Are all 5.3's the Same?

[Camar068]

Are the later 5.3's all the same? I understand there's a few variances to the heads. I have a buddy that may trade me a 99 truck with a 5.3 in it for my 94 k2500 that has engine/trans issues.

Are the older one's as good as the newer ones? Of course it may need rebuilt due to it's age. The plan is to go fuel injected.

Thanks In Advance

 

[Old77]

I'd personally rather have an older one so you don't have to jack with the AFM/DOD lifters

 

[Camar068]

I'll read up on that, does it matter regarding the lifters that I plan to keep it fuel injected? thanks for mentioning it as I haven't come across it yet in my intense reading. I would like to be able to do the swap in a weekend as it's my daily driver. LOL.

 

[Old77]

The issue with the AFM/DOD lifters on the later 5.3s is they like to fail regardless if you're running carb or FI. With that said, if you get a later model 5.3 you can always convert them to the standard lifter. So find the best deal and grab it. I'm just giving you info so that you are aware as you are looking.

 

[Camar068]

Thanks Old, This type of info is exactly what I'm looking for. Keep the info coming and I'll keep searching in the mean time.

Cheers M8

 

[Driver4r]

If your planning on rebuilding it, I would look for a set of 4.8 pistons. It should pep it up a bit more. Reason being, the 4.8's are a flat top piston, and compared to the dish's that the 5.3's come with, will help performance drastically. Piston bore and pin height is the exact same, its a direct swap(pistons only)

 

[Camar068]

So it would still be a 5.3 with the 4.8 pistons? I'm trying to imagine dish vs flat, but I think I'm doing it in the wrong manner. Wouldnt that change the displacement? Sorry I'm far from an expert at rebuilding (only built 1 chevy 350) and I've read something about the 4.8's that pushed me away from them very quickly.


No offense intended and please excuse my ignorance.

Thanks

 

[Driver4r]

So it would still be a 5.3 with the 4.8 pistons? I'm trying to imagine dish vs flat, but I think I'm doing it in the wrong manner. Wouldnt that change the displacement? Sorry I'm far from an expert at rebuilding (only built 1 chevy 350) and I've read something about the 4.8's that pushed me away from them very quickly.


No offense intended and please excuse my ignorance.

Thanks

they share the same pistons/bore. What was different between the 2 was the stroke.

 

[Old77]

If your planning on rebuilding it, I would look for a set of 4.8 pistons. It should pep it up a bit more. Reason being, the 4.8's are a flat top piston, and compared to the dish's that the 5.3's come with, will help performance drastically. Piston bore and pin height is the exact same, its a direct swap(pistons only)

they share the same pistons/bore. What was different between the 2 was the stroke.

these two posts are contradicting they are....

 

[Camar068]

oi......where's that hammer to head smiley emoticon when you need it LOL. duh-d-d-duh

edit: I think I follow ya

 

[Driver4r]

ok, let me clarify XD. THEY ARE THE SAME SIZE/BORE. Whats different is the pistons compression surface.
4.8's=Flat-top
5.3's=Dish

the crank/rods were different, the pistons bore/pin height are NOT.

Does that help???

 

[Old77]

If we are going to start talking about pistons here's a good link
http://m.performancetrucks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=431486&page=3

What are the purposes that you'll use the truck for? Unless you're planning on building your truck for performance and plan on doing other engine mods to produce more performance gains I wouldn't even bother with things like changing pistons but that's just me.

 

[Cowboy Cadillac]

The older 5.3s are great for swaps as they are cable operated throttle bodys. The 243 heads are the ones to look for. The 4.8 pistons do fit the 5.3, they use them in the H.O. 5.3(L33), it ups your compression to 11:1 Iirc.

 

[bucket]

ok, let me clarify XD. THEY ARE THE SAME SIZE/BORE. Whats different is the pistons compression surface.
4.8's=Flat-top
5.3's=Dish

the crank/rods were different, the pistons bore/pin height are NOT.

Does that help???

This only works because the shorter rod makes up for the longer stroke. The pistons are the same except one has a flat top and the other is dished. I know you know that, just clarifying for others that might be confused like I was at first.

 

[Driver4r]

The older 5.3s are great for swaps as they are cable operated throttle bodys. The 243 heads are the ones to look for. The 4.8 pistons do fit the 5.3, they use them in the H.O. 5.3(L33), it ups your compression to 11:1 Iirc.

Depending on your heads also. Alot of people are getting 10.3:1.