How to make a 5.3 less ugly?

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T Anderson

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I picked a 5.3 a while back and planning on rebuilding and maybe doing a cam swap. The only problem is that dang intake is just so ugly. Does anybody know of any covers or other ways to make it a little prettier? Or even any other intakes that will bolt on with minor modifications that wont break the bank?
 

1low4x4

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Car intake
 

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This guy did a pretty sweet job modifying his factory truck intake. The problem is, you spend the money for the car intake and the gains are minimal based on the cost. Check this video out before you drop a lot of coin on a different intake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg9bc2vJL9A

This is what it looked like when he was finished:
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yevgenievich

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ls6 intake is a common swap
 

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ls6 intake is a common swap

It is but the cost vs gains generally aren't worth it unless one is going purely for the aesthetics. I'm fairly certain it's been documented that the truck intakes flow equally compared to the LS6's. The LS6 intake will set one back about $400 or so whereas the truck intakes can be had for about $50 or so. Getting creative is where it's at though.
 

yevgenievich

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I am used to ls6 intake in $100-$150 price range, but the only reason to go for one is for clearance and looks.
 

Shack

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I am used to ls6 intake in $100-$150 price range, but the only reason to go for one is for clearance and looks.

If I could find one that cheap, I'd jump all over it. lol.

On a side note, speaking of cleaning up ugly, has anyone deleted the EVAP solenoid when running 5.3's in these trucks?
 

1low4x4

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Nobody said anything about performance he asked about looks.

Just throw some paint on it. Here's on I had. Can't even tell it's ugly under the cover

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1low4x4

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If I could find one that cheap, I'd jump all over it. lol.

On a side note, speaking of cleaning up ugly, has anyone deleted the EVAP solenoid when running 5.3's in these trucks?

Everyone does
 

dougbert

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kinda like my orange intake. My block is orange as are the coil brackets
And I like the above colored cover above to top it off

I like the contrasts

dougbert
 

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josueh95

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just like this
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HotRodPC

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I never realized any 5.3's were ugly. My crate 454 might have 50,000 on it now, and my son's 2000 Hoe has a 5.3 with 228,000 and it looks better and runs better than my 50,000 mile 454. I'm waiting for that Hoe to fall apart around that LS powertrain so I can talk it out of my son cheap. Being 2000, it's not even drive by wire so should make for a good swap into a square.
 

Dan75k20

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Mark agearhrad for life does some amazing ls mods and gives great advice!

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk
 
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If I could find one that cheap, I'd jump all over it. lol.

On a side note, speaking of cleaning up ugly, has anyone deleted the EVAP solenoid when running 5.3's in these trucks?

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And shaving the truck intake is definitely worth it

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(The entire engines been cleaned up btw)
 

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