Buy New Engine Or Rebuild Old Engine? 99 5.3l Z71

[Badshot]

Ok so i have a 1999 Silverado with a 5.3l in it. Today as i was driving i come up to a red light and sum guy driving a f150 5.4l Triton Decided to well race me... hmm he didnt get ahead of me and well sadly i didnt jump ahead of him. And me Well i dont like to lose or tie. especialy against a Ford. So i decided maybe my 5.3l has a bit to many miles on it to perform good. It has 185k miles on it and a CAI. Now the question is, Should i rebuild the engine putting some performance stuff in it? or buy a new one? Which way would be cheaper and have the most horsepower?

 

 

Just curious what all could i do to the 5.3l i have now? Maybe a racing cam.... and what else, Ideas would be great. I've got a shop to do the work in just need to know where to start.

[MarkD]

It really depends on your budget. I have done both (not in my trucks though).

 

Crate motor = reliable, usually documented results

Rebuild = more possibilities, each possibility adds $$$$. can get expensive.

[Nytemare]

Agreed, depends on budget.

If cash isn't an option, get yourself a ZL402 from the fine folks at SLP. That will put just about anything on the street in its place.

 

ZL402

[Badshot]

Agreed, depends on budget.

If cash isn't an option, get yourself a ZL402 from the fine folks at SLP. That will put just about anything on the street in its place.

 

ZL402

 

 

Ok heres the thing, I am looking to spend about $1200-1400

 

on it. I found a standard 5.3l for $543, and crate engines run about 1200 to 1400, So could i do more with my engine for the money or should i just buy a crate?

[Badshot]

1 more question. Will a 350 bolt in my truck? 99 silverado 5.3l z71

[Nytemare]

1 more question. Will a 350 bolt in my truck? 99 silverado 5.3l z71

OK...Big no on that....yes anything will fit with enough cash, welding rod and metal...but Bolt in...it will not. The trans wont even mate to it and a 350 has next to no power compared to an LS series small block. I mean...350 had like 225 hp and 300 ft lbs of torque...350 if your lucky....and that's a vortec version. 5.3 is at least 100 hp more than that.

 

There is no way your doing anything in the way of a performance rebuild on any engine with 1200-1400 bones...that should take care of machining...you will need another 3000+ for parts...and depending on how much your looking to get out of it...you may need much more than that....and thats if your building it...plus, do you have all the tools to build an engine? Since you used the term "racing Cam"....I'm gonna go with a big NO on that one. A socket set and a hammer is not gonna come close to building an engine.

 

Run a quart of Auto trans fluid through your oil for a tank of fuel or so, than change it out, do a Seafoam treatment on the intake and fuel system change your fuel filter plugs and wires and get an ECM tune....that will come no where near 1200 bones and you will be much further ahead.

[MarkD]

I have to agree with Aiden. For $1200 you are best off spending your money on maintenance/tune up items and maybe a Blackbear tune.

 

To give you an idea of rebuild costs (and it can be done cheaper). We budgeted $9000 for a rebuild/stroker of a TBI 350. Final cost was just over $12000, and that was just in the engine (Fuel Injected/ Normally Aspirated).

 

I wouldn't dare plan a rebuild with a budget of less than $4000.

 

I apologize if this sounds harsh. I would much rather get/give a wake-up call now rather than after your truck was torn down.

[Nytemare]

I regularly rebuild engines for people, mostly stock or slightly modded.

I dont charge labor...other than coffee and maybe a McD's burger here or there....for 1200 bones I wouldn't even Crack the top-end.

 

Usually, unless you have some smoking connections, your looking at a minimum of 500 bucks for machining. That's if you only need to deck the heads and check the block for cracks and have everything washed.

 

Grinding a crank is like 360 bucks, 50 bucks a hole if you need to have the engine punched...some shops charge more...decking the block is another 300 bucks...it costs 70 bucks to press fit the wrist pin into a piston...so that's another 560....if you are reusing the old rods...as they can handle a fair amount of power...its another 25 bucks per piston to get the old wrist pins out...another 200 bucks....you get the picture...you haven't even started putting things together yet....

 

Parts wise.....

Cam shaft...400+ for something good...

Valve train...full roller, performance... 1100 bones

Cheap pistons....300 bucks....plan on 600-800 if you want forged.

High volume oil pump...200 bucks

double roller timing chain...200 bucks

gaskets and seals...300+

Bearings...75 bucks for mains, 75-100 for rods

Various lubes, shop towels etc...200+

Thats if your not getting head work done.

 

 

This should put you in the 400ish horsepower range probably 430-450 with a tune...you will need one after doing a can that's worth anything anyway.