into the 6.0 when you have already stated that you dont want that much power(not something I hear very often, but I understand). Like OldSStroker said find a cam and torque converter that match.Nothing too crazy just enough to give it a nice exhaust note and a little grunt when you want it.
As for the cam...I would go that route rather than put money into the 6.0 when you have already stated that you dont want that much power(not something I hear very often, but I understand). Like OldSStroker said find a cam and torque converter that match.Nothing too crazy just enough to give it a nice exhaust note and a little grunt when you want it.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
I'm going from a 5.3 to a 6.0 in my '71 truck for a little more power. That being said the typical response after giving somebody a ride is holy s#%t that motor is stock? The 5.3 had more power than I expected it to.
If you are not doing the harness your self get one from Speartech.
If you are not doing the harness your self get one from Speartech.
Get the 6.0L rebuilt and run it hard! I say get 6.0L done and try to sell the 5.3, once you sell it get some patriot Stage II and a nice custom cam.
I have a 55.2 with a H/C LS1 in progress. Here a quick vid of it idleing.
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...t=HPIM1264.flv
I have a 55.2 with a H/C LS1 in progress. Here a quick vid of it idleing.
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...t=HPIM1264.flv
I would go with the 6.0 just for the torque. but to be honest, I have driven trucks with 5.3s and 4.8s and they all have plenty of power. A thunder racing Old Man Cam with a stock 5.3 would have some great pick up I would imagine. A 3000 stall converter would really help it get up and go as well
