LH6 5.3 aluminum in C5, what's needed?
 

I need a new engine for my C5 I want a 5.3 aluminum block because it's going to be a DD and want decent mpgs out of it I'm tired of driving my current 4cyl commuter. I know the L33 is a direct swap but I can't find one for as low as a LH6, besides a DOD delete what else should I need to get the LH6 to work?

Maybe not what you want to hear, but I think that gimping your car for maybe one or two more miles per gallon is silly. Driving in highest reasonable gear gets me 25-30 highway mpg depending on speed limits.

Ok, thanks guys.

Don't even know where to start. LS1s are plentiful on fleaBay and many vendors, are easy to swap and get great gas mileage when clean and in a proper state of tune... Why in the hell would you want to put a truck engine in a Corvette? Even if you get the ECU to work with the C5 gearing and rear powertrain, it's a freaking truck motor. Truck cam. Truck crank. Truck ECU.


Speaking of ECU, the Vortec 5.3, (all 6 or 7 miserable 300-ish HP variants), have a highly overrated cylinder switching technology. Trust me, trucks with the 5.3 guzzle gas like anything else when driven normally. The head design is based on the LS6, not from the LS6. Sorry for ranting... But this is unsat.


:toetap:

Ok guys, I think I got it from here. I'm sorry I even asked. I will find the info I need elsewhere.

Don't be sorry- These are honest replies, though. The amount of money you'd spend to make it work would be a lot more than the $1500 to $2000 for a higher mileage block, and a bit more for low mileage. Here's a nice LS1-


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Corvett...FXaasg&vxp=mtr


The point is, you can do a lot to an LS1 to make it really efficient; Good examples return close to 30MPG with the cruise set at 65ish. :cheers:

Yeah, I have some thinking to do. I might sell or keep a complete LQ4/4L80e combo from a parts truck I got but I might swap it into my 02 silverado (4.8/4L60e). Then there's my 99 trans am I'm putting my forged LQ9/M6 then there's the C5. Too many LS cars I just want to DD either the fbody or the C5. My current DD is dangerously slow 1.9L Saturn. I also have forged pistons, diamonds for a 408 and mahles for a 382.... oh desisions desisions.

Gee that's funny, because the LH6 in the wife's Envoy has 799 heads. They're not based on LS6/LS2 heads, they are LS6/2 heads.

I don't know why your knocking the 5.3 ??? it's a great engine and plenty capable of HP and mileage in a car as light and aerodynamic as the vette ????? I have ridden in a new GM pickup with a 5.3 and 8 speed auto and it might beat my vette as it stands ???? and some of the new pickups are getting 23 mpg in a darn freight car design ???

You you will not get better fuel economy from a small engine.
Weather you believe it or not, performance, efficiency, and fuel economy go hand in hand.
A smaller engine will make you rev higher to move the the same weight.

If you put a small four cylinder engine in this car you will be lucky to see 25mpg and it wont last long.

that's not necessarily true though,

Sure there needs to be a balance, but

the 2016 Honda Civic weighs about 200lbs less than a C5, and is rated at a combined 35mpg with only 175hp

And it lasts really long

Don't need a ls1

The 4.8 5.3 6.0 are fantastic

Get iron if you plan on boosting

Summit has brand new 5.3 blocks for $380.00

Try 300.00
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-4853l/overview/

Yeah... it was not a debate whether or not the 5.3 would be a good choice or not. I just needed to know if I was missing anything else besides a DOD delete kit for a gen 4 aluminum block because I'm getting a 4.8 rotating assembly for a rear mount turbo. Then everyone is going to say don't do rear mount turbo! Anyway I'll post when I'm done. I'm almost done taking the old LS1 out that overheated.

I have most of these parts:

5.3 aluminum block (on the process of buying one)
4.8 rotating assembly
LS6 intake
LS6 cam
LS7/LS9 exhaust manifolds and c6 z06 H pipe which will be modified for rear mount turbo set up.
243 heads (317s will lower cr too much)
Rear mount On3 GT45 rear mount turbo (I can tig weld)
LS7 clutch

I can easily hit 500rwhp IF I wanted with the set up. Again, this is my set up if it upsets you I'm sorry but it's my project. I believe I can get good mpgs out of it and feel like stock when I'm not under boost.

380ish with shipping

Boost? Don't get aluminum

Get iron block

And some forged parts

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-forced-induction-nitrous/3375399-5-3-rear-mount-turbo-c5z-getsomemotorsports-built-speedfactory-tuned-dyno-results.html

My inspiration

I have a 2005 LQ4 and a forged LQ4 I might go with either of those 2 if I go iron block