5.3 Vs 6.0 Gimme your opinions

[dannyukonxl]

the reason your friend doesnt like his 2500 with the 6 is that it comes with the 4l80e and that things built like a tank, the 5.3 comes with the 4l60e and well.. isnt built like a tank therefore not a lot of power is robbed. Basically the 2500 will feel a lot more sluggish b/c it has to turn over a much larger transmission with gears made for towing, where as the 5.3 is a city truck with higher gearing (higher ratios) to achieve better gas mileage and acceleration on the streets. Once you get the 6 into the higher gears its probably a better comparison between the 2. as far as tuning, theres more to be had with bigger engines, its a simple fact. by the ways my yukon with 373's did 0-60 in 8.5ish with an okay launch and tow haul, smoked a mini van the denali with awd but with the 4l65e (less powerloss) did it under 8 seconds with a d**n good launch, bottom line the 5.3 is good for light loads and no loads, the 6 really shines underload and no load

[Mark_in_Tulsa]

the reason your friend doesnt like his 2500 with the 6 is that it comes with the 4l80e and that things built like a tank, the 5.3 comes with the 4l60e and well.. isnt built like a tank therefore not a lot of power is robbed.  Basically the 2500 will feel a lot more sluggish b/c it has to turn over a much larger transmission with gears made for towing, where as the 5.3 is a city truck with higher gearing (higher ratios) to achieve better gas mileage and acceleration on the streets.  Once you get the 6 into the higher gears its probably a better comparison between the 2.  as far as tuning, theres more to be had with bigger engines, its a simple fact.  by the ways my yukon with 373's did 0-60 in 8.5ish with an okay launch and tow haul, smoked a mini van   the denali with awd but with the 4l65e (less powerloss) did it under 8 seconds with a d**n good launch, bottom line the 5.3 is good for light loads and no loads, the 6 really shines underload and no load 

 

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Really great info there Danny

 

 

But here is a link to a topic I made that may help a little.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...topic=36874&hl=

[black&grayHD]

The 6.0L in the old truck felt and sounded alot faster than it was. Granted, being a loaded ext. cab long bed, it had a hell of alot more weight to throw around. A buddy of mine with a scsb 02 Ram with the 4.7L raced and it was pretty pitiful. My truck had much more power, and threw me back in the seat better, but it wasn't faster. With the 5.3L scsb, though, it's the exact opposite when I raced my friend the last time. Doesn't feel as powerful as the 6.0L, but is a heck of alot quicker without the excess lbs. Bottom line, both engines are great, just decide which tradeoff you want: better gas mileage and quicker 1/4 miles or more power and better towing cap. Or get a $40k SS with the best of both worlds

[Shawn T]

My buddy went through this whole experience. He went from a 5.3L ext cab to a 1500 HD crew with the 6.0L. He was really disapointed in the 6.0L. He called it a "dawg". It came with 4.10's and it still seemed to have no low end. He did some research on this forum and found out that the 4L80E had a much higher 1st gear ratio(not to mention its an 04 with loads of torque management). After he pulled his 4 horse trailer with his new truck he quit his complaining. The higher cubes, torque and HP ratings showed their true colors.

I guess what I am trying to say is that is all relative to what you use these trucks for. His wife just have birth to a second child and the four real doors were a really nice addition and the camping trips are traveled with less effort by the 6.0L and the 8600 GVWR. The good ole days of dragging main and racing the 5.3L are over for him. I owned a 5.3L before my DMax and I agree with everyone that the 1500 Z71's are much quicker and handle much more "carlike" than the big boys. But, the HD suits my needs better today and I am very happy with it. Every once in a while(hunting in the mountains in a tight spot) I miss the spunky little small block with the shorter wheelbase but you can't have your half ton and eat it too.

[Scyry]

My Dad had a 1999 1500 with a 5.3 and 3.73 rear end. I worked for him in the summers and we shared driving, always took his truck though. Anyways, I dorve it usually 45 minutes one way to work over a mountain pass that went up and down about 3,000 feet. The 5.3 was fine when empty, plenty of pep and everything, but if we had it loaded down with tools or materials it lost a bit of an edge.

 

I got a 2001 HD2500 with the 6.0 and 4.10 rear end. We drove it to work the first week I had it while his was in the shop. We never drove his the rest of the summer after that. The 6.0 has a lot less drop off in ability when it has a load, especially on hills. Everyday, empty driving, the trucks basically feel the same.

 

If you are planning on using your truck to tow or haul stuff often the 6.0 is the way to go. I will not go back to a 1500 just because of the feel, too mushy in corners. I also don't think there is much of a differance in milage, though many people seem to get around 11 mpg, I seem to average 14 mpg and that is about half city and half 70 mph driving.

[catiaeng]

2500's HD or not are built to do heavy work, not drive around and look pretty...thats what a 1500 is for.

 

I agree with Scyry, a 2500HD w/ the 6.0L (or any HD) is going to keep its cool while climbing hills under load or w/out a load. For instance, when driving to my new house, I have a large incline on the road from town. When driving my HD it throttles through the hill, does not down shift. Same hill with my brother-in-laws 1500 boggs down just before the crest. When pulling the utility trailer my HD never has to work on any terrain, howerver the same trailer with the 1500 down shifts frequently and you run a higher RPM to get the thing moving at 55mph.

 

BJ

[jelisfc]

I think first gear in the 4L80e is higher than the first gear in the 4L60e.  That also makes it seem like the 5.3L comes off the line quicker.

 

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4L60E is a 3.06 vs 2.48 in a 4L80E. Off the line that's big. From a roll the 6.0, even in a heavier truck should take care of business.

[LiftedHDRado]

All I have to say is that i have an 05 HD DuraMax 6.6L and it is really fast, specially with the RBP Stage II set up and its on a 12" lift. I can lay rubber with the 37's.

[arwriter]

Topic resurrected! I owned a 2004 Silverado 1500 CCSB, 4X4, with the 5.3 in it. I loved that truck, it handled nicely, had a good amount of power and even towed nicely. I am in the military and I conducted a cross country move with it pulling around 7000lbs, 3000 miles from Washington State to North Carolina. Obviously going through mountain passes I was not going to win any races, but I think the truck performed very well considering. Unfortunately, my wife was t-boned in this truck by someone going 65mph, the truck rolled and landed on top of another vehicle (than God she wasn't seriously injured).

 

I bought a 99 2500 ECSB, 4X4, with the 6.0 in it to replace it. It is not quicker off the line, but the torque is much greater. The steering feels much more solid, and the ride especially under a load is just much more solid feeling.

 

As much as I liked the half ton pick-up after owning a modern 3/4 ton, it would be difficult to go back to a half ton for towing and power. I do miss 17 mpg with the 5.3 (best I get with the 6.0 is 14mpg), but I can't expect it to be an economy vehicle. Bottom line is, the newer generation pick-up trucks (99 and up) are much nicer riding and exponentially more powerful than the older trucks ever were and those trucks always served me well (1/2 tons, 3/4, and 1 tons).

[K20and2500HD]

I had a 5.3L ECSB 2004 Z-71 had it tuned by diablo and it ran great got 17 mpg had all the goodies could spin the tires all day and thought it was the cats meow. That is until I bought my 2009 RCLB 2500HD 6.0L 6L90E tuned it with a diablew tune and it doesn't hold a candle to my 5.3L. I loved that truck and all it could do but all I have to say is there is no9 comparison to the two my 6.0L is faster off the line, in a roll and at higher speeds. The first thing I noticed is that the 6 is as fast from 40-60mph as it is from 80-100mph, I know this isn't comparing apples to apples, but same rear end (3.73) but different tranny and the ratios that go with them, but the 5.3 seemed to drop off big after 90mph. I just wish that my hd was as comfortable to drive as my 1500 was. Just get a 6 and don't look back!

Here is a picture of the old and then the new.

[Prokopchuk_9]

No replacement for displacement. 325 cubes or 382(i think that's what the 6.0 is) Much more potintial in the 6.0 plus more HP and tq to begin with.

 

+1 i dont care wut people say, i have 33 inch tires on my truck with a decent tune. well 93 octane, tweaked TCM tune. so does my buddy with a 5.3/ 4 speed and i EAT that truck. its not even close. ive raced brand new chevies too with the 6 speed and they get me off the line but i still walk by when im still in 1st gear revvin 5000 RPM goin 45 mph. i have never seen a heads up race between the two, maybe stock vs. stock...but its not the motor. you are comparing a half ton to a 2500HD...which makes no sense to me. of course the 5.3 is gonna be quicker off the line its a little girly truck! 2500HD weighs how much more than a half ton again?????

 

put it this way, have you ever been in a half ton truck thats got a 6 litre swapped between the legs?? if you had the exact same weight truck and raced the two who would you bet on????? i know i wouldnt bet on the 5.3. IMO the LQ9 and LQ4 were/are the best gen lV motors out there. there is NO replacement for displacement, i dont care what anybody says.

[bluegmctruck]

i just recently upgraded from a 5.3 1500 to a 6.0 2500HD. off the line the acceleration is about the same but once you get to higher speeds its a different story. there is a 2 lane road near my house where the speed limit is 55 but for some reason people love to go 45 so sometimes i have to make a quick pass. my old 5.3 would do a pretty good job of passing but would leave me out in the other lane a little longer than i liked. this past week i passed someone for the first time and i was gone. there is no comparison as i was past the car before i even got the accelerator pedal all the way down to the floor. i was pleasantly surprised on how fast i passed the slow car.

[becker87]

I think comparing these two engines is not a fair comparrsion. Both engines are great for their intended purposes. I drive a 6.0L in a 2007 3500HD at work and it is plenty peppy, it's not near as fast as my truck but for what it is it does a great job.

[cliobogger]

I belive the new 6.0 and 6L80e tranny pair up is a formidable match for the 5.3 now.

 

Plus throw in a blackbear tune to get rid of the stock nannies...and you are lookin at one nice/quick truck.

[djmercer1]

No replacement for displacement. 325 cubes or 382(i think that's what the 6.0 is) Much more potintial in the 6.0 plus more HP and tq to begin with.

 

+1 i dont care wut people say, i have 33 inch tires on my truck with a decent tune. well 93 octane, tweaked TCM tune. so does my buddy with a 5.3/ 4 speed and i EAT that truck. its not even close. ive raced brand new chevies too with the 6 speed and they get me off the line but i still walk by when im still in 1st gear revvin 5000 RPM goin 45 mph. i have never seen a heads up race between the two, maybe stock vs. stock...but its not the motor. you are comparing a half ton to a 2500HD...which makes no sense to me. of course the 5.3 is gonna be quicker off the line its a little girly truck! 2500HD weighs how much more than a half ton again?????

 

put it this way, have you ever been in a half ton truck thats got a 6 litre swapped between the legs?? if you had the exact same weight truck and raced the two who would you bet on????? i know i wouldnt bet on the 5.3. IMO the LQ9 and LQ4 were/are the best gen lV motors out there. there is NO replacement for displacement, i dont care what anybody says.

 

 

the weight difference is nominally 1 ton..... as for getting a 6.0l in a half ton, a buddy had a vmax, much faster than the 5.3l 1500, but neither was in the same league as me dmax....

 

these motors 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 and dmax are great power plants when used as intended. the 4.8l is a 2wd, or highway running 1500 is a decent fuel miser, 5.3l for light towing in a 1500. the 6.0l is great for the hd trucks and moderate towing, but if you want to tow heavy/work hard the dmax is king...