HELP! Swap in a Vortec 8.1 or build my 5.3??

[blackjack]

I never put it on the Dyno...
It's in the next County lol...
BUT, I can tow my 32' twin engine boat and yank it up from a wet steep ramp! good enough low end 4u??
AND I've beaten the crap out of a new 6.2 Yukon from a stop, roll of 20 and from 70 up to 130+ pulling away all in all three.
It will idle in traffic when I have to go downtown Miami and Ft Lauderdale areas that are gridlock and slow on expressways.
I did this when AFM failed and I was not going to get involved with dealer...sued them and there is a private settlement. (Believe it or not, was NOT GM/Chev fault! Dealer put wrong lifters in AFTER TSB issued instructing them to use another new number and to Reflash Computer on PPV's. I had it back twice-nada-then it failed before 30k on rebuild-just like TSB notes warned!)
By the way, I also had computer remapped and its 93octane now. I have had VP 100 in it and mmmm.
M

 

[Pilot]

I never put it on the Dyno...
It's in the next County lol...
BUT, I can tow my 32' twin engine boat and yank it up from a wet steep ramp! good enough low end 4u??
AND I've beaten the crap out of a new 6.2 Yukon from a stop, roll of 20 and from 70 up to 130+ pulling away all in all three.
It will idle in traffic when I have to go downtown Miami and Ft Lauderdale areas that are gridlock and slow on expressways.
I did this when AFM failed and I was not going to get involved with dealer...sued them and there is a private settlement. (Believe it or not, was NOT GM/Chev fault! Dealer put wrong lifters in AFTER TSB issued instructing them to use another new number and to Reflash Computer on PPV's. I had it back twice-nada-then it failed before 30k on rebuild-just like TSB notes warned!)
By the way, I also had computer remapped and its 93octane now. I have had VP 100 in it and mmmm.
M

That sounds pretty killer.. that's $3-4k compared to the $8-10k I'd spend putting in an 8L. Very compelling.

 

[Ilikemtb999]

Why would it cost that much??


Also a cammed 5.3 is great but still going to lack that low end torque. It’s nothing to write home about.

 

[blackjack]

You are maybe a bit high but in the ballpark
about $850. Cam and related parts internal (springs, lifters, and oil pump etc..)
about $300-350 ALL fluids, gasket kits, misc, Water Pump
Valve Job $150.
Retainers special due to potential failure $80.
Transmission kit, fluids and beer money for my buddy lol..$150-200.??
Trick computer tune $100.
So....that's around $1,500. Did the job over a few weeks-since I have other vehicles (2004 Forest Ranger PPV 4x4 and Caprice) but this 5.3 2008 PPV Tahoe is my main ride. I've put over 70k miles on it since build and all

Additionally, I guess I could value my time at $1,500. +- and if you were local (South Fla), I have friends who passed by occasionally when I needed a hand and they would be GLAD to repeat this job for someone for $1,500. labor. One of them now has a shop, besides my Transmission buddy; and would knock out this job in 2 days with a hiatus waiting for head work at machine shop-figure 3 days for a good job there.

PM me and I will give you phone number if you want to chat
M

 

[blackjack]

Why would it cost that much??


Also a cammed 5.3 is great but still going to lack that low end torque. It’s nothing to write home about.

I can pull my 32' Boat out of the water on a steep ramp and this is only a 2WD.. This Comp Cam still has torque near bottom of RPM range

 

[blackjack]

That sounds pretty killer.. that's $3-4k compared to the $8-10k I'd spend putting in an 8L. Very compelling.

Hey Pilot Jon, just saw you were from Brooklyn.. My friend with the machine shop, now in Miami, used to do all the work for the "Brooklyn Street Racers" of the golden era" ala "Nunzi" and many of the Mopar Hemi boys etc.. I'll bet he knows people up there that are legit who could do the job for you, if you can't !!

 

[Ilikemtb999]

I can pull my 32' Boat out of the water on a steep ramp and this is only a 2WD.. This Comp Cam still has torque near bottom of RPM range

And what’s the weight of said boat? I put a cam in my 01 2wd truck. It was way more fun than stock but really it’s still a small engine and a few bolt ons isn’t going to magically make it be a big block.

 

[MCAT069]

For what it's worth, I vote 8.1. I love mine in my suburban. There is not a ton of aftermarket support for it without some deep pockets. But it is a low end torque machine and runs amazing for what it is on my Blackbear 91/93 tune. GM performance finally offers a conversion kit to mount a 6l90 to it as well if you want a true one of a kind build. There is a Facebook group run by Edward Coss dedicated to the 8.1. He is a wonderful resource for all L18 questions.

 

[blackjack]

And what’s the weight of said boat? I put a cam in my 01 2wd truck. It was way more fun than stock but really it’s still a small engine and a few bolt ons isn’t going to magically make it be a big block.

around 5500 pounds..much more with full fuel but usually that's just at launch.
It's a 1980 32' Cobra Open Fisherman with old 200 Mercs and plenty fuel capacity, not a lightweight lol!

 

[Ilikemtb999]

around 5500 pounds..much more with full fuel but usually that's just at launch.
It's a 1980 32' Cobra Open Fisherman with old 200 Mercs and plenty fuel capacity, not a lightweight lol!

Not to shit on you or anything but my Silverado towed my Buick and trailer (6k) no problem bone stock and I live at 6k feet. I think rear end gears would make a much bigger difference for you than a cam for towing. My truck had 3.73’s