I currently have a 4.8 in my truck and have been looking high and low for a good 6.0, but it aint gonna happen anytime soon it looks like. Only ones I can find within a 400 mile radius is either 100K+ miles, burnt, or by the price..made of gold.

I have been looking around here and see alot of stout 5.3's and am thinking of doing this swap since they are fairly cheap and low mileage (found 5 with less than 40K complete for $500-$800). If I go the 6.0 route It will almost deplete the funding I have in mind..and this is stock.

If I go the 5.3 I will still have quite a bit left over for a cam, headwork, LT's stall, re-tune and tranny upgrade a little later.

I do not hit the track often and do not beat on my truck daily, it's mostly a DD and a toy.

I would love to do the 6.0, but it looks like a built 5.3 for the same amount would be a better deal all around due to the supporting mods I can get with the price difference.

Any advice you 5.3 guys or anyone in general can give me on this engine and the mods?

Any year in specific I need to look for? All the above mentioned ones are 03+

Thanks guys

 

really not to be an *** but i think you would be better off getting a 6.0 and just do little at a time casue a 6.0 with small amount of mods are faster than a 5.3 that you are talking about and being gas mileage and street friendly

and look on tech and e-bay and try and get stuff 2nd hand you can save a lot

 

4.8 to 5.3 ?? just save ur money instead, speacially with that extended cab. just be patient and a good deal will come up on a 6.0......

 

No offense taken at all, this is what I'm wanting to hear. I am still a newb to the newer engines and need all the advice I can get!

Go ahead and tell me I'm a fuking moron for swapping in a 5.3....I can take it...lol

I guess I'll go ahead and keep looking for a 6.0, it's just frustrating when you see all the good deals everyone has gotten on theirs and you cannot find anything like that local.

Hell if I could find a decent shortblock for a little change I could snag a set of heads pretty easy and swap everything from my 4.8 onto it.

Thanks for the help, I guess the search continues!

 

Allright another quick question.

I can get a 4L65E for around $300 with around 40,000 on it. Would this be a better tranny to have built than my stocker 60E?

 

id say for 300 bucks, just go with it. and wait till your 60e takes a crap. then use the 65. or get the 65 built up while the 60 is in, then do the swap whenever your ready.

 

Is the 65E that much better than the 60E?

Here's my dilemna. I know I want more power, but I also know you need a tranny to hold, other wise your truck is down until the new tranny arrives. I do not get to the track often and I do not beat on my truck daily. I also don't see myself going much over a cammed 6.0 with headers and bolt ons in the future.

Do I really need a $2500 tranny to have a little fun every now and then? It was so much simpler with my old Scottsdale...lol

If I get the 65E and have it built with the alto reds, Kolene steels, beast, HD2 kit and all the other stuff by a reputable tranny shop would it hold for my purposes?

I'm about on the verge of pulling what hair I have left out right now!

Thanks for any and all help on this!

 

i would just get my 60E built...... u dont need a 65E or 80E. put those 300 into the tranny being built. thats my opinion. but it all depends on who builds the tranny and what they put in it!

 

Allright, guess I'll go and talk to my local tranny shop. The guy that works there is retired from GM and knows quite a bit about these trannies. He's one of those 60 something guys that has a bad *** Vette as a "playtoy". He built the tranny that's in it and it still holds fine, but with my heavy *** truck I don't know.

 

Yea i have heard of 60's holding up just swell. as long as their done right. and "THE BEAST" is a very good idea ( voice of expierence) good luck