I have a 2005 Silverado 5.3 crew z71. 33x12.50 tires with 212000 miles on this truck. The truck looks like it has 100000 miles on it on the inside and out. I want to make this truck last, but my oil pressure occasionally fluctuates and occasionally has a tick to it. Sounds like a lifter or something. Normal 5.3 problem. I am trying to go ahead and find an engine and go ahead and do a swap. I want the 6.0 and I can't decide if I want to do a mild cam or should I just make it easy and do headers, full exhaust, cold air intake. I mean will I tell a difference from the 5.3 to the 6.0. Do I need anything more. Or is it not a noticeable difference if I just do a stock 6.0. I want to be able to kick it and go! This is my daily driver and I want it to be practical and fun at the same time.and I also tow here and there a zero turn lawn mower.

 

Probably the oil pump in the 5.3.... Stock 6.0 would be a slightly noticable difference initially, however if you really wanna feel a difference youll need at the very least a small cam and exhaust/intake upgrades.... 212k is nothing on the truck ls engines, my 99 had 263k on it when i intentionally blew it....

 

With that many miles and considering IF you follow through with a 6.0 swap:

(engine is easier to work on if it's out mentality)

1. Headers/ypipe
2. Cam (max duration of 224....can change if you put a converter in)
3. lifters
4. tune

The 6.0 is a drop in. Hell, if you do all the above, you might as well do a small converter.

Your issue is going to be trans related. After I did my 6.0 swap, my trans lasted 5 months. Of course, I was not using ANY TM. Before the 6.0, I had a 5.3 with a cam/converter/headers and tuned (including tranny) and it worked fine for almost 2 full years without issue.

There is a limit to the tranny.