5.0MX5

No affiliation, it's just that I occasionally think about building a LS1 car and check out the engine availability.

Ad lists 5.3 LS1 with 243 heads all aluminum with wiring harness and computer and mass airflow out of a wrecked 2013 Silverado Z71 with 22k Miles for $1700 Seems cheap, but what do I know.

SupaDupaSteve

Well technically it's not an "LS1" an LS1 is a 5.7 from a camaro, transam, corvette, or GTO. That engine is an "LY5" witch is an iron block Aluminum head engine. It has AFM/DOD (active fuel management/Displacement on Demand) which is an additional cost to swap over to traditional stuff. I'm unsure of if you'd be able to use the ECM and harness or not.

5.0MX5

Yeah, understand the Not an LS1 thing. However from the image below (lifted from from his ad) the block sure looks aluminum. Also, from my research there are al blocked 5.3 in some trucks, also purely based on research this looks like a Vortec 5.3L LC9 rated at 315hp/335 tq.

However not being a dyed in the wool GM guy I could be totally full it it.

SupaDupaSteve

If it indeed is from a Sierra it can't be a LC9. According to my reference an LC9 came in 2007+ Avalanche, Suburban, and Yukon XL.
If it's an LC9 it also has VVT in addition to AFM/DOD

V8droptop

"The aluminum block (LC9) is offered on 4wd trucks, while the iron block (LMG) is offered on the 2wd trucks. As stated above, the 8th digit in the VIN is either a 3 for the aluminum block or a 0 for the iron block."

From my searching... Earlier trucks had the Z71 quad cab only with the aluminum blocks. In your photos, it really looks like aluminum, not iron, as most iron blocks are black.

Now, the bad news. You'll need a new intake/TB/fuel rails/injectors/harness to fit it to your car, different front drive accessories including crank/alt/P/S to clear the swap, and a handfull of other things will need to be changed. Removal of DoD/AFM and VVT is recommended by most LS guys, and goes along with a cam swap anyway.

It adds up fast, which is why lots of people prefer the LS1/LS2 from other donors. However, the 5.3 is a fine choice, with carefully chosen mods you can still hit 400-500whp, and plenty of blueprints for that on LS1tech.

Just crosscheck everything and see if it makes sense for you. Check in person (bring a magnet) to see if its an aluminum block, in which case it may be a viable option. Good luck!

stng_96

I would call that a mediocre deal. Certainly not bad if your building a streetrod or something with a little more room under the hood, but as has already been mentioned, you'd be in it several hundred dollars more at least getting it to fit in one of these cars. I feel like I got a good deal on my engine swap, I got the complete 17k mile pullout, throttle body to oil pan, trans, ecm, engine and body harness,driveshaft and all front suspension/brakes for 3000, then by the time I sold the oil pan, suspension stuff I'm only into it 2500.

5.0MX5

All, thanks for the comments. I was pulled in by the low mileage and price, but as pointed out, by the time you buy the pieces required for our cars, it's not nearly as sweet a deal. Now if one could source a trashed/blown engine from the appropriate vehicle for scrap prices, then.....

Guess I'll continue to drive my little 5.0 Ford, it really does do all I need being a daily driver grocery getter and all. But then we don't do these cars because we need then. I'm reminded of the old axiom, too much is never enough.

dietcoke

The hybrid trucks are Al block.