5.3 or 6.0 ?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Double d

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Posts
8
Reaction score
2
Location
Key west Florida
First Name
Double d
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350 sbc
What’s the benefits for both I’m thinking about swapping from my worn out 350.

What’s the easiest way donor truck or buying separate?
 

C10MixMaster

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Posts
756
Reaction score
1,420
Location
Kingman AZ
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C10 BIG10
Engine Size
ZZ4 350
i think a donor truck is the way to go. That way you know you got everything you need. including the transmission. But it depend on whats available to you at the time. 5.3 are easier to find and cheaper. 6.0 well there no substitute for cubic inches . I believe they're the same size. I'm still on the fence as to which swap im going to do 5.3 6.0 or a 350 tbi. When you do yours do a build thread so we can see your progress.
 
Last edited:

yevgenievich

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Posts
4,781
Reaction score
3,300
Location
Texas
First Name
Viktor
Truck Year
sad
Truck Model
very sad
Engine Size
less sad
5.3 is good. If want more power and/or towing then 6.0 is better
 

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
11,602
Reaction score
53,648
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
I've been asking the same question......have heard the 6.0 is a torque monster and better for towing.

Dunno.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,966
Reaction score
23,487
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
6.0 owner here. It's not a torque monster, but is better than the 5.3 of course. The power for towing is very comparable to my pre-smog '78 454. My 6.0 is just an early LQ4 though. A friend has a later one ('05) and seems a little stronger.
 

Madhorn

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2017
Posts
618
Reaction score
1,311
Location
AR-Arkansas
First Name
Ken
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
5.3/NV4500/NP205/4:56 gear/35in tires
I went with a 5.3 mainly because it was in a truck and I could hear it run before pulling it. Donor truck is the way to go if you can, especially if you are going to use both the engine and trans. LSx4U sells complete sets, engine-trans-harness as stand alone packages. I almost bought a 6.0 from them, but it was bit out of my budget.
 

JoeR Jr

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Posts
191
Reaction score
241
Location
Stokesdale, NC
First Name
Joe
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.0/4L80E
Donor truck will make your life easier. Lots of little crap you can use from it. You can also save/use the harness as you see fit.

I did a 6.0 in mine. Put flat top pistons and a Brian Tooley Stage 2 Truck Cam. 4L80E Trans. Did my own tuning. With the stock 2.73 gears I got 18 MPG Highway and 15 MPG around Town.
I just swapped in a set of 4.88 gears and a Spartan Locker. Mileage hasn't dropped much around town, but I haven't been on a road trip with it since the swap. I'm sure it will go down though.

In my opinion, if I was building a daily driver, I'd use a 5.3 to gain a couple of MPG. If I was building it for power, of course get the added displacement if you can.

Whatever engine you choose, I doubt you'll regret it. The driveability improvement is so nice it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

Joe
 

eskimomann209

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Posts
1,849
Reaction score
1,998
Location
Modesto
First Name
Marcus
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
5.3
I’m in alignment with Joe.
The power these trucks get from the 5.3 alone is fantastic. It makes it wonderful and worry free. I pondered long and hard over that or the 6.0
My choice was based on the fact that I drive mine daily and over 70 miles round trip. So I opted for the MPGs and a cam
The look I get from people when I easily pass them in my 73 is priceless. And she doesn’t even struggle
 

Jrgunn5150

Questionable methods
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Posts
2,739
Reaction score
1,412
Location
Ionia Mi
First Name
J.R.
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.slow
CN, doesn't matter, just get a complete one.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
5,905
Reaction score
7,252
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
CN, doesn't matter, just get a complete one.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
Guess I’m going to have to break down and sign up for Facebook just for the marketplace. No trucks rotting apart out here. People still want $5-10k+ for year 2000 and up silverados with 150-250k miles. There are occasional exceptions.

I come across complete engines for 1000-1500 private party. Couple of dismantlers on crack want $2500 for a 5.3 and $3000 for a lq4.

One guy I keep calling back that says he parts them out and when he does have them, he’s in the $600 ballpark.
 

Jrgunn5150

Questionable methods
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Posts
2,739
Reaction score
1,412
Location
Ionia Mi
First Name
J.R.
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.slow
Guess I’m going to have to break down and sign up for Facebook just for the marketplace. No trucks rotting apart out here. People still want $5-10k+ for year 2000 and up silverados with 150-250k miles. There are occasional exceptions.

I come across complete engines for 1000-1500 private party. Couple of dismantlers on crack want $2500 for a 5.3 and $3000 for a lq4.

One guy I keep calling back that says he parts them out and when he does have them, he’s in the $600 ballpark.

I tell people like you to travel to where they are cheap lol.

Or LKQ will ship to any LKQ.

Where there's a will, there's a way.
 

4WDKC

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
1,090
Location
Southern Florida
First Name
Kacy
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350
i think a donor truck is the way to go. That way you know you got everything you need. including the transmission. But it depend on whats available to you at the time. 5.3 are easier to find and cheaper. 6.0 well there no substitute for cubic inches . I believe they're the same size. I'm still on the fence as to which swap im going to do 5.3 6.0 or a 350 tbi. When you do yours do a build thread so we can see your progress.

do not do a stock 350 tbi swap, you will be very disappointed. Same physical size, same cubic dollars to make fast.

I've been asking the same question......have heard the 6.0 is a torque monster and better for towing.

Dunno.

They are not.

Donor truck will make your life easier. Lots of little crap you can use from it. You can also save/use the harness as you see fit.

In my opinion, if I was building a daily driver, I'd use a 5.3 to gain a couple of MPG. If I was building it for power, of course get the added displacement if you can.

Whatever engine you choose, I doubt you'll regret it. The driveability improvement is so nice it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

Joe

cheap 5.3 and turbo will make it fast as you dare.

Guess I’m going to have to break down and sign up for Facebook just for the marketplace. No trucks rotting apart out here. People still want $5-10k+ for year 2000 and up silverados with 150-250k miles. There are occasional exceptions.

I come across complete engines for 1000-1500 private party. Couple of dismantlers on crack want $2500 for a 5.3 and $3000 for a lq4.

One guy I keep calling back that says he parts them out and when he does have them, he’s in the $600 ballpark.

Id jump on one for $600 and get the 4l80 also.
 

Jrgunn5150

Questionable methods
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Posts
2,739
Reaction score
1,412
Location
Ionia Mi
First Name
J.R.
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.slow
I have a guy in Ohio who does them all day for under 1k for engine and trans, he'll ship via Fastenal as well, it's less than 200 bucks there.
 

roundhouse

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Posts
669
Reaction score
527
Location
atlanta ga
First Name
justin
Truck Year
77,78,79,80 ?
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Don’t be afraid of the 4.8 either if you find a good deal on one
Plenty of power

Get a donor vehicle of you can find one
There’s lots of wrecked Tahoe’s

And do NOT buy an engine if you can’t hear and see it run

And if you buy it without the whole donor car I assure you they will hack up the wiring harness and remove accessories from the engine etc

I bought just the engine and it was a mistake
I thought I didn’t need a donor vehicle since I was going to use a NV-3500. manual transmission

You’ll spend a bundle on the fuel system
You will need a tank and a different pump and some expensive fittings and hoses
But the LS we eventually installed in the truck had 270k miles on it and it has easily double the power of the TBI 350 we pulled out
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,859
Posts
903,644
Members
33,372
Latest member
83elcowes
Top