LT1 or 5.3 whats your thoughts???

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bannerp

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Newland NC
I had planed on doing a 5.3 4l60e or TH400 swap into my 84 Toyota pickup. I dont have the money to buy them together just buying them seperate as funds allow. NOW here is the dilemma I have a customer at work who owns a 95 buick roadmaster wagon. The Iron Headed LT 1 that came in these cars have 260hp 335tq. Car runs and drives but is wrecked has a good 4L60e wiring harness brackets etc etc I can get the car for a mere $400. Or pay around $1200-$1400 for a 5.3 and Tranny?? The LT 1 would probably need freshend up new bearings rings oil pump etc etc. but i am torn on what to do WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK???
 
Get the 5.3. The LT1 is a OK engine but hard to do mods being they don't have as much aftermarket support. The opti-spark ignition is a nightmare itself and doesn't like water and very costly to repair. LS style engines are the new age small block and more reliable.
 
3DCrawler said:
Get the 5.3. The LT1 is a OK engine but hard to do mods being they don't have as much aftermarket support. The opti-spark ignition is a nightmare itself and doesn't like water and very costly to repair. LS style engines are the new age small block and more reliable.
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X2 on the LT1. Optisparks suck and the motor is a bastard small block. Very little will swap with the older SBC's and nothing newer.
 
5.3...there are a number of people I know who have had Optispark issues out of their LT1's. Yes the 5.3 may be more up front but you wont have to keep messing with it once you get it in with a good harness cut and tuned ECM.
 
I know the optispark is a POS i work on cars for a living, i also know the cooling system is a bastard child. HMMMM i guess i will stick with my plan of a 5.3 swap.
 
If you want a easy economy minded build, go with a good old flat top SBC. Cheap and easy. Vortec heads, a dual plane intake, Quadrajet, headers and a well chosen cam will put you in the same power range and fuel mileage as the 5.3. If it is a hard core rig go with propane. You will spend much less and not have to deal with a custom fuel tank, pump, return lines, trans computer and more expensive rebuilds, dealing with all the harness crap, having a PCM frag out on the trail,etc... You can fix the old school stuff in a autozone parking lot, you are on a roll back with the new stuff. I love the LS motors, I own 2 of them, you just have to decide if the cost and hassel is worth it to you. My current 2 projects are going old school. I can do all the ls work, I am just not feeling the expense and work load right now.
 
I'm pretty amazed at the hate on an LT1. I've been running mine for around 3-4yrs in rather harsh offroad only conditions:D . Yes the opti is a pain but mine has been soaked and abused and I've only replaced the original, once. Granted mine is a '97 and its vented. There is a whole world of aftermarket for them, no its not published in the summit or jegs mags. If I had to do it over I would probably go 6.0, I've had one in another buggy. At that rate though I couldn't get the harness and tune done for a 6.0 compared to what I paid for my complete LT1, much less the price of the 6.0 itself. For a budget minded person its a great bang for the buck.
 
I had a new Impala SS back in the day with the LT1. Its not a dog, matter of fact, it hauled that big boat around very well. Its just that they are expensive to mod, the stock heads wont breath over 5 grand, the optispark issues, the poor aftermarket availability represents the limited production time they were around.
 
Here is the deal i can score a 5.3,front engine brackets alternator and ps pump, ecm, and wiring harness all from a local salvage yard for $600. Thats with under 100k. My problem is the tranny situation, i cant afford tons until later so i am gonna run an auto and be gentile with the yota axles. My thoughts on the LT 1 deal was get the car for $400 pull the motor and tranny ecm everything is there. Freshen it up oil pump rings bearings valve job etc etc. car has a rebuilt GM 4L60e. After all that i could scrap the car and recoup $200 of my cash those damn things are heavy lol 5800lbs
 
The transmission is not a issue. PTC (Performance Torque Converter) makes a TH350 or TH400 and maybe for the 700R4 converter with thicker bolt bosses so you done have to run the spacers. Have the PCM tuned for a manual tranmission and your set. Make sure to get a 1800 to 2200 stall. Braking better at idle and doesnt stall out going into gear.
 
I've had a 5.3 and I wasn't really impressed. Go 6.0, or the LT1 sounds like a really good, low budget option.
 
The torque convertor is not the issue its the cost of a trans. I dont think a toyota w56 is gonna hold up to anything over 250hp lol. I think for what i am gonna be doing with the truck the 5.3 should be fine. No complaints on the 5.3's i have worked on the gen 3 small blocks are almost bullet proof.
 
I have a 95 z28 with lt1 and my biggest complaint is cooling issues and obd1.5 that operating system is a black hole full of hate and frustration I've only changed the Opti once with 168k miles I have thought of doing a 6.0 swap in my camaro but 4th gen fbodies make me cry to work on I say 5.3
 
I have ran the LT1 in my Jeep for about 5 years now. It's a 95 out of an ex cop car. Iron head. Never even changed anything on it except the intake gasket. Granted its absolutely due for something to be changed with the leaks but still its a strong motor. If you're on a budget the LT1 is a great platform other than the OPTIspark. Knock on wood I've never had any problems out of mine, but I do try and stay out of the water as much as possible. I just had PCMs4less change the tune to a 6speed setup and I put it all in there. If you're running the auto, then leave it.

I will say that if I were doing it again, I'd probably go with the 5.3 now just for the simple reason that those motor's just weren't plentiful when I did my first swap. The LS1 had just came out when I purchased my LT1. So go figure.
 
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