LS swap 5.3 vs 6.0

[Stomis]

5.3 and 6.0 share the same bottom end,rods,crank etc,the only difference is the size of the bore.

That being said the power difference is not that huge between the two but the 5.3 generally is way cheaper. Plus with that price difference you can stuff a better cam and valve springs in it and and make the same power as a 6.0 and still probably be cheaper.

I could have sworn the 5.3 was steel crank and forged pistons vs 6.0 being a cast crank and hypertech pistons


I know there is something about that damn motor that makes it more appealing for go fast as a basis compared to gaining the displacement of the 6.0.

 

[swampjeep]

I could have sworn the 5.3 was steel crank and forged pistons vs 6.0 being a cast crank and hypertech pistons


I know there is something about that damn motor that makes it more appealing for go fast as a basis compared to gaining the displacement of the 6.0.

isn't the stroke longer for a 6.0?

a shorter stroke will allow a quicker reving motor, maybe this is why?

I'm not really sure, just throwing it out there as a question more then fact LOL

 

[jt512]

5.3 or 6.0, you can't go wrong either way IMHO. The aftermarket is huge for LS engines and from the factory they are leaps and bounds ahead of the older stuff. I'm a 6.0 fan, simply because our company owns 2 6.0 powered 2500's that have been great trucks, our 03 was just retired with 382,000 miles and our 02 just turned 310k neither engine has ever been apart more then a set of intake gaskets.
The 03's 6.0 will be finding a new home under the hood of my brothers Wagoneer this spring. I plan on doing a thread on the teardown and inspection / then rebuild of the 6.0 as I'm sure others would be as curious as I am to how the inside of a almost 400k LS engine look

 

[Teck]

I did a 5.3 4L65E swap in mine. I only have a few hundred miles on it and it still needs a final tune for the headers. I was looking for a 6.2 (for the cool factor) when I started this but they couldn't find one for me. The 5.3 runs very well and has plenty of power. I do have 5.13 gears also. Gears can make a bigger difference in milage and how a truck will perform then torque. You need to consider the whole package when building your truck (motor, tranny, gears, tire size).

 

[swampjeep]

I did a 5.3 4L65E swap in mine. I only have a few hundred miles on it and it still needs a final tune for the headers. I was looking for a 6.2 (for the cool factor) when I started this but they couldn't find one for me. The 5.3 runs very well and has plenty of power. I do have 5.13 gears also. Gears can make a bigger difference in milage and how a truck will perform then torque. You need to consider the whole package when building your truck (motor, tranny, gears, tire size).

yes, I understand gears will play into this to, I have a few gear options as I'm playing with 3 different trucks that are all different, but most likely will use the 4.10's out of the truck I was using as my dune runner. Tires will also play into it, I'll be running 33's. The current dune runner has a 400sbc very mildly built, so I'm guessing similar HP to a stock 5.3, no idea about torque. The current dune runner has plenty of power for me, but it's parked at the dunes all the time, and I'd like this new k5 build to be something I feel good about driving back and forth, along with taking the family camping in northern Mi.

all that said, what tires are you running with 5.13's

 

[Teck]

It has some Mickey Thompson on it that measure about 38" that are old. They will be replaced soon with something else about the same size hopefully.

 

[swampjeep]

I'm sure the 5.13's help but it's still nice to know your happy with a 5.3 pushing 38's

thanks

 

[Stomis]

isn't the stroke longer for a 6.0?

a shorter stroke will allow a quicker reving motor, maybe this is why?

I'm not really sure, just throwing it out there as a question more then fact LOL

No theyre the same stroke with a different bore I believe. But thats not what Im talking about. I dont mean the design of the motor or the displacement Im talking about the how strong the construction of each one is in stock form.

 

[Deuling]

The current dune runner has plenty of power for me, but it's parked at the dunes all the time

Wheres this rig? You have a place in silver lake?

 

[swampjeep]

Wheres this rig? You have a place in silver lake?

I have a lot there, by Upper Silver Lake, but since I'm married 4 years ago and daughter was born 2 years ago, I don't get up there as much, 3 times this year, maybe 2 more if I'm lucky.

The K5 I have over there has a very badly rusted body, I'm actually afraid it take it out on the dunes anymore for fear of feet going thru the floor, or the body just plain falling off the frame LOL

this is a pic from 3 years ago of it

 

[Deuling]

Win. Lemme know when u go up. Im only 45 min away.