As things age and rebuilds become necesarry would I be better of to punch out my 5.3 or hunt down an LS1 from the start. What would you do.............

 

my choice is just to get a 6.0 from the get go. If I could do it again I'd be looking very hard at the L92. I just don't know how hard is it to swap into the 99-02 though.

 

go with the 6.0 and get some l92 heads if you wanna do it right the first time.

 

Depends on the budget. Certainly a 6.0L block based motor is probably best for the piggy bank. To save a little weight maybe an L92. An L92 is probably a little difficult to find a in a junkyard cheap right now but if time is on your hands I would wait and keep your eyes open and ready to pounce. Have a machinest replace the reluctor wheel and the phased cam setup with a nice truck cam and you would be all set. No need to replace the rods/pistons unless you were gonna go FI.

 

Thanks guys- nothing's on fire right now. Just pretty much thinking what to do when need to..................

Edit; I guess to qualify what I'm looking for, y'know here at 7,000 ft the 5.3 is impressive with a tune and new air filter- it does feel a bit labored and the hilly terrain. My reservations wtih the 6.0 are the big 2.00" intake valves which sacrifices gas mileage. I always thought a 5.7 with a decent cam as I'm not out for stoplight drag races, just that big hand shoving you along feeling..............

 

well if you are looking to do it cheap then a iron block 5.7 is the way to go by far just get stock pistons and use stock rods and put arp rod bolts.to bore a block is around 30 a hole on the high side and that is finished.put a set of stock heads worked and a nice cam and you are done.so around 1600 give are take you can have a nice 5.7.

 

Just find a low mile 6.0 and drop it in, best bang for ur bucks. If you want more power do a cam and long tubes too.

 

Go with a 6.0 if your worried about money. Of course an LS1 would get a little better economy, and make some serious power if you wanted it to but they're either exspensive as hell or already have 60, 70, 80,000 miles on them. Do some more research and get some more opinions before you make a final decision but a 6.0 is gonna be my next motor for sure.

 

I'm thinking of punching out to 5.7liters also. I figure I could build the short-block for the same price as buying a used 6.0 but I'll have forged pistons and all new rings, bearings etc..... Plus I can take my time and buy as I go instead of using the VISA.....

 

Thanks red, I sure will evaluate it more. But I'll tell ya- those 2.00" intake valves of the 6.0 would keep me up at night..............