Who doesn't like FREE!!!!

[frotosride]

So the other day I was talking to my brother about my plans to put a lowely 5.3l lm7 in "Old Blue" and after a few minuets he said 'you know that i still have that lq9'. My obviouse response was no. Well it turns out that he still has a complet lq9 with complete FEAD system, fuel pump, ecm, wiering harness and fuel lines. The best part about it is the price... FREEEEEEE!!!!! all i have to do is put a block, with some heads on i,t in it's place on the stand. He said it didn't matter what block or the condition of the block. How does it get better than that? I have no Idea when i'm going to have time to start this project because i'm bout to be relocated but this is a heck of a start in a good direction. YAY MEEEEE!!!

[Skunksmash]

Nice. Is that the best 5.3 block available? I read somewhere that there was an all aluminum 5.3 at some point. That's the one I want.

[zieg85]

My all time favorite say goes like this.... "Free I Understand"

[frotosride]

Nice. Is that the best 5.3 block available? I read somewhere that there was an all aluminum 5.3 at some point. That's the one I want.

No, it's not a 5.3l 327 ci...it's a 6.0l 365ci or raw modern toqrue....it is one of the most sought after iron block ls series engines on the market. LQ9The Vortec HO 6000 or VortecMAX is a special high-output version of the Vortec 6000 V8 truck engine originally designed for Cadillac. This engine was introduced in other truck lines as VortecMAX for 2006. It features high-compression (10:1) flat-top pistons for an extra 10 hp (7 kW) and 10 lb·ft (14 N·m), bringing output to 345 hp (257 kW) and 380 lb·ft (515 N·m). LQ9s are built only in Romulus, Michigan. GM also listed it as based on LS architecture


And yes there actually 2 all alluminum versions of the  5.3l lm7
 LM4The LM4 (VIN code "P") Vortec 5300 is an aluminum block version of the LM7, and had a short production life. It should not be confused with the L33 described below. LM4 applications:

2003–2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
2003–2004 Isuzu Ascender
2004 GMC Envoy XL
2003–2004 Chevrolet SSR
2004 Buick Rainier
[edit] L33The L33 (VIN code "B") is an aluminum block version of the LM7, and was referred to as the Vortec 5300 HO in marketing materials. Power increased by 15 hp (11 kW), to 310 hp (230 kW), over the LM7, and torque was unchanged. It was only available on extended cab 4WD pickup trucks. Only 25% of trucks made in 2005 had the L33 engine.

L33 applications:

2005–2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD
2005–2007 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD

[Skunksmash]

Sounds like it shouldn't be too awful hard to find an all aluminum 5.3L then. What 5.3 came with the best power and gas mileage? I'm guessing one of the aluminum ones...

I heard that some of the caddys and the Avalanches had the aluminum ones. Can't remember.

[Captkaos]

Only 05-07 Extended cab Trucks got the L33, frostrides post shows what came with them.

[heavychevy91]

Hey man thats pretty cool. If i had a free LS motor fall into my lap i would be into a swap as well...

[frotosride]

Hey man thats pretty cool. If i had a free LS motor fall into my lap i would be into a swap as well...

He has had this motor for years and it only has 70k on it. I wanted it from the first time I saw it in his garage. He had so many palns for it but they have all fallen on the back burner until now with me being the latedt plan...which I will gladly and probably painfully follow through with.

[Skunksmash]

Only 05-07 Extended cab Trucks got the L33, frostrides post shows what came with them.

Are there any plans in the future for more of them? Or is GM done with the aluminum 5.3? Maybe you follow them more closely than I do.

[frotosride]

honnestly there is no telling. They still make a crate motor that you can purchase but the newer versions as with everything new from GM has a new name/call sign so who knows.

[Skunksmash]

Guess I could always get one and rebuild it, or buy it from Jasper or something. Might be difficult to find a low mileage one from 2007.

Looks like you can get one from Jasper for 3 grand. Might be worth it for their 3 year 100K mile warranty. Plus they do updates and fix factory flaws.

[Avidyn]

Yes, you can get them. And, you can get them from GM. I just stopped working at a GM dealership and we had sold a couple of them. You may not find it anywhere, but... there are some nerw crew cabs out there with some aluminum block. Just have to know what to look for.

[Skunksmash]

Do you know how much you sold them for? Were they just the long blocks?

[roadrage41]

Lol lowly 5.3

Skunk youre basically saving 40 pounds. A cammed iron block will outperform an l33 and an lq9 for that matter, for less money. Unless you really need that 40 pounds, save your money.

[Avidyn]

Rage is right. A cammed iron block will out perform. But, money savings I'm not so sure on an LQ9. You can pick up a LQ9 for a decent price nowadays. Almost the same as an LM7. If you factor in the price to cam an LM7 (the right way, with all new valve train to match). The savings vs power is not really there. The only reason I got my LM7 instead of an LQ9 was the price of the one I bought.

And, in this case especially, the LQ9 is a WAY better option than a cammed anything. Because it's free! No better way to save your money than to get it that way.