Whats your impression of a 5.3L LS motor in these trucks?

[67swb72klb]

[QUOTE=CC69Rat;5280451]Where are you finding these cheap (low priced) LS motors? Everything I find is $3k range and it has a boatload of miles on it. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right place.

x2 on that even on the 5.3 around here anyway

[CC69Rat]

Maybe swap the rear gear and see if that helps (?) If mine becomes a problem i will be swapping too.
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[68 short step]

5.3 is the way to go......both are stock 5.3s with a 4l60e trans, only thing both have are cold air intakes, and a tune, the blue white one has headers too....plenty of power, and had way better drivability then a 350/350 combo (click on pics to watch video)

[Cole Trickle]

All of the LSX based motors are great.....

Like mentioned if you can find a decent priced 5.3/4l60 I would go that route with very little thought. shoot even a 4.8 would be fun for a daily driver.

You should be able to find a 5.3/tranny and wiring harness/computer for less than 3K

6.0 became more popular/pricey and alot of people use those as replacements for there 5.3 while trying to go faster in there trucks/cars.

In my experience the 4.8,5.3 and 6.0 only differ about 15-20hp each as the cubes increase. Tq is the biggest difference between the 3.

My 03 regular cab 5.3 made 290 to the wheels with exhaust,intake,electric fan and programming. It ran pretty hard for a semi stock truck 14.3 @ 98

If you have a good running SBC I personally think its a waste of $$$ to swap out for a newer motor.If I had to buy a motor I would go with a modern FI set up.

[SweetandLong68]

Originally Posted by Cole Trickle

If you have a good running SBC I personally think its a waste of $$$ to swap out for a newer motor.If I had to buy a motor I would go with a modern FI set up.

I hear what you are saying but I am lookin at the super driveability of the new fuel injected engines. I am seriously gonna be driving mine every day rain or shine hot or cold so I want it to be ready and willing. But I also want to have something that has some power and guts to it too! And I think a LSX engine would fit the ticket perfectly.

I will sell my old school 327 SBC and 3 speed on the tree, driveshaft and whatever else I have to move on the boards to hopefully help someone else out with there more stock type build.

lata
CHRIS

[Chevyman680063]

Originally Posted by SweetandLong68

I will sell my old school 327 SBC and 3 speed on the tree, driveshaft and whatever else I have to move on the boards to hopefully help someone else out with there more stock type build.

lata
CHRIS

A 327 you say? If only I had the money. I use to work at a GM dealership and I loved the 5.3's. I would always make the tires squeal when I took them to get gas. I wouldn't mind putting one in my '63, it's just the whole computer/wiring thing that would make me hesistant.

[FLDBRED]

My son has a 2011 Silverado with the 6.2 and six speed auto, it's just an awsesome truck. He gets 20 mpg if he stays at 65 mph. It would be hard to imagine the old style 350's knocking out mileage like that in such a heavy 4x4! Plus it will run the 1/4 in 14.6 !

[SweetandLong68]

Originally Posted by Chevyman680063

A 327 you say? If only I had the money. I use to work at a GM dealership and I loved the 5.3's. I would always make the tires squeal when I took them to get gas. I wouldn't mind putting one in my '63, it's just the whole computer/wiring thing that would make me hesistant.

Yup yup 327 I say. Old school that is. My truck is power nothing and doing this swap would also fix most of those issues as well and add A/C while I am at it.

I was hard headed for a long time just saying I wanted a "simple" carb'd motor and all that and I totally understand that. But I am really leaning towards the newer small blocks because of that great driveability and power potential out of a basically stock engine. My basic plan was (before considering the 5.3L again) was to get a LQ4 or LQ9 6.0L, swap in a cam (for some good sounds and power), add some Camaro LS1 headers (cheap) , add a CAI and go from there. Cant argue with 400+ hp from just a cam swap and tune. I dont have to deal with flat tappets killing my cam because the oils these days dont have the zinc like they need. I mean it goes on and on the reasons for me IMO.

Either way you cannot go wrong. New or old the SBC is the best engine ever made. You cannot argue with torque! Something ford guys would never know about! LOL

lata
CHRIS

[Vintage Windmills]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

5.3 is the way to go......both are stock 5.3s with a 4l60e trans, only thing both have are cold air intakes, and a tune, the blue white one has headers too....plenty of power, and had way better drivability then a 350/350 combo

Nice! what were the dyno results?

[68 short step]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Nice! what were the dyno results?

310 at the wheels

[windmill]

I have my truck right now took apart and i'm going to do the 5.3 swap with 4l60 trans,, from what i see if u want gas mileage is go with a high gear rear end,, try to kep the rpm's down as much as possible... but with mine i'm going with carb and msd box and harness,, its about same money as going efi to me... i'm going to make a build sheet as soon as i can ,, i'm slow doing things....

[OldCreek]

Cole's on the money. All three of my trucks needed motors and the LSx's are what I chose. Driveability, reliability, FI, mpg's and coolness were big factors. All three of my engine/tranny combos were had for less than $2k...closer to $1.5k on average.

After you do one...the next ones are easier.

I had a 5.3/4l60e in a '04 Avalanche. It pulled a heavily loaded flatbed with a '51 pickup on it...adequately. Not impressively, but it got the job done. I can't wait to see what it does in the '72 2wd I'm building.

... I hope to turn the '72 into a daily driver and sell my 2003 import.

[502ms]

Originally Posted by OldCreek

Cole's on the money. All three of my trucks needed motors and the LSx's are what I chose. Driveability, reliability, FI, mpg's and coolness were big factors. All three of my engine/tranny combos were had for less than $2k...closer to $1.5k on average.

After you do one...the next ones are easier.

I had a 5.3/4l60e in a '04 Avalanche. It pulled a heavily loaded flatbed with a '51 pickup on it...adequately. Not impressively, but it got the job done. I can't wait to see what it does in the '72 2wd I'm building.

... I hope to turn the '72 into a daily driver and sell my 2003 import.

Can you do mine?
J/K
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[PanelDeland]

Power and milage aren't mutually exclusive.The better the power means a more efficient engine(generally).It's using that power(heavy right foot) that makes the milage drop.The 5.3 may not do any better than the 6.0 as far as milage when driven the sams.The 6 cyl in these trucks seldom gets much if any better milage than the 350 and even some BB.The EFI engines will have better driveability and should do better on the hiway than a carbed engine,but the 6.0 may have better milage heavily loaded or towing than the 5.3.There are just a lot of variables,the biggest being how you drive.

[SweetandLong68]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Power and milage aren't mutually exclusive.The better the power means a more efficient engine(generally).It's using that power(heavy right foot) that makes the milage drop.The 5.3 may not do any better than the 6.0 as far as milage when driven the sams.The 6 cyl in these trucks seldom gets much if any better milage than the 350 and even some BB.The EFI engines will have better driveability and should do better on the hiway than a carbed engine,but the 6.0 may have better milage heavily loaded or towing than the 5.3.There are just a lot of variables,the biggest being how you drive.

I totally agree with what you are saying. It is ALL about how you drive! haha

lata
CHRIS

[Hubscrub]

I'm still not convinced on the "new" motors either i just don't see it my carb. vehicles as just as driveable as my fuel injection truck to me and i just can't get past the horrible looks of the newer motors vs. the old ones. One big deal for me is all the extra stuff that is with the new ones all the wiring etc. and harder and more $$$$ to fix. just my op.

[Already Gone]

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[68 short step]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i just can't get past the horrible looks of the newer motors vs. the old ones. One big deal for me is all the extra stuff that is with the new ones all the wiring etc. and harder and more $$$$ to fix. just my op.

horrible looks, i gotta disagree there...you can make them look good, better then od skool carbed engines IMO

[grancuda]

Ain't nothing like some plastic covers to really make that engine pop! Looks good like a Hyndai engine.
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[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by FLDBRED

I hate to say it but five years from now we won't even be having this conversation, everything will be LS!

Not in my engine bays, lol one of the reasons i like to drive my old stuff is to get away from all "modern" stuff/ i will drive my carb. vehicles anywhere they been doing it for many decades and i'm not stoping anytime soon lord willing. I don't worry about gas mileage if i'm cruising for enjoyment matter of fact one of my carbed cars get the best gas mileage of all even the FI trucks we own V8 and V6. But i'm a young 29 year old that has old skool thinking.

Originally Posted by 68 short step

horrible looks, i gotta disagree there...you can make them look good, better then od skool carbed engines IMO

I still don't like the looks, i'm not knocking anyone i just don't like the looks of them, i like a simple clean stock looking carb. motor especially with the chevy script valve covers oh so fine!! matter of fact my favorite engine look is a inline 6. This is beauty to me!

[67ChevyRedneck]

I love the 5.3 in my 2000 Z71 ex cab 4x4. I average 14mpg with it and it will easily hit 18mpg on the highway.

I put a 700r behind a rebuilt 350 in my 67 C10. I average around 12mpg and if I keep my foot out of it, I've hit 16mpg on the highway. By the time I blew money on the rebuilt engine and 700r I could have easily had an lsx/4l60 for probably less than what I spent.

I would love to put a 5.3 in my 67, but I don't want to "spend money again" on the same thing.

Also, don't forget, YES these trucks do weigh A LOT LESS than the new trucks the ls engines are in, however, the 67-72 trucks have aerodynamics like a brick! Believe it or not, GM actually spent a lot of time and money making the GMT800s and 900s as aerodynamic as possible.

[special-K]

I'm really torn with this type of conversion.Not against it,see the value in it yet not crazy about doing it either. What I like about these trucks is the way they were built. They are modern enough for daily driving even today,only gas costs have gotten crazy. You can fix them yourself with no special tools vs paying $75-100 an hour for a "tech". It's great to have more power than you'll ever need and still get great mileage,but I like knowing I can go anywhere I want in my 40 year old truck and no matter what happens I can fix it enough to get back home. I guess I'd like to have one of each...an old school reliable truck that is a s simple as it gets and a high-tech modern computerized old truck that I hope I never have issues with.

[americanmusc1e]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'm really torn with this type of conversion.Not against it,see the value in it yet not crazy about doing it either. What I like about these trucks is the way they were built. They are modern enough for daily driving even today,only gas costs have gotten crazy. You can fix them yourself with no special tools vs paying $75-100 an hour for a "tech". It's great to have more power than you'll ever need and still get great mileage,but I like knowing I can go anywhere I want in my 40 year old truck and no matter what happens I can fix it enough to get back home. I guess I'd like to have one of each...an old school reliable truck that is a s simple as it gets and a high-tech modern computerized old truck that I hope I never have issues with.

i agree...... but for slightly different reasons...

I work at a mechanics shop and we work on late model stuff. Most of it is really not too bad once you get to know it........

BUT....

There is just alot of fun in driving around with old school technology..... being able to fix almost everything on the truck with two screwdrivers, a set of wrenches, baling wire and duct tape if you have to. sure the mileage isn't that great.... but so what...

I used to be all for putting modern technology in a classic vehicle.... but not so much any more.... there is something to be said for the old school stuff.... fun you just can't get with modern stuff...

[chevy72blu]

I'm looking hard at doing this very swap. I am pulling the 496 BBC from my truck as 6 mpg doesnt seem all that fun (not to mention way too much power than I need unless I get back into track weekends). Comparing the costs of buying a Gen II roller crate 350 to the swap and it seems to be more or less of a wash. Of course, prices will go up quickly if I get stuck and have to let someone else finish it for me... If I go with the 350 crate, I can be back on the road in 2 weekends max.

Its a lot to consider, but I am a big believer in future-proofing and gas is only going up. If I can keep costs close to the same, the 5.3 is a no brainer. There are lots of good builds on this site for tips, but it is very daunting to dive into.... Eh. So much to consider.

[Cole Trickle]

Originally Posted by chevy72blu

I'm looking hard at doing this very swap. I am pulling the 496 BBC from my truck as 6 mpg doesnt seem all that fun (not to mention way too much power than I need unless I get back into track weekends). Comparing the costs of buying a Gen II roller crate 350 to the swap and it seems to be more or less of a wash. Of course, prices will go up quickly if I get stuck and have to let someone else finish it for me... If I go with the 350 crate, I can be back on the road in 2 weekends max.

Its a lot to consider, but I am a big believer in future-proofing and gas is only going up. If I can keep costs close to the same, the 5.3 is a no brainer. There are lots of good builds on this site for tips, but it is very daunting to dive into.... Eh. So much to consider.

Honestly its going to cost 50% more than you think

New motor mounts,tranny mounts

drive shaft

F-Body oil pan

throttle cable/throttle by wire set up

New headers and exhaust

New fuel tank,lines and pump,return line

wire harness or someone with alot of knowledge about the factory harness that can weed through the spiders nest.

PCM

Tuning software or a custom tune

If you are a fabricator/mechanic by trade/hobby I could see this swap happening for less than 4K if you get a good price on the motor/trans and really shop the parts and do all the fab/installl.

If your paying a shop you could easily end up in the 7-10K range.(thats alot of gas)