2002 5.3l for my swap

[Osmobile Calais]

this what I have done so far slow progress, feel free to give me some advice.

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

First and last pic is a duplicate.

Pulled it out and tore it down to rebuild?

 

[Osmobile Calais]

First and last pic is a duplicate.

Pulled it out and tore it down to rebuild?

yes, sending the heads to a machine shop. just want to build a cruiser, should I stay stock? I have no idea how to proceed after the tore down..

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

In what manner, building the engine or installing it in the car?

 

[87National]

yes, sending the heads to a machine shop. just want to build a cruiser, should I stay stock? I have no idea how to proceed after the tore down..

What was wrong with the engine that led you to the decision to tear it down? There are many complete, cheap, good running ls engines out there. It would be more economical to use a running engine as a starting point.

 

[Osmobile Calais]

What was wrong with the engine that led you to the decision to tear it down? There are many complete, cheap, good running ls engines out there. It would be more economical to use a running engine as a starting point.

I purchased a donor 2002 suburban with over 200k miles. I want to put that engine in my cutlass, it was cheap, I have been looking for a ls engine for months, could not find one at fair price. so, I got a complete engine and transmission, for less than $1000. for self-accomplishment I want to rebuild the engine nothing crazy.

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

What was wrong with the engine that led you to the decision to tear it down? There are many complete, cheap, good running ls engines out there. It would be more economical to use a running engine as a starting point.

Yea depending where you are they aren't cheap anymore. Mine is a 2006 6.0l LQ4 with at the time 45k miles from a fleet 3/4 ton van for $700.. good luck finding that deal now.

 

[87National]

I purchased a donor 2002 suburban with over 200k miles. I want to put that engine in my cutlass, it was cheap, I have been looking for a ls engine for months, could not find one at fair price. so, I got a complete engine and transmission, for less than $1000. for self-accomplishment I want to rebuild the engine nothing crazy.

Nothing wrong with wanting to get experience in building an engine. It's just that many projects get stalled and never finished at that point.

It might be a better strategy to initially swap in the high mile engine and build a core while you work the bugs out of your swap.

 

[87National]

Yea depending where you are they aren't cheap anymore. Mine is a 2006 6.0l LQ4 with at the time 45k miles from a fleet 3/4 ton van for $700.. good luck finding that deal now.

You had good luck getting a 45k mile gen 4 lq4 for $700.....whenever you bought it. The market has never been that low on a low mile 6.0.

45k mile engines don't really exist anymore. 145k would be on the low end of the spectrum nowadays. I routinely see complete running 5.3's for $5-700 and 6.0's for $900-1300. Miles are typically in the 150k-250k range.

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

Gen III still.. 2014 at some point if I remember.

Yea this was a right place at the right time thing and I had cash on me because of that very reason, I was looking and money talks. Saw it run, pulled it out and it went in the back of my truck, money to the guy done deal. Then tore down to short block and I built it up from there. 🤘

Nothing wrong with wanting to get experience in building an engine. It's just that many projects get stalled and never finished at that point.

It might be a better strategy to initially swap in the high mile engine and build a core while you work the bugs out of your swap.

^^That right there. I was rollin around for a while with a stock $400 5.3l until I found my 6.0l. Being able to drive and enjoy the car was the priceless factor. Stock 5.3l even with the T56 6spd and 3.89 Gears in the back was fun.

Put the cheap engine in, workout all the bugs and get it going good, then put a nice one in.