I wont ever ever recommend the 4.8. It's an absolutely miserable engine in the fullsize truck. I've never driven a 5.3, but I can't imagine it's that much better than the 4.8.

 

I think the 4.8 biggest handicap is that it is always saddled with 3.23 gears rather then the 3.42's the 5.3 gets. I think the 4.8 is as viable a performance canidate as the 5.3 if you gear it up, and if FI is in your future.

I would order the truck the way you want it, and if you want the last but of HP get the 5.3. Or the 4.8 if you want the last bit of MPG.

I am still happy with my 4.8, and despartly need the 4.11's like my friend at my old appt had in his. Even with out the gears I have hauled 4500 lbs to the dump during my house remodel, and the truck did great.

 

Something is "afoot" if your truck is running that hard with that few mods. There are quite a few Vmax trucks that are lucky to pull that with the same mods.

That would put your HP at damn near 300 at the wheels, and I just dont see that from basically a tune and some exhaust.

 

I had a rclb 4.8l 3.23 and now a eclb 5.3 3.42 and I can feel a big difference even with the bigger truck. I liked my 4.8 but I love the 5.3. I would get a 4.8 again if the deal was great but I still prefer the extra 30lb of torque from the 5.3.

Mike

 

People on here have been to the track with me and know about the truck, its proven itself. My tuner(Wheatley) is on here and can vouch for the mods. I dont think it has that much horsepower, I think it is more of the fact that I have less weight than most. I dont have power windows, I am running a steel rollpan which is alot lighter than the bumper, and I am helping the gearing by running on 26" tall tires.