5.3 In A 3/4 Ton?

oakman · June 4, 2008

Has anyone put a 2002 5.3l vortec into a 2002 3/4ton truck. The 6.0l vortec is a great motor but sucks fuel like crazy. I would hazard a guess that it may bolt in easily. Are the mounting possitions the same? The pulling power of a 5.3 is fine for me; I need payload capacity.Any ideas or experiences appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Tucson_02Silverado · June 4, 2008

quick answer,yes it'll bolt right up.

But, I would think that your fuel savings would be negated by the fact that the 3/4 is a lot heavier than the 1/2.

Rocco715 · June 4, 2008

quick answer,yes it'll bolt right up.

But, I would think that your fuel savings would be negated by the fact that the 3/4 is a lot heavier than the 1/2.

I agree. It's probably similar to haing a 4.3L in a 1/2 ton. The engine might be more effecient but there is going to be a bigger load put on it making it rev higher hence using more gas.

2000DV4.8 · June 4, 2008

quick answer,yes it'll bolt right up.

But, I would think that your fuel savings would be negated by the fact that the 3/4 is a lot heavier than the 1/2.

I agree. It's probably similar to haing a 4.3L in a 1/2 ton. The engine might be more effecient but there is going to be a bigger load put on it making it rev higher hence using more gas.

Yup. I think you'll end up using more gas.

vranasaurus · June 5, 2008

The real reason the 2500's use more gas is because they are about a thousand pounds heavier than a similarly equiped 1500.

The performance wouldn't be very good as the 5.3 would have to work pretty hard and would suck at least the same amount, probably more, of fuel.

98silvz71 · June 5, 2008

quick answer,yes it'll bolt right up.

But, I would think that your fuel savings would be negated by the fact that the 3/4 is a lot heavier than the 1/2.

I agree. It's probably similar to haing a 4.3L in a 1/2 ton. The engine might be more effecient but there is going to be a bigger load put on it making it rev higher hence using more gas.

Yup. I think you'll end up using more gas.

There is a good reason that GM didn't follow Ford and put the 5.3L in the 3/4 tons, like ford did with the 5.4L. Not saying that it was/is a bad engine, just designed for LD and you need a HD engine.

Woodcutter · June 5, 2008

But, I would think that your fuel savings would be negated by the fact that the 3/4 is a lot heavier than the 1/2.

Good point. Plus, the HDs usually are geared lower, too. I doubt there's any real mileage difference between the two motors, all other factors being equal.

pennzoil29 · June 5, 2008

I'll have to agree with every one on this.

yukondan · June 5, 2008

Will the 5.3 mate to the 4L80E in the 3/4 ?

the 4L80E tranny is not as efficent (more internal mass) as the 4L60E

A 4L60E in a 3/4 ton is asking for a short term life.

Now if you could shave about 1,000 lbs of the 3/4............

95Sierra2500 · June 5, 2008

For reference, I've got the 5.7 in my '95 2500 (9200 GVW, so I guess that's an HD?) and I'm lucky to pull off 13/14 mpg. My dad's '94 3500 crew cab dually pulls in a good 11 mpg with the 454, extra tires and extra bit of cab. I have an auto, he has a 5-spd manual. Otherwise we're about the same (gearing, 4x4, etc are the same). I doubt swapping motors would change either of our mileage much.

Jackson · June 5, 2008

quick answer,yes it'll bolt right up.

But, I would think that your fuel savings would be negated by the fact that the 3/4 is a lot heavier than the 1/2.

I agree. It's probably similar to haing a 4.3L in a 1/2 ton. The engine might be more effecient but there is going to be a bigger load put on it making it rev higher hence using more gas.

The V6 4.3 WAS NOT a more efficient engine. not saying you were saying that, but I did want to point that out. My ZR2 that I had, which is much ligher than my 1500, got about 15mpg while my 5.3 gets about 16-17mpg. I drove them both equally in the same fashion.

how efficient was the 1500HD. it was heavier correct and I believe it had the 6.0. just curious.

therealdeal770 · June 5, 2008

For reference, I've got the 5.7 in my '95 2500 (9200 GVW, so I guess that's an HD?) and I'm lucky to pull off 13/14 mpg. My dad's '94 3500 crew cab dually pulls in a good 11 mpg with the 454, extra tires and extra bit of cab. I have an auto, he has a 5-spd manual. Otherwise we're about the same (gearing, 4x4, etc are the same). I doubt swapping motors would change either of our mileage much.

I think I would trade my brand new truck for that combo.Dually 454 crew cab dually 5 speed.What a truck! put a cam and a good set of heads on that monster with a set of dual straight pipes and it would turn those 4 tires over like nothing.

pm26 · June 5, 2008

There is a good reason that GM didn't follow Ford and put the 5.3L in the 3/4 tons, like ford did with the 5.4L. Not saying that it was/is a bad engine, just designed for LD and you need a HD engine.

I can confirm that. Today I am driving the company's 2007 F 250 superduty crew cab long bed 2WD truck. What a dog! It has the 5.4 V8 in it and it gets about 12 MPG on a good day, while performing like a V6.

BigJayDogg3 · June 5, 2008

quick answer,yes it'll bolt right up.

But, I would think that your fuel savings would be negated by the fact that the 3/4 is a lot heavier than the 1/2.

I agree. It's probably similar to haing a 4.3L in a 1/2 ton. The engine might be more effecient but there is going to be a bigger load put on it making it rev higher hence using more gas.

The V6 4.3 WAS NOT a more efficient engine. not saying you were saying that, but I did want to point that out. My ZR2 that I had, which is much ligher than my 1500, got about 15mpg while my 5.3 gets about 16-17mpg. I drove them both equally in the same fashion.

how efficient was the 1500HD. it was heavier correct and I believe it had the 6.0. just curious.

It will do about the same he is doing now. My truck may be lighter, but the difference between the mileage in the 2500HD and the 1500HD isn't big. When I was still checking it, I was averaging about 14-16. Normally I would get in about the mid to high 14s though.

BigJayDogg3 · June 5, 2008

For reference, I've got the 5.7 in my '95 2500 (9200 GVW, so I guess that's an HD?) and I'm lucky to pull off 13/14 mpg. My dad's '94 3500 crew cab dually pulls in a good 11 mpg with the 454, extra tires and extra bit of cab. I have an auto, he has a 5-spd manual. Otherwise we're about the same (gearing, 4x4, etc are the same). I doubt swapping motors would change either of our mileage much.

I think I would trade my brand new truck for that combo.Dually 454 crew cab dually 5 speed.What a truck! put a cam and a good set of heads on that monster with a set of dual straight pipes and it would turn those 4 tires over like nothing.

My uncle's stock one does it without hesitation.