L33 5.3 400hp+ build recipe @ $1750.00 cost

[Cobalt964ruf]

first, there are many ways to do this, na, boost, different cam and heads, bigger displacement, so on. but this one has worked for me. also please first go to www.carcraft.com and look at the 5.3 cam article. they took a stock lm7 truck 5.3 iron block motor and put a ls2 cam and springs and made 403chp. so a L33 aluminum 5.3 with 243 heads, flat top pistons and 9.9 to 1 compression with a ls2 cam/springs, ls6 intake, headers, tb, and a tune will make that and then some....

again there are many ways to do this, but this is a proven low buck recipe that is repeatable by many and hopefully I can help others with this.

my experience; L33 5.3 aluminum longblock/243 heads with 8k miles was 600.00. 12k mile oem ls2 cam and springs 150.00, ls6 intake 300.00, ebay .080 pushrods 85.00, arp rod bolts 90.00, ebay 8740 headstuds 68.00, oem gaskets and seals 190.00, lq9 injectors 50.00, 78mm ported oem throttle body 65.00, truck 85mm maf 35.00, ebay stainless headers 195.00, made my own stand alone harness 0.00, hptuners setup 600.00. easy 400crankhp, likely more like 440-450chp. but who cares since it is in a 2280lb car with a 5 speed. @$1700.00 before hptuners not bad cost wise, runs on pump gas and very repeatable by many.

this is on stock compression 243 heads, for another small bump in hp you could jump the compression to match the 706/862 heads 62cc chambers.

again in no way is this the only way or the best way, but I have built it and it works and runs like a superbike on four wheels.

post script; what gm says the l33 is.

The Vortec 5300, or LM7/L59/LM4/L33, is a V8 truck engine. It is a longer-stroked (by 9 mm) version of the Vortec 4800 and replaced the 5700 L31. L59 denoted a flexible fuel version of the standard fuel LM7 engine. Displacement is 5.3 L (5,328 cc (325.1 cu in)) from 96.01 mm 3.78-inch (96 mm) bore and 92.00 mm (3.6 in) stroke 3.622-inch (92.0 mm) stroke. Vortec 5300s are built in St. Catharines, Ontario and Romulus, Michigan.

The Gen III Vortec 5300 is available in a new lighter, higher output variant optional on some 2005 Silverados and Sierras. RPO L33 will be introduced in short bed, extended cab versions of these pickups. The L33 features an aluminum engine block, new cylinder heads and a high-lift cam. Torque will increase, and horsepower is expected to exceed 300 in final production trim.

One of the L33’s distinguishing features is its engine block. As with the 2004 LM4 Vortec 5300, the L33’s foundation is a cast-aluminum block with pressed-in iron cylinder liners, similar to the block used for GM Powertrain’s LS1 and LS6 car V-8s. The L33 block is exceptionally light; as a result, a fully dressed L33 is 100 pounds lighter than cast iron-block Vortec 5300s (RPOs LM7 and L59).

The L33 takes its cylinder heads from the LS6. Originally developed for the Z06 Corvette, these heads improve airflow in and out of the engine. With their pent-roof combustions chambers and new flat top pistons (the pistons in other Gen III Vortec 5300s have a slight sump in the piston deck), the L33’s compression ratio increases from 9.5:1 to 9.9:1. This increase improves the engine’s volumetric efficiency yet still allows it to achieve full power with regular grade gasoline.

Finally, the L33 is equipped with a higher-lift camshaft. Maximum valve lift increases from 11.6 mm on the LM7 and L59 to 12.5 mm. The new cam and compression ratio are the primary sources of the L33’s increased horsepower.

The L33 camshaft and cylinder heads were developed in conjunction with the new Gen IV Vortec 5300 (RPO LH6). The design objective was more horsepower for customers who need it, without requiring a step up to the Vortec 6000 (and an increase in operational costs). RPO L33 expands GM Powertrain’s lineup of Vortec V8s and gives GM’s truck customers even more flexibility and choice.

The L33 Vortec 5300 will be built at Powertrain’s Romulus, Mich., engine plant. With its introduction, Powertrain will cease production of Vortec 5300 RPO LM4. The Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL, previously equipped with the LM4, will now be powered by the Gen IV Vortec 5300 with Displacement on Demand. The 2005 Chevrolet SSR will be powered by the new LS2 truck V-8.

[Cobalt964ruf]

its just a low buck option with a nice lot of the right factory parts to make some good hp tq. not everyone wants to spend 6-10 large on a ls3 with mods. depends on the plan for the vehicle and the budget of the builder/owner. yes I have built a 500hp+ lq4 with patriot heads, ls6 intake, longtubes, etc. or I have built a 500hp+ ly6 with ls3 heads, intake, cam, and headers, or a ls3 with hotcam, etc.... but I spent a lot more coin on those builds too. the point is not everyone wants a high dollar motor, some just want simple, low buck no brainers. hard to beat factory parts if you put the right assemblence of them together. enjoy and happy motoring to all.

[Cobalt964ruf]

check out my burb build here...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=633910&page=3

[BR3W CITY]

Dyno sheet?
I like the idea of a wham-bam lightweight "Truck based" swap, basically something to fill that gap the people looking for Ls1-3's would probably love, especially with the light weight.

The only part I question is that recipe ending up near your numbers. Unless the heads have had work, I just don't see the LS2 cam alone putting that kind of # down.
Not to say your far off, just that the thought of 450 on that setup is IMO optimistic. Assuming that you have or are a top notch tuner, I see that setup turning out 380-405hp. At that level your rivaling the LS2/3 power, so its basically and Ls2 killer for about 1/2 price, which as you said, kicks ass in a 2300lb car.

How has your experience with the ported TB been? Its been my experience that most of the time, they require extra measures to balance the idle...if you can get them to idle at all. Changes to that bleed hole can make it really want to bounce.

[Cobalt964ruf]

im saying 400+ crank hp, not saying 400-450 at the wheels. lots and lots on ls1tech have used my recipe or similar and have dynoed 380rwhp which with parasitical losses would likely mean around 400+chp likely a bit more. the carcraft magazine did the dyno not me. as far as tuning, I do my own with a hptuners pro setup with wideband. I have had no issues with my 78mm bored oem throttle body having hunting issues. please go read the carcraft 5.3 camshaft dyno article. they did over 10 different cams and printed the results. thanks for your input and happy motoring.

post script; here is the link http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...n/viewall.html

[BR3W CITY]

I've read the article, and I'm very familiar with the setup. Having also worked for auto mags, I also know that there is a certain amount of results-bias when these tests are done. Very rarely will the sponsors part underperform.

I'm not knocking what you put together, only offering my input and experience as someone who's been on both sides of the build.

To me, its odd to post your build and their results. If you built and tuned a setup along those guidelines and got good results, thats awesome and I would very much like to see the sheets on it. All I'm asking, is that you get the possibility that some of the "recipes" in magazines often offer optimistic numbers and work hard to support them.

[Cobalt964ruf]

im not selling anything. was just trying to be helpful to others. do what you want with the info. I don't really care.

I have made this info is available on performancetrucks.net, ls1tech.com, rennlist.com, pennocksfieroforum, etc. and all have been gracious that I have offered it except here.

how many L33 5.3's have you built? they respond to cams and tuning very well.

the guys at performance trucks . net have several that dynoed 400rwhp with different cam/heads combos na, an acquaintance of mine on pff, and ls1tech has a fiero with a ls4 5.3 that dynoed 382rwhp na. etc. im not here trying to sell anything or prove anything. just trying to be helpful.

if this is how this board is, then im out.

not that I care, but what is carcraft selling for gm by dynoing a junkyard 5.3 and trying a slew of factory cams and telling you that you can pick them up used on fleabay for pennies? I don't really see your point, but whatever, im out.

[laid67c10]

Thanks for the write up! Great info to know! I'm about to do a ls swap so very useful info!

[joey8383]

This is the exact formula I'm going with on my LM7 5.3
Thanks for the info and for the little inspiration to start hitting it a little harder.