Mark IV big block VS 6.0 or 5.3?

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12-12-2008, 06:47 PM
1965C-10

Mark IV big block VS 6.0 or 5.3?

Hi, my name is Mike, this is my first post here.

Anyway I have a 1965 Chevy truck shortbed fleetside, it's a real fixer upper with rust and lots of body damage, it had a small block and TH350, I put in what I thought was a 454 but turned out to be 396 and TH400 over 4 years ago.

I've been thinking of a 6.0 and 4l60-E, or even just a 5.3 & 4L60-E, I like power, but reliability and MPG are very important to me.

By the way, the big block is'nt that great, as far as I know it's stock, and it really made the truck front heavy.

I'm debating whether to keep the 396 and get a rebuilt 700-R4 to get better MPG and hiway cruising than the TH400 (3.73 rear gears), or swap out to a low mileage Vortec 6.0 or 5.3 and 4L60-E.

I've been searching craiglist for 6.0 amd 5.3, but everybody wants big bucks for stuff with high mileage, maybe that's the wrong place to look.

Hmm, how much should a late model engine/trans with all accecories, with computer and harness cost?
12-12-2008, 07:09 PM
farmtruc

You should be able to get a complete 5.3L for under $1500, easily.
I picked up two slightly damaged 5.3L HO aluminum complete engines for cheap!!!
Just had to weld the aluminum a/c mount boss back on.
The other had a damaged head, but i have plenty of those here.

Keep looking, call Snyders, they have good deals.
12-12-2008, 07:14 PM
1965C-10

Who is Snyder's, do you have a contact for them?

Thanks, Mike
12-12-2008, 11:08 PM
GasGuzzler

I'll broker you an LS and you give me the 396. No one here likes them anyway.

:tvhaha:
12-13-2008, 12:14 PM
farmtruc

1-800-460-8025 ext.115
12-13-2008, 12:17 PM
Lsx10

you should be able to find a complete 5.3 with acc and trans for between $1000 and $1500, the 6.0 will cost you around 500 more, though some people thing the extra 40 cubes makes the value double. just keep looking, it too me a while to find my 6.0.

oh and a cam/head combo on that 6.0 will put you at more hp/tq then the 396, with double the mileage and more reliability.
12-13-2008, 12:47 PM
banker099

5.3's are cheap...i got mine with the harness and pcm for 750...dakota auto parts in arlington
12-13-2008, 01:32 PM
Justin_Inc

Quote:

Originally Posted by banker099

5.3's are cheap...i got mine with the harness and pcm for 750...dakota auto parts in arlington

dammmn wish i could get deals like that locally, everyone wants an arm and a leg around here for 5.3/6.0's....
12-13-2008, 09:01 PM
Lsx10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin_Inc

dammmn wish i could get deals like that locally, everyone wants an arm and a leg around here for 5.3/6.0's....

there is a 6.0 by me for 1400 with acc, harness, and 4l80e with 21,000 on it

there were 4 5.3's in pheonix for under $500 when I was looking for my engine.
12-13-2008, 10:56 PM
k10shortbox

I got my 5.3 with computer harness and all of the accessories for $300 and it only has 75,000 miles on it so deals are out there just have to look around for awhile.
12-14-2008, 06:27 PM
midevil1

Well, I put a Musi 502 in my 67 C-10. It made a measley 640rwhp. Lets see a 6.0 or 5.3 do that on 93 octane with no power adder. I would like to see it even with a power adder.LOL. I like my 5.3RC BTW. I just bought an aluminum 5.3 for 350.00 it only had 40,000 miles on it. I kicked around the idea of putting an LS motor in my Pro truck. Nothing makes em shake in the booties like a BB. Especially one that NOW has Twin 88's on it!
12-15-2008, 12:01 AM
Lsx10

Quote:

Originally Posted by midevil1

Well, I put a Musi 502 in my 67 C-10. It made a measley 640rwhp. Lets see a 6.0 or 5.3 do that on 93 octane with no power adder. I would like to see it even with a power adder.LOL. I like my 5.3RC BTW. I just bought an aluminum 5.3 for 350.00 it only had 40,000 miles on it. I kicked around the idea of putting an LS motor in my Pro truck. Nothing makes em shake in the booties like a BB. Especially one that NOW has Twin 88's on it!

a 502 is not a 396, and the 364 6.0 will easily out perform the 396. the extra 32 cubes is quite a bit, but the gen 3 motors are more efficient. it will take less to get the 6.0 to 400+rwhp then the 396.

I know the 396 can be punched out, given a roller cam blah blah blah. but a 396 vs. 6.0 the 6.0 is a better engine any day. as far as the bb being intimidating, i've seen alot of loud intimidating cars get killed by 5.0 stangs and ls1/lt1 f-bodies. then they just seemed loud.

To the OP
do what you will be proud of owning when its done. the bb is old school and is a beast, the 6.0 is updated and is a beast, the 5.3 is a cruiser that will get you good milage to shows/cruise nights, the ls1 is updated and more costly then any of the other options.
12-15-2008, 12:04 AM
George C

Quote:

Originally Posted by midevil1

Well, I put a Musi 502 in my 67 C-10. It made a measley 640rwhp. Lets see a 6.0 or 5.3 do that on 93 octane with no power adder. I would like to see it even with a power adder.LOL. I like my 5.3RC BTW. I just bought an aluminum 5.3 for 350.00 it only had 40,000 miles on it. I kicked around the idea of putting an LS motor in my Pro truck. Nothing makes em shake in the booties like a BB. Especially one that NOW has Twin 88's on it!

you take your Musi 502 vs a SAM 500 and lets see who makes more power

if you dont know what a SAM 500 is its a 6.0 that SAM has done work to

and when i say 500 i do mean 500ci
12-16-2008, 02:28 PM
1965C-10

Well, I like the idea of a roller cam, and the coil packs are cool, plus it would already have fuel injection.

6.0 it is!

By the way, how much more would a 6.2 like from a Escalade cost?
12-16-2008, 05:13 PM
GasGuzzler

A lot more right now.
12-16-2008, 10:30 PM
midevil1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quik

you take your Musi 502 vs a SAM 500 and lets see who makes more power

if you dont know what a SAM 500 is its a 6.0 that SAM has done work to

and when i say 500 i do mean 500ci

Well, Considering my 502 has now passed the Cummins in the HP dept. I will be around every local dragstrip in Houston after Jan 15th. (like I always am) I put the Goodyears on and I can run the "SAM500" on some of my test passes. I know my 502 is making well over 1000rwhp but have not tuned the suspension for the new power, so now would be the time to beat an Old School BBC.

The old tow truck likes to race too, but doesn't get to race much. No one likes losing to an 8000lb truck. :)

I like my LS motor, but I know what gets the job done "CONSISTENTLY."
12-18-2008, 12:24 PM
Lsx10

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1965C-10

Well, I like the idea of a roller cam, and the coil packs are cool, plus it would already have fuel injection.

6.0 it is!

By the way, how much more would a 6.2 like from a Escalade cost?

it would be alot, and even more to upgrade, the vvt cams cost there wieght in gold right now. if you want something bigger then a 6.0 I would just build a 383 ls1(6.3).

Greg
12-18-2008, 02:10 PM
1965C-10

I've read about 408, is that a 6.0 block with a stroker crank?

How about that with the L92 heads and LS3 intake & throttle body, make some pretty decent power?
12-18-2008, 02:15 PM
RedHeartbeat

402 is a 4" stroke in a stock 4" bore 6L block. 408 is 4.03" bore with 4" stroke.
12-19-2008, 12:20 AM
Lsx10

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1965C-10

I've read about 408, is that a 6.0 block with a stroker crank?

How about that with the L92 heads and LS3 intake & throttle body, make some pretty decent power?

should make great power, I would love to be able to build a 408. but all my money gets sucked into my house.

Greg
12-19-2008, 02:29 AM
2k5Squirrel

Quote:

Originally Posted by midevil1

Well, I put a Musi 502 in my 67 C-10. It made a measley 640rwhp. Lets see a 6.0 or 5.3 do that on 93 octane with no power adder. I would like to see it even with a power adder.LOL. I like my 5.3RC BTW. I just bought an aluminum 5.3 for 350.00 it only had 40,000 miles on it. I kicked around the idea of putting an LS motor in my Pro truck. Nothing makes em shake in the booties like a BB. Especially one that NOW has Twin 88's on it!

i'd like to see your Musi 502 run a 10.xx in Houston then drive to SA and run a 10.xx and then back to Houston for another 10.xx all in one day!
12-19-2008, 08:20 AM
Cherub

Quote:

Originally Posted by midevil1

Well, Considering my 502 has now passed the Cummins in the HP dept. I will be around every local dragstrip in Houston after Jan 15th. (like I always am) I put the Goodyears on and I can run the "SAM500" on some of my test passes. I know my 502 is making well over 1000rwhp but have not tuned the suspension for the new power, so now would be the time to beat an Old School BBC.

The old tow truck likes to race too, but doesn't get to race much. No one likes losing to an 8000lb truck. :)

I like my LS motor, but I know what gets the job done "CONSISTENTLY."

Quote:

Originally Posted by midevil1

Well, I put a Musi 502 in my 67 C-10. It made a measley 640rwhp. Lets see a 6.0 or 5.3 do that on 93 octane with no power adder. I would like to see it even with a power adder.LOL. I like my 5.3RC BTW. I just bought an aluminum 5.3 for 350.00 it only had 40,000 miles on it. I kicked around the idea of putting an LS motor in my Pro truck. Nothing makes em shake in the booties like a BB. Especially one that NOW has Twin 88's on it!

:spit:
12-19-2008, 02:38 PM
SLO TRUCK

502 is sweet but i guess you havent been around this fourm long and seen some of the numbers that people are putting on stock bottom ends. Much less the few guys that are forged.
12-27-2008, 02:45 PM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by murdered_outgmc

502 is sweet but i guess you havent been around this fourm long and seen some of the numbers that people are putting on stock bottom ends. Much less the few guys that are forged.

You didnt mention all the guys with plain old H/C/I running in the 11s and low 12s on 5.3s and 6.0s.

Oh, and then there's the turbo guys running 9s and 10s.