Heath!! How you been man? Havin fun wherever you are?



Currently I am quite against the 6.0 I have heard nothing but bad things about it and being a huge gas guzzler. This is my daily driver, I get 21.3 on the highway with my setup so I am not too apt to loose it.

I have been talking with the owner of a shop in Dacula Ga, that has given me alot of input and is telling me to keep the 5.3 and mod it. He claims he can get me 370-380 area to the wheels with cams, heads, headers, y pipe, tune, springs and push rods with a automatic transfer case. He already has shown quite a bit of knowledge in this subject and I already like the guy. I am going to get a full out the door quote for labor, and recommended parts list.

Its lookin like its much cheaper to mod the 5.3 for the power. I would spend roughly the same on the LS1 plus the swap just for stock LS1 power.

 

370-380 Is stretching the 5.3 close to the limit, Driveability might be of concern as well. Gas mileage will probably suffer quite a bit as well. Even a very mild 6.0 can put those numbers down with room to grow on. 5.3 is a great motor, I have one but for the money and potential the 6.0 is the way to go. Mild 6.0 v Heavy mod 5.3 and the gas mileage difference would be minimal at best with less stress and potential for failure in the 6.0. 6.0, l92, l76 intake, mild cam, headers, tq and tune. Trans upgrade will be needed no matter which way you choose to go. Stock 4l60 wont handle that much for long.

 

You could also look into making an iron block 5.7 from the 5.3 block. Thats another option??

 

Usually 6.0's were considered gas hogs because they came in vehicles typically heavier than the ones that have 4.8/5.3's.
My built LQ9 got average of 15-16 and 21 on the Hwy.

My 03' when it had a stock 5.3 would normally get about 350 miles to a tank and after putting in the 6.0 I got about 320-330 miles to a tank.
Would have been better if I had a smaller cam and better tune.

 

I'm getting an average of 1-2MPG less in the winter and about 0-1.5 less in the summer vs my 4.8, and this is with a cam (212/218 558/563) in the 6.0 while the 4.8 was all stock.

 

I have been told up and down that the 6.0s dont put much more power down and eat gas.

I get over 400 on the highway, prob 350 in town. I drive easy, keep my foot out pretty much always unless I wanna waste some gas. I am doing the cam for 2 reasons, 1 my top end is terrible, and 2 I want people to know I am there at the stoplight when the cut out is open

 

you need to quit taking advice from whoever told you that crap.

 

yeah not sure where they get their info but i say go 6.0 and call it a day. oh and why would a 5.7 be that much better. i think if you went out and bought a 7000+ pound tow rig with the 6.0 you could say it was a hog, in your 1500 it will do well

 

Go ahead and do all the bolt-ons for the 5.3. Then when you decide on an engine everything will transfer over and you'd be making the most of your setup regardless of engine size.

 

I'm putting 390 rwh on my DD H/C 5.3, and before my tranny and rear end blew up last week. I only had about $2100 bucks in my truck inlcuding the heads... I do EVERYTHING myself. That helps out a lot on a budget build. but now with the flt lvl4 and truetrac and fuddle converter, I have right at $4k in it which isn't bad. I get about 15-15.5 city with the 4.10s and have yet to go on a long trip with them to see the highway mpg but its prolly around 17.5-18.

I modded my 5.3 just to be different.. I don't like being the same as everyone else so i didn't throw in a 6L or bigger, but thats just me and my .02 cents.