I have a 2003 5.3L Suburban 1500 LT that I recently dropped and looking to add more power to it but at the same time keeping it daily driver. I don't know if I would benefit adding the locking diff or a LSD. I wanted to start at the rear and start moving forward. My buddy told me I can have a 6.0 he has laying around, it came out of '02 Silverado. The oil pump went bad and began knocking, I also recently found searching a set of 243 or 799 heads. Or should I go with Ls6 heads.

What would be the best route for me to go, upgrade the 5.3 or rebuild the 6.0 to my wants?

My end goal is to have a Beauty and Beast suburban, I really want to cam it I love the sound of a cammed engine.

Thank you,

 

243, 799 are ls6 heads..

whats your budget? which gears are in it now?

 

to start $1500, it has the stock diff. Will need to get exact gearing when I get home.

 

I would put the 1500 in cam, valve train parts, oil pump, and new gaskets for the 6.0 and stab it in there. You could then sell your 5.3L to put new gears in it.

you probably have 3.42s or 3.73s

 

Definitely the 6.0!

 

lol I do not know where to start. I have been reading up on ls1tech, but all that info is alot to take in and understand which parts to get to begin the build. Found this interesting 1301Tr 04 Budget Friendly Horsepower Royal Purple Photo 4

 

How to Add Horsepower to GM's 6.0L Ls-Series Small-Block - Hot Rod Magazine

If the 6.0 came out of an suv then it will fit right in place of your 5.3L. You have to look into the relucter wheel is 24x or 52x and will bolt up to your transmission.

 

Huge problem with your plan...... that 6 liters bottom end is garbage...... So after you at minimum do all new bearings throughout it and regrind the crank plus resize rods ( if they need) then you will be mostly through your entire swap budget. May as well bore it or at minimum do rings at that point.

Remember what I said before you do anything with that 6 liter that anyone else on here suggested.