When I was shopping for a GMC truck back in Sept of 2000, all wanted was an ext cab truck with a v8 engine. At that poing in time, I was not aware that GM offered a 4.8 and a 5.3 on these trucks. I really whished the sales man would have mentioned it. I would be driving a truck with a 5.3 had I known any better. Now that I want to make my truck go faster, I feel I really fu@ked up by getting the 4.8. I was very dissapointed when I went back to the dealership this weekend to find what kind of deal they would give me if I exchanged my current truck with one with a 5.3. I was going to end up loosing close to $8,000.
For that kind of money I will just have to live with my 4.8 for a while. Guys, I need you all's opinion on this. Oh by the way I have never driven a truck with a 5.3. Is there much of a difference?

 

all the more reason to swap up to a 6.0!!! keep your eyes open and i bet you can find a nice 2001up 6.0 with the aluminum heads for around $1000

 

Don't trade it in. You can modify the current truck pretty far if you wish. A stock 5.3L performs about the same as a 4.8L with all the bolt-ons.

1. Save up and put a whipple supercharger on it.
2. remove the 4.8L and build an LS1 based 5.7L or larger for it.

The 4.8L is LS1 based, so most of the internal engine modifications we do with our F-bodies and vettes also work for these trucks.

Tony

 

i don't think you fu*&ed up, you could spend that $8,000 on something else. for instance you could build yourself a 6.0L and that would be better than a 5.3. you could also buy a supercharger. (fast 4.8) ran mid 14's with his ex. cab truck. i have a 5.3 and i can't get past 15 flat. i understand if you don't want to do a new engine but at least consider the super charger. you should do all the bolt ons and then think about it. if anything your only going to be 1-3 tenths slower than a 5.3L. i am mad because i got my truck a year early. had i waited i could have the 15 extra horse power along with more torque. so eventually i'll get a cam and make up for it. those are my thoughts. so if i where you i wouldn't worry about it. later..............

 

Fast4.8, Remember at the time I was not really concerned about speed. Had that been the case I would have gotten me a single cab step side with a 5.3. I am single and I do not need the back seat on my truck.

 

First of all, if you wanted speed, you should have got the reg cab anyway. So I did my mid 14 with N20, and that was before a lot of my bolt ons. I am running a best 15.15 N/A now. Make out of it what you will and be proud of what you have done. BTW, I am building a new motor, size to be named later. It won't be anything you can just go out and get like a 5.3 or 6.0, it will be something made out of a 4.8/ 5.3 block and heads though. Just because I want to and for the experiance to say what I have was at least my idea.