nascarnate z28 future ??'s

[JoeliusZ28]

i don't think many of you realize how tired nate's engine is. A "very basic rebuild" with just rings, bearings, and rodbolts is definitely not all his LT1 needs. It most certainly needs a full on valve job and all the wear parts like an opti, waterpump, plugs & wires, every single gasket/seal and anything else I am forgetting about is tired. I wouldn't even think about sticking a cam in it.

Unlike everyone else here im not convinced redoing his LT1 will be the better bang for the buck. When i started putting things together in my head, cost got deep into the 4 digits before I even had a chance to think of everything. Then when its all done add in the cost of a good tune. 5.3's can be had for dirt cheap, in "ready-to-rock" condition. I'd rather swap a k-member than mess with full rebuild personally.

Im looking forward to what spencer has to say.

[prorac1]

Shoot Joel, he will hit 4 digits before even turning a wrench on an LS swap. Sure, you can get a 5.3 on the cheap, but not with under 100k. Than your going to have gaskets, berings and an oilpump into that if your smart.

[prorac1]

And if his LT1 is that tired, buy a low millage take out, theyre out there and theyre fairly cheap. Eric L

[white97z28]

all i gotta say is if you decide to go ls1 ill buy the trans, wiring, pcm, and most likely the motor too...id love to have a t-56 and also i want to have a spare motor to progressively build a nasty ltx...hehe...but i think the first thing you should do is buy my seats

[JoeliusZ28]

Shoot Joel, he will hit 4 digits before even turning a wrench on an LS swap. Sure, you can get a 5.3 on the cheap, but not with under 100k. Than your going to have gaskets, berings and an oilpump into that if your smart.

Now I'm definitely not assuming this is THE answer to everything as the ad is rather vague, but i still think it qualifies as a counter example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-Su...Q5fAccessories

And if his LT1 is that tired, buy a low millage take out, theyre out there and theyre fairly cheap. Eric L

I do not disagree, but they really arent going for much less than 5.3s or even LS1s nowadays. Nate is interested in reliability.... and even as a die-hard LT guy I have to admit LS motors offer that in comparison.

[JoeliusZ28]

also nate's T56 has either been rebuilt or replaced as indicated by a tag we found on it during the clutch swap. So it doesn't have the full 158k on it, but it could be any mileage within that.

[prorac1]

Your average 5.3 goes for around 750 used. I keep a close eye on them, cause i have one with 200k on it, lol. And for around 750 your getting a 75-100k motor. Combine that with the LS1 gaskets, timing chain, bearings, etc. Its his call, but thats a lot of work without having a good reason other than what sounds like a whim, JMHO. Eric L

[ThreeHonks]

plus the cost of things like the PCM, k member,NEW TRANSMISSION, wiring hanress, coils, LS1 style headers, etc.

[nascarnate326]

Good discussion.

Anyone else want to chime in?


What do you guys think the cost would be to go through my current motor with a decent cam, similar to joels AI.

[my95z28]

Agreed, good discussion. I think in the end what it boils down to is making up your mind if you are going to do away with the opti or not Nate. If you are comfortable leaving it on there, buy a lower mileage LT1, cam it and call it a day; you'll probably keep the budget under 2k. If you decide you want to get rid of the opti, time to go LS. I think budget for that is going to be 4kish probably, depending on whether or not you cam the LS. I would go with an lq4 or lq9 personally, they can be had just as cheap as the 5.3.

[meissen]

Personally, I wouldn't swap an LT1 for a 5.3... to me the 5.3 is more of a v6 upgrade, IMHO (sorry Spencer) if I were going from an LTx I would think the 5.3 is a downgrade. Swaps get expensive fast - I'd rebuild what you have. Even a stock spec rebuild would probably provide a big improvement in power if your engine is as tired as you and Joel are making it out to be. If you want more power than stock, get the LT4 hot cam kit as they're pretty reliable and you get almost everything you need for the cam swap for ~$600. You'd just need an LT4 knock module, I think. Then obviously headers and yadda yadda yadda. You're about ready to take the deep plunge - just make sure you're ready for it.

If it were my car, I'd start with the basics and rebuild it over the winter like Ryan was saying - you can get a full gasket kit for $200 ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...#ht_3361wt_898 ), bearings and new bolts are relatively cheap. New water pump, get some headers, new wires, if the current opti works keep running it.

[BigJeffSS]

I also agree with the rest sticking with the LT1 is the better option. Yeah you're going to have a good chunk of money into the motor but in the end it will be a rebuilt motor not an LSx motor with some odd miles on it for close to half the cost. Now if you found a smoking deal on an engine, trans and complete wiring then it maybe worth the swap.

Spencer shouldn't be insulted by saying that the 5.3L is a V-6 upgrade. I am rather impressed by the numbers, sound, and how strong his car runs for a 5.3L truck motor. Well worth the upgrade for any V-6 car plus Spencer did a great job of making it look clean as if the car came with that motor.

Good Topic Guys.

[JoeliusZ28]

plus the cost of things like the PCM, k member,NEW TRANSMISSION, wiring hanress, coils, LS1 style headers, etc.

PCM and coils should be included with the engine and are negated by the cost of him requiring an opti and a new tune with the LT1 build

LS1 headers are also negated because he needs better LT1 headers.

K-member = cheap

Trans and harness are only thing about it that might be more work/cost for what in my opinion seems like a better result.

Agreed, good discussion. I think in the end what it boils down to is making up your mind if you are going to do away with the opti or not Nate. If you are comfortable leaving it on there, buy a lower mileage LT1, cam it and call it a day; you'll probably keep the budget under 2k. If you decide you want to get rid of the opti, time to go LS. I think budget for that is going to be 4kish probably, depending on whether or not you cam the LS. I would go with an lq4 or lq9 personally, they can be had just as cheap as the 5.3.

Good luck with that. The AI cam kit is $1195 and includes 90% of the parts you need at a cost I couldnt beat through summit. That leaves you $800 for everything else which isnt very likely especially if he wants to put a real set of headers and exhaust on the new one and get a quality tune on the build. Let alone all the other misc expenses like fluids and transporting the new engine.

He could go with a cam other than an AI grind, but at that point you are saving a couple hundred dollars tops and ending up with 40 or so less HP. Bang for the buck goes down.

I will agree that the cammed, low-mileage LT1, is probably the easiest/cheapest way to good power with decent reliability. Its just still going to be well over a $2k investment said and done.

[MP81]

Personally, I wouldn't swap an LT1 for a 5.3... to me the 5.3 is more of a v6 upgrade, IMHO (sorry Spencer) if I were going from an LTx I would think the 5.3 is a downgrade. Swaps get expensive fast - I'd rebuild what you have. Even a stock spec rebuild would probably provide a big improvement in power if your engine is as tired as you and Joel are making it out to be. If you want more power than stock, get the LT4 hot cam kit as they're pretty reliable and you get almost everything you need for the cam swap for ~$600. You'd just need an LT4 knock module, I think. Then obviously headers and yadda yadda yadda. You're about ready to take the deep plunge - just make sure you're ready for it.

If it were my car, I'd start with the basics and rebuild it over the winter like Ryan was saying - you can get a full gasket kit for $200 ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...#ht_3361wt_898 ), bearings and new bolts are relatively cheap. New water pump, get some headers, new wires, if the current opti works keep running it.

I'm pretty sure Spencer's car makes as much horsepower as yours does with about 25 less cubes, and more torque, Brian

...but, you having an LT1 car already, Nate, would make me want to suggest rebuilding your LT1 or another LT1, so that you could use all your current parts (trans, harness, etc) and make it a literal plug and play installation, keeping costs far down compared to swapping in an LS-series engine.

[JoeliusZ28]

If I have my facts right spencers car went 12s with a smaller cam than brians