What's your take on this: http://carcraft.automotive.com/72081/ccrp-0804-325-chevy-small-block-engine/index.html

I've become more and more convinced that the traditional SBC and BBC are slowly going to go the way of the Ford flathead (well, not quite that bad). The GM engineers REALLY knew what they were doing when they designed the LSx series of engines, and the strengths are from top to bottom.

I've got a dyno'ed 465hp 383 sitting in my shop that I'm going to sell in favor of putting a slightly hopped up (cam & heads) LS1 in my current build, and I fully expect the LS1 to blow the 383 into the weeds AND get much better fuel economy. Power and efficiency is a combination that you just can't beat, particularly now.

those little 5.3's move a 4X4 pickup around pretty damn well- i think it would be right at home in any street driven RWD car.

Don't get me started!

pdq67

Don't get me started!

pdq67

C'mon Paul, what do you think? :D

those little 5.3's move a 4X4 pickup around pretty damn well- i think it would be right at home in any street driven RWD car.

My son is thinking about going this route to convert his RX7. I know nothing about them (hell, I know almost nothing of engines :)). He's convincing himself that this engine might be a great way to go. And of course, the RX7 is RWD. You think it'd be a good application for it?

Don't get me started!

pdq67

I hear they are cast from melted Bud cans Paul l:)

I've actually got a line on one with a OD trans that I'm considering for my 68 ...
And everyone knows empty beer cans are really for target practice :D

Impressive.And think a friend just gave me one of them complete.

Impressive.And think a friend just gave me one of them complete.

And being on a budget (college student), he'd skip the expensive stuff (different heads) and basically just swap out the cam to obtain near an extra 100hp. It almost seems too good to be true that it could be done pretty cheap.

I've become more and more convinced that the traditional SBC and BBC are slowly going to go the way of the Ford flathead (well, not quite that bad).


I think you're right. I've been thinking of getting some newer junk.

Wouldn't you have to get all the computer and harness too?

The newer engines look like ass. Is there any way to make them look decent?

Wouldn't you have to get all the computer and harness too?

The newer engines look like ass. Is there any way to make them look decent?

Several aftermarket suppliers make control ECM's for the LS1 and other engine set-ups.
The MSD unit is just over $300 from Summit and it is 'plug-and-play' for these.
Much easier and cheaper than going with a factory harness, reworking it and then installing it.

There are some nice add-on 'blingy' thingys for them, but I do for the most part agree with you statement.
With some aftermarket speed stuff they could at least look somewhat cool - afterall, what doesn't look sorta-cool with a Holley bolted on it ...

Several aftermarket suppliers make control ECM's for the LS1 and other engine set-ups.
The MSD unit is just over $300 from Summit and it is 'plug-and-play' for these.
Much easier and cheaper than going with a factory harness, reworking it and then installing it.

There are some nice add-on 'blingy' thingys for them, but I do for the most part agree with you statement.
With some aftermarket speed stuff they could at least look somewhat cool - afterall, what doesn't look sorta-cool with a Holley bolted on it ...

Call me crazy, but 500 hp and 22-24 mpg makes for a REALLY good looking engine to me.

Call me crazy, but 500 hp and 22-24 mpg makes for a REALLY good looking engine to me.

Thanks for your input, guys :thumbsup:

just taking the plastic cover off the late model engines makes them look much better.
but the 5.3 has that high rise chunk of plastic that serves as an intake manifold to deal with- you can swap an LS1 intake on, but i think the throttle body interferes with the truck accessories or something.
and if you arestill afraid of computers- you can get rid of all the modern electronics and run a carb intake from either GM or Edelbrock, and GM sells a front cover that allows the use of a regular old distributor and mechanical fuel pump from a 351W Ford.
what you end up with is a newer Chevy engine that looks like a small block Ford...

..........what you end up with is a newer Chevy engine that looks like a small block Ford...


That could be fun at the local cruise in. :yes:

Well someone has NO idea what they have, unless there is a problem, could just be from a wrecked vehicle. I'd say an excellent price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-CHEVY-1500-5-3L-ENGINE-MOTOR-62K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33615QQihZ011QQitem Z320280504871QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Well someone has NO idea what they have, unless there is a problem, could just be from a wrecked vehicle. I'd say an excellent price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-CHEVY-1500-5-3L-ENGINE-MOTOR-62K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33615QQihZ011QQitem Z320280504871QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

That's actually a fairly high price! My son has told me about several out there for a mere few hundred bucks. Here's one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Silverado-Sierra-5-3L-Engine-86k-LM7-Tested-LKQ-5053_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713Q2em153Q2el126 2QQcategoryZ33615QQihZ012QQitemZ220257082228

Btw, what GM intake manifold would work with this engine to convert to carb?

EDIT: My son is concerned with height and doesn't want to have to mod his hood. I believe he'd need a short water pump too to go with LS1/6 IM?

WOW I did NOT realize how LOW of a cost these motors were selling for!
Shoot for that price I'd buy one and put one of those victor jr. intakes and do the other necessary mods, cam, ignition.
I hear these motors already have good heads since a lot of Lsx guys put them on their motors.
Btw Edelbrock makes a few intakes fro these motors if I am correct?
I disagree on the visual aspect of these motors, I think they look very cool inside of a first gen camaro, probably nothing would look sweeter unless theres a reher-morrison under there!
How can these sell so cheap when people dish out $3,000+ for replacement motors?

WOW I did NOT realize how LOW of a cost these motors were selling for!
Shoot for that price I'd buy one and put one of those victor jr. intakes and do the other necessary mods, cam, ignition.
I hear these motors already have good heads since a lot of Lsx guys put them on their motors.
Btw Edelbrock makes a few intakes fro these motors if I am correct?
I disagree on the visual aspect of these motors, I think they look very cool inside of a first gen camaro, probably nothing would look sweeter unless theres a reher-morrison under there!
How can these sell so cheap when people dish out $3,000+ for replacement motors?

Ace, since you've seen them in 1st gens, were they redone with carbs or left as EFI? My son says they have a superior EFI system, but he doesn't think he wants to go through all the crap. And of course, if the ones you've seen had carbs, do you recall where they mounted fuel pumps? Again, he's concerned with height of engine w/carb because it's going in an RX7....maybe :)

And yes, the low cost is what makes these look like a great idea that were overlooked for a long time.

Ace, since you've seen them in 1st gens, were they redone with carbs or left as EFI? My son says they have a superior EFI system, but he doesn't think he wants to go through all the crap. And of course, if the ones you've seen had carbs, do you recall where they mounted fuel pumps? Again, he's concerned with height of engine w/carb because it's going in an RX7....maybe :)

And yes, the low cost is what makes these look like a great idea that were overlooked for a long time.
I have seen like 3 I believe most were fuel injection and maybe 1 carb.
Check out competition products, they sell these motors as crates and have everything for them for sale too, distributors, intakes... I'd stick it out and do the fuel injection, tuning can be done by computer and it's hard to destroy an engine controlled by a computer. If he adds nitrous I believe there will be less of a head ache. I'm almost positive that the truck intake won't work as I know someone installing one in a 69' camaro and the intake had to go. You should run an electric fuel pump with any efi set up in my opinion, his stock fuel pump may even work.

I have seen like 3 I believe most were fuel injection and maybe 1 carb.
Check out competition products, they sell these motors as crates and have everything for them for sale too, distributors, intakes... I'd stick it out and do the fuel injection, tuning can be done by computer and it's hard to destroy an engine controlled by a computer. If he adds nitrous I believe there will be less of a head ache. I'm almost positive that the truck intake won't work as I know someone installing one in a 69' camaro and the intake had to go. You should run an electric fuel pump with any efi set up in my opinion, his stock fuel pump may even work.

Thanks for the info. Here's a link he just showed me to a v8RX7 forum, where a guy put one in his RX7. Scroll down to see different pics: http://www.v8rx7forum.com/v8-rx-7-build-threads/43725-my-lm7-build-5.html