So I am at a stop. I cant decide whether to mod my current 5.3 that has the basics (Intake, Exhaust, Servos and tune). I would be putting Pacesetter LTs on and Y pipe, get a nice daily driver but performance orientated cam and springs, as well as a electric cut out and additional tuning from Vengeance Racing.

All this runs roughly 2500 give or take.

I have found used LS1s with under 100k on them for 2-2500. I can swap a motor, that doesnt bother me. I have a forklift and plenty of tools and know-how to do this. Its a bolt in swap. Swap my intake manifold and boom everything plugs right in.


What would you do?

 

Find a used LQ4 6.0 w/ less miles for a lot less than $2K.

 

even some lq9's for 1600 to 2200 with lower miles

 

Just as one data point, for reference, I got my 5,000 mile '07 LQ4 for 1750 shipped to my door. Yku start getting 20k+ mile and the price can drop pretty good. then you'll have leftover money for goodies.

 

$2500 sounds like way too much for the mods you're talking about installing on the 5.3. If you shop around you should be able to get all of that for less than $2000...I'd guess probably closer to $1800 or so for all new parts and a tune. If you went used and have a little patience you should be able to get all of that for closer to $1300.

These are just educated guesses, but a used set of Pacesetters with an ORY should run around $450, cam and springs $350, electric cutout $200, and a good street tune for $350.

 

I gained a little more than 6/10 swapping the ls1 in place of the 5.3. no other mods includedd....stock cammed 5.3 to stock cammed ls1 netted 6/10.

 

for the money being spent I would look on ebay for 6.0 lq4 or lq9, if you feel like rebuilding one you can get them cheap.

 

Do the 6L, cubic inches rule.

 

Go with th 6.0, you can mod it and have a beast and you current mods will work with it. If it's not enough then stroke it! Or stroke it to 408 from the start and be done.

 

Travis, i think that w/ your 5.3 that has over 100k you should go ahead and get a 6.0 long block, build it the way you want, take your time, run the hell out of the 5.3 then swap it when you are satisfied with what you got. Im planning on doing a 6l build when i get back to the states and putting my 4.8 in my trail rig, should be fun, later.