6.0 or 5.3

6.0 or 5.3


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David Smith

David Smith

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Nothing wrong with a 5.3 for your purposes. But, if you want more power just in case for work or fun and don't mind sacrificing an MPG or two, a GenIII 6.0 would be a direct swap. It would even run with the 5.3 tune well enough to drive to a tuner if needed.
How would it do with the stock tranny that I have for daily driving? Only time I tow would be a small trailer or a boat. Not too often. I already only get 11MPG anyways.
 

#1taho

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It will hold up fine. Burning the tires and shit like that will kill it. As a daily you will be fine. I gained 2.5 mpg when I went to the 6.0.LQ9
And the swap is an in and out deal. Nothing extra needed. I did mine a a daily family mover. It was shit on the interstate and sucked the gas back. Did the swap and all my problems went away. I think I am almost a year since I did the swap. Greatest improvement to date
 
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David Smith

David Smith

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It will hold up fine. Burning the tires and shit like that will kill it. As a daily you will be fine. I gained 2.5 mpg when I went to the 6.0.LQ9
And the swap is an in and out deal. Nothing extra needed. I did mine a a daily family mover. It was shit on the interstate and sucked the gas back. Did the swap and all my problems went away. I think I am almost a year since I did the swap. Greatest improvement to date
That is good to hear. I figured since I never really tow anything that my current tranny would be fine. I guess I will go ahead and try to ****** up a 6.0 and start replacing seals and stuff.

Thanks for y'alls help!
 

95escahoe

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Lq4 had a bit less compression than the LQ9. Lq4 is more available the the LQ9. Probability cheeper too.

X2 on that and the LQ9 needs 91+ due to that


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Tonyrodz

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Lq4 had a bit less compression than the LQ9. Lq4 is more available the the LQ9. Probability cheeper too.
I paid $850 for my LQ4. It had a few issues, but nothing major. Mostly complete with harness. Came from an 05 Silverado and only had 105,000 on it. IMAG1437.jpgIt was squeaky clean and totally worth it.
 

iamdub

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How would it do with the stock tranny that I have for daily driving? Only time I tow would be a small trailer or a boat. Not too often. I already only get 11MPG anyways.

That all depends on your control of your right foot. The trans won't know what's in front of it- 5.3, 6.0, 7.0... It only feels how much power/torque is put on it. You could put a 1,000 HP big block to it and it'll live just as long as it would with a 4.8 hitting on 6 cylinders as long as you don't apply any more than about 1/4 to 1/3 of that 1,000 HP.

That being said, there's no point in swapping in a more powerful motor if you're not gonna use it. The trucks that got the 6.0 got heavier-duty transmissions so that they'd have the same general life expectancy of the weaker motors with the weaker transmissions.

Decide what you ultimately want and will have for a motor and buy a trans or build up your trans accordingly.

If the current trans is fine and you end up with a stronger motor, just know what you have and drive it accordingly. It may live plenty long enough for you or it my go all Tonyrodz and crumble under pressure.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't let the trans hold me back from a 6.0 swap. Like what has been said, drive it accordingly (minimal asshattery on the street, no full-throttling when pulling heavy loads, etc.) You're gonna burn the tires at least once. This doesn't put nearly as much strain on the trans as hard towing does because the power is transmitted through (and out) of the tires.
 

Tonyrodz

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That all depends on your control of your right foot. The trans won't know what's in front of it- 5.3, 6.0, 7.0... It only feels how much power/torque is put on it. You could put a 1,000 HP big block to it and it'll live just as long as it would with a 4.8 hitting on 6 cylinders as long as you don't apply any more than about 1/4 to 1/3 of that 1,000 HP.

That being said, there's no point in swapping in a more powerful motor if you're not gonna use it. The trucks that got the 6.0 got heavier-duty transmissions so that they'd have the same general life expectancy of the weaker motors with the weaker transmissions.

Decide what you ultimately want and will have for a motor and buy a trans or build up your trans accordingly.

If the current trans is fine and you end up with a stronger motor, just know what you have and drive it accordingly. It may live plenty long enough for you or it my go all Tonyrodz and crumble under pressure.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't let the trans hold me back from a 6.0 swap. Like what has been said, drive it accordingly (minimal asshattery on the street, no full-throttling when pulling heavy loads, etc.) You're gonna burn the tires at least once. This doesn't put nearly as much strain on the trans as hard towing does because the power is transmitted through (and out) of the tires.
That's right! Learn from my heavy foot. But know this.... It was sooooo much fun!! :rocking::burnout::driver:
 

davidl13

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Magnus on supercharge either one or the 6.2.. you will love it
 

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