2001 Tahoe 5.3-what fits?

[MARKDTN]

I have an '01 Tahoe with 285K miles. Engine is getting tired. Would like a 19165628 327HP crate, but that is really out of budget. Am looking to swap in a lower mileage engine to get a few more years out of the vehicle. I am having a very hard time finding what years I can swap in. I think I can use any 00-06 5.3 if I use my intake and accessories. Can anyone confirm if that is true? When you look them up on Ebay or other places, 01 is by itself (as is 00, 02, 03-04....)

[Angryman117]

Just about any 00-04 5.3 would work. Or maybe freshen up the motor you have. Does it still have good oil pressure or burn oil at all?

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by Angryman117

Just about any 00-04 5.3 would work. Or maybe freshen up the motor you have. Does it still have good oil pressure or burn oil at all?

It has good oil pressure. Uses maybe a quart in 5000 miles. The problem is water. It is starting to use about 1 quart a month. I bought an adapter for my pressure tester and it holds pressure fine. There are no external leaks. I am guessing it is about to eat a head gasket. At pushing 300K I didn't think it is worth doing just a head gasket. My thought is to buy a SERTA transmission (it has never had a trans) and a 100K mile motor and try to get another 4-5 years out of it. Or maybe I should buy a set of heads, have them worked and go that route? How long can the bottom end go on an LS?

[hugger6933]

99-02. In 2003 the General changed a lot more on the Chevrolet truck other than the front sheet metal [of course excluding the Tahoe and Suburban]. The electrics are all different, all the sensors well almost all are basically the same but the plugs are different and the intakes are different in [99-02 is drive by cable [Suburban and Tahoe exception the Drive by wire gen I was as early as 2001 in the suburban]. The truck drive by wire started in 2003. Most all of the dealings I've had on the numerous trucks I've built in this model year range are telling me to tell you that it is best to stay with something under the model year 03 meaning 99-02. Jim

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

99-02. In 2003 the General changed a lot more on the Chevrolet truck other than the front sheet metal [of course excluding the Tahoe and Suburban]. The electrics are all different, all the sensors well almost all are basically the same but the plugs are different and the intakes are different in [99-02 is drive by cable [Suburban and Tahoe exception the Drive by wire gen I was as early as 2001 in the suburban]. The truck drive by wire started in 2003. Most all of the dealings I've had on the numerous trucks I've built in this model year range are telling me to tell you that it is best to stay with something under the model year 03 meaning 99-02. Jim

OK, thanks! So even if I found a nice 03-04 and used my sensors and intake there may be issues? The 19165628 5.3HO crate engine says it will drop in to any 99-06 truck if you use your electronics and intake. That is what is confusing to me. But it may have special parts that allow multiple sensor configurations or something. I'll stay in that 99-02 range with my search.

[Angryman117]

As long as you use the throttle body and fuel rails from the original engine it will work. When I did my swap I used a 2004 5.3 from a wrecked truck. Put a 2001 intake with throttle body and fuel rails on it and it runs great. However I do not know what the difference between the normal 5.3 and the HO. All the sensors are the same, but I would swap crank position sensors or verify that they have the same part numbers on them.

[hugger6933]

Right you can put your 01 stuff on the 04 motor it is just more work than need be sometimes but if that super deal did come by it will go will your stuff on the top. Jim