To overhaul or not - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JGross · 10-17-2012, 06:13 PM

I just bought a 5.3 with 87,000 miles on it. I'll be putting it in my 65 C10 and my origional plan was to overhaul it first, but 87K is not alot for these engines so now i'm not sure. What do you think?

clinebarger · 10-17-2012, 07:23 PM

Run it!!!!!

BR3W CITY · 10-17-2012, 07:31 PM

Unless you plan on doing a bunch of high performance stuff or forced induction etc, you can go ahead and run it as is. (heck, some folks throw turbo's on 100k junkyard motors).
With 87k I'd give it a once over for obvious defects, and throw in a timing chain and oil pump (assuming you'll have to pull the pan anyway to switch it for clearance). Thats like $180 worth of parts and the engines' good for another 90k at least

Indian113 · 10-17-2012, 08:11 PM

When I bought my 5.3 I'd have been happy with a 87,000 mile motor-mine was a low mile(84,000)

68GMCCustom · 10-17-2012, 10:20 PM

many stories of these motors going, 200k, 250k, and more....unless the pan/valve covers/etc show lack of maintenance...just slap it in and go!

crazy longhorn · 10-18-2012, 12:21 AM

Hell, its just a pup! I have a 5.3 , with 132,000 on the clock(good runnner), for my swap? I figure that I will open her up, & do timing chain/pump & valves springs, before she goes. 87,000 miles.....just run it! crazyL

whitels1 · 10-18-2012, 08:14 AM

While you have it out and on the stand it wouldn't hut to install a new timing chain, oil pump and pull the cam for inspection. I would say if all the lobes on the cam look good, go for it. It's alot of work to have to pull it again.

Wasted Income · 10-18-2012, 10:08 AM

I agree....RUN IT!

If your machine shops there are like they are here....you will probably be deeper into it to have it disassembled, cleaned and reassembled than you paid for the engine.

**Clyde65** · 10-18-2012, 11:13 AM

I would definitely run it, my BIL had a 2002 4x4 Silverado with 285,000 miles on it and it was still running great when he traded it for a 2010. He drove it like he stole it and all he ever did was straight maintenance.

JNJchev77 · 10-18-2012, 12:01 PM

I bought my 5.3 with 120K, opened it up and it "looked" well taken care of. Haven't run it yet, but had two LS guys look at it while I had the covers off and said it is a good motor. My pops had one with about the same mileage, he put in a 69 vette and hasn't had any issues... RUN IT! After changing oil pump, timing chain... and cam if you want an upgrade.

10-17-2012, 06:13 PM	#1
JGross Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hattiesburg Ms Posts: 235	To overhaul or not I just bought a 5.3 with 87,000 miles on it. I'll be putting it in my 65 C10 and my origional plan was to overhaul it first, but 87K is not alot for these engines so now i'm not sure. What do you think? Last edited by JGross; 10-17-2012 at 06:19 PM.

10-17-2012, 07:23 PM	#2
clinebarger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 6,370	Re: To overhaul or not Run it!!!!!

10-17-2012, 07:31 PM	#3
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: To overhaul or not Unless you plan on doing a bunch of high performance stuff or forced induction etc, you can go ahead and run it as is. (heck, some folks throw turbo's on 100k junkyard motors). With 87k I'd give it a once over for obvious defects, and throw in a timing chain and oil pump (assuming you'll have to pull the pan anyway to switch it for clearance). Thats like $180 worth of parts and the engines' good for another 90k at least __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

10-17-2012, 08:11 PM	#4
Indian113 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Monroe,Iowa Posts: 4,370	Re: To overhaul or not When I bought my 5.3 I'd have been happy with a 87,000 mile motor-mine was a low mile(84,000)

10-17-2012, 10:20 PM	#5
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Re: To overhaul or not many stories of these motors going, 200k, 250k, and more....unless the pan/valve covers/etc show lack of maintenance...just slap it in and go! __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken

10-18-2012, 12:21 AM	#6
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	Re: To overhaul or not Hell, its just a pup! I have a 5.3 , with 132,000 on the clock(good runnner), for my swap? I figure that I will open her up, & do timing chain/pump & valves springs, before she goes. 87,000 miles.....just run it! crazyL __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

10-18-2012, 08:14 AM	#7
whitels1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Vegas Posts: 617	Re: To overhaul or not While you have it out and on the stand it wouldn't hut to install a new timing chain, oil pump and pull the cam for inspection. I would say if all the lobes on the cam look good, go for it. It's alot of work to have to pull it again. __________________ GoldyLS1 K20 Build My K10 Rock Crawler -Dave

10-18-2012, 10:08 AM	#8
Wasted Income Boosted Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Mackinaw, IL Posts: 2,200	Re: To overhaul or not I agree....RUN IT! If your machine shops there are like they are here....you will probably be deeper into it to have it disassembled, cleaned and reassembled than you paid for the engine. __________________ 1972 2wd K/5 Blazer Turbocharged 370 LSx - 941 rwhp / 1093 rwtq 1969 Chevy K-10 L33 5.3 / 4L80E / NP241 / 4" lift 1964 Buick Skylark Twin TURBO 383 LS pro-touring project 2014 VW Passat TDI - Daily Driver Turbo diesel 2015 Sierra Denali HD Duramax Turbo diesel 2016 Ford Explorer Sport - Twin Turbskis 2017 Polaris RZR Turbo 2014 Nor-Tech Center Console - Twin Supercharged Outboards *TURBO ALL THE THINGS!!*

10-18-2012, 11:13 AM	#9
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,540	Re: To overhaul or not I would definitely run it, my BIL had a 2002 4x4 Silverado with 285,000 miles on it and it was still running great when he traded it for a 2010. He drove it like he stole it and all he ever did was straight maintenance. __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!*

10-18-2012, 12:01 PM	#10
JNJchev77 Registered Cruiser Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 918	Re: To overhaul or not I bought my 5.3 with 120K, opened it up and it "looked" well taken care of. Haven't run it yet, but had two LS guys look at it while I had the covers off and said it is a good motor. My pops had one with about the same mileage, he put in a 69 vette and hasn't had any issues... RUN IT! After changing oil pump, timing chain... and cam if you want an upgrade. __________________ 77' Chevy SB Dropmembered Front and Rear 5.3/4l60e combo



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