5.3 ls motor potential

[79loserbluebu]

LS1's and 6.0's are out there, you are right. But there are probably 5 5.3's per 1 LS1 or 6.0. If you can find a 6.0 for the price of a 5.3, then by all means go for it. Around here though I got extremely lucky getting my 6.0 for what I paid for it. If I didn't get one I wouldn't of thought twice about getting a 5.3. I don't really know what else to put here, the 5.3 has proven itself for the past 10 years.


The wow factor is definately much cooler with an LS than a SBC or even a BBC now. Just because the Hot Rod magazine is front to back with LS swapped vehicles, doesn't mean your local cruise night won't have one LS swap.

 

[Conan-64]

Well, i just did this swap with the mighty 5.3. no, its definetly not an LS1 or 6.0 but it sure is a hell of alot more fun then the 3.8. i can understand some very valid points made on this thread of the possible potential of this motor and also the insane anount of work it may take to get there. i can say for me it was a definate $$ decision. i got into the 5.3 for much much less then an LS1 or LQ4 or 9. now, that being said and my 5.3 swap already being done, i do now have myself ready to swap in one of these other motors very quickly should i be lucky enough and find a good deal.

at the end of the day i do agree with the majority on this one. if you can pick it up cheap, go for it!!

 

[custom442]

now, that being said and my 5.3 swap already being done, i do now have myself ready to swap in one of these other motors very quickly should i be lucky enough and find a good deal.

so you are going to swap out the engine just like everyone else on earth does?

just yankin your chain

 

[82Calais]

I have an opportunity to get a 5.3 ls motor for 500 dollars. I see a lot of people going in the ls direction and I really want to do the same. Is the 5.3 a good baseline or should I just pitch this idea and look for a lq4/9. I am trying to make a streetable fast 1/4 mile car. Any insight or ideas will help be it positive or negative. Thanks guys

Have you bought anything japc74?

I say put a 5.3 in and race the car. Enjoy it. Turbo it when you have the money. One step at a time.

I'm in the same boat. My car's stock & I want it to go like hell. I bought a high mileage 5.3 and a 4L80E. Now i'm looking for a Mustang 8.8" rear end unless I drop coin on a new 9" from Quick Performance. I need to upgrade the fuel system yet. Planning on swapping parts this winter. I'll get there, persistence & reading the internet & a book or two along the way.

 

[82Calais]

do any of you have any tuning experience?

Custom442 what tuning experience do you have?

I have none. I plan on learning. I'm not limited to my intelligence but by my experience.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Aren't 5.3s truck engines? It's illegal to install a truck engine into a car and vice versa. Also carburetor retrofit kits for LSs are illegal as well as aftermarket turbo kits unless they are CARB/EPA approved. Really to install a LS motor, a complete legal swap is going to require a complete donor car for all the systems.

 

[Qdub24]

Aren't 5.3s truck engines? It's illegal to install a truck engine into a car and vice versa. Also carburetor retrofit kits for LSs are illegal as well as aftermarket turbo kits unless they are CARB/EPA approved. Really to install a LS motor, a complete legal swap is going to require a complete donor car for all the systems.

Yes. Maybe where you live. It's not an issue in most of the places that I've been to.

 

[olds307 and 403]

The LS is impressive. Our work truck has a 222,000+ 5.3 in it. Runs great, doesn't use a drop of oil and gets good mileage. It over heats idling, it just needs a fan clutch. We tow stuff with it all the time, more worried about the 4L70E dying. Like I said it would be a close race with my 4x4, mine would pull ahead but eventually it would pull away. Point is the sbc wasn't a better design than the Olds small block, actually heavier and the stock heads sucked just as much. The LS is stronger, lighter, way better heads than either stock and fuel mileage also blows either one away. That is why Olds loyalist's are going LS, there is actually an advantage over the Olds V8 that the sbc never had.

 

[82Calais]

Aren't 5.3s truck engines? It's illegal to install a truck engine into a car and vice versa. Also carburetor retrofit kits for LSs are illegal as well as aftermarket turbo kits unless they are CARB/EPA approved. Really to install a LS motor, a complete legal swap is going to require a complete donor car for all the systems.

GM E-Rods. Emission compliant crate engines. 315-556 HP. LS3,LS7, 5.3 & more
The options there. I can't afford a $7000 + motor.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Aren't 5.3s truck engines? It's illegal to install a truck engine into a car and vice versa. Also carburetor retrofit kits for LSs are illegal as well as aftermarket turbo kits unless they are CARB/EPA approved. Really to install a LS motor, a complete legal swap is going to require a complete donor car for all the systems.

Yes. Maybe where you live. It's not an issue in most of the places that I've been to.

What I said is illegal is federal law so it's an issure in every state of this country. While many states are not enforcing the emission laws like they should, the fact that doing a half job LS swap that renders your car illegal is a big downside since it is always a risk. You never know if there could be a crackdown in the future. If your state or area doesn't check or test for SMOG equipment and sniffers test. It is still illegal to remove or modify it unless it has a approved C.A.R.B approved sticker. Also, Fed law will proceed any Local and State Laws. Even if you have some exempt status (collector, 30 year law, Historical, etc) that still doesn't exempt you from removing and having the OEM original equipement. If they wanted to, they can still issue you a ticket.

You can swap a newer engine in but not a older engine in than the Car/Truck year. But you will have to get it re-certified. That means basically if you use an engine out of a (i.e.) 02 Camaro, you will need all of the smog parts and equipment, it will basically have to be passed as a 02 Camaro standard and equipement (cats, evap, air pump, etc).

82 Calais, I know about the E-Rod crates. I was asking were the 5.3s ever put in passenger cars or only trucks from the factory? If GM only put them in trucks then that would make junkyard 5.3s illegal to swap into any car. Crate versions are okay unless they state for truck use only. I can't afford $7,000 either though I also would not liked be fined $2,500.

Custom 422, most Gbodies came stock with computer controlled ignition, it was called CCC. Sadly many owners went cowboy and ripped it all out in the vain hope it would improve performance, all they did was make their cars run worse so they blame the older generation motors and go LS. When I opened up my 305 with 100K on it I was shocked how clean it was on the inside. No sludge or gunk build up, still had complete hatch markings in the cylinder walls, and no ridge that I could feel with my finger. So I just put it back together with a new timing chain and still runs like it was new without any oil leaks. Now my 2004 Ford's V6 leaks oil all over the starter like crazy, so much for new stuff being so much better. But the main reason everyone is so pro 5.3 is marketing. GM, the aftermarket, and all those car mags are doing a fine job brainwashing car guys that they need to spend big bucks on LS conversions to make any HP. Everyone knows you need fancy EFI, computers, direct coil ignition, etc to make big power. It's not like you can let's say take an iron duke and make 250 HP and get 51MPG on pump gas without such fancy stuff. :lol:

Also alot of people forget Gbodies were only designed to handle up to 400HP before you start damaging the frame and body. So if your goal is to make 400 or more HP. First step is going to be a frame off to make sure the body and frame are free of any rust damage. Then weld in reinforcements to the frame and body and use dirlen body mount bushings.