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4.8 Should I Tune-up Or Get A 5.3?

quban_sailor

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quban_sailor New Member

quban_sailor

Posted
Posted

So here is the thing, I had a 99 5.3L and traded it for a 2000 Sierra because I wanted it black. Then I come to find out it was a 4.8 not a 5.3 :thumbs: Total difference in power!! I read that the HP is actually the same between both but the 5.3 has about +25ft-lbs torque and i can feel it. its hard downgrading.

 

Now my question is, should I do an engine swap (and what would be required to do one) or should i just do some performance mods (ie chip, exhaust,....)?

 

Please help me, I've only owned a truck for a year now. I've always had import cars. Love my GM though.

 

Ford sucks, go GM trucks!! :P

Badshot Enthusiast

Badshot

Posted
Posted
So here is the thing, I had a 99 5.3L and traded it for a 2000 Sierra because I wanted it black. Then I come to find out it was a 4.8 not a 5.3 :thumbs: Total difference in power!! I read that the HP is actually the same between both but the 5.3 has about +25ft-lbs torque and i can feel it. its hard downgrading.

 

Now my question is, should I do an engine swap (and what would be required to do one) or should i just do some performance mods (ie chip, exhaust,....)?

 

Please help me, I've only owned a truck for a year now. I've always had import cars. Love my GM though.

 

Ford sucks, go GM trucks!! :P

 

hmm well, id probably go with the upgrades and not engine swap! you can spend the same amount of money u would on buying a new engine, and put it into mods + make more power then the engine swap. in my opinion. But im new to all this as well, To a certain extent. Dont get me wrong i know a bit about it, just not as much as others on here.

Z'06 Enthusiast

Z'06

Posted
Posted

Go 6.0 or go home. Not worth upgrading to only a 5.3 to which you will wind up doing the same upgrades that you could do on your 4.8.

gmc-6.2 Enthusiast

gmc-6.2

Posted
Posted

6.0 is a joke. Check the for sale section and look at my 6.2L for sale. I beat 5.3's and 6.0's all day long and all I have is a muffler.

Stevens03 Senior Enthusiast

Stevens03

Posted
Posted

I'd try a BB tune and a gear swap if it was me. I'd consider 4.10's and even 4.56's to get that low end torque you want. The tune should help alot as well. Even a higher RPM stall converter would help. One from a Trailblazer would work nice. Another option would be a cam swap. All would get you running better than your old 5.3

 

No engine swap needed unless you have alot of extra cash and time laying around :thumbs:

jro909 Senior Enthusiast

jro909

Posted
Posted

4.8 can be a beast with upgrades...5.3 isen't a huge amount of difference to justify an engine swap...jumping to a 6.0 or 6.2 is overkill

thearborbarber Enthusiast

thearborbarber

Posted
Posted

It was true in the 60's and it's true now. There is no replacement for cubic displacement.

 

If you do decide to swap be sure to get one form the same generation donor vehicle it will save you time and effort in the long run. GM made advancement in sensors mainly the reluctor wheel on the crank, drive by wire ect. You can upgrade computer and wiring harness but it's an easier plug and play if you can find one from the same year.

quban_sailor New Member

quban_sailor

Posted
  • Author
Posted

wow, lot of different responses. Thanks guys. I should also state that the main reason for this is not for racing or anything. I just want to feel that power i had before and get some more while im at it, all the while try to maintain a good mpg average. It feels to me like the 4.8 works harder and is less efficient than the 5.3. I have no experiance with the 6L.

 

With those of you that say to tune it up, what is the best cost-effective route? i've havent seen/heard of a particularly good tuner. Would a tune really close the gap to a 5.3 range of power or better?

 

those that say engine. would swapping the rods and piston be a good idea considering its the same block and bore just different stroke? And will a 6L fit into a 2000 sierra?

thearborbarber Enthusiast

thearborbarber

Posted
Posted

All the LS series small blocks have the same exterior dimensions. So a 4.8, 5.3, 5.7, 6.0, 6.2 all look the same on the outside. If you just want to wake up your 4.8. A mild cam and pcm tune would make you very happy.

quban_sailor New Member

quban_sailor

Posted
  • Author
Posted

What kinda cams would you recommend? Yeah, the blower would be sweet but not trying to spend that kinda cash, lol.

Honestly, not looking at spending more than a grand or so on everything.

Z'06 Enthusiast

Z'06

Posted
Posted
6.0 is a joke. Check the for sale section and look at my 6.2L for sale. I beat 5.3's and 6.0's all day long and all I have is a muffler.

 

Whatever. See thearborbarber's response below (emphasis added), which offers the most simplicity for the OP.

 

It was true in the 60's and it's true now. There is no replacement for cubic displacement.

 

If you do decide to swap be sure to get one form the same generation donor vehicle it will save you time and effort in the long run. GM made advancement in sensors mainly the reluctor wheel on the crank, drive by wire ect. You can upgrade computer and wiring harness but it's an easier plug and play if you can find one from the same year.

 

For the OP, I've read on forums like PerformanceTrucks.net that 4.8 guys are having a lot of luck with the tried and true 212/218 low lift cam that Comp Cams grinds. An advantage is that you can still use your stock torque converter and you can drive it with the stock tune, although a custom PCM tune by someone like Black Bear or Wheatley will optimize it for the most power.

 

If you do a cam swap, plan on hardened pushrods and upgraded valve springs (yellow LS6 springs would be perfect for that cam).

 

jro909 mentioned gears. If your tires are in the 31" to 33" range, consider 4.10 gears.

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted

Are you on glue?

The difference in the 5.3 and the 4.8L are so small that only a real dyno can measure them. I've driven both, and I cant tell.

 

If you have a large difference in power, you probably got one with 3.42 gears and your 5.3 had 3.73 gears. You would never be able to notice 25 or less ft-lbs, unless you were timing your 0-60, 60fts, or 1/4 mile.

 

Tune it and it will be much quicker than your 5.3 was.

quban_sailor New Member

quban_sailor

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The thing that I believe is making the most difference is probably that on my 5.3 i had stock 245/70/16 tires but current 4.8 is riding on LT285/70/17 tires. I would imagine that the power lag I'm feeling may have something to do with that but was almost sure it was the different engine size.

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