Built 350 or cammed 5.3l swap

Hey guys I'm getting some $ from going to school and am thinking about either building my 350 from the ground up or go modern with a 5.3l outta a Silverado and put a cam in it
Options:
350 2Bolt Main
Arp Studs on Heads Bolts on crank
New Bearing/Gaskets
Iron Camel Hump Heads 2.02 intake 1.60 exhaust
Speedmaster Holeshot Series Intake (Already installed a preforms great)
Keep the Qjet
Flat Top Pistons
Comp Cams Pushrods & Roller Tip Rockers 1.52
Comp Cam High Energy Camshaft (CARB Approved)
Duration @.050 : 206*int 206*exh .425 lift both intake/exhaust 110* lobe seperation
It was gonna be a 9:1 compression motor with a Corporate GM Blue Block and Everything else chrome (intake/oil pan/timing cover/valve covers/pulleys)

5.3l Gen lll/lV
Start with a bone stock 5.3 New rings/bearings/gaskets
Slap a z06 cam and valve spring (beehive from comp cam) that should be smog legal since it stock gm part
Convert to OBD-ll
Mod Gastank for fuel pressure sensor add electric fuel pump and regulator
Install Emissions Related equipment
Have pcm custom tuned

I'm torn between two options either build a bad 350 but still suck down gas
Or lose the weight Nd go modern with fuel injection same power or more and better mpg but go tru the complexity of the swap but the homie can get me a 5.3 for about $500

Ive been researching different installs and taking notes on the potential of the 5.3
Also I've talked to the schools state ref and he said I can do the 5.3l swap just gotta have all the emissions crap hooked up.
Thanks for your guys honest opinions.

I've read a bit on the 5.3l\6.0l swap and know few people local that have them and love them. I have so much

SBC stuff otherwise I'd go for the 5.3l they are dirt cheap and make the same hp as a 350 easily and run better.

The only cost is the conversion flywheel, MSD box etc etc but not really that much I figured around an extra 800

to convert and the 6.0l is a beast but not as cheap to come by as the 5.3.

Myloth wrote:I've read a bit on the 5.3l\6.0l swap and know few people local that have them and love them. I have so much

SBC  stuff otherwise I'd go for the 5.3l they are dirt cheap and make the same hp as a 350 easily and run better.

The only cost is the conversion flywheel, MSD box etc etc but not really that much I figured around an extra 800

to convert and the 6.0l is a beast but not as cheap to come by as the 5.3.

I was looking at goin FI instead of carved cause the intakes done have egr
I heard I can use a th400 torque converter with th350/2004-r and it'll clear.
I would need a wire harness made , fuel system retro fitted , buy a oil pan from chev performance $150 and a z06 cam springs and new lifters.
They cheap ness of the sbc is why I'm hesitant. The simplicity and reliability.
And the people who have swapped, would they do it over again if they had the choice or would they say I should have done it sooner.

The 5.3 sounds tempting less gas more power less weight more challengers and mustangs I take

The 5.3l with aluminum heads only weighs in at 460 that is pretty light compared to 350 or even a 305 close to

hundred pounds in savings.

HeavyChevy77 wrote:I was looking at goin FI instead of carved cause the intakes done have egr
I heard I can use a th400 torque converter with th350/2004-r and it'll clear.
I would need a wire harness made , fuel system retro fitted , buy a  oil pan from chev performance $150 and a z06 cam springs and new lifters.
They cheap ness of the sbc is why I'm hesitant. The simplicity and reliability.
And the people who have swapped, would they do it over again if they had the choice or would they say I should have done it sooner.

The 5.3 sounds tempting less gas more power less weight more challengers and mustangs I take

It'll be more expensive but if you can afford it go with the 5.3, you'll be way happier.
Make sure to get one complete with the engine controller, the starter, and both exhaust manifolds. Cats too if you can.

They're pretty tough so unless it has real high mileage it probably won't need rings, bearings, etc. but that's totally up to you.
You can use the stock harness, just remove any unused wires, or you can purchase a ready made Plug-and-Play wiring harness from several places for cheap.
Use a gas tank from an LT1 equipped B-body. They're already setup with a return line for FI. Try to get a plastic one, they're better.
You can use stock Impala SS fuel lines from the tank to the engine compartment.

Idk about the Z06 cam though..... that's an awfully big cam for a 5.3. You have to match everything together or it'll run poorly.
Have others used it successfully in a big heavy B-body with the same or similar transmission, torque converter, and rear gearing you'll be using?

i was debating between building the engine (new crank, rods,piston, rings/bearings,cam ,valvetrain ,heads) it was about 2300$ 
the 5.3 is around the same price with all the extra stuff (new wiring fuse box, and maybe re-ring the motor) i could keep the cam and just tune it but ive seen the 6.0 cam will bump up the numbers a little ..i am now reconsidering the z06 cam since the low end torque suffers too much even though the hp gain is excellent.
with a heavy b body itll sound like a vtec motor reving all high and no low end power
As for the gearing i running a stock impala ss rear so its 3.08 gearing 
I want my cake and eat it too..power &mileage

I feel that power& MPG main reason I bought a 200r4. Stock they do pretty well in a full size truck getting over

20mpg hwy that's not bad.

Myloth wrote:I feel that power& MPG main reason I bought a 200r4. Stock they do pretty well in a full size truck getting over

20mpg hwy that's not bad.

let me know when u slap that 200-4r in and the mods needed 
im like half and half about either way 
oneside says build the 350 i got all the dress up stuff already and am familiar with it
the other side say go modern since im in the process of rebuild a 5.3 in the class shop so im familiar with the engine 
Funny how similar the two blocks are

The similarities aren't surprising considering it took GM 30+ years just to reengineer the SBC. They definitely fear change at

GM.

Yeah the 200-4r(I always mix that up ) will be very soon as my 305 is getting pulled soon and I'll yank em at the same time.

And try to do a decent write up of it.

If it were me, id get a lq9 and drop it in, thats a 6.0. But id probably convert it to carb, that way i wouldnt have to use the drive by wire throttle body. Though i think the earlier ones were drive by cable, well at least the ls1s. It seems thats the route everyone is going now, so to be a tad different i kept the old school 350 and put vortec heads on, with those and a cam i can hit 400hp easy and cheap, its been done a million and one times. Now if i really had the cash id have a 427 small block built, 700hp naturally aspirated, ive priced a few out, right around $15,000. But yeah... Anyway the 5.3 are plentiful and cheap, most of them are iron blocks just with aluminum heads so the weight savings isnt huge, around 50lbs from an old iron headed small block. Anyway, thats up to you and id probably go for it!

yea the 6.0 would be better but use more gas 
i would love to carb these motors but i live in california and have to smog my 77 every 2 years and the carbed intakes have no egr.
same goes for vortec heads they dont have egr provisions on the intake 
i wanted to slap those heads on my 350 but have to settle for camel hump heads.
i starting to lean to build my 350 since i got it but would love to slap that 6.0 in a 60's el camino

oh dang i forgot you lived in cali, and those darn emissions

How about a 602 crate motor BBC , I just helped neighbor move one for his brother's stock car they

put it on a test stand and fired it woohoo flames came right to the mufflers lol.

I chose to swap in a 6.0, though I haven't finished yet.  I have most of the parts needed for the conversion.

I also failed to mention that i have a 78 caprice and a 78 impala, the caprice engine is complete and passes smog all on its own here in socal.  I've got smog covered as long as i keep both cars, or i'll register the car in vegas

Someone to do a NorthStar motor!

As long as it's has all the bugs removed (not so bad from what I have read to fix) indeed it would make a great

transplant.