5.3 donor motor preferred year range

[Shebrolet]

Anyone have any input on what year model 5.3L gm motor would be best suited to swap into my 98 OBS? Just curious if any particular year range is better than others. I'm very unfamiliar with the intricacies of the 5.3's, I know little about them. Thanks in advance for any feedback you can provide to this noob.

 

[94burbk1500]

Here's some info on the various 5.3 motors. L33 would be my preferred choice, but they're all pretty close in performance and reliability. Hell, I've seen some LR4 (4.8) motors with some serious power, and they respond to boost very well. If you're keeping the engine stock, any one would be decent choice.

https://help.summitracing.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4816

https://help.summitracing.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4821/~/intro-to-the-lm4-and-l33

 

[Shebrolet]

Thank you very much! I'll do some digging into those links. Really appreciate the feedback!

 

[Shebrolet]

with consideration to transmissions, mine being a 2wd 4l60e, does that present any known issues in mating to the L33 engine? The link states the L33 was only available in 1/2 ton 4x4 equipped silverados/sierras. Not sure if there's going to be any significant difference between 2wd and 4wd configurations that might need additional parts/modifications for the 98 4l60e to pair up to the engine.

Please forgive the ignorant question, I'm just a bit clueless. Thanks again for any and all feedback.

 

[94burbk1500]

with consideration to transmissions, mine being a 2wd 4l60e, does that present any known issues in mating to the L33 engine? The link states the L33 was only available in 1/2 ton 4x4 equipped silverados/sierras. Not sure if there's going to be any significant difference between 2wd and 4wd configurations that might need additional parts/modifications for the 98 4l60e to pair up to the engine.

Please forgive the ignorant question, I'm just a bit clueless. Thanks again for any and all feedback.

I think they used the 4L60E up until 2012, but the bell housing would be different for an LS. I'm pretty sure you can bolt one right up the way it is, but one or two of the holes won't line up. Though an L33 would eat a stock 20 year old 4L60E for lunch.

 

[Anubis]

with consideration to transmissions, mine being a 2wd 4l60e, does that present any known issues in mating to the L33 engine? The link states the L33 was only available in 1/2 ton 4x4 equipped silverados/sierras. Not sure if there's going to be any significant difference between 2wd and 4wd configurations that might need additional parts/modifications for the 98 4l60e to pair up to the engine.

Please forgive the ignorant question, I'm just a bit clueless. Thanks again for any and all feedback.

2005 or newer 5.3's had better rods and will take more boost. I got my 2004 for free and will limit the boost to 650 whp. All 5.3's are stout in stock form and will take a lot of abuse. The 4L60 will be OK behind a stock 5.3 but wouldn't be my first choice. Because yours is older, it is missing the center top bolt. A better choice would be a 99 or newer 4L80e.

 

[Shebrolet]

Thanks for the feedback, yall!

My intention is to keep the 5.3 relatively, if not ALL stock. I'm just wanting the performance upgrade over my old, tired 200k+ miles 5.7 and the reliability as well.

Hoping to find a complete donor truck when the time comes, that way I can utilize the engine AND transmission. My current 4l60e was recently replaced with a reman unit at the Chevy Dealership when the old one took a dump on me.

 

[94burbk1500]

Thanks for the feedback, yall!

My intention is to keep the 5.3 relatively, if not ALL stock. I'm just wanting the performance upgrade over my old, tired 200k+ miles 5.7 and the reliability as well.

Hoping to find a complete donor truck when the time comes, that way I can utilize the engine AND transmission. My current 4l60e was recently replaced with a reman unit at the Chevy Dealership when the old one took a dump on me.

It's just so tempting to put a cam and LS6 springs with a new tune in a 5.3, you can get 100HP gains from that alone!

 

[brianmcb]

Though an L33 would eat a stock 20 year old 4L60E for lunch.

That's what they said 3 years ago about my cammed L33 with an nv3500. Still no problems, and even still running the 280,000km clutch from the v6 [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]


95 rcsb, L33 5.3, hot cam, hp tuners, 4/6 drop

 

[94burbk1500]

That's what they said 3 years ago about my cammed L33 with an nv3500. Still no problems, and even still running the 280,000km clutch from the v6 [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]


95 rcsb, L33 5.3, hot cam, hp tuners, 4/6 drop

How hard do you run it? You slamming gears and smoking tires a lot?