Vortec 5.7 vs. Gen III 5.3

Avanteone · Oct 19, 2009

Been contemplating a V8 swap in my YJ, it's running an Atlas II 3.0, D60's, 5.13's and 37's. I was pretty much set on a 5.3 (or maybe even a 6.0) along with a 4L60, but now an absolutely SMOKING deal has popped up on a Vortec 5.7 (complete with ecm, harness, etc) with 4L60. I know there will be a little bit of weight difference.... but any other good reasons I should skip the 5.7 and go with one of the Gen III motors?

nate8887 · Oct 19, 2009

I am in the same boat. just with a 4.3 instead of a 5.7

shrek1 · Oct 19, 2009

Avanteone said:
Been contemplating a V8 swap in my YJ, it's running an Atlas II 3.0, D60's, 5.13's and 37's. I was pretty much set on a 5.3 (or maybe even a 6.0) along with a 4L60, but now an absolutely SMOKING deal has popped up on a Vortec 5.7 (complete with ecm, harness, etc) with 4L60. I know there will be a little bit of weight difference.... but any other good reasons I should skip the 5.7 and go with one of the Gen III motors?

I have run the 5.7 for 2 years no trouble love it.:awesomework:

Avanteone · Oct 19, 2009

shrek said:
I have run the 5.7 for 2 years no trouble love it.:awesomework:

You running Vortec or TBI?

I know the 5.7 is a great motor... just wondering if there's any real advantages to the 5.3/6.0 that I'm NOT thinking about... this 5.7 package is CHEAP and gonna be hard to pass up. I know I'd be in a 5.3 package (engine, trans, stock harness, etc) like $2500.... the 5.7 package is less than half of that.

chainsaw · Oct 19, 2009

Hmm....5.7's are a dime a dozen so repairs would be that much easier....

shrek1 · Oct 19, 2009

Avanteone said:
You running Vortec or TBI?

I know the 5.7 is a great motor... just wondering if there's any real advantages to the 5.3/6.0 that I'm NOT thinking about... this 5.7 package is CHEAP and gonna be hard to pass up. I know I'd be in a 5.3 package (engine, trans, stock harness, etc) like $2500.... the 5.7 package is less than half of that.

Im running the vortec out of a 99 tahoe.Computer cleaned up and chiped with headers and intake.Makes good power runs great very happy.:awesomework:

Bunk1 · Oct 19, 2009

I say cost is a factor. Hydro'ing a LS block doesnt sound cheap

Bodaciouscj7 · Oct 19, 2009

Other than the price, I can think of no other advantage. It's going to be the same job to do the swap either way and the Gen III should get a little better mileage (probably not enough to make any difference)

oneshot · Oct 19, 2009

I'm running a 01 5.7 in my jeep works great. I have owned two other 5.7 vortecs:awesomework: put 300,000 hard miles on one and the other has 248,000 these motors take a beating and keep going.

4xrick · Oct 20, 2009

im running the 5.7 vortec and no issues. little more power/torque than the 5.3 but the 6. parts way easier to come by and a easy install in the jeep as well. mine is chipped headers intake and and custom harness.

Avanteone · Oct 20, 2009

So, it sounds like this package is the way to go. So custom harness/pcm programming, headers, etc. Is it worth ripping into to put a different camshaft in?

And I'm still not sold on the durability of the 4L60 compared to like a TH400.

J

justcuz · Oct 20, 2009

you can't beat a turbo 400 or 4l80 but 1rst gear is quite a bit taller. if your not towing anything that big or have hard shift tunes then they hold up pretty good. i believe you can send off the computer to get reprogramed to run just 2 o2's and they(can't remeber who) will tune it for what you have. the cam is just fine. it's a roller cam and works great, you could benefit from a cam if you had it in a 1/4 mile or street car but not much for a jeep.
it will probably scare you a bit being bone stock in it.

Avanteone · Oct 20, 2009

justcuz said:
it will probably scare you a bit being bone stock in it.

Scare me? You know me better than that. :fawkdancesmiley:

justcuz · Oct 20, 2009

i know,... ok scare everyone else even close to you!

Pook · Oct 20, 2009

I'm kicking myself in the ass for putting a 4.3v6 and not a 5.3 in my new buggy.

Very easy to get good power out of them, very good aftermarket support, some bolt on work, headers and some programing they make good power and they are cheap.

nate8887 · Oct 20, 2009

Pook said:
I'm kicking myself in the ass for putting a 4.3v6 and not a 5.3 in my new buggy.

Very easy to get good power out of them, very good aftermarket support, some bolt on work, headers and some programing they make good power and they are cheap.

The 5.3l is cheap? Please post a link where you are looking I have a deal of $500 for a 4.3l and a 4l60e this a good deal from my understanding? I am new to these fuel injected motors so I am kinda lost when it comes to pricing.

Pook · Oct 20, 2009

That is a good deal for the 4.3

But I've seen the 5.3's up here for $1000-1500 since i got my 4.3.

If you look down south or east some people are getting them $700-800 for less than 100,000mile motors.

Clark · Oct 20, 2009

theres a steal of a deal on an lq4 (6.0l genIII), in the classifieds.:awesomework:

tomsbrokeagain · Oct 20, 2009

The only thing I would have to say on the 5.7 vs 5.3/6.0, would be, if you wanted more power the 5.7 has limits. The induction on the 5.7 is too small and just doesn't support higher power. The 5.3/6.0 I have heard people rave over the endless possibilities of aftermarket support, high horsepower, and end user driveability.

Eh, just do what floats your boat, but I am not too impressed if you put a 5.7 next to a 5.3 or a 6.0.

crash2 · Oct 20, 2009

Avanteone said:
Been contemplating a V8 swap in my YJ, it's running an Atlas II 3.0, D60's, 5.13's and 37's. I was pretty much set on a 5.3 (or maybe even a 6.0) along with a 4L60, but now an absolutely SMOKING deal has popped up on a Vortec 5.7 (complete with ecm, harness, etc) with 4L60. I know there will be a little bit of weight difference.... but any other good reasons I should skip the 5.7 and go with one of the Gen III motors?

Both motors are good. As stated the output/torque curve is far better on the 5.3 as is the power to weigth ratio. One downfall to the 5.3 depending on what verion is fly by wire. Another issue with the 5.3 is how the intake is desinged with the throttle body way up front/top of the motor. For some air inlet may be an issue. Also with the 5.3 you will need to spend $$ on getting the PCM reflashed. Also the 5.3 has an alum oil pan where the 5.7 is steel....

Just some food for thought.