Oh What Choices: 5.3L or 6.0L ???

[nsulacountry]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

"GO FOR IT"
Just double the price and buy her something !!!

She got a $2200 diamond tennis bracelet for Christmas, does that count? OMG, I am stoked! At least its a complete package.

CT

[Gobuffalo]

LQ4 6.0L, 4L80E
They will run on cat pee gas because of the low compression. The longer stroke and the truck intake make more torque and will pull your trailer around better.
I did the big block TH400 in my 70 4x4 Suburban. Really cool having 500 hp on tap but not being able to pass gas stations sucks. Ever been 100 MPH in an old truck? They are as aerodynamic as a brick. If you don't mind 5 to 8 mpg do the big block.
For the prices I see advertised for take out engines a little more you can buy the whole truck at auction. Look for a 2001 to 2007 3/4 or 1 ton 2wd pickup. The vin will have a U in the 8th digit and a 1 thru 7 in the 10th digit. That gets you an LQ4 and a 4L80E trans (a TH400 with overdrive). You also get hydro boost brakes and the accessory drive. If it's a 14 bolt, you get rear disc brakes. 150 Tunes, Howell, etc will reflash your computer for about $150.00 (hummm) for another $100.00 they will cut down the factory harness and eliminate all the unnecessary smog stuff or you can do that yourself. Now all you need is motor mounts, maybe a pan, move the rear cross member back a little, hook up some exhaust, shorten and rebalance your drive shaft. You can use the radiator out of the newer truck or make a plumbers nightmare to hook up the old radiator or buy a custom one. Electric fans are cool too and the control can be with the computer.
When you decide to upgrade, buy a mild cam, springs, rockers and a reflash for 400 reliable hp, lots of torque and fair mpg. If it's for street/towing, build for torque, you will be much happier.
Just MHO.

[ERASER5]

Did you get the 8.1? I saw it was sold.

[nsulacountry]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Did you get the 8.1? I saw it was sold.

It was sold. I am in line for the next one.

CT

[OKGMC4]

I'd love to know where you guys can get a 6.0 for "not much more" than a 5.3...I live in Oklahoma, which is truck country, and here a 6.0 costs a ton more than a 5.3. I've called around and it's a couple grand more every time (especially with a 4l80 on it) I just picked up a complete 2000 5.3 harness and all for $150 and a 4l60 for $300. I might be able to get a bare 6.0 block for that....

I've got my eye on the Lingenfelter GT2-3 cam for this one. It doesn't lose much torque over the stock cam but still comes on hard from 4000 to 6200 rpm. Car Craft got 65 hp more out of it and it idles like stock. Sleeper cam. Article here...

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...3_small_block/

[jamesjones]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

I'd love to know where you guys can get a 6.0 for "not much more" than a 5.3...I live in Oklahoma, which is truck country, and here a 6.0 costs a ton more than a 5.3. I've called around and it's a couple grand more every time (especially with a 4l80 on it) I just picked up a complete 2000 5.3 harness and all for $150 and a 4l60 for $300. I might be able to get a bare 6.0 block for that....

I've got my eye on the Lingenfelter GT2-3 cam for this one. It doesn't lose much torque over the stock cam but still comes on hard from 4000 to 6200 rpm. Car Craft got 65 hp more out of it and it idles like stock. Sleeper cam. Article here...

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...3_small_block/

Deals pop up. You just have to keep an eye out. The vans are where you can usually get the best deal. That's what I got mine off of.

[Billett]

I'm in Southern Jersey and can't say I've seen a 5.3 go for that cheap. Most are $500 and up around here and the 6.0s are under a grand if you're patient. Mine was $600 for the LQ4 and $300 for the 4l80, but I didn't get a harness with the engine so that was another $725...