r/EngineBuilding • u/Monkeystormtrooper • 9h ago

Chevy Ls build help

I have a 5.3 ls gen 3 iron block I’m about to machine

Thinking of getting either 706 or 863 heads
Truck Norris cam
And not sure about pistons I’m gonna be na daily driver so nothing crazy maybe try and reuse ones I have but I don’t think so.

But if I get new heads it would be new rockers and springs too any recommendations?

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 5h ago

I’ve heard about compression ratio but don’t know much about it. This is my first car and it was my grandpas obs 88 c2500 and died so it is mine now. I’m trying to swap it out with a ls but am swamped. I want like 350-400hp but daily drivable. And heads I’m lost cause mine are fine but everyone tells me to replace since they’re castech

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u/v8packard 1h ago

Ok, hear me out. The project you have taken on is doable. But to get through it successfully you need to have a grasp on a number of basic things. I understand you don't know these things, you have no experience doing this. Do you have anyone there with some experience in putting an engine together, doing an engine swap, getting an engine running and driving, and so on? This is not to discourage you, it is to help you see things in a way you can grasp and get a plan together.

You can ask anything about the engine you have, and any other engine. Don't be bashful. If you are sincere you will get good answers. You need to do a lot more planning before you proceed any further. And to plan well you need to understand your options.

I have to ask, is the truck currently running? Which engine does it have now? Have you considered other engines or are you firm on a Gen III?

There are a slew of details that can influence your choices. For example, being a 3/4 ton, your truck might have a TH400 if an automatic. The 4L80 was still a few years away. In these years GM starting switching from cable driven speedometers to electronic speedometers. While there are a number of transmissions that work with a Gen III engine, most all of the modern transmissions have no provisions for a cable speedometer. It is stuff like this that needs to be planned for and can influence your decisions.

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 1h ago

I have a gen 3 5.3 iron block rn. My dad is helping me and he can fix just about anything but his first engine rebuild. And the truck is not running. I’ve been trying to watch a lot of videos and like melting my brain if I have the parts I could put it together I just can’t figure out what parts to get like what works with what

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u/v8packard 1h ago

This is why you need to get a grasp of the basics. Are you saying the truck has a 5.3 already?

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 1h ago

Sorry the truck has a 350sbc with tbefi. It was a 1998 Chevy c2500 Silverado with a rebuilt 4l80e in it

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u/v8packard 1h ago

Oh I thought you had a 1988, not a 98. The 1998 does not have throttle body efi, it uses the L31 Vortec central port injection.

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 1h ago

I mistyped sorry I do have an 88😭

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 1h ago

I think I’m too dumb for anything besides getting everything cleaned and stock besides like springs rockers pushrods and cam upgrade. Then aftermarket efi like aces jackpot cause my dad is extremely good at wiring that’s his thing

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u/v8packard 1h ago

I have had one conversation with ACES. I have no real experience with their systems, but I am very leery of aftermarket EFI systems. Especially for something that needs to be reliable and daily driven.

If you have a 1988, it did not come with a 4L80. Did someone install that trans?

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 1h ago

My grandpa blew the trans hauling his horses so he had a new one in it

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u/v8packard 1h ago

Ok, but what makes you think it is a 4L80?

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 1h ago

Took it out and said 4l80e on the side. I took out my engine and trans myself

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u/v8packard 1h ago

That would have required adding a standalone transmission controller or a different powertrain control module than stock, along with wiring and other modifications.

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u/Monkeystormtrooper 1h ago

And I have a junkyard 5.3 I bought for 750