I pulled my 264,000 mile 5.3 out of my 2001 and replaced it with a 34,000 mile 5.3 with goodies... My question is what are the best options with the old engine? I doubt I could get very much for it as is. It ran fine when pulled. I was thinking rebuild it for a future project. Local shop said $1,000 to build me a brand me short block out of it(and id know exactly what i have)Is that a fair price? I only want to do short block due to idk the exact route I want to go so heads would wait until I chose a cam and so forth.... I'm fine with a stock bottom end because if I boost it it won't be anything crazy so I'm not trying to build a bullet proof bottom end... Soooo what to do?

 

You could have it bored to an LS1 bore and do forged rods and pistons then do twins or some nitrous.

 

Ball park price on that^jw

 

I would not build it until I knew what direction I wanted to go with it. Just bag it and set it in a corner till you know what you want to do with it. Lots of options with a 5.3 block and all of them would require something different with the pistons, ring gaps, rods or crank.

 

agree with BigKID, slap a trash bag on it and throw it in the corner until you decide on a direction and then do your research on that particular choice and make your moves.

 

My main question was is the price accurate? I called them (well had my boss call because its who we use for all our engine rebuilds on the older cars) and told him how much to rebuild my engine excluding heads and the answer was $1000 for a short block. I'd assume that's a new rotating assembly also? I really think all that is fine as I had no issues with the engine just high mileage. What I really want done is new bearings and rings and I think that will do it.

 

Sell it or keep it for future use.

 

what EXACTLY was he doing for $1000?

 

Guess I need to find out what all they plan on doing... I wasn't the one talkin to the shop my boss was going over there to pick up an engine and I had him ask... But he told me they said 1000 for a new short block... I'm not looking for a beast bottom end just a fresh start. The engine isn't hurt just needs freshening up before I move on with it

 

I guess this is a better way of putting it... Should I rebuild the short block or sell how it is and just get a low mile engine out of a junk yard when I need one. I don't plan on "upgrading" the bottom end if I went that route just stock stuff because I don't have the need for a bullet proof bottom end. Most I would do with it would be about 10 psi max if I went boosted.