wife's yukon spun a rod bearing

willbbrown

New Member
Jan 20, 2018
6
0
1
47
Ok, my wife's yukon isn't holding oil pressure any more and I've determined with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinions, that it's new motortime. It's unfortunate because it's only got 130k on it and is a super clean truck. It's a 2006 1500 4x4 yukon xl with the L59 vin code Z 5.3. My question is if I can replace the motor directly with an L33? It SEEMS all I'd have to do is swap the injectors and then I'd have an ethanol burning L33 (only on the rare occasion e85's cheap enough to be economically feasible). I'd love to swap in a cam and even if I do or don't do that I will get it tuned...if this works. Anyone have any advice? Thanks for any help.
 

Khaos

Bed Dent Club Founder
Mar 24, 2012
20,378
1,566
113
Albany, NY
An L33 would be a good choice for a replacement. A set of flex fuel injectors would support E85 as well as some added power if you decided to add a cam. I'm running flex injectors on my built 370 and they're supporting the power just fine.
 

willbbrown

New Member
Jan 20, 2018
6
0
1
47
An L33 would be a good choice for a replacement. A set of flex fuel injectors would support E85 as well as some added power if you decided to add a cam. I'm running flex injectors on my built 370 and they're supporting the power just fine.

So you're pretty confident that I won't have any issues and it'll just swap in directly? Plug n play? Well if it works I AM thinking that since it's got those sweet ls6 based heads I'll throw in a bigger cam MAYBE better valve springs get it tuned and run with it. Whadya think?
 

Khaos

Bed Dent Club Founder
Mar 24, 2012
20,378
1,566
113
Albany, NY
Same dimensions, same location for engine mounts. Literally like swapping out legos. Just with a motor and wiring. They have 243/799 heads which flow pretty well. A nice cam like the stage 3 truck cam from little john's motorsports 218/224 .553/.553 113+3 would be a nice power bump and a set of single pac 1218 springs would compliment it nicely.

I think that would be a nice setup in there that would still drive like stock just with more power
 

willbbrown

New Member
Jan 20, 2018
6
0
1
47
Same dimensions, same location for engine mounts. Literally like swapping out legos. Just with a motor and wiring. They have 243/799 heads which flow pretty well. A nice cam like the stage 3 truck cam from little john's motorsports 218/224 .553/.553 113+3 would be a nice power bump and a set of single pac 1218 springs would compliment it nicely.

I think that would be a nice setup in there that would still drive like stock just with more power

So the wiring harness and all accessories, everything the same? Just wana be sure and not cause a bigger problem with the wife's ride. I don't think I see any reason that it still wouldn't still be flex fuel capable....I don't think? Do you? Around here occasionally e85 is cheap enough that it's actually economically feasible to use and saves money over regular....occasionally. Do you think 400 hp is a possibility?
 

Khaos

Bed Dent Club Founder
Mar 24, 2012
20,378
1,566
113
Albany, NY
So the wiring harness and all accessories, everything the same? Just wana be sure and not cause a bigger problem with the wife's ride. I don't think I see any reason that it still wouldn't still be flex fuel capable....I don't think? Do you? Around here occasionally e85 is cheap enough that it's actually economically feasible to use and saves money over regular....occasionally. Do you think 400 hp is a possibility?

Harness, accessories, intake, manifolds, everything is pretty much interchangeable, with a few minor changes over the years. So long as you're getting an 05-07 L33 you'll be fine to bolt it up and go. You can run whatever % ethanol you want, but you will need a tune for it.

400 where. Crank? Wheel? Those are two drastically different numbers. 400 crank will give you roughly 320ish to the wheels after driveline loss. You could get there with a custom grind cam, ported and milled heads, long tube headers, intake manifold, and a good tune. 400 wheel is about 480ish crank. You're talking max effort build without forced induction. Or just slap a supercharger on at 7 or 8 psi and make 400+ to the wheels all day.

If you're after hp, go forced induction or build a motor based off a 6.0/6.2.
 

willbbrown

New Member
Jan 20, 2018
6
0
1
47
Harness, accessories, intake, manifolds, everything is pretty much interchangeable, with a few minor changes over the years. So long as you're getting an 05-07 L33 you'll be fine to bolt it up and go. You can run whatever % ethanol you want, but you will need a tune for it.

400 where. Crank? Wheel? Those are two drastically different numbers. 400 crank will give you roughly 320ish to the wheels after driveline loss. You could get there with a custom grind cam, ported and milled heads, long tube headers, intake manifold, and a good tune. 400 wheel is about 480ish crank. You're talking max effort build without forced induction. Or just slap a supercharger on at 7 or 8 psi and make 400+ to the wheels all day.

If you're after hp, go forced induction or build a motor based off a 6.0/6.2.

Thanks man you seem to be a wealth of ls knowledge. Sorry, I should have specified hp at the crank. I know I can't get miracles with just a cam and springs lol. I think I'm convinced, L33 here I come!
 

Khaos

Bed Dent Club Founder
Mar 24, 2012
20,378
1,566
113
Albany, NY
I've just read through so many builds over the years and finally finished my own (motor-wise at least) so always happy to help.

For motivation there's a guy who has a Tahoe that traps over 130 and runs 9s in the quarter. It's a work of art.

 
  • Like
Reactions: THE Mook

barrrf

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2012
832
271
63
Not to totally disagree with Khaos, I dont think 400 crank is a max effort build on an alu 5.3 - pretty sure you can do that with cam, headers, intake, tune and no head work.

L33s had 799 heads and were rated for 310hp crank from the factory. Get it breathing a little better (headers, exhaust, intake). Get you a big bump stick (.570ish lift). And get a tune and youre knockin on the door of 400 without porting and polishing the heads.

Do a little googling. Hot Rod and Super Chevy and done multiple 5.3/4.8 combos on the engine dyno.
 

willbbrown

New Member
Jan 20, 2018
6
0
1
47
Thanks barrrf but I think you misunderstood. i WAS talking about 400 at the crank. 400 at the wheels definitely if not a max effort would definitely be a big effort anyway. Khaos was saying the same thing. Basically we all agree.
 

barrrf

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2012
832
271
63
Thanks barrrf but I think you misunderstood. i WAS talking about 400 at the crank. 400 at the wheels definitely if not a max effort would definitely be a big effort anyway. Khaos was saying the same thing. Basically we all agree.

Thats what I said.......... I actually misunderstood the other guy.