5.3l intake manifold questions

**blank94z28** · 06-04-2012, 09:45 PM

I have a 01 silverado with the 5.3 my question is will the ls1 intake manifold fit my 5.3? Sorry if this is a stupid question I have never modded one of these engines. If the ls1 or ls6 intake does fit is it worth changing? They look a lot better than the 5.3 intake. Thanks for any help!

**jiveass** · 06-05-2012, 04:24 AM

They will fit the 5.3, but ive read that the truck intakes actually flow maybe just a little better than ls1 intake. To swap these in place of your 5.3 inake, you would need to relocate a few things and change the injectors and pigtails, and i believe a ls1 water pump. For improvements, some people install the trailblazer ss intake, which isnt a whole lot different in the looks dept from your 5.3, but there are gains to be had.

**2002ssslp** · 06-05-2012, 05:34 AM

I would put my money into head and compression work, then maybe a cam. The intake is worth a few HP and with a truck you may not even notice it. All that weight needs more torque and compression and flow is where I would look first. Good luck.

**blank94z28** · 06-05-2012, 08:42 AM

Thanks guys, I just hate the look of the 5.3 intake and was hoping it was an easy swap.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-05-2012, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by blank94z28

Thanks guys, I just hate the look of the 5.3 intake and was hoping it was an easy swap.

Easy yes, but costly. You will also have to change all the accessory drives to match the LS1 style intake. The trucks use a completely different accessory drive with things mounted up high,,,,and won't clear the throttle body on the much lower LS1 intake. So basically the entire front accessory setup has to be changed. Starts to get expensive

Actually the truck intake is a nice piece, and works better than an LS1 intake. There have been dyno shootouts between them years ago, LS6/LS2/LS1/LQ4 truck intake,,,,,the truck intake was the real sleeper. Longer runners make more torque through the low and mid range which is exactly what a big heavy truck needs, and still made decent HP. The only place the other intakes would shine over the truck intake was up in the rpm range, so unless you are spinning past 6,000 it's not worth the effort. Since the engine spends most of it's time below that range, the truck intake is a better choice.
Yeah it's ugly, but I've always thought all the plastic intakes were ugly,,,,the truck was just the ugliest

**2002ssslp** · 06-05-2012, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

Easy yes, but costly. You will also have to change all the accessory drives to match the LS1 style intake. The trucks use a completely different accessory drive with things mounted up high,,,,and won't clear the throttle body on the much lower LS1 intake. So basically the entire front accessory setup has to be changed. Starts to get expensive

Actually the truck intake is a nice piece, and works better than an LS1 intake. There have been dyno shootouts between them years ago, LS6/LS2/LS1/LQ4 truck intake,,,,,the truck intake was the real sleeper. Longer runners make more torque through the low and mid range which is exactly what a big heavy truck needs, and still made decent HP. The only place the other intakes would shine over the truck intake was up in the rpm range, so unless you are spinning past 6,000 it's not worth the effort. Since the engine spends most of it's time below that range, the truck intake is a better choice.
Yeah it's ugly, but I've always thought all the plastic intakes were ugly,,,,the truck was just the ugliest

Sure it's ugly. That's why they put it under the hood. lol