is it an ls derived motor and is it worth modifying at all? I am wondering because my friend has a wrecked one

 

Yes, 5.3 is a ls based motor. Is it worth modifying? That all depends on what type of power you want and what you will be putting the motor in. Ive seen S-10's with 5.3's in them running high 13's. The one thing i dont like about the 5.3 though is how it has dished pistons only thing dished pistons are good for is f/i.

 

well I am picking up a 77 corvette today more than likely and wanted to do a swap how easily could i get say 450hp out of a 5.3? also do the same rules of modification that the 5.7's like do they apply to the 5.3?

 

You will need to go turbo/supercharge or pump a lot of nitrous to get those numbers from any of the stock engines.

 

what kind of resulds have guys had from ported heads and a cam from these motors? whats the compression ratio that they have?

 

heres a n/a 5.3 that making 400hp to the wheels... https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=411125

 

heads, cam and a bitchin tune can get good numbers. If you do that and F/I u'd be decent. Maybe look in to boring it out a little? and different pistons? u just have to have everything complement one another