Vortec 5.3 or 5.7 for my 60?

[cosmo]

I'm sure this has been asked before so please be patient with me. I'm after a Vortec for my '84 FJ60. Some go the 5.7 route with I'm guessing will be more cost effective to purchase and install and the 5.3 more expensive to acquire and a more complicated install? I really like the performance of the 5.3 with 4l60. Can you guys give me a run down on the pro's and con's of each. I've been looking for a low mileage donor truck with little luck.Thanks for your help.

 

[Tinker]

A 5.7 gives more than adequate power but probably slightly less mileage than the 5.3. The early 5.3s were rumored to be less reliable than the later 5.7s. My 5.7 & 4L60E have been great.

Try a larger salvage yard on the "hot wire". Mine cost $1,250 with all accessories, wiring, & ECU delivered 5-6 years ago with a guarantee. 1st engine had a couple bad cylinders so they shipped out a good one.

 

[CruisinFJ60]

Install and stuff for both engines would be exactly the same, they both require all of the same things for the engine to run properly as both engines are OBD2 computer systems, they both use the same mounts (I am pretty sure) and have the same choice of transmissions.

as for the reliability I would call that a rumor like you did for sure. Honetly coming from and automotive background and industry for a number of years the 5.7 is reliable but I think the 5.3 is a much better platform. they can easily make a lot of extra power just from basic bolt ons and you arent gonna hurt the reliability of the engine. also I think the 5.3's run a little smoother but the differences would really be nominal on that aspect. I love the tride and true 5.7 but to be completly honest for the price a complete 5.3 with transmission, harness, and computer can be had for... It is a fantastic way to go IMOP. A maintained 5.3 is an easy 200k mile engine that will still run like new. most of the 5.7's I have seen with that milage may run great but usually also consume some oil.

 

[phishincruisin]

I would go with a 5.3L if it were me. The 5.7 is no an older style motor while the 5.3L is the newer gen III chevy motor. The 5.3L has a 6 bolt main, while the 5.7L is only 4. 5.3L use coil packs and the ignition is computer controlled, the 5.7L has a distributor.

 

[Alpha89FJ62]

5.3 for sure. Have had Chevy trucks for the last 15 years and the 5.3 is a much smoother choice over the 5.7. Getting ready to have a 5.3 dropped in the 62. I would have never considered a 5.7. Still have a 5.3 with over 100,000 with the same plugs from factory. Motor churns the tires even with 38's. Strong engine in my opinion.

 

[Elbert]

I think I would lean towards a 5.3 or 6.0 with matching transmission....as it appears they may be easy to get nowdays. Not aware of any big differences between teh new style vortec and old style that would really be a huge issue in either direction. I have read where there are some thing to understand on the engine oil pan and auto trans , regarding clearnace on the front driveshaft...make sure to understand that.

I will say that I"m not a big fan of the fuel injection "spyder" on the 5.7 vortec.

Also understand your transmissions options with the 5.3 vs the 5.7.

 

[cosmo]

The 5.3"s have it

I'm sold, 5.3 it is. I drove a friends 2003 Tahoe and loved the performance. If I thought a Tahoe would hold up as well over time, I'd just buy a Tahoe. I do love the style of the 60 though. My mechanic suggested I get a donor rig as apposed to just getting the engine/trans package by it's self. this seems like a more expensive option.Any thoughts on this? I'd like to buy the lowest mileage package I can afford but gotta keep it on the cheep as I know the conversion will cost. I plan on doing as much of the work as I can with out out sourcing. What did you guys end up spending on your conversion?

 

[Kurtis]

I would go with the 5.3 or 6.0 as well. A 5.7 tbi is the simplier less expensive option. Thats what I put in my cruiser. Again if I did it over again now that the budget and time window ( I only had 4 weeks to finish and it took me 5) wouldn't have been so tight it would have been a 6.0.

I have the 6.0 in my work truck and sadly I could never go down to a 5.3 ( even though the fuel mileage is much better ) after feeling the difference. Its 6.0 or diesel from here on out for me. a 6.0 is basically a detuned ls2. the lq4 is excellent but the lq9 version hauls. With minor upgrades your over 400hp. You can get a 6.0 for not much more than the 5.3 as well.

Gas mileage would be the only reason not to get a 6.0 , if your going to spend 4500$ doing a motor swap you might as well spend 4900$ and get 100 more hp.

I don't think the mileage would be that bad in a cruiser either . I get 12 around town and 15 on the highway but i have 410 gears as well and highway is 84mph. It should be better in a much lighter vehicle.

Your going to need a tune and a harness anyway so I wouldn't worry about that to much unless your wanting to learn how to tune and modify the factory harness.

 

[Elbert]

I have a 6.0 in my 2500 pickup and to be honest I'm really impressed in its towing capabilites (it has the 6 speed auto). Prior to buying it and driving it for the first time I would have bet that it would not tow my FJ60 and trailer adequatley...well I was flat out wrong. Yes, you can't power up the hills like a dmax or other oil burners or 496 or 454..but it will certainly do the job. Yes it eats gas almost just like my old 8.1 / 496 did, almost identical. Really good power from a small block setup...probally the strongest small block for towing GM has ever made.

If you can get a good deal on a donor vehicle that is the way to go...then you have all teh parts that you will ever need (The stuff that you will need to trade over) and you will nto have to wory about what fits with what and having to run down all the small parts. I would buy a donor vehicle hands down if you find one in the 2 to 3K price range.

 

[lcwizard]

I hate to be the odd man out but I still like the TBI350.
The 5.3's I've seen in land cruisers seem to be getting about 12 mpg's
My tbi got 17 on the highway in a 40 and 14 to 16 in 55's and 60's.
Simple and reliable, easy to diagnose and repair. Low pressure fuel system
that can be repaired off road with simple hose clamps. After 210,000 miles
I replaced the valve stem seals and reground one valve seat.

A 5.7 gives more than adequate power but probably slightly less mileage than the 5.3. The early 5.3s were rumored to be less reliable than the later 5.7s. My 5.7 & 4L60E have been great.

Try a larger salvage yard on the "hot wire". Mine cost $1,250 with all accessories, wiring, & ECU delivered 5-6 years ago with a guarantee. 1st engine had a couple bad cylinders so they shipped out a good one.

 

[Elbert]

I like the TBI 5.7 for its dependablity...I had one in a 92K1500. Not a powerhouse but dead solid reliable and easy to work on. If you want fuel injection and would like to save some $$... a TBI 5.7 is a good choice.

I don't consider power to be a loose or win game here, because all the engines mentioned will out perform the stock 6 cylinder. Sometimes power is more of a fun factor rather than a requirement.

If you had a line on a TBI 350 or a donor vehicle with one in it...I would have no hesitation in going that route either.

 

[dbleon]

I hate to be the odd man out but I still like the TBI350.
The 5.3's I've seen in land cruisers seem to be getting about 12 mpg's
My tbi got 17 on the highway in a 40 and 14 to 16 in 55's and 60's.
Simple and reliable, easy to diagnose and repair. Low pressure fuel system
that can be repaired off road with simple hose clamps. After 210,000 miles
I replaced the valve stem seals and reground one valve seat.

I researched this to death. To get any kind of decent power out of a tbi, your looking at a custom package with: heads, bored out TB, injector, fuel pressure spring, custom tune chip, adapters, etc etc. In the end you have a lot of one-off stuff, that may not be the easiest to replace.

A 5.3 is drop in ready to go. All parts are right off the shelf and putting out good power and better MPG.

A good running 5.3 in a chevy tahoe gets close to 20 MPG HWY. The tahoe is about the same weight as the fj60, so I dont know if 12 mpg is too accurate. Maybe the one's you have seen had problems. MPFI should always do better on MPG.

JMHO

 

[lehiguy]

My TBI 350 is a simple compilation of easily obtainable parts (roller lifter block, Vorteck Heads, Edelbrock intake with a TBI adapter, Comp Cams hardware, bored TB, shorty headers and a custom chip) and will flat kick the out of any 5.3 I have ever driven. Not the the 5.3 isn't an excellent platform; it is superior in it's potential. But for the money, TBI can perform very well for very little money and it is probably the most reliable fuel delivery system ever mass produced by anybody.

 

[OyajiJon]

A good running 5.3 in a chevy tahoe gets close to 20 MPG HWY.

If you're referring to EPA numbers, I rarely trust them. If you're referring to real world observation, I'd be interested in tire size, driving speed, and road conditions. I can't see any V8 gasoline engine getting 20 MPG in a vehicle the size/weight of a Land Cruiser. My theory of getting better fuel economy out of a bigger engine (yes, I actually convinced myself of this result when I swapped mine) is blown out of the water every time I drive it. I will also say that power is addicting, and unless you're a disciplined driver like my Grampa (whom I love dearly), you'll likely get the same economy out of yours as I do mine.

I still would NEVER go back to a 2F.

My unsolicited .02...

 

[MANUCHAO]

I would do 6.0 over a 5.7... just cause it has more cookie ...........
I went with a 5.3 and it has plenty of power.....
As far as fuel consumption goes.. I have got close to 18mpg at 65mpg...but I rarely stay at the speed limit....
I get around 14mpg pulling a 3k trailer..... oooooooh but the power...... let me say its just sweeeeet !!!!

 

[dbleon]

My TBI 350 is a simple compilation of easily obtainable parts (roller lifter block, Vorteck Heads, Edelbrock intake with a TBI adapter, Comp Cams hardware, bored TB, shorty headers and a custom chip) and will flat kick the out of any 5.3 I have ever driven. Not the the 5.3 isn't an excellent platform; it is superior in it's potential. But for the money, TBI can perform very well for very little money and it is probably the most reliable fuel delivery system ever mass produced by anybody.

I'm sure you TBI is the tits... but I'm also sure it took ALOT of custom work to get it there. Bored out TB, lots of datalogging for custom one off TBI chip, hit or miss mathcing parts all over the place. It not really plug and play at all. I really dug into options as far as running a TBI system,and quite simply it would end up costing more than a modern MPFI.

-have fresh 350 built = $$$ (very hard to find low mile, so in my eyes this would be the only option)
-bored TB = $$$
custom chip and datalogging = $$$ and oh, you better have a laptop
-tbi intake to run egr = $$$ or you lose egr and fail smog

I really looked into it and its not simple, and not cost effective.

Versus- I bought a complete 5.3l with tranny fully dressed ready to go with wiring for $1,000. No guessing games. Not saying its easy, but its less custom and less $.

If you're referring to EPA numbers, I rarely trust them. If you're referring to real world observation, I'd be interested in tire size, driving speed, and road conditions. I can't see any V8 gasoline engine getting 20 MPG in a vehicle the size/weight of a Land Cruiser. My theory of getting better fuel economy out of a bigger engine (yes, I actually convinced myself of this result when I swapped mine) is blown out of the water every time I drive it. I will also say that power is addicting, and unless you're a disciplined driver like my Grampa (whom I love dearly), you'll likely get the same economy out of yours as I do mine.

I still would NEVER go back to a 2F.

My unsolicited .02...

My old neighbor has a yukon that he claims does 20... he's a GM master tech, so It might have a tune. so I guess that's real world.. I would say the weight, aerodynamics, etc are similar so I cant imagine less than 15 on the highway.

I'll find out soon........

 

[lehiguy]

I'm sure you TBI is the tits... but I'm also sure it took ALOT of custom work to get it there. Bored out TB, lots of datalogging for custom one off TBI chip, hit or miss mathcing parts all over the place. It not really plug and play at all. I really dug into options as far as running a TBI system,and quite simply it would end up costing more than a modern MPFI.

-have fresh 350 built = $$$ (very hard to find low mile, so in my eyes this would be the only option)
-bored TB = $$$
custom chip and datalogging = $$$ and oh, you better have a laptop
-tbi intake to run egr = $$$ or you lose egr and fail smog

I really looked into it and its not simple, and not cost effecive.

Versus- I bought a complete 5.3l with tranny fully dressed ready to go with wiring for $1,000. No guessing games. Not saying its easy, but its less custom and less $. Quote]




$1000 complete (if it isn't fried) is a good deal. I did toss the EGR, don't need or want it and it's not required by the state in order to pass inspection. I have to have a cat, evap, and O2 feedback, that's it. If you live in Kalifornia, that's a different story. I spent $1300 on the overhaul parts and machine work, put it together in the garage. The rest was wrecking yard stuff aside from the TB boring and the chip burning which was less complicated than I anticipated and are the only two things on my rig that are proprietary, yet easily replicated should I need it. (I coerced a co-worker into using his laptop to do the data logging.) The ultimate would be the 5.3 with a supercharger on it. It certainly has the structural integrity to handle it.

 

[Elbert]

I would leave the 5.7 TBI engine stock and just move on with having fun with it. As noted its about the cheapest and esaiest to work on fuel injected V-8 that GM makes. I would use the matching auto trans and call it a day. You'll have a very dependable capable truck.

 

[dbleon]

I'm sure you TBI is the ****... but I'm also sure it took ALOT of custom work to get it there. Bored out TB, lots of datalogging for custom one off TBI chip, hit or miss mathcing parts all over the place. It not really plug and play at all. I really dug into options as far as running a TBI system,and quite simply it would end up costing more than a modern MPFI.

-have fresh 350 built = $$$ (very hard to find low mile, so in my eyes this would be the only option)
-bored TB = $$$
custom chip and datalogging = $$$ and oh, you better have a laptop
-tbi intake to run egr = $$$ or you lose egr and fail smog

I really looked into it and its not simple, and not cost effecive.

Versus- I bought a complete 5.3l with tranny fully dressed ready to go with wiring for $1,000. No guessing games. Not saying its easy, but its less custom and less $. Quote]




$1000 complete (if it isn't fried) is a good deal. I did toss the EGR, don't need or want it and it's not required by the state in order to pass inspection. I have to have a cat, evap, and O2 feedback, that's it. If you live in Kalifornia, that's a different story. I spent $1300 on the overhaul parts and machine work, put it together in the garage. The rest was wrecking yard stuff aside from the TB boring and the chip burning which was less complicated than I anticipated and are the only two things on my rig that are proprietary, yet easily replicated should I need it. (I coerced a co-worker into using his laptop to do the data logging.) The ultimate would be the 5.3 with a supercharger on it. It certainly has the structural integrity to handle it.

I feel I did very, very well. Carfax verified 53k miles. 6 months left on warranty.

Alot easier than piecing something together and praying it works.

I can carry a spare of every part just as you can with tbi. There's really not too many critical (as in no start/no run) parts.

Plus its been done a thousand times... the 5.3 swap is becoming the most popular swap in the world. Seemed like a no brainer descision to me after really sitting down and looking at what each option required time and $ wise.

But again....JMHO

 

[Welltech]

Do you have a link? The only thing I get when I do a hot wire search is vacation deals...

A 5.7 gives more than adequate power but probably slightly less mileage than the 5.3. The early 5.3s were rumored to be less reliable than the later 5.7s. My 5.7 & 4L60E have been great.

Try a larger salvage yard on the "hot wire". Mine cost $1,250 with all accessories, wiring, & ECU delivered 5-6 years ago with a guarantee. 1st engine had a couple bad cylinders so they shipped out a good one.