5.3 performance???

Bustedknuckles

Bustedknuckles

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Sep 25, 2010
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My buddy has a 06 sierra with the 5.3 lm7 motor and at almost 200k it has lifter noise and will randomly drop oil pressure. We are planning on pulling it and rebuilding it with some upgrades or swapping in something else. However neither of us know where to start when it comes to parts for these engines so i thought id ask on here. He would like to be around 400 hp at the wheels. Thanks!
 
i_keyser

i_keyser

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Jun 4, 2010
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799 or 243 heads, custom grind cam, ls6 valve springs, headers, full exhaust and a good tune should get you there or close
 
slowlb7

slowlb7

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A cam,headers,cai,and a tune is a good start.after that look into heads or pistons or there is always spary or a sts turbo kit but what do i know?
 
i_keyser

i_keyser

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Bustedknuckles said:
What is a good source for those parts? And what about swapping in a 6.0 or something?
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craigslist is a good place to look for the heads but look at the ones on his motor first, it may already have them on it. they are stock GM heads but they flow a little better than the others. as far as a cam you can get an ls6 (i believe) cam from GM and its a good upgrade or you can check out comp cams too. check out some LS forums and you may be able to score some used parts too. you can swap in a 6.0 and run it stock and probably save a little money.
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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swap to a lower compression piston, spec a good camshaft, add some good heads and a box stock s475
 
Bustedknuckles

Bustedknuckles

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ltr450ryder said:
No need to lower the compression from stock an s475 with a good Spec'd cam with 15-18psi will take it to 650-750rwhp
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I like the sounds if that! So just do a cam and valve springs a turbo it? Don't bother with headers and a intake and headst? This is a DD truck, not a race truck if that makes any difference when it comes to turbo sizing
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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There are a billion 5.3 chevy builds. Hot Rod Magazine did a budget junkyard build that made 800hp.

I guess guys lower the compression a little but to help keep the factory rods in place at 800hp.

The camshaft and cylinder heads are the most important part.
But definitely without a doubt ad a turbo to the mix. A $649 T6 S475/96/1.32 would be perfect.
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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Racingjunk.com usually has several used sets of headers for turbo applications at any given time. Check it out and maybe you can find a set for a 5.3 chevy truck. If not, ebay that bitch.
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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Or there are a lot of options for bolt on supercharger kits that include the blower, cam, injectors, tuning, etc. sky is the limit
 
Bustedknuckles

Bustedknuckles

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Dirtymaxx03 said:
Racingjunk.com usually has several used sets of headers for turbo applications at any given time. Check it out and maybe you can find a set for a 5.3 chevy truck. If not, ebay that bitch.
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Hmmmm. Our fab skills are limited so it would be nice to find a piping kit. What about a intercooler?
 
Dirtymaxx03

Dirtymaxx03

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Bustedknuckles said:
Hmmmm. Our fab skills are limited so it would be nice to find a piping kit. What about a intercooler?
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you can find universal intercoolers and fab mounts for it. you'll probably have to make all the charge air piping but i know you can find headers for a 5.3 pickup that are for a turbo app.

I have yet to find a complete kit to turbo a 5.3 pick up
 
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