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New motor or rebuild?

Westonsdas1987

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Westonsdas1987 New Member

Westonsdas1987

Posted
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I have a 99 z71 with vortec 5.3 l with 230000 miles on it. It seems like it is just wore out. Would I be better off having it rebuilt or gettin another motor?

Danthaman69 Enthusiast

Danthaman69

Posted
Posted

6

I have a 99 z71 with vortec 5.3 l with 230000 miles on it. It seems like it is just wore out. Would I be better off having it rebuilt or gettin another motor?

You Could Just Build It And Either Do A Tc Or SC! It's Always Fun Doing That.

Doing A 6.2L Swap Would Be Good Too Or6.0l

Westonsdas1987 New Member

Westonsdas1987

Posted
  • Author
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That motor is not even broken in yet. What are the compression numbers?

I haven't checked compression on it. I've spent good money on complete tune up an it jst doesn't seem like it has the power it should. I've owned a few trucks with the 5.3 and it doesn't match them by far.

ATMINF Enthusiast

ATMINF

Posted
Posted

Depends on your budget and time avaliable. If you have the ability to rebuild it with good parts, and within your budget I say rebuild, or even upgrade to a 6.0l. But if time is short and you want to stay within a budget, a lot of junkyards have low mile 5.3 out there. Buy one slap it in, and boom your done, just in your case make sure you get a 5.3 in the years that are comparable , which I believe is until the 2003 yr. after that I believe they went with the computer controlled TB and other stuff.

Prokopchuk_9 Senior Enthusiast

Prokopchuk_9

Posted
Posted

That motor is not even broken in yet. What are the compression numbers?

230k really won? You don't know the history of the vehicle. I would tend to thinks it's well "broken in"

 

I think you're trolling us all again

Westonsdas1987 New Member

Westonsdas1987

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If I do a swap to 6.0 would there b anything I would have to change? Or is it jst a drop in swap? ECM or bigger radiator etc.

white1500 Senior Enthusiast

white1500

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I think there's a lot of info out there regarding the swap.

 

And I don't think a bigger radiator is required but it will definitely help, along with e-fans. I changed up from the 28" to 34" last summer and definitely feel more at ease even with just a stock engine.

efritz Enthusiast

efritz

Posted
Posted

I wouldn't assume it's dead just yet. You can throw money in the dark or you can compression test it and see if it's the engine or maybe just clogged fuel injectors or bad sensing equipment. My 5.3 has almost 250k on it and has had seen alot of abuse, runs like the day it was new. These motors are easily a 400,000 mile motor.

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

Check the cats first, if it uses a little oil it could be those. I have seen a few of those 5.3s still going strong at 300k

 

 

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KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

Exhaust shop can drill hole before and after cat and gauge it. It happen to me once car wouldn't go over 50. Worth a shot.

 

 

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Mckenzie Senior Enthusiast

Mckenzie

Posted
Posted

Do the compression test as mentioned. My 5.3 with 226K miles on it is still fast as can be and more than able to hold its own

C25A1guy Enthusiast

C25A1guy

Posted
Posted

Compression check first as others have mentioned. If that checks out fine, strong and healthy, and no other mechanical issues, I would suspect that your performance issues are fringe somewhere else. That and it would make for a great time to start making some more power.

 

Sent from five fingers to the face!

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