I have an 02' Silverado Z71 with a 6" lift and 35" tires. Thinking about doing an engine swap. It's all show and no go right now but I would like to fix that. Just trying to find out how big I can go with this. Anyone have any ideas for me, or has anyone done this before. I have the 5.3 in it now......

 

I would just put a supercharger on your 5.3 with some other bolt ons and a profesional tune and youll be set.

 

Engine swaps on carbureted motors back in the old days were pretty easy. Nowadays...not so much. I'm not sure if any of the wiring harness from the 5.3 is compatible with anything like a 6.0 or a 8.1. If you're dead set on swapping the motor, go all out. Don't swap it for a 30 horsepower improvement or even a 50 horsepower improvement. Won't be worth it for the time (as well as money) spent. I agree with 20"strong, if you have the money, get a supercharger. But a turbo will be more fun. I know what you're talking about with the 5.3 though. The one I drove seemed gutless compared to my dad's 97 with a 350. If you do go with a SC or a turbo, make sure your internals are up to the task and your computer agrees.

 

5.3's have some decent potential, IMO, but if you've got the big bucks, the time, and are looking for big HP#'s and fast times, don't hesitate to go with a 6.0, or even the new 6.2!

I chose to keep my 5.3 and cam it and all the other goodies and she's serving me well. No forced induction for me on this one.

 

No matter what I do, my girl is getting a super charger put on her. I have to do something. I'm sitting on 35x20-14.50 Swamper IROCs so that right there is killing my power. Now if I bump up to the 6.0, will all the other mods have a bigger turn around then the 5.3. I don't want to do it if a whipple charger is going to have the same incress on both. You know what I mean? Even if every add-on is only 2-3 hp more in incress then the 5.3 that 2-3 adds up. and soon 30-50 more becomes 75-100 more.

 

Not really sure how to add pics. If someone wants to help me out, I'll post some.

 

Does anyone have the specs on the 5.3, 6.0 or the 8.1. Would really like to know what they are making for power.

 

That lift and tires are going to kill your performance, but you probably know that.

You can certainly change out the 5.3 for the 6.0. It's a fairly straightforward swap. But if there's nothing wrong with the 5.3 and it doesn't have a ton of miles, I'd say keep it, get a tune from Nelson Performance, throw a supercharger and some headers on it and be done. You can do a turbo, but the supercharger will give you a little more torque which you need with the lift and tires. Other options: cam (whether you do a supercharger or not), torque converter, headers...).

 

These numbers are all for a 2002 chevy silverado each with stock motors as advertised by chevrolet.

5.3 285 hp at 5200rpm 325 tq at 4000rpm
6.0 300 hp at 4400rpm 360 tq at 4000rpm

I don't believe the 8.1 was originally in the 1/2 ton pickups so I had to look under the 1-ton pickups for it.

8.1 340 hp at 4200rpm 455 tq at 3200rpm

 

8.1 isn't worth screwing with.