Rebuilt or just heads?

[gapost]

Getting ready to replace the head gaskets on my son's 05 Sierra Crew cab 5.3 (about 215,000 miles) Of course, we will get the heads checked and cleaned and new valve seals. He wants to upgrade his cam and I've done a lot of reading had have a couple of questions. We plan on getting a cam kit from someplace like Texas Speed, but still not sure which cam. I've read that the 212/218 high lift would be good for this truck. Will talk to them when I get a chance.

 

1. If I get the kit with the cam, springs, pushrods, should I replace anything else like the timing chain, lifters or oil pump? I've heard mixed opinions on that.

 

2. Once I get is back together, he is going to get it tuned, probably from someplace like black bear. Does it have to be tuned right away, or can he go home (600 miles) and get it done? Should it be custom or just a stock tune?

 

3. Is this the best option to get a bit more performance out of his truck, considering that we are already doing the heads and were going to pull the oil pan and clean it anyhow?

[txab]

If it were me and I was doing as much as you're hinting at.... I'd do a full rebuild at 215k. Also custom tune only way to go. have you thought about tuning before all the other?

[gapost]

^{Thank you. Really, full rebuild? Like pistons and rings and bearings? What would you consider full? It's not burning oil or making noise. And, I don't think we want to tune it yet, because we will do the work in just a few weeks. Wouldn't it be better to wait until we did the work then tune it?}

[txab]

I should have asked, how long are looking to keep this truck? How much performance? A tune will wake them up some and satisfies lots of people. Now if you're going to be ripping and racing.... better beef up that 4L60E 'cause it will be toast

[gapost]

I think he plans to keep it for a while still. It's not for racing, just relatively normal driving around DC and just a step up in performance. Ok, I was looking at the master re-build kits and that may not be a bad idea to go that route. So maybe re-do the heads, install the new cam, do a master re-build kit and custom tune. Or maybe cut costs and use the old cam and parts. Of course, with that many miles, I wonder how long the tranny will last.

[Carder09]

Tranny is probably running on its last life. Adding that cam and tune, then your son doing some burn outs or hauling the mail will more than likely result in the tranny to fail. Like txab said, might want to go ahead and rebuild everything if you or your son plan to keep the truck for awhile.

[gapost]

Ok. Well, I'm going to have him get to a tune/dyno shop and get a tune before we do anything. That will give us a good idea of what he has and what we should do. Anyone know a good shop in the N. VA/DC area?

[Danthaman69]

Getting ready to replace the head gaskets on my son's 05 Sierra Crew cab 5.3 (about 215,000 miles) Of course, we will get the heads checked and cleaned and new valve seals. He wants to upgrade his cam and I've done a lot of reading had have a couple of questions. We plan on getting a cam kit from someplace like Texas Speed, but still not sure which cam. I've read that the 212/218 high lift would be good for this truck. Will talk to them when I get a chance.

 

1. If I get the kit with the cam, springs, pushrods, should I replace anything else like the timing chain, lifters or oil pump? I've heard mixed opinions on that.

 

2. Once I get is back together, he is going to get it tuned, probably from someplace like black bear. Does it have to be tuned right away, or can he go home (600 miles) and get it done? Should it be custom or just a stock tune?

 

3. Is this the best option to get a bit more performance out of his truck, considering that we are already doing the

 

 

 

 

I would put timing chain and oil pump in it with 215k. Rebuild engine would be a good idea. Transmission new or rebuilt? To get best HP and tq get long tube headers straight exhaust or hi flow cats. Get it tune right away when you do the can swap. Been down this road already. Texas speed are some great ppl to deal with. They also do mail order tunes!!

heads and were going to pull the oil pan and clean it anyhow?

[Danthaman69]

Let me know if you need more info. I done this to my camaro and helped my Buddy's out.

[gapost]

Thanks for the help guys. Yes, I was going to pull the oil pan anyhow. And the tranny is original.

[Charlie5280]

I would put timing chain and oil pump in it with 215k. Rebuild engine would be a good idea. Transmission new or rebuilt? To get best HP and tq get long tube headers straight exhaust or hi flow cats. Get it tune right away when you do the can swap. Been down this road already. Texas speed are some great ppl to deal with. They also do mail order tunes!!

heads and were going to pull the oil pan and clean it anyhow?

This. Long tubes and a set of heads with a good cam will do more then anything you find.

Lots of great parts from take off LS6's available out there on the cheap.

 

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

Call Texas Speed, they will ask what vehicle you have, what mods you have or are planning and what you plan on doing with it. Matching the cam to what you have is very important to getting the most out of your build. Do not tune before, unless you are planning on just going with a tune instead of the cam. I say this to save you 300-400 bucks because you will just have to do it again after the cam. If truck is not burning oil and seems to still have a pretty sound motor, then I would do like you were going to and freshen the heads, guides have to be loose, and you will want new valve springs. I would also do like another poster said, change oil pump and timing set. I wouldn't do anything to tranny until it needs it. You might think about picking one up at salvage yard and having it built by putting in some of the hard parts that are known for failure in the 4L60, like sun shell, planetary and upgrade the servo to the corvette style which will give much firmer shifts.

There will not be a lot to choose from that will work with what you have so do your homework and I think a good talk with Texas Speed will help you with your decision. You might even call Crane and Comp Cams (who also does Texas Speeds custom grinds)

[gapost]

Ok guys, I am still trying to decide what to do with my son's 5.3l in his 05 4x4 Sierra. Right now, it has bad head gaskets and it leaking a little coolant into a cylinder or two (white smoke on start up and loosing coolant. Yes, I am very familiar with Castech heads and that is not the problem.) The truck is in nice shape and has about 210,000 miles on original engine and tranny. My options are to re-do the heads, about $800 for parts and headwork. I've done 5.3 heads and it's not a big deal for me. I'm now considering a rebuilt engine (thought about re-building it) as they are about $2200.

 

So, what would the general consensus be? The truck burns a little oil (1-2 qts over 5000-6000 miles), not a lot between oil changes. I'd be a little concerned that if we replace the engine, the old tranny may be stressed and go. Not sure the life-expectancy on these trannies. I know that used is an option, but it's hard to really know what you are getting with a used one. Also, how hard is it to replace the engine with a 4x4 vs a 2wd?

 

Oh, and could the leaking coolant have ruined one or more cylinders?

[Carder09]

Might as well do a rebuild. Also, tranny is probably on its last leg. It would be best to rebuild it too.

[desrtrat]

i would re build the motor, with that many miles on it. are you getting coolant in the oil? what condition is the body, interior like. if in good shape, it may be worth to spend about $4K on motor and trans rebuild, and you may get another 200,000 miles..

 

good luck