Hey guys, thought I'd share this quick video I made of swaping in some used flat top 4.8 pistons into my 5.3 at home in my garage. This 5.3 will be going into my 1987 Chevy truck as a daily driver with a lil added ***** and tow ability for my LS swapped 1992 Camaro. These pistons will bring me up from 9.5:1 to 10:1. After I port and mill the 5.3 (862) heads I should be around 10.5:1.

Specs:
160k mile 5.3
used 4.8 pistons
220r cam
ported & shimed oil pump
CTSV oil pan

Warning: this is a budget build. All those who want to comment with negativity about buying new stuff can just troll on to the next thread. Once this engine is together it will be ran on a test stand for all to see on video how it worked out. I video just about everything I do and post it on my YouTube channel at AGearHead4Life - YouTube

Click Here for the video:
How To Swap Piston on Connecting Rod at Home - 4.8 Flat Tops into a 5.3 - YouTube


Enjoy!

 

so is the 4.8 pistons are better or what?

 

The flat tops give more compression over the stock dished -6cc 5.3 pistons. More compression = more power.

 

negligible power gains from one to the other I would bet...

 

The 220 cam is going to like the compression bump. His truck should run pretty good.

Cool build. I like the square body builds. I'd prob look around for a deal on some 243s. You'd have an iron l33.

 

There -7cc not -6cc so it be 10.3:1cr with unmilled heads FYI and yes the 220 will love the cr bump

 

I think many would disagree that .5:1 of compression is negligible since its a collection of all those little things that add up to the final total. More compression will definitely help the final performance of the engine. So if you're rebuilding your dished piston 5.3 and plan to replace the piston why not go flat top? Would the LS1 guys like to lose .5 of compression? I doubt it.

But if you're trying to say that its not worth pulling an engine out and apart just to swap out pistons, I agree.

 

Thanks! Yea, I'm too cheap for 243's at 400 bones. What i'll do is what I did to my last truck. I home port the 862's to out flow the 243's and keep the compression. I also add LS1 intake valves.

 

Yea, i've heard both on the dish cc, but haven't measured myself so I went with the lower number since they claim the same CC on the lq4 piston. I think I'll go out and measure tonight. those numbers are so close that I'd imagine it'd be difficult to get it exact. What compression calculator are you using? That sounds high. You're going to make me rerun the numbers and post up a pic of it...

 

Here is how I came up with the compression ration and the numbers used. This is using a MLS head gasket with a .060" compressed thickness. One photo is stock and one is with the 4.8 pistons.