Keep 383 or go 5.3 ls

[RootBreaker]

The 5.3/six speed trucks may be better, but IMO the 5.3/4L60 trucks should've had at least a 3.73/3.90 gear, if not just straight to 4.10s.

I had a 2013 crew cab on 35's and stock gearing.. 3:42 I think... it moved (empty).. had mulch in it once and it still moved... definitely needed gearing due to the 35s but like said.. had no problem getting up to 80mph on the highway and set cruise.

 

[Chevy305]

The 5.3/six speed trucks may be better, but IMO the 5.3/4L60 trucks should've had at least a 3.73/3.90 gear, if not just straight to 4.10s.

I totally agree that most were under geared and so they feel pretty doggy.
My only 5.3/4L60 combo I owned was a '00 Tahoe with 3.73s. It would get out of it's own way if I commanded it to but once I put a tune with an intake and exhaust, it suddenly became pretty lively and I never felt like it was lacking anywhere in the rpm range.

Now for newer 6L80/90s, the low 1st gear really makes up a lot for poor gearing.

 

[76zimmer]

ummm I'm no youngin and Ive never used a 383... but I thought.. "STROKE-HER" was in the name... and thought it was a 350 with a 400 crank and some other things.. so ummm am I missing something?

fyi - just go 8.1L... I'm planning on it...

may as well enjoy it now cuz in 15 years a law will be passed where only battery operated, computer controlled, non driver vehicles will be allowed on the road and then they will have it where you will have to be a passenger in your own offroad vehicle... thank goodness ill be dead b4 then...

Its just some Facebarf crap I've thrown out from time to time....because its seems many like to throw the term stroker out there when its obvious it has to have a stroked crank in it. To me the term stroker is an oxymoron when talking about a Chevy 383....Chevy made a 383 crate motor for a while, but otherwise it HAS TO BE A STROKER to get 383 cubes from a SBC.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Its just some Facebarf crap I've thrown out from time to time....because its seems many like to throw the term stroker out there when its obvious it has to have a stroked crank in it. To me the term stroker is an oxymoron when talking about a Chevy 383....Chevy made a 383 crate motor for a while, but otherwise it HAS TO BE A STROKER to get 383 cubes from a SBC.

It made me laugh Dave!

Also for those comparing a stock GM tuned 5.3 to an aftermarket tune 5.3 there is quite a difference. This info made me turn my nose up at the 4.8/5.3 idea for a long time as I had driven so many stock turds, but I've since ridden in a couple swapped 5.3 rigs with gearing and a tune. It's quite a difference.

 

[Blue85]

I've always suspected you could get a big drivability improvement from just tuning the TBW response. Usually you see the 5.3 with 4L60 and tall gears and the 6.0 with 4l80, high stall and better gears, so it's hard to make a direct comparison. If you find a 6.0/4L60/4.10, it feels really fast.

 

[84k5oleyeller]

Well I got the 383 out of the truck right now. Still haven't decided but really tempted to drop the 5.3 in it and see how I like it. I could always hold on to the 383 and drop back in later if I'm not satisfied with an ls or even wait till I find a good deal on a 6.0/6.2.





This is the 5.3 I have sitting in my garage waiting to be dropped in to a project. Just which project do I want to put it in.

 

[84k5oleyeller]

So I'm pulling the trigger on the 5.3 ls. I ordered the flywheel and spacer to adapt the ls to my th400. Also went with ord motor mounts and schoenfeld headers. I will get this mounted up and decide on fuel supply system and wire harness.

 

[b454rat]

I think a lot of is tranny gearing and rear end gearing. It's a different truck, but still similar motor wise. I have an 08 Tundra with the 5.7. Think it's 370 horse, 381 torque. It has the tow package with 4.30 gears, and think the tranny is a 6 or 7 speed. It will shift like 3-4 times by the time you hit 20. IMO, you should not have to floor it to get it to go, towing or not. I barely hit the gas and it will go. Put your foot into more, and will really get up and go. I've never had it over 5K that I can remember, don't really need to inless having some fun. Now the truck is lifted with 35s, and still will shit and git. Lost very little down low. I think GM finally got their head out of there ass and started putting more tranny gears and lower axle gears, makes a huge difference. I'm not sold on the LS coolaid yet. I like the torque of the big block, and hopefully I get to put one in my Tahoe.

 

[Bent77]

How much you want for the 383 short block?

 

[84k5oleyeller]

How much you want for the 383 short block?

I haven't really thought of a price...I was trying to get my brother to get it to put in his stepside...how intrestead are you in it.

 

[Bent77]

I haven't really thought of a price...I was trying to get my brother to get it to put in his stepside...how intrestead are you in it.

Depends on price and internal particulars. Obviously either shipping or a road trip on my parts is involved. Pm me a parts list, price, and how many miles if you don’t mind

 

[ZooMad75]

You need to gear a 5.3 to get what you want out of it. They need to spin anyway, so why saddle it with crappy gearing to start with? If it's ahead of a 700/4l60e I think the starting point is 4.10's and up from there. GM gets away with no more than 3.42's in the newer 6 speed trucks because the 6 speeds have deeper 1st and 2nd gears than the older 4speeds. Overall with lower numerical axle gearing they are still getting a similar overall ratio to having higher numerical gears before.

Tune makes a difference too. That combined with good gearing will keep the little 5.3 in the torque band where it can get some stuff done. But you have to whip it sometimes when you need it.