5.3 engine rebuild or buy crate

DCVegas · March 22, 2015

Hi everyone, new to the forum. So I was told by the dealer that I have a pitted camshaft and lifters. They wanted $7000 for a reman engine. Obviously not going to pay that. My question is, should I have someone rebuild my engine and upgrade the camshaft,lifters, springs,etc or buy a crate engine. I don't have any engine building experience so I would have to find someone reputable in my area to do the work. Looking for any input on which way would give me the best results for the least amount of money.Thanks

xXZ-71Xx · March 22, 2015

I would rebuild it myself because I find that fun but since that is not one of the options you gave I would buy a crate motor. Maybe a 5.3 HO?

http://www.crateenginedepot.com/53-LS-327327-High-Output-19165628-P10528C556.aspx

Or maybe a 6.0 swap

SILVER SLED · March 22, 2015

I seen a lot of 5.3's with pitted lifters and cams, and we replace the cam and lifters.

DCVegas · March 22, 2015

That is one of the options Ive been looking at. Do you think having my engine rebuilt with a better cam would be cheaper?

Chris · March 22, 2015

Drop in a junkyard 6.0. the LQ4 will give you a bump in power over the 5.3, and they are a dime a dozen with decent miles

vettelovralexand · March 22, 2015

It is definitely cheaper to do a cam swap or swap the engine with a junkyard takeout.

scooby5121 · March 22, 2015

Car-parts.com

1500-1800 dollars with 100kl or 60k miles.

Engine from salvaged

Daryl LBZ · March 23, 2015

www.hollanderparts.com

Found my used 5.3L on that site for my truck. 75k miles.

white1500 · March 23, 2015

Is the truck a DD or for seldom use? Share your needs/wants and long term plans.

GPGuy · March 23, 2015

Is the truck a DD or for seldom use? Share your needs/wants and long term plans.

That would definitely help. I don't know about the US but in Canada if you buy a crate engine from GM you get a full factory warranty with it. Again long term plans like how long you plan to keep the truck would definitely help too.

PJB1972 · March 23, 2015

Bought my 5.3 from the local salvage yard for $900. 45k miles on it.

Included everything but the accessories, like A/C, Alt, Power Steering, etc.

Pull one out, pop the other in...

I've also been looking at ATK Engines, lately. They're remanufactured and sold through your local Advance Auto Parts. Come with a 3 year warranty.

5.3 for $1998 or 6.0 for $2197

Nanotech Environmental · March 23, 2015

Hi everyone, new to the forum. So I was told by the dealer that I have a pitted camshaft and lifters. They wanted $7000 for a reman engine. Obviously not going to pay that. My question is, should I have someone rebuild my engine and upgrade the camshaft,lifters, springs,etc or buy a crate engine. I don't have any engine building experience so I would have to find someone reputable in my area to do the work. Looking for any input on which way would give me the best results for the least amount of money.Thanks

I'm curious - why would the dealer be digging around in the cam train in the first place? ie. what symptoms led to that? How many miles? Service history?

Pitted cam & lifters aren't a reason to replace them in my experience, unless they were starting to wear badly. Even so, you don't replace the whole engine because of that.

7g's is waaaay too much for an engine that is one of the most common ever built. Out the door pricing including labour shouldn't be more than 4-5gs tops. Total labour shoudn't be more than about 15 hrs or so.

white1500 · March 23, 2015

Buying a used engine and going to town on maintenance is the best option imo, short of a brand new one that will be $$$$.

DCVegas · March 23, 2015

This is my daily driver, Its an 05 with 195,000 miles on it. No major mechanical fixes to this point. I brought it to the dealer cause after about 10-15 minutes of driving, A knocking sound would start and would would be fast or slow depending on the rpm's. Usually when i get to a stop light and wait, the knocking would disappear.It started to get more frequent so I brought it to the dealer. They said it was the cam and lifters bought wanted to replace the engine. They wanted $7000 for a reman engine or $10,000 for a new engine. I assume they figured it was the cam by the sound and maybe previous experience with the problem. Pretty sure they didn't take anything apart cause they had it for less than a day and am still able to drive it. If i was going to rebuild it, i was looking into upgrading the cam for a little more power. Im hesitant to have a shop rebuild my engine that I don't know personally. That and do I rebuild an engine for 3000 or by a gm crate for around the same price.

newdude · March 23, 2015

GM replacement reman engine runs $3832 for a 5.3 for a 2005 Sierra. 3 year 100k mile warranty on them too. Sounds like they are hitting you big on labor and maybe some part $$ markup.