I picked up a low mile 02 5.3L today, wasn't planning on buying one but ran into a hell of a deal. So I'm gonna toss this engine in my 87 camaro. How well do these engines run, performance wise, with a cam and bolt ons compared to a 350 SBC? I'll be running a LSX T-56 trans... Anyone have track times or raced the 4th gen LS1 cars to compare?

 

My friend has a stock 100k mile 5.3, with only a ls6 cam. No track times yet, but was 301 HP at the rear tire through a 4l60e.

 

That's about what you need to break into 12s assuming you have suspension / tire
And with t56 you can manage up too 30mpg also

If your just want 5.3 and cam ill say skip ls6 cam 5.3 and get a aftermarket cam and see more gains and add a ls6 intake and tune

lsx is like an Apple Product it responds well user friendly and there's a app for that "cam for that"

Sbc is like a Microsoft Products it responds well but you always have to upgrade chips and boards and programs etc etc and then assuming you did your home work and dont forget the maintence"anti virus etc etc" then you will have a beast of a machine

Both have pros and cons and I'm not banging on sbc guys im a fan of anything chevy it just takes a lot more to achieve the same and I respect guys sticking to sbc

You will be happy tho

Look at his threads
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...tm-winner.html

 

Just ran my 147k mile stock long block 5.3 with a off shelf edelbrock cam, carbed with a heavy 4l80 and 12 bolt. Tight 4000 converter and 4.30s went 7.7 in the 1/8th at near 91 mph. That's a low 12 sec pass and there is more left in it with a slacking 1.75 60 foot time.

 

Wow! That's a motivator for me, sounds like your car runs really good. Seems like these LM7's run good with a cam in a third gen. Better than a
L-98 anyway, plus there is more room for performance compared to a SBC.

 

They come out swinging harder than a sbc because of all the updates. I still have not even played with the tune on this 5.3.

Runs on 87 octane as well. Lol. 7000 rpm just sounds too good.

 

Yeah, I tossed all kinds of mods at my L-98 and wasn't impressed. Of course I went from a 2001 SS with a heads and cam package to a L-98. So no comparison... but I think a 5.3L with a cam, LT's and M6 trans will be fun to drive in my IROC. Definitely faster than it was... plus I can toss on a turbo setup in the future and make some good numbers. Looking forward to this project...

 

that was great

 

Reading it again made me laugh lol

I was planning 5.3 for a much later goal due to there kinda hard to find for me I had no hook ups and the 6.0 and 5.3 are more expensive than the ls1 I've found and kinda mistakenly found my ls1 drop out only because I thought he was the guy "mechanic" that stole and parted out my 89 RS and came to surprise it wasn't him same name and everything weird


And to the OP what are the plans for the engine

 

My plans are to install a cam, gonna call Comp and get a grind recommendation first. I'm also going to pick up a set of the 5.3L stage II heads from Texas Speed, LS6 intake, LT headers with an ORY and my Magnaflow exhaust. I also have a 150 shot wet kit, Harris Speed Works, that came out of my 2001 SS that I'm going to install. Should be stout enough for a while. Eventually I'm going to get a LSX stroker motor but thats later on down ther road when finances aren't so tight.

 

im contemplating on getting a nitrous kit myself idk was think 150 also
i might go stroker in future thats why i only did a hone a re ring as you can only bore so much with the ls1 before new block or resleeving unless i find a lq9 that doesnt cost a arm and a leg

try talking to Pat G "EPS" and or Predator over on ls1tech or Futral ..if your looking for a custom cam nice to have options i didnt really bother with Comp cam tho put you prob already knwo that since you had a SS

looks like a fun build planned

 

Just ordered that GMPP muscle car LS swap oil pan kit from Jegs. Looks to be the same oil pan used on the LS f-bodies. Anyone else used this kit? It was only $145.00 with the windage tray, pickup tube, dipstick, bolts, gasket and oil pan. Seems like one hell of a deal to me.

 

Don't know anyone who has used the musclecar pan kit. My friend Bruce did a 5.3 swap I to a 79 Gbody Malibu..... He used a "LH8" pan and it fits his kmember nicely. Although not a thirdgen, the kmembers do appear to be constructed almost identically. The LH8 was a 5.3 engine they out into Chevy colorados.

 

Here is a pic of the motor in the back of my truck. Its actually an 04 model, has the electronic throttle body. I'm pretty sure this still has the 24x reluctor wheel on the crank. That didn't change till later on did it? I got lucky on this one, its low miles and they threw in the computer, all belt driven accessories and uncut wiring harness. Guess I'll keep the truck stuff to use on my 02 Silverado in case I ever need it. Going LS1 for the intake and accessories... Wish I could use this computer and harness though...

 

Forgot to attach the pic...

 

I had the giggle gas on my 2001 SS and loved it... It's very addictive. Just make sure you buy all the safety gear to go with it, nitrous controller, wide band, etc... I've thought about doing a turbo setup on this car but I want to retain my A/C and not hack up anything. So I might not... May just buy a Magnacharger and boost it that way. We'll see.. lol