I'm looking at 5.3's for my CJ. Anything in particular that I need to stay away from? What about mileage? It will be a crawler but a few hammer downs here and there with the motor.
Flebay good on prices or are there better options?
6.0 is the same beast as the 5.3. But with more displacement and more nuts. 5.3 in a light vehicle is just as good as a 6.0, unless you really wanna go fast.
The 5.3 is a great engine. Look for an L33 which is the only version that is all aluminum and about 75lbs lighter than the iron block version. Its pretty much an LS1 sans 20 CID. Get it with all accessories and throw a Z06 cam in it, valve springs and a tune. It and it will make great power.
The L33 is the only Aluminum Gen III 5.3L. There are several Gen IV 5.3L with aluminum blocks now LC9, LH6, among others... yet most those have AFM/DOD.
Which AFM really isn't that bad you just have to remove the AFM system's and replace the AFM lifters. Just little more work and money.
local yards to me sell them with everything minus alt and a/c for $475. they even inlclude factory harness, fuel lines/rails etc. last one i bought had 110k on it. the 6.0 are a lot higher, cheapest one they have is $1100.
You'll be very happy with the 5.3. Run it stock with wayne's tune. Don't cam it or change heads you'll lose bottom end torque. If all out power is what you want start with a 6.0.
Again, no disappointments with my '02 5.3.:smokin:
I wouldn't say don't change the cam. You have to get the right cam for your application. If you running slow crawling then you can keep the stock cam. If you into mud or wide open running then i would say get a better aftermarket cam or LS6 cam. These motors like to run RPM's that's were the heads shine moving the most air.
Mileage is what you make it. Keep ypur foot out of it and it will be decent. But the problem is with 300hp you tend to keep you foot in it!
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