On 2nd thought, pick up a used 5.3l, stick it ithe garage for backup, and turn up the wick on your current 5.3l.

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=438317

Rick

 

my current 5.3l has a loud tick that comes and goes. i have tried lifters, push rods, cam, and oil changes and i have a big move next year so i want to not have to worry about it. going 5.3 to 5.7 does not cost the same. 5.3l pistons require a $50 hone job 5.7l pistons require a $200 or better bore and hone job.

so these i-beams from scat. whats the diff between them and the h-beams? whats the advantage of one over the other?

 

I-beams typically weaker but,lighter.
H-beams stronger but,heavier.

 

Take weight into account when choosing a rotating assembly.5.3 cranks are the lightest out of the 3.622's so keep that in mind you do not want to add mallory to make up for the heavier rotatin assembly.

 

when people say "weaker" how much weaker? we talking 800hp capable vise 1000hp or 500hp vise 1000?

 

I bet that tick is from the thin log manifold. My motor sounded kinda nasty with headers. All quiet again with manifolds.

 

Very true. The hevyest of all the rods is the HD ls2 style rod. It comes in @ ~650g. A 99-04 weak rod comes in ~610g. On my 370 I went with the compstar H beams @622g and light weight mahle pistons as not to have to add mallory. I wasnt all that impressed with the compstars vs the scats I originaly bought.

 

Yes the earlier rods are weak in the beams and will bend to the point where they break or the piston hits the counter weight of the crank. I had both

 

the noise is only with a load. sometimes at idle its ok but when you give it gas its TICK TICK TICK i thought it went away but recently it has came back. and i don't know what it is. its driving me up the wall. I'm wondering if the manifold is cracking again. that might could cause it too. if i knew for sure it wasn't the pistons slapping them selves crazy i would be ok.

here is a vid i made awhile back. http://videos.streetfire.net/video/t...tap_636916.htm its not near as bad as it use to be. its pretty much quiet during idle when you apply a load it gets louder and when the truck warms up its even more quiet. i wonder if its cracked again and the heat swelling causes the noise to calm down. trans is out so i might as well pull the manifold off.

 

hmm, I take it back. That's not from the header. Up in the engine bay mine sounded dead quiet, it was down by the wheel well where it sounded like a rod knocking.