I'm doing an engine conversion on my 56 Chevy and I am going to put an iron block 5.3 in it. Is any one year better than another or is there any years to avoid? I may switch to a 6.0 in a few years, using the 5.3 right now frees up a lot of extra money for other things

 

personally id get a 02 version because of the 99-02 cable throttle body being easier to deal with vs. the drive by wire on the 03-06 and the 02 is the only year with cable throttle body that has the new 02-up pcm and slightly larger injectors but if you are going to change the tune and injectors any 99-02 woudl work

ALL 5.3 motors are the same internally from oil pan to intake manifold from 99-06

 

dont quote me but i believe 99- are the same inside and out.

 

im 98% sure on that too and i think the only reason the hp is rated higher is in the tune

 

99 5.3's had weaker cams too!!!!

 

never heard that but like said above the tune, and the 05- had efans so that was another 10-15 hp advertised. keep in mind it can be the same motor same year and same tune and run totally different.

 

How is the cable throttle body easier to deal with? I would think running a wire is easier than trying to route a cable. I have DBW on my new Honda, and it seems like the response is a little slow, is it the same way with the 5.3?

 

i have heard there is a little delay on the DBW trucks and none on the cable trucks

cable trucks can also run a 90mm Tb without much mods and DBW trucks are having problems from what i hear

 

cable is easier b/c you don't have to go through the expense of getting the tac module and accelerator pedal setup, with a cable you just stick it through the firewall and hook it up...

99-06 long blocks are the same, there was a cam change in either 2000 or 2001, but either style throttle body / intake can be used on any of them

 

There is only 1 iron block 5.3 right? The LM7.
Whats the aluminum block 5.3? L33??