5.3 options

[Mike Davis]

I found a complete(ecm, harness, all accessories) H.O. 5.3l out of a 05 Silverado Sierra for $1500 with 43k miles. My question is, Will it be worth it to buy this, rebuild it and modify? Another question is, what interchanges with the LS family? This is basically an iron LS engine, or am i misinformed?....just uneducated about the L series of engines.
Thanks

Mike

[2ndgenhunter]

Dude that is a high price.

I just bought a 5.3 60k miles complete for 500.00 buck.

PM me for the info where I bought it from.

[brrymnvette]

Yeah, high price. I'd have trouble paying that for an actual LS1. Yes, the 5.3 is the LSx family and pretty much everything is interchangeable. Smaller bore than the LS1 though. And no they aren't a dying breed. The LS2 and LS3 are just improvements on the LS1.

[Mike Davis]

You guys must have the right connections lol, every LS1 i find around here is $4k+.... Where can i find a decent deal on an LS engine? Would much rather spend $1500 on an LS before a 5.3. I am looking to make a good daily driver/long haul car...the 383 is good and all, but 12 mpg highway is not ideal. Also....will a LS bolt to a 700r-4 or do i need to switch to a 4l60?

[78 Type-LT]

you sould be able to get a 5.3 with a trans for way less thans that..have you searched ebay. Also i don't think there is such a thing as H.O. 5.3..


http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/index.php

[SLAMDIMPALA]

Mike the 700r4 will bolt up using the gm kit. I forgot witch part # it is. Its just longer bolts and a bushing for the converter. If you look around ls1tech.com you can find alot of info. For your engine search try www.car-part.com it lists most of the junk yards.

[NovaJ]

If it actually is a high-output 5.3, then it is the L33. However, you mentioned iron block and the L33 has an aluminum block and it is slightly more rare but I think that with 43K they are still probably a little high on the price.

However, with that said, if you are looking for a strictly daily and long cruise engine, I think that you can't do much better than a 5.3...especially if its an L33. It can be modded to get very respectable power if you desire and also be pretty reliable and get good mpg's.

As for the transmission issue, I am not an expert by any means, but the LS family will physically bolt up to all of GM's transmissions. Where you run into issues when you mix and match is getting the engine and transmission to operate together the way you want them to. In your case, I know you have to do some things to run the 700-r4 (a non-computer controlled trans) behind an LS motor (a very computer oriented engine).

I hope that helps some.

[trapin]

The 5.3 is the workhorse of the GM family of engines. I have a stock one in my 2002 Silverado and it has phenomenal power for what it is and still runs like brand new after 163,000 miles.

Steve Rupp did a build-up of a 5.3 for not a lot of money and got some impressive numbers out of it.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...&highlight=5.3

Also, if you're looking for an affordable 5.3.....

http://www.lkqcorp.com/home/home.asp

[Mike Davis]

The engine i found is indeed a L33, all aluminum 5.3.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

This is the engine i was looking at. Would still like to make some respectable power, either 5.3 or LS1. The fuel injection is what i am after for the efficiency and the gas milage. I am going to take a few more looks around before i decide to buy a 5.3. Still looking for options lol

[jknight16]

I myself am attracted to the idea of picking up a junkyard 5.3 like you have proposed and slowly gather the necessary swap parts to replicate something like Camaro Performers did, or spend a bit more coin and get a pull out 6.0l or 6.2l and do the same. I'm just concerned that by the time I'm done with it, the cost of doing the 5.3 would not be far off from the 6.0L route and I will regret doing the 5.3.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

I myself am attracted to the idea of picking up a junkyard 5.3 like you have proposed and slowly gather the necessary swap parts to replicate something like Camaro Performers did, or spend a bit more coin and get a pull out 6.0l or 6.2l and do the same. I'm just concerned that by the time I'm done with it, the cost of doing the 5.3 would not be far off from the 6.0L route and I will regret doing the 5.3.

If you search ebay, you can find LQ9s LY6's for $1800 with lower miles.

[jknight16]

If you search ebay, you can find LQ9s LY6's for $1800 with lower miles.

Well there ya go, that's the sort of deal that could make going with the 5.3l a little less logical.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/09-GM...Q5fAccessories

[srh3trinity]

It is a slippery slope for me. I was initially going to do a 5.3L. I have pieced together an F-body accessory drive for whatever I do. I started looking at prices on 6.0L engines and to me it makes more sense to go that way. The investment on the front end is not that much different (a few hundred bucks in most cases) and if you pick the right 6.0L, you get some nice heads. You are a cam swap away from making very respectable/dependable power.

[alowerlevel]

Try looking on www.car-part.com

[93Polo]

It is a slippery slope for me. I was initially going to do a 5.3L. I have pieced together an F-body accessory drive for whatever I do. I started looking at prices on 6.0L engines and to me it makes more sense to go that way. The investment on the front end is not that much different (a few hundred bucks in most cases) and if you pick the right 6.0L, you get some nice heads. You are a cam swap away from making very respectable/dependable power.

I agree with your logic. If you can get a 6.0 for ~$1k more or less it is worth saving a touch longer. Besides if you decide to build a 402/408 you have the block to do it. With that said a 5.3 with a mild cam can turn more power than plenty of "built" 383s have. The 5.3 heads are better when ported than LS1 castings but not as good as LQ4/LQ9 317 castings.

[2ndgenhunter]

I built a 5.3 with 4.8 pistons , Had my heads cut to 59CC, intake valves punched to 2.00 LS1 valves comp off the self cam Z06 intake. P&P TB.
36# svt injectors and made 423hp/371tq at the rear wheels. total investment was 2100 bucks including electronics

Now I just got to figure out what to put it in LOL!

[BossaNova]

That is sick!
What were the specs on the cam?

I built a 5.3 with 4.8 pistons , Had my heads cut to 59CC, intake valves punched to 2.00 LS1 valves comp off the self cam Z06 intake. P&P TB.
36# svt injectors and made 423hp/371tq at the rear wheels. total investment was 2100 bucks including electronics

Now I just got to figure out what to put it in LOL!

[2ndgenhunter]

XR281HR-Comp Cam-228/230-.571/.573

With a Yank S/T 3500 stall.

[BossaNova]

Awesome!

XR281HR-Comp Cam-228/230-.571/.573

With a Yank S/T 3500 stall.