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4.8 to 5.3 swap, anyone done this?

BLACK DEATH
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BLACK DEATH Enthusiast

BLACK DEATH

Posted
Posted

Thinking of swapping engines out on my 01 truck.

Engine is an 04 5.3 so no issues with anything long block wise.

I know the PCM would need a 5.3 tune for the swap also.

I know going to a 6.0 would be great but the 6.0 I have is going into my 69 Camaro.

 

So has anyone swapped from a 4.8 to a 5.3? Was it worth it?

phwe9774 Enthusiast

phwe9774

Posted
Posted

I have an 04 with the 5.3 and my buddy has an 03 with the 4.8. I don't know what you want to accomplish with the 5.3, but there isn't enough of a power or torque difference to justify the swap for me. I want to say there's only a couple hundred lbs difference in the torque rating between the two. Plus the 4.8 gets a couple extra MPG for nearly the same performance. Only difference I've noticed is on dirt or gravel or towing on extremely steep hills. But again, it's not enough of a difference to convince me to do it

Chris Senior Enthusiast

Chris

Posted
Posted

The difference is he has the engine and i am guessing the 4.8 is getting worn out. And yes it will work. Swap out the long block. You reuse your intake manifold, throttle body, and fuel setup. Then retune

  • Like 1
PJB1972 Enthusiast

PJB1972

Posted
Posted

So has anyone swapped from a 4.8 to a 5.3? Was it worth it?

I had a 4.8 that was leaking coolant into the oil... I was short on cash at the time and couldn't upgrade the trans too so I swapped in a junkyard 5.3.

Used the intake and everything that came on the 5.3... Didn't even change the tune.

Fired up on the first try and has been running for 3 years.

Power difference is SLIGHTLY noticeable, would likely be better with a tune... But now I have the 6.0L itch... So...

PJB1972 Enthusiast

PJB1972

Posted
Posted (edited)

I want to say there's only a couple hundred lbs difference in the torque rating between the two.

Hell, that's worth a swap in my opinion!

lol

 

For the record, depending on the year/version it's about 40 lb-ft

Edited by PJB1972
phwe9774 Enthusiast

phwe9774

Posted
Posted

Thanks for that. Thinking about it now, I'd swap them out for a couple hundred lbs haha wasn't thinking for a minute. 20-40 lbs is what I was thinking.

 

Point being, not worth a swap for me unless you have major problems with the 4.8

  • Like 1
PJB1972 Enthusiast

PJB1972

Posted
Posted (edited)

Point being, not worth a swap for me unless you have major problems with the 4.8

Certainly not worth the money/time/effort unless you've got to replace it for another reason in the first place.

Edited by PJB1972
BLACK DEATH Enthusiast

BLACK DEATH

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Good points....

So the current 4.8 in the truck doesn't have any issues I can see or tell.

Runs good, starts good and has good over all power it seems.

Has 176k miles but doesn't feel like it does.

I do have an 04 5.3 complete swap with everything. We were going to swap it into another vehicle.

It was just a thought. Either sell it or swap it into the truck. It had under 100k when pulled.

Well now idk what to do, let it sit for a rainy day or sell it.

Stevens03 Senior Enthusiast

Stevens03

Posted
Posted

The big difference between the 2 is the torque. Not so much in HP. Also does the 2004 motor come with drive by wire? Make sure it doesnt. Should be an easy swap

Chris Senior Enthusiast

Chris

Posted
Posted

The big difference between the 2 is the torque. Not so much in HP. Also does the 2004 motor come with drive by wire? Make sure it doesnt. Should be an easy swap

It is drive by wire and returnless fuel system. Thats why he would swap his current manifold, TB, and rails to the 5.3 if he does it
  • Like 2
BLACK DEATH Enthusiast

BLACK DEATH

Posted
  • Author
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Yes it is dbw, but I'd only use the long block setup for the swap.

I Dont think 4.8 sell for anything at all, even if its a complete swap.

We can all use more torque in a truck.

I paid $550 for this complete swap, just missing the starter only.

Chris Senior Enthusiast

Chris

Posted
Posted

Yes it is dbw, but I'd only use the long block setup for the swap.

I Dont think 4.8 sell for anything at all, even if its a complete swap.

We can all use more torque in a truck.

I paid $550 for this complete swap, just missing the starter only.

Your current starter will fit on it
DwayneJ Enthusiast

DwayneJ

Posted
Posted

You could always do a few simple lods to the 5.3l before swapping it in and then combined with a tune it would make a large difference.

 

The 4.8l are popular with guys wanting turbo setups in smaller cars, the 4.8l limits lowend torque so they can launch and the turbo makes the HP later. Heck the 4.8l pistons are a popular upgrade in 5.3l motors to raise compression because they are flat top.

  • Like 1
PJB1972 Enthusiast

PJB1972

Posted
Posted

I paid $550 for this complete swap.

You could definitely get a few hundred out of the 4.8 if there's nothing wrong with it. Record a video of it before you pull it.

I like the idea of throwing a few mods at it while it's pulled, that and a tune will be quite noticable!

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