5.3L vs 6.0L-STOCK, MODIFIED & STROKER (IS BIGGER BETTER?)

JUNKYARD LS COMPARISON-5.3L & 6.0L-STOCK. MOD & STROKER! HOW MUCH POWER DOES A STOCK 5.3L OR 6.0L MAKE? WHAT ABOUT WITH A FEW MODS LIKE PORTED HEADS, CAMS AND INTAKE? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STROKE AND POKE A 5.3L OUT TO 383 CUBIC INCHES? HOW ABOUT WHEN YOU DO THE SAME TO A 6.0L AND PRODUCE A 408 STROKER? HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DOES THE ADDED CUBIC INCHES REALLY MAKE? IS BIGGER REALLY THAT MUCH BETTER?

[@matthewbrown1760]

This is awesome. I have stage 4 cancer and don’t know how long I have left so after watching your videos I said fuck it, and bought a forged 408 stroker and a D1X Procharger for my 02’ Silverado. Should have it together in the next month, looking at least 800hp to the tire. I’m so excited I can’t even sleep at night. Thank you for your videos.

[@jaysgarage4802]

Damn bro, that sucks. Hope you get better but that's also dope as fuck that you got to do what you love 🤟🤟 rock on

[@cornelius6304]

Hope your doing okay Matthew may our father bless you.

[@TheSgtCyrus]

Did you get this silverado finished? Hope it went well along with everything else in life :)

[@cherokeeoff-road2158]

Any updates mat ?

[@radelement3987]

@@badgerrun8771 pain ;-;

[@erikdale9145]

Everyone worried about who's in office and some of us are just trying to build fast trucks.

[@rockroll9513]

You might want to worry when the price of gas goes up. President Harris stopped the pipeline and is going to stop a lot of the oil drilling. Next they're coming after internal combustion engines. Electric cars for everybody!

[@bananaman2184]

@@rockroll9513 don’t worry, Richard will be doing big bangs on Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt motors

[@TwoLotus2]

@@bananaman2184 Oooh! That is "Wrong-Think" You should be thinking of taking public transportation only or walking. Off to the reeducation camp for you.

[@bananaman2184]

@@TwoLotus2 boosting a public transport system up to 1000hp or how big of a camshaft can we fit in our legs

[@richardholdener1727]

electric motors can make big torque at 0 rpm-instant

[@chrisgmpatrol917]

Moral of the story is there's no replacement for displacement, excellent video, Thank you

[@Lagrange1186]

I think I’m a 383 LS junkie... every time you talk about one I’m on the edge of my seat. Thanks a bunch and keep’m coming!

[@te2750]

Am seriously considering stroking the 5.3 to a 383. Thank you for the very user friendly info in this video.

[@linoleumshake]

600+ na is still really impressive especially if you’re just using it for a street car.

[@rickymcu]

Right? Especially from a motor that originated from a truck in a junkyard LOL

[@vinceyoung5912]

Still really impressive? Boy are you picky

[@edwinfeldman8231]

@@rickymcu imagine it as a "truck" engine still and you could spin the planet off its axis. 6.0L potential seems limitless

[@ronaldlewis4032]

It would work great with a 4l80e modified transmission! Turn it up!

[@bri-manhunter2654]

@@rickymcu . My 13’ Ram 1500 394Ci Stroker is being built for 600hp🤘🏻. Cam is going to be around 240/???. Stall will be flashing around 3500, but a little small till I replace the trans with the ZF8speed. Truck is on a full 4X4 lowered built suspension.

[@genemounce8302]

A 600hp 408 with a TKX and a 9" in anything under 3000lbs is gonna be fun regardless of brand.

[@marioarellanou9286]

Here in México everybody are boring 5.3 to 6.0 and this really works

[@N8tron22]

I'm watching this instead of the inauguration 🤙

[@lukeknighton4918]

We the people choose truth over facts.

[@kevdaceo]

Who gives a F#%

[@richardwhite1022]

who gives a flying fck what the next man watch or dont .Do you

[@codylapoint]

Remember now, "Poor kids are just as smart as white kids"! Joe B

[@jasonliblick9879]

@@codylapoint I wonder how many people turned from black to whatever race because they didn’t vote for him

[@phillipwash8818]

Watching these videos from the UK, oh how I wish I lived in the U S A 👍🏻

[@DonkeyGap750K3Gixxer]

Hey thanks for your time-this is extremely helpful to know the specs along with what you used etc.love these videos 👍🏼

[@johnsonbobo2376]

Another cool vid dude. Thx a billion for the knowledge and entertainment as well as the positive attitude

[@kevindamvorisbacon424]

13 minutes of Richard for lunch time Yes please

[@jasonfikes9514]

Nicely done sir, really enjoyed this selection of engine combinations. Thank you for providing the information we need to look these parts up if we want to price or purchase them.

[@Canadiancarguy1987]

I'm sure glad Richard Holdener is here man he saves my brain a lot of headaches with these LS Motors CHEERS!!!!

[@lukemorgan3368]

Lawrence LT Tolman did an 8.1 swap in his ugly truck series and that thing is boosted too! Helluva combo for torque even before the whirly bird! Displacement is king 🤟🏻!

[@darinr9424]

Always has been. And untill a new set of physics is created.... never happen. It always will

[@jimmy_olds]

The n/a 408 was super impressive, that combo would be a beast on the street

[@moe_2412]

Building a 408 stroker is on my bucket list. Great comparison of the NA motors.

[@drakeolson2539]

Love all your videos!!! Thank you so much!

[@AIEmpowered2024]

I’ve been debating the 383 on my own and this video sealed the deal for me. Now I’m going to need a consult call from you to make sure I don’t screw it up. 😂

[@theozman38]

I like the 5.3 results. The first mod before the 383 conversion was ideal for boost, the sky is the limit, or as a good street mod to give the competition a boost in fear. Lol. Thanks Richard

[@adamjohnson5985]

Thanks for the video love the info would be nice to have cost comparisons for all of these builds as well.

[@barrybaker924]

My thoughts exactly 💯. Like to have a price comparison on everything.

[@StevenAndrews]

I couldn't be happier with an L33 (5.3 aluminum) I bought a couple years ago.

[@michaelangelo8001]

I would like to have seen the power output of the 383 while retaining the stock heads.

[@andrewvandehey]

Time for the Nova to get some love! I’m anxiously awaiting the next update

[@MrOmerta]

Nice I got 2 6.0s rebuilt 1 other bout to build the chain broke. And I just got a 5.3 to go in 72 Cutlass but was thinking of waiting on the 6.0. Love how u give exact details on what u used.😁💭

[@Seanyhwh-qu4sb]

my 05 tahoe is getting scary fast.having precision tuned is squeezing out hp stock wasnt ment to have.cold air intake and flowmaster exhaust has really made huge difference but i own a mechanic so ya know ,keep the bosses ride running fantastic is best job security.see ya at the finish line.when you finally get there.😁😖🤣😂😊🤡💩

[@baldeaglegarage]

Great comparison video!

[@sndwav2049]

Fantastic video!

[@ronalddrummond4580]

Great contents, No substitute for cubic inches!!!

[@johnmurner2418]

Love this content!!!!!!

[@secrest0208]

I’d be curious to see a 408 with stock heads 54-469 cam and truck intake. You know for the folks that have damaged a bottom end and decide to stroke it before adding heads and intake later. Thanks for your videos.

[@timbowalk]

Its super hard totry not to idolize this guy. Like seriously 😂😂😂

[@god1st.530]

Ok I'm bk Thank you Richard. For getting bk on the Gm Ls stuff keep it up yull be a very rich man. Ps The new lt I as a born Gm man an grudge racer would love to see some new lt1 stuff thanks.

[@andrewybarra2304]

love this channel!

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

I know it would be more expensive but surely the stroker with less boost would give you best of both worlds? No worries about lag because you already have cubic inches to help you through the take off. Maybe even dial back the cam for more street manners.

[@edwinfeldman8231]

TEA for the win....er, I mean the FLOW! They do good work there

[@bondobrian]

Richard, have you ever done a comparison of the 6.0L and the 8.1L? I didn't see any videos of you doing any tests of the 8.1L Chevy LS engine. Do you have any future plans of doing tests of the 8.1L truck engine? Thanks. Love your videos!

[@ahkiureemshabazz4927]

🍎Very educational. Thank you man👍🏿

[@BobHoehn218]

Bigger is ALWAYS more gooder!

[@chomin3025]

You skipped grammar?

[@n8rivera74]

@@chomin3025 Who needs grammar when you gots all the cubes? 😎

[@chomin3025]

@@n8rivera74 You need it.

[@MrScottt28]

More gooderer!

[@Silkmaster4200]

Mostly better torque

[@justingaus3477]

I have a 94 Silverado, I think this sealed the deal to buy a 6.0 block and start building. If it was built as the 408 stroker just like the one you were talking about will it be reliable as a pro touring type truck. It wouldn’t be a daily driver but it would definitely do some towing and road trips. Also I’m not interested in racing or top speed just looking to get maximum power possible into an OBS. Also is there a sound clip of this motor running?

[@ronniemctaggart8722]

The 525 chevy crate motor is what some say the old 396 snappy ass motor right out of the crate so some dirt late model drivers say but you have to put the pace front mount distributor on them or run a reverse mount fuel pump off the flywheel. I've been wanting to build a5. 3 or 325 mighty mouse dirt engine and try it in my late model

[@bobmcmahon6765]

great review it is very help full

[@gunzillagunzilla7975]

Great video. Love to get teh specs on that 383 PLEASE :) Curious as to the total cost fo the build.

[@edwinfeldman8231]

Yes sir Richard! I'll like, sub and share - and you do what you do...test, test, test! You do fantastic work, keep up the content and spin-dem-wrench's and tax dem-dyno's!

[@ze_german2921]

that was a nice comparrison.

[@Faolan161]

Strokers are also more fuel efficient when working them harder in heavier vehicles, towing, sustained high speeds, etc.

[@jeffreyfitch1006]

I'll never do any of these mods to my truck, but it's interesting to see where you can take these engines.

[@mikeaston9636]

Top five of my favorite videos of yours. I might have missed it, but what were the 5.3/ 383 rotating assy. specs?

[@richardholdener1727]

we pieced it together with various parts

[@brandoncharley3070]

Graphs for a stock everything stroker would be interesting. Kind of a cheapest mods for towing idea.

[@gonzalofernandez7462]

in this video i realize with gm v8 you can have a lot of combinations to make power, torque, whatever you want.

[@eddiecardenas1185]

Awesome 👏 👏👏🔥🔥

[@rapture7551]

I have 99 built formula 408 strocker. 572 whp 661 to the crank

[@kayfarrow4675]

I swear this video came jus in time

[@thrashmatrix101inc6]

I have a 408 with afr 260 mongoose heads all Forged rotating assembly with a cid intake that's plumbed for up to 500 shot of direct port nitrous on a nitrous outlet promax progressive system

[@russelljackson7034]

Right on

[@azzsmasher69]

Richard. When you build some of these ls motors, are you using the stock gm main bolts or arp studs? Looking to build something close to either the modified 6.0 or the 408. Thanks

[@richardholdener1727]

WE USED STOCK

[@Turbogto_guy]

Hey now! My gto still has a 4l60e in it. Heads/cam/forged bottom end 5.3, 7875 turbo on 20psi. Been holding up for two years. The secret? Two things. 1) find someone who knows what they are doing when building these trans...I learned how because finding someone is difficult. 2) never ever disable the tq management completely.

[@richardholdener1727]

20 psi on a 4l60E-you are the man!

[@Turbogto_guy]

@@richardholdener1727 I have a build thread on ls1tech. It wasn’t cheap to do, but at least I didn’t have to pay for labor. Just the input and out put shafts were $840 lol

[@mattwhitaker3801]

If I were to replace the 454 in a 99 k3500 with a 6.0 would I be able to match the torque numbers low? 454 makes 410 torque at 3200 rpm. Seems LS engines are bad at low rpm power.

[@couger3p]

I bet more people than just me would love to have links to the parts used to do this. Give people a rough idea of how unobtainable our dreams are. 😆 Also having these huge numbers is great but how do they idle? Would driving them on the street really be feasible at that point?

[@gothicpagan.666]

Yep for sure its going to be cheaper to just take a stock motor and just add 7-8 lbs of boost to get to simular power No's.

[@edwinfeldman8231]

@@gothicpagan.666 but then you get into the discussion of "just a little boost" snowballs into cost and reliability. When in the beginning all you wanted was a little more power.

[@crazymanprankster]

@hondatech5000 it’s about $4700 for the 6.0 max mod if you have the flock already wasn’t hard

[@brandonpittman5243]

Get the can for Father's day crazy for your birthday rods for Xmas pistons for Valentine's heads at tax time the next year get you headers your intake etc it's doable

[@thrashmatrix101inc6]

I have a 408 with afr 260 mongoose heads all Forged for spray in my tbss for the streets

[@ayayronjay8936]

Atlanta here

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Just wants me to take a 862 Head set and flow port them and valve them to 6.0L spec without changing the chamber size of 61cc.

[@mucas9445]

What fuel rails and injectors on stock truck lq4 intake manifold ? It’s going to be boosted

[@Darkeiser.7]

I put my 6.0 and heads in the shop. Before the inflation and it's been a year and I still haven't been able to get them out yet. I'm so sad..

[@stevenneese2823]

Wanna see a vq56vd 5.6 nissan motor for fun. Dohc all aluminum motor seems interesting. They don't make any parts for it unfortunately. Ls for hotrods all day

[@user-ju3ns2cz1u]

Richard love the channel. Is the 408ls a viable swap for a iron 454 in jet boat. it’s a 330hp marine power crate engine . probably similar to your junk yard 460 vs 454 vid. In regards to tq production . Boat currently runs great . I would love to lose some weight and gain efi. With out losing too much TQ. In your opinion will the 408 make similar tq production? Thanks Richard .

[@richardholdener1727]

the 408 will easily make as much torque as a 330-hp marine 454

[@paulsalmon4771]

Morning and happy Saturday Richard, I'm blown away by your knowledge of the LS motors You're obviously a GM man. So I've a quick question; I'm thinking of put on a CAI on my 2011 Yukon 5.3 LMG . I looked at a few brands liked the s&b kit is what caught my eye what's your opinion or what would you recommend

[@richardholdener1727]

I DON'T KNOW SPECIFIC BRANDS-AND FOR THE RECORD-I'M A DYNO GUY (I LIKE THEM ALL)

[@paulsalmon4771]

@@richardholdener1727 thanks for the feed back anyway. I'll definitely keep watching and learning thanks for the great videos and information

[@kefwals8722]

I've been told from a few ppl that a high flow filter is a good option for cai. Unless your going to get a sealed box to seperate the cone filter from the rest of the engine. And in some cases to replace the intake tube so it's a straight shot with as little bends as possible. I know on my 2500hd the stock intake tube has a big chamber off the side of it that helps nothing as well as a bottle neck section just before the throttlebody to squeeze it by the fan shroud. Fairly restrictive setup. But the airbox is sealed and takes air through the fender and front near the headlights. I have a cone cai for it but I'm considering using the tube with the stock airbox and getting a higher flowing filter just to see if it has better performance than the full cai setup I had in my previous truck. If it's getting any air from the engine compartment it seems to be a 0 gains situation from what ive read.

[@andygrundy1900]

Exactly Richard! I've got 04 2500hd 6.0. very clean 1 owner truck I looked long n hard for. I'm a drywall contractor use it for work. I'm very organized detail oriented. so it stays clean can't tell it's used for work. It's lifted 3in has 33s on nice wheels. got lucky has 4.56 gears not 4:10s. all areas ride,handling,performance it likes the bigger tire. yes I want more power & torque is very important in my situation! Even to radical of a cam is absolutely not practical for me. Therefore the stroker is absolutely best option for me! Well said!

[@tonyhughes5406]

Who do you recommend for a 6.0 stroker kit

[@solodolo214]

whats the price range to stroke out a 5.3 to 383?

[@haroldolson5877]

Is there a reason you dont show a lower rpm hp/tq numbers?

[@davidsettle8456]

What's the cost to build 5.3 and 6.0 the exact way these were done

[@animaltbss9439]

Stroker FTW!

[@larryle321]

What about stroker plus twin turbos?

[@reggiewesley3529]

What is the best 6.0l towing package to build? 04 2500

[@ShyAcre]

Pretty good info! My only question is: long term, how reliable are these builds? I am someone who wants to build my motor only once and enjoy it, not tear it down and rebuild it all in 80k-100k miles

[@atticusyup7475]

Really any type of mods effects reliability

[@codylapoint]

Yeah about the only way to keep it as reliable as it was factory is to leave it factory. You can do small things like intakes and headers, but even a smallish cam is going to strain the valve springs and timing chain a bit more than the factory one.

[@tonyrpacheco08]

@@codylapoint put new springs and timing chain!

[@Isvvc10]

I wonder what the modified 5.3 lm7 would make with the tbss instead of the lsx rt

[@rotaryturbo88]

Would a turbo on that 408 be a good idea?

[@briannevels6814]

Based on the end results of powered comparisons of modify 6.0 vs 383 if someone doesn't have a motor to start with i would assume its cheaper to get a 6.0 and modify it vs taking a 4.8 or 5.3 and the cost to make the 383.

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Well the bore on 6.0 is bigger than 5.3/4.8. Heck I can get the 4.8 bored to 4" with 3.48" rods lol

[@avalos7902]

GL

[@badgerrun8771]

Would you recommend the carburetor kit with the msd box for the 5.3 stroker motor with ported and polished factory heads? Or even a factory modded 5.3 liter? Not great with wiring but the kit with msd and a carb looks really simple to do and would be kinda neat to have in a mustang swap.

[@richardholdener1727]

IT IS VERY EASY

[@badgerrun8771]

Also the Daytona spark looks fun and pretty interesting, been hearing a lot of good things about them over the msd system with great reviews. Love the videos Richard, keep that great content coming.

[@wcmiller78]

How about this test but with an LS3

[@MB-ib5ji]

It still amazes me how easy it is to make Power nowadays look back to 1988 to 91 a Mustang with 400 horsepower was ridiculously fast now that would be a joke. Also to get that 400 horsepower in a Mustang you would have had to have supercharged it with a set of cylinder heads which would have put you back about 6 to $7,500.

[@user-tc2hu1mr3k]

What octane fuel did they run on?

[@TerryManlove]

Do have a recommendation for 5.3 stoker kit, that would come with correct value relief on the pistons for the 205 heads.

[@richardholdener1727]

lots avail-je, k1, scat, rpm etc...

[@MarkCarr331]

Richard I have a question I'd love to run by you that I assume I know the answer to: Question: LS 6.0L vs 1960's Mopar 440 RV motor on dyno... who wins for potential? I have a customer wanting to swap his Mopar C body for one and I think he is making a mistake but having hard time showing him comparison.

[@richardholdener1727]

If you had unlimited $, the bigger motor could eventually make more if you can find enough head flow. In stock and slightly modified trim, the 6.0L makes more for less.

[@scottperkins6851]

Richard- I’m aiming for the 408 stroker in a built truck. I’m starting with a crate LS2 reman. I love the torque:horsepower going on here- that said, how far out of spec am I starting? You’re using stock rockers and cam- do I need to swap mine out from the corvette standard?

[@richardholdener1727]

the ls2 cam is pretty mild for a 408

[@scottperkins6851]

@@richardholdener1727 Thank you for the response (I imagine you are inundated with engine questions)- I also have an aluminum 5.3 block from an H3 alpha and am thinking I may start with this and build the 383 stroker set up. You are using a 4" crank- is there one you recommend (forged, etc.). Thanks again for any info you have time to provide- I will keep checking the new videos as well!

[@scottperkins6851]

I think this is all in the info provided- putting together my build sheet!

[@LSX427]

I am building an IRON headed No Porting 365cid max (class rules) Gen 4 6.0ls on the cheap and trying to be competitive with higher dollar operations. Carbed with a distributer you know the other other guy. LS2 flat top pistons with those 71cc heads should net just over 10-1 compression. plan on running between 4500-6800rpm sloppy stage 2?? Bigger? Single plane or dual plane? Should I mill the heads for more compression? Looking for 500hp. Its a dirt track street stock and I will be the first in my area to experiment with this. I am chasing down those Australian headed Fords.....Would love you to do a test with this odd set up.

[@richardholdener1727]

yes mill if you can

[@Turbogto_guy]

Shit I can’t wait to listen to this on my ride home!

[@Shar22xl]

Just did 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Turbogto_guy]

@@Shar22xl damn. I’m jealous. I’m at work and can’t watch it uninterrupted:(

[@blackwidowprobe]

I’d like to know why the 408’s hp plateau’d and held there? Was there a limiting factor preventing more horsepower? I’ve never seen such a long horsepower plateau(almost the same rating for over 1000 rpm). Torque, yes, but not horsepower.

[@richardholdener1727]

INTAKE

[@cys804]

We need to see a stroker factory head truck/tq cam combos. 383 with 706s and the 408 with 823s. Both with say a btr stage 2 truck?

[@richardholdener1727]

THE 408 WOULD BE BETTER WITH CATH HEADS FOR TORQUE BELOW 4000 RPM

[@cys804]

@@richardholdener1727 never would have guessed that, would 317 heads be the way to go?

[@kevinmacneill8008]

Mr.Holdener, did you ever do a video which talks about injectors ? I'm just wondering about these tests you do if there stock injectors or not.

[@richardholdener1727]

stock truck injectors won't support this much power

[@kevinmacneill8008]

@@richardholdener1727 what would you suggest for a street mild turbo setup 6.0.

[@unknownpaidkillz1896]

I know video is old but thanks my choice 6.0 yessir

[@mikeholden607]

Richard how is the idle and street manners with the 459-11 camshaft that u use all the time... I see u also use it on boosted applications all the time but mostly I see people in the fb groups sticking to the stg2 cams.. ??? Thanks

[@richardholdener1727]

it works well-especially on a 6.0L

[@mikeholden607]

@@richardholdener1727 this is a lot bigger than my ss2 cam.. in my boosted application is it worth it to step up to something this size..? What would be the general NA horsepower gain..? Thanks Richard

[@toesuf94]

Bringing this up from three years ago, however, gotta ask: What is the COST comparison between the builds? Is the 5.3 or the 6.0/6.2 cheaper to build?

[@richardholdener1727]

after market parts cost would be the same, the initial cost of the larger motors is usually more

[@edhenderson795]

Richard, I am in work on a 408 stroker and wanted to go about the same route as you have on this video and I am wondering if this engine was run on pump gas or other?

[@richardholdener1727]

we run the na motors on 91

[@TBstr8nsty]

Richard what do you think about the 408 with 10.7:1 similar cam maybe less duration but similar lift and tfs 235 heads. This will go in a 2001 rcsb 4x4 3.73:1 gears 33" tires (for now) 4l80 trans and the np233 t-case. Daily drive with mix of pulling trailers trails and just plain fun in it all the time. I want to very good throttle response just about everywhere in the rpm range

[@richardholdener1727]

yes smaller cam for towing

[@TBstr8nsty]

@@richardholdener1727 thank you

[@ronaldlewis4032]

What's the average cost to port and polish 243 heads ? I'm thinking about building a 5.3 . Also got another motor with 862 heads. All the great information makes me want to try one I've always been a BBC guy I guess gasoline is going to be so high I might have to go smaller! Lol

[@richardholdener1727]

if its a 5.3L-port the 862 heads

[@tomrazo9224]

Are these mods worth it, in a 4x4 truck every day driver if you're not revving to 6k+ rpm on a normal basis? Cams seem to just move most of your power into the higher RPM range, what would the mods look like with a factory style cam?

[@richardholdener1727]

you don't need the mods with factory cam (except possibly the stroker)

[@ZackNakazora1]

I went from a 4.8 to a 6.0 but this video has me listing for a 408 now... Gotta be content... I shoulda went 496..

[@shadowopsairman1583]

8.1 Gen 7?

[@ZackNakazora1]

@@shadowopsairman1583 yup !

[@nitrozack3062]

Hey richard can i run ls9 head gaskets on my Lq4 and if not why? Im just wondering on whats the best combo for head gaskets, motor Lq4 0.030 bored with ported 799s tia

[@richardholdener1727]

that is what we used on the 29-psi big bang 6.0L