Hey! My name is Miguel and I just recently bought a lifted 2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 and I wanted to try and do something I’ve never done before, I’m wanting to actually build out the motor and make this thing a blast to drive and have some fun with and make some fun amount of power.

I’m on here asking for some guidance on where to start and asking for other people’s experience and truck builds, I have a (what I believe is stock) 5.3 LS and my goal is to make enough power to have loads of fun with and haul stuff like a beast if needed.

Keep in mind this is my first time ever doing something like this so have a little grace, I’m not stupid I’ve just never built out a motor before and also don’t harsh on the 5.3 or tell me I’m cooked and I should swap something different into the truck.

Thanks for your guys help, I look forward to hearing about your guys cool builds and experiences.

 

5.3 LS are pretty tough motors. If your isn't BROKEN.... I wouldn't do much of anything beyond replacing Valve Springs and Camshaft.
You'll probably discover a few broken exhaust manifold bolts, buy or borrow a MIG welder and about a 50 lot of cheap 3/8" steel hex nuts.
Really, the ONLY thing a 5.3 LS needs to HAVE LOTS OF FUN is a cheap Turbocharger, GOOD injectors, and a bigger fuel pump.

 

honestly fair, I wanna try and make as much power with the stock block as I can. Do you know if any good turbocharges? Wouldn’t swapping like an ls7 intake or something like that get me more power aswell as cam and headers?

 

You can't swap an LS7 intake because the ports are different.

You could swap in an 07-13 GMT-900 intake manifold and that may get you some power. I would probably swap in the heads as well from that vintage. You may also hear the intake being called a TBSS intake, they are the same.

Purchase a Huron Speed turbo kit.

 

First question is always budget. What is it? If you say you don't really have one, then you'll never see this build to completion.

Question B, is not a question. Read other builds on this site. There are a lot. You will get more ideas than you can handle.

- Next, come up with a plan, post it for comment.

 

Make a budget and double it
Make a timeframe and triple it

 

Yeah I know I was just saying an example for the intake part, I’m thinking about doing heads, a cam, headers, and a better intake and try and see if I could find a decently priced supercharger or turbo kit and that’s probably all I would want, preferably spending under 3000 for mods but turbos and superchargers get expensive.

 

$3000 would barely get you H/C/I depending on how low buck you are trying to be.

 

Fair point, heads are more expensive than how I remember, it was a ball park number.

 

Then just do a slightly larger camshaft and headers, maybe injectors if it required that amount of fuel. If you do the labor yourself, a camshaft kit, seals etc etc and headers should be well under $2,000 for good parts.

If it's lifted and big wheels and tires, you need to re-gear the truck. Adding more power but still running a terrible gear ratio will still make it a sled and a boring truck to drive.