2002 5.3l for my swap

[87National]

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

Some classify the ~2004+ gen 3 with gen 4 internals as a gen 4......some call it gen 3.5.....regardless of what you call it, an 04-06ish lq4 is the holy grail of ls truck engines.

 

[87National]

^^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.

Yep.....been in both positions myself.....the hopeless feeling of facing a seemingly never ending project.....with the project completely torn down in my garage........ and breaking things up into manageable projects with an emphasis on keeping the car on the road.

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

Some classify the ~2004+ gen 3 with gen 4 internals as a gen 4......some call it gen 3.5.....regardless of what you call it, an 04-06ish lq4 is the holy grail of ls truck engines.

Yup. Full floating Rods, Knock Sensors bosses on the sides of the Block and in the Valley, had a Gen IV Cam Sprocket in it. I think it's even setup for a Timing Chain Dampener. Came from a fleet van that was light use and oil changed every 5k miles. Rear ended and destroyed.

The 2004 5.3l I had was full floating Rods also. That started with all of them in 2004. Knock Sensors in the Valley with Cam Sensor in the back I call them Gen 3 still. Definitely some cross over in there.

 

[Supercharged111]

Yup. Full floating Rods, Knock Sensors bosses on the sides of the Block and in the Valley, had a Gen IV Cam Sprocket in it. I think it's even setup for a Timing Chain Dampener. Came from a fleet van that was light use and oil changed every 5k miles. Rear ended and destroyed.

The 2004 5.3l I had was full floating Rods also. That started with all of them in 2004. Knock Sensors in the Valley with Cam Sensor in the back I call them Gen 3 still. Definitely some cross over in there.

My 2004 5.3 does not have Gen4 internals. 😢

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

My 2004 5.3 does not have Gen3 internals. 😢

That's a bad thing why? Unless they left the chat at high speed..🤣

 

[Supercharged111]

That's a bad thing why? Unless they left the chat at high speed..🤣

Typo, fixed.

 

[64nailhead]

Hate to say it, but it has to be said :

You’ve let the magic out

 

[Supercharged111]

Hate to say it, but it has to be said :

You’ve let the magic out

He could do similar to what you did, pistons/rods and add some send (and compression since he's probably staying NA). But yeah, the magic is now gone.

 

[64nailhead]

If he’s this far, put cam bushings, oil pump, cam plate seal and new barbell in it. Check the ring lands and put it all back together using the all of the one time use bolts a second time. Lap the valves in, make sure they aren’t leaking, new valve seals, a new cam that normal SBC/SBF guys claim is ‘too big’ and let r eat.

For a newcomer to an LS, it’s hard to not do the full rebuild, but it’s just not worth it.

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

Never done a Barbell or Cam Plate in any I've done. This here all new Bearings & Rings, clean Block up and assemble with all bottom end Bolts. New MLS Head Gaskets & Bolts, Port Polished Melling HV Pump and let it eat.