5.3 liftout advise

[clementime56]

looking to get a 5.3 and dont know what version is better or worse.

Thanks

[Che70velle]

Where are you located? I have a 5.3 that I pulled out of my brothers suburban. It's an 04' with 150k on it. Ran good when pulled. I found him a deal on an l33 (5.3HO) is why he changed engines. I'd take $250.00. I will not ship.

[rickpaw]

looking to get a 5.3 and dont know what version is better or worse.

Thanks

Stay away from early versions of the 5.3, I think 1999-2003 model years. The engines from those model years suffer from piston slap noise at start up that goes away after about a minute of running. It's not affecting the longevity of the engine (I personally know a 2001 owner with 160k miles and still going strong), but it's annoying.

[hifi875]

get a later model lm7 I believe, it has either 243/799 heads which are really good(c5 z06 heads) and the block is aluminum. put a cam in it and you will have a potent little engine. I have a 5.3 in my 69 w/243 heads I had milled .030 and cleaned up along with a custom grind comp cam. its pretty dang strong for a little 326ci engine

[clementime56]

Where are you located? I have a 5.3 that I pulled out of my brothers suburban. It's an 04' with 150k on it. Ran good when pulled. I found him a deal on an l33 (5.3HO) is why he changed engines. I'd take $250.00. I will not ship.

I am in MN. Thanks for offer.

[mustangracer11]

get a later model lm7 I believe, it has either 243/799 heads which are really good(c5 z06 heads) and the block is aluminum. put a cam in it and you will have a potent little engine. I have a 5.3 in my 69 w/243 heads I had milled .030 and cleaned up along with a custom grind comp cam. its pretty dang strong for a little 326ci engine

doesn't the l33's have 243 heads also?

[mustangracer11]

Stay away from early versions of the 5.3, I think 1999-2003 model years. The engines from those model years suffer from piston slap noise at start up that goes away after about a minute of running. It's not affecting the longevity of the engine (I personally know a 2001 owner with 160k miles and still going strong), but it's annoying.

I've got one that didn't start the piston slap until about 220k miles and running very hot without any water for about 5 miles. It has 245k on it now and still going strong.

[Ummgawa]

Che70velle, check your messages.

[barrrf]

LM7 is the most common. That would be the version found in '99-'07 trucks, large variety of SUVs, ect ect. This is probably the cheapest one. But you need to watch out for the 706 Castech heads on those motors. Depending on what you want to do with the heads that may or may not be a concern to you.

L59 is the flex fuel version of the LM7.
L33 is Alu block version found in some '05-07' trucks. It also has the 799 heads.

After that we get into the slightly more expensive versions -
LY5 truck
LMG is flex fuel version of LY5
Then the less common version LH6, LH8, LC9

But it really depends on your plans. If you want a strong high HP motor that you don't plan on messing with then spend the extra coin and find the LY5 and do the active fuel management delete on it.

If you plan on stripping the motor and doing some head work - then get the garden variety LM7. Find some 243 or 799 heads and get head work done. Slap in a monster cam. Reuse stock bottom. AND ROLL IT.

[clementime56]

Thanks for all the help and advise.

Brandon

[mitch_04]

Check Sioux Falls' Craigslist page, there is a guy that runs a shop called RS Classics. He seems to get Suburban's, Tahoes, etc often and parts them out. I get my replacement panels through him, easy to work with so far. He's on Facebook as well.

I should ask, southern or northern MN?

[clementime56]

Lakeville, MN just south of the twin cities. I will look him up.

Thanks

[Che70velle]

Che70velle, check your messages.

Yes sir. I hit you back.

[Ummgawa]

Thanks Scott! You da man!

[Che70velle]

Glad I could help you out. :thankyou: