Is 5.3 swap to much money and work?

[BigLittle]

Should I just stick to the carb engine and save money or go with the 5.3 and all the wiring and computer?
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[MARKDTN]

no

[52napco]

Done properly it's the best money you'll ever spend

[FL72GMC]

I am in the process of doing a 5.3/4l60 swap into my 72 GMC long bed. I over research everything I do. I priced everything for replacing my SBC and doing this swap. I am almost done and I have spent less on this swap than I would have on a SBC crate engine and rebuilt transmission. Once you add in all the torque converter and all the little bits SBC's are not cheap either. I will have $4500 into this swap. Keep in mind that includes new gas tank, fuel pump, driveshaft, engine, transmission, and all the little parts and fluids that come with it.

[el_fantasma]

The engine and transmission are new?

[FL72GMC]

No mine have 80k on them. Had both gone through by a transmission shop and machine shop. All good. The guy I got them through programmed the computer and cut down the harness.

[Coley]

...more importantly, what are you trying to achieve?
What kind of truck? resto-mod? daily driver or part time weekend stuff? highly original truck? how often do you drive it and how hard? How much is your budget....and lastly, How much is your budget? (lol)

Answering these will steer you to the right choice.

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by FL72GMC

I am in the process of doing a 5.3/4l60 swap into my 72 GMC long bed. I over research everything I do. I priced everything for replacing my SBC and doing this swap. I am almost done and I have spent less on this swap than I would have on a SBC crate engine and rebuilt transmission. Once you add in all the torque converter and all the little bits SBC's are not cheap either. I will have $4500 into this swap. Keep in mind that includes new gas tank, fuel pump, driveshaft, engine, transmission, and all the little parts and fluids that come with it.

Pretty much this!

Rebuild vs Rebuild the price is a wash, it's definitely some work and research but it's well worth it. I've often thought about just keeping it simple with a small block, but having it run the same all the time, have great power(stock), and improved fuel mileage. You just can't beat it.

[webfoot]

If you can find a 5.3 with lower miles and good compression and avoid one that needs a rebuild (maybe just new gaskets) you will be money ahead. These motors can go a long time with proper maintenance.

If you're like me its hard to leave the stock cam in there and then of course that leads to a valve spring upgrade, so that is a few extra $$$.

[demian5]

Im on the fence here, I just broke the crank in my 350 and have another motor already, but need a trans rebuild.

[Grumpy old man]

I'd keep what you already have .

[trac209]

If it’s a daily driver and you need the extra mpg I say go for it,otherwise from my experience it’s kind of underwhelming. I considered the swap myself until I rode in a few swapped LS vehicles and wasn’t impressed, slap a turbo in front of it and yeah you can make some hp but that can be said for a Sbc as well.

[webfoot]

Originally Posted by trac209

If it’s a daily driver and you need the extra mpg I say go for it,otherwise from my experience it’s kind of underwhelming. I considered the swap myself until I rode in a few swapped LS vehicles and wasn’t impressed, slap a turbo in front of it and yeah you can make some hp but that can be said for a Sbc as well.

That is part of the allure, you get stock 6 bolt mains and can run them up to pretty high HP with stock internals. Also you start with a 345 HP aluminum headed roller motor instead of 200 flat tappet and iron heads, or do a cam upgrade in the LS and make 400.

I agree its not necessary for everyone. I am putting one in my 62 pontiac because the cost of overhauling that old poncho is more than the motor is worth, and probably on par with an LS swap.

You can get a brand new LM7 5.3 block from summit with cam bearings installed for $300 plus $159 freight.

[trac209]

Originally Posted by webfoot

That is part of the allure, you get stock 6 bolt mains and can run them up to pretty high HP with stock internals. Also you start with a 345 HP aluminum headed roller motor instead of 200 flat tappet and iron heads, or do a cam upgrade in the LS and make 400.

I agree its not necessary for everyone. I am putting one in my 62 pontiac because the cost of overhauling that old poncho is more than the motor is worth, and probably on par with an LS swap.

You can get a brand new LM7 5.3 block from summit with cam bearings installed for $300 plus $159 freight.

LS in a Pontiac now that’s blasphemy lol just kidding of course.

[palallin]

I have a 5.3 in my wife's Tahoe. I would NEVER put one in my truck. I could never drive it long enough to make good on the $$$ investment, and my 327 is much tougher.

[rjs53]

I'm at the same point. I have a SBC, solid roller cam AFR210 heads and vic jr intake. With a 715 lift on the cam its not a street friendly motor, but just to change cam and go hydraulic roller lifter and different intake I can almost buy a junk yard 5.3 or 6.0 with 4 speed trans and drive it for a while.

[demian5]

Originally Posted by palallin

I have a 5.3 in my wife's Tahoe. I would NEVER put one in my truck. I could never drive it long enough to make good on the $$$ investment, and my 327 is much tougher.

5.3 is a 327 BTW...

[renegade6]

This is a very hard call. I'm in the process of doing one on my wife's truck. These get pricey at the $100-20 mark; each part is in this range and it adds up really quickly. I knew the cam was going out in the stock 350 and I balanced the swap against a cam replacement and fuel injection on a small block versus an LS swap. I've done one swap already and have figured out some ways to make it cheaper.

[garyd1961]

Originally Posted by demian5

5.3 is a 327 BTW...

Maybe but it has nothing in common with the old 327 except cubit inches.

[jcwren]

Why a 5.3, and not a 6.0? Serious question, since an LS swap is in the future for my '70 w/ a 250.

[renegade6]

Originally Posted by jcwren

Why a 5.3, and not a 6.0? Serious question, since an LS swap is in the future for my '70 w/ a 250.

6.0 is not as common as a 5.3 and therefore; more expensive for most.

[rjs53]

Very true about the 5.3 being more common, but if You look on line they about the same depending on mileage. Personally I would go to the local salvage yard before that. found Tahoe's and Yukon on CL for 2-3k, and some are pretty nice. If you have the room you could buy the vehicle take everything you need from radiator to fuel pump and sell the carcass. If you like the carburetor, rebuild your old motor and throw and overdrive trans in it. Decisions, decisions.

[Slowguy]

I’m doing a 6.0 with a turbo. So from what I’ve read that’s about 200 hp for the stock 327 if I’m lucky. If all goes well I’ll get 500-550 whp with this turbo ls. I actually don’t see how I can use all the power. So I’m added much more tire in the rear and posi. I never really drove the original 327 more than a few miles before I started ripping it all apart but it would smoke (at least the one wheel) from a launch. I can’t sven imagine what this turbo ls will be like.

I bought an entire donor truck for 1200 and could have thrown it in as it was but I decided to completely rebuild it. I’ve been told you can get a 5.3 donor for even cheaper. It’s difficult to beat the price/ value/power of these engines but I’ll be able to tell you more definitely for sure this spring when I get it rolling

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

I'd keep what you already have .

Yup...

I have not drank the LS Kool-aid.

Gary

[treveiger]

5.3 swaps are great and tons of people have done them so the guess work is pretty much gone. With that being said I will probably just get a crate 350 or rebuild one due to the fact that I like the whole old truck feel when it comes time to replace.