Couple Grand for 5.3 mods...What to do?

As in my signature, what would you all think I should do for upcoming mods?
Header, Cam, Stage 2 Heads?

Thanks for your input, everyone!

cough...radix...cough

I wish! I said a couple grand....not $6,000!

Hey, you know what I already said, LOL.

Couple of grand, 6L time or LS1 :thumb:

We'll see what the other guys say.


see ya,

allen

How about a set of AirResearch heads and a quality set of tubular headers. With gaskets and all that should eat up all of the $2000.

I'd probably do cam, headers, pulley, and stall. I've got a 6.0 shortblock out of an 02 Escalde that has spun some bearings. My buddie just gave it to me. :cool: Haven't got the pan off yet, but if I had $2000, I would go through the 6.0, pull the 5.3, and slap it in. :thumb:

Bruce

Hardtop, that's what I like to hear...lol!
Can 6.0 swap be done for $2000?
Cant I use most of my existing motor accessories?

Quote:

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Originally posted by bmbutler@Mar 13 2004, 07:06 AM
Hardtop, that's what I like to hear...lol!
Can 6.0 swap be done for $2000?
Cant I use most of my existing motor accessories?

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Not sure if you could swap a 6.0 for $2000. Depends on what you could get the 6.0 for, and if it needs anything. I got my short block for free, and have the stock heads off my Z/28. Cylinder walls look good, but the crank will probably have to be turned, and the block align honed. I think the 5.3 would run darn good with a cam, and all the bolt ons. I'm keeping my 6.0 for a future project. :thumb:


Bruce

I wish I could do a LS1 type conversion for $2000. I would go into business doing them all day long but then again before long the LS1 conversion will be old news and everyone will want the HEMI or the LS2 conversion or the new LS2 that shuts down to 4 cylinders for fuel conservation and run the throttle body electronically instead of by cable. :duh:

I believe I am somewhere above $3000 on my conversion and I started out with a rebuildable engine. Gaskets sets are really expensive when you rebuild one of these engines. I bought mine through Scoggins-Dickey since they had a package deal instead of having to buy them one gasket at a time. They also supplied bearings for the cam and reground crank. Got new GM piston rings off Ebay for $100, good deal there. Basic long block with intake, injectors, fuel rail and water pump set me back $1000. Wiring harness $175. Got the PCM for $58 but having it customized by Allen is adding to the total. Being burned by Dynatech Motorsports to customize my harness screwed my total up another $360 for nothing. Since LS1 type cracked rods are not rebuildable I had to purchase a couple more but got a set of some good used ones off ebay for $90.

As you can see I have not gone hog-wild on this project and the total is getting up there. It helps to hear it run now and again just to let me know it's worth the trouble I've been through, even though at this time the VATS only lets me run it a second at a time.

Get Allen to remove the VATS and do some tuning. It will be money well spent.