5.3 or 6.0? First LS Swap

[SierraMtns]

Ok ok....I know this has been talked about before.

I am trying to keep my 67 c10 within budget. My local hookup at the dismantler can get me the following.

Option #1...

5.3 with trans, harness and computer for $1700. My friend said that he sees most of the 5.3's have higher miles then the 6.0.

Option #2...

6.0 with trans, harness and computer for $2200. No price difference with Lq4 or Lq9. And no price difference on 4L60E and 4L80E. Friend discount on the package and choices of motor and trannys.

I know there are a lot of other little things that I will still need and they add up fast. My question is....


Is the 6.0 worth the extra $500? The money saved on the 5.3 could go towards, rad, fuel lines, headers...etc.


For the guys that have driven our trucks with a 5.3 is it enough power? Or did you wish you had a 6.0?



Thanks

[homemade87]

The 5.3 will be way better than any stock 350 motor you had . Even that swap will be a big difference in feel of the truck . Choice of motors will be on you and what you are looking for . If you are looking for power and is the same money( lq4 v lq9 ) get the lq9 . Lq9 has flat top pistons , better for performance and compression with out having to go crazy with the heads to get compression .

If all you are looking for is a driver by all means get the 5.3 . But if you are going to grow in time get the lq9 . You will wish you had in the end . So its decision time

As for the trany , 4l60 with the 5.3 for a driver and some spirited driving & 4l80 for the lq9 if going to pound on it .

[LS short box]

Good thing about the LS motors is that if you went with the 5.3 and then had some cash laying around you could buy just the 6.0 and bolt it in with no mods.

Might have to retune for the bigger cubes.

6.0 has the bigger bore 4"(I think) so it responds better to bigger cams and better heads.

If you get the right 6.0 it will have the L92 heads that have the better square ports.

[davepl]

I would have said start with the 5.3 if you can get it a lot cheaper, which you should be able to. It'll provide plenty of power compared to a classic smallblock, it'll run like clockwork, and do everything you need it to do.

Think of it as a jazzy 327 (even though it's closer to 324) instead of 5.3L

But 500 is not a big saving, so if you can afford that difference, go straight to the 6.0L. Absolutely nothing wrong with the 5.3, but for $500, why not?

[t300]

If you care about mileage it will be worse with the 6.0 and worse with the 4L80e. I went with LQ4+4L60e, don't plan on beating on it too much (but I do have a 4L80e waiting around if I change my mind . Towed a car home the other day, 6000+lbs load at 70mph, pulled like a freight train and still did 12.5mpg canadian while doing it.

[mongocanfly]

My vote is lq9..mine puts out about 345hp and if I drive it right it'll get 16mpgs with 4.11 gears and nv4500..I grin every time I stick my foot in it though...

[SierraMtns]

Thanks everyone for the help.

Either should be a BIG improvement to the 283 that was in the truck. Even thought the 283 was "pumped up".

The other detail I was thinking about was the rear end. I will be staying with 12 bolt with 3.73 with locker. It has new axles when we switched to 5 lug.

How much HP can a 12 bolt handle?

[mongocanfly]

12 will handle a ls all day long..how much hp it will handle depends on how good your parts are

[SierraMtns]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

12 will handle a ls all day long..how much hp it will handle depends on how good your parts are

I would be happy with around 400 hp at the wheels.

It sounds like it would be easier with a Lq9 then LM7.