This is for y father. He recently purchased a decent looking 2003 Tahoe 4wd. Body is super clean, everything inside works. Engine has a dead miss. Gets fuel (wet plug), gets fire (fire at plug) but misses dead on cylinder 5. Since it has 170k he's thinking that for the money he paid, he should just throw in a used 5.3 with under 70k and be done plus have all the spares of the original (or I buy it and play with it).
So.... who can find the best price on a 2003 5.3 with sub-70k miles?
Compression test it. Why throw a engine at it unless you need to.
he paid very little for the truck and wants a fresher engine for piece of mind. They ain't getting younger and his desire to work on them isn't what it used to be. Then again, neither is mine.
Since I'm seeing these engine in the sub $1k range, doesn't look that expensive. Put it this way, with a fresh engine in the 5-700 range, plus fluids and incidentals (plugs, misc sensors etc) he'll still be in the $3k range on this thing..... and it came with new tires.
I'm going to try to find the search engine I used to find the 2.3 Lima for $250. Had to have it shipped from a state away, but was still worth it for a good working engine.
I usually go to Pennsylvania for good low mileage engines. Bodies rust off so damn quick up there.
Throw a bigger trans cooler on there while its getting surgery, those trans aren't exactly known to be robust.
Found one in Michigan with 54k for $700. Got an email on for that.
I used to call LKQ because of the work discount. Ain't got that no mores. Been using car-part.com.
Pull the engine out, pull the pistons out, clean carbon out of rings, replace pistons, drive another 170k, repeat
In reply to Bobzilla:
Goddamnit. That's it. car-part.com
I think what a lot of you are missing here is the chance for ME to get a low mile 5.3 to play with. Jeebus folks! Don't try to talk him out of this!
I'd call or visit the yards since that isn't exactly a boutique engine. Around here you can get a good 5.3 for about $400-600 if you go at it from the good ole boy angle.
You'll need to log in to post.
