prepping for my first swap...again

[scott123]

I planned to do it last year but like a lot of times, things just got in the way.

I bought a box van with a 5.3. The engine sticker said 5.3. The paperwork in the glove box said 5.3 and it ran really well but hit pretty hard. I took it as it was going to be the base.

Pulled the engine and clearly stamped on the back is 4.8. Sort of a set back last year and now I am ready to move forward.

This will go in a 72 K5. I am not looking for an 700HP dragster but one, it is a project I've never done and I like to drive it everywhere/anywhere.

End of the day what are the drawbacks to going with the 4.8. Pros and cons for me, is the pros, I already have it and I feel like it is in good shape/good engine.

I'm 50 now and in years past I could engine swap/transmission swap all nite/every nite. Now I don't seem to have the ass nor the gas to do things twice, if that makes sense.

Is settling on the 4.8 a bad idea?

Scott

[Dragcamaro]

Are you sure it's not a 5.3? They share the same block....... my 5.3 also has "4.8/5.3" cast in the backside but once I checked the pistons and everything, I verified it was a 5.3L....

Good luck either way once you start, either engine makes a decent engine to play with .

[Mbeef61]

Vin number can help you figure what it is. Also if you can get a look at the piston. Sometimes through the spark plug hole.

[MDPotter]

Same as above - they are the same block. The pistons on the 5.3 are dished and 4.8 are flat.

Sounds like it should be a 5.3, but look at the pistons and you can tell.

A 4.8 isn't a bad engine, it doesn't make that much less power than a 5.3. No matter which engine it turns out to be, you could put a cam in it, a tune, intake, and exhaust and it will probably be plenty of power for you.

[scott123]

I have not pulled it down or even looked in a plug hole.

A friend told me about the 'either/or' engines that have 4.8/5.3L on the back of the block. This one just has 4.8. Maybe I get lucky and it is as advertised.

The VIN number on the van says 5.3L.

I'm ready to get the ball going in the next week or so. Once I dig in I will know more.

Thanks for the replies.

Scott

[ls1nova71]

Are you sure you just didn't see the 5.3 on the block? Because I've never seen one that didn't have both 4.8 and 5.3 cast in it.

FWIW, I have a 4.8 in one of my trucks and cant tell the difference between it and my other truck with a 5.3.

[scott123]

Possible I did not see a 5.3 but I will check again tomorrow.

It has been 6-7 months since I pulled the engine from the chassis.

I only remember seeing the 4.8.

I have also read there is not a lot of difference in the two but this is my first LS swap. I do not want to go through the process and then be disappointed in the end to the point I need to do it again.

Just trying to get some ducks in a row before hand.

S

[truckdude239]

I have a 4.8 in my 71 and with a basic tune on it I cant tell a difference between it and the 5.3s in my tahoe and suburban besides the 4.8 loves rpms and screams I just slapped mine In I'd do the basics while u have it out like valley pan gasket knock sensors intake gasket and vavle cover gaskets and rear main