If u r going to do a swap then I would go to the 6.0 . The 4.8 to 5.3 seems hardly worth it. Either way u will be swapping the engine and whether a 5.3 or a 6.0 it's the same amount of work, why not get a little more power out of the swap. I think any of the LS motors will do it's all about preference.

 

202k on my 01 4.8/60 setup.

I change the oil once a year whether it needs it or not.

Regularly tow more than its rated for, do burnouts and other non sense.

 

260,000+ on my truck in sig no issues.

 

Little 4.8 that could

 

Looks like you give it a workout for sure.

 

All things considered, what would be a better engine, the L33, LQ4, or LQ9? L33s and LQ9s are hard to come by around here. Price, fuel economy, and power, of course, should all be considered.

 

LQ9 would be your best bet.. LQ4 after that, and than a L33, then LM7 then LR4

 

LQ9 or LQ4. L33 is aluminum, and all the short or long blocks I've seen, the aluminum(L33, LS1, LS6) almost always cost more. I have an L33 with 126xxx on it. Only trouble I've had was a valve guide seal, and lifters that wouldn't pump up(hence the 243's and LS7 lifters in my sig). My truck really needs lower gears, and even with the 3.42's, and 285/70 mud terrains, it pulls good, and averages 18.5 to 19 mpg.

 

Still running stock transmissions on all my trucks. 242k, 208k, and 140k

 

Hello there I have a 2004 gmc SLT with the 5.3 with 363,000 kms
On her using synthetic oil & she never drops in oil level or misses
A beat. LIKE A ROCK.