need some LS 5.3L engine opinions

[bigarmzz]

hi guys, i got a chance to buy a 5.3L GM Crate Engine for $1k...they said it is for 07-08's only (like i care), but what does that mean exactly?

and is this is good base platform? i'm thinkin these are close to 300hp stock

it'd be going in my 69 camaro (eventually) i know pretty much "zip, and zilch" about doing the swap...all i know is i would need a baffled efi tank, and motor mount adapers, but all the computer stuff i'm clueless on

pic of my car it would eventually see its way into

[69fbodyproject]

You would need a new engine wiring harness, all the sensors, front drive accessories, fuel rails, high pressure fuel lines, new pump, filter set up, probably a tank, ecm, hoses, headers, possibly a rad (not sure), ecm, heater hoses, motor mounts. Other than that I am not sure.

[1badchevelle]

This should also be a aluminum block over the earlier block that were iron.

here is a little link to help you out

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

[68topls]

By crate I assume you are getting a new or refurbished long block? If that's so I would pass unless you specifically want a new / refurbished unit. If it's just used, unless it's complete from intake to oil pan take a pass. you can get a used iron 6.0l engine with aluminum heads complete from intake to oil pan with water pump for $1K. Add about $200-300 more for alternator, starter and ac compressor. In order to do the swap you'll need either a new wire harness $500-700 or reworked donor harness (great if your crate comes with one), motor mounts, oil pan + intake + exhaust manifold if the engine is out of truck because the stock ones having clearing issues in 1st gen Camaro's, gas tank with full pump or modify your current gas tank, cross member if you use an updated trans, etc. By the way you'll most likely need to run corvette or camaro accessories as well. I did the swap....check out www.ls1tech.com in the conversion area.....lots of information and write-ups. Think long and hard before you do it. There are so many "gotchas" that I ran into....like how to get fuel pressure, temperature and other info back to my dash, if I was going to run emissions or not, where or even if to put an obdi port for diagnostics, purchasing a better radiator and fans for cooling & looks, the tune you plan on running on the computer and if your going to do it your self or let some one else tune it. I'm not even mentioning the trans swap side of the house (if thats where you going with) or other things like doing a cam / head swap while it out of the car.

[bigarmzz]

By crate I assume you are getting a new or refurbished long block? If that's so I would pass unless you specifically want a new / refurbished unit. If it's just used, unless it's complete from intake to oil pan take a pass. you can get a used iron 6.0l engine with aluminum heads complete from intake to oil pan with water pump for $1K. Add about $200-300 more for alternator, starter and ac compressor. In order to do the swap you'll need either a new wire harness $500-700 or reworked donor harness (great if your crate comes with one), motor mounts, oil pan + intake + exhaust manifold if the engine is out of truck because the stock ones having clearing issues in 1st gen Camaro's, gas tank with full pump or modify your current gas tank, cross member if you use an updated trans, etc. By the way you'll most likely need to run corvette or camaro accessories as well. I did the swap....check out www.ls1tech.com in the conversion area.....lots of information and write-ups. Think long and hard before you do it. There are so many "gotchas" that I ran into....like how to get fuel pressure, temperature and other info back to my dash, if I was going to run emissions or not, where or even if to put an obdi port for diagnostics, purchasing a better radiator and fans for cooling & looks, the tune you plan on running on the computer and if your going to do it your self or let some one else tune it. I'm not even mentioning the trans swap side of the house (if thats where you going with) or other things like doing a cam / head swap while it out of the car.

yeah, its a brand new GM 5.3L crate engine...not a reman...hard to get a screaming deal on a complete 5.3L or complete LS1 with trans and all accessories

[indebt69]

If money isn't that big of a deal, the above 5.3 would be okay, but I agree with 68topls about the 6.0. If you are on a budget, 5.3's can be had for cheap. Yeah, they have some miles but they are fine. I've got 199K on my 2000 Z71 5.3 and it's fine. I've seen 5.3's sell for $200 on Ebay before from LKQ. It's crazy. More expensive to ship them then the motor itself. A used 6.0 can be bought for the $1K mark, just shop around.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

dont do it... 6.0s can be had fairly new for that price.

[srh3trinity]

dont do it... 6.0s can be had fairly new for that price.

I agree. I was going to go the budget route initially and do a 5.3, especially when I saw the numbers Rupp made with the TrackRat motor (before he went a different direction), but then I started looking at the price of LQ4's and realizing that they have pretty good heads right off the bat and you are getting more displacement for maybe $200-300 more in a lot of cases, it just seems to be the way to go. They were pretty common motors in work trucks and vans.