Double Aluminum LS 5.3 Engine Tear Down: High Performance L33 and LH6

Finally opening up our latest 2 junkyard jewels and figuring out what exactly sent them to the yard in the first place.
*also note around the 12 minute mark I accidentally mix up the words “cam” and “crank” when referring to the sensors on the back and front of the motor. I’m sure it’s obvious what I was intending to say.

[@johnironsmith4402]

I like how excited Travis gets when he talks about these engines, it greatly contributes to how knowledgeable he is. Reminds me of myself 20 years ago when I started working on motorcycles.

[@bestusernameevahhh5802]

I just got a killer deal on an l33. A teenage boy got it for his truck and decided to go 6.0. It has 243 heads, no cracks or holes, even the lifters were free. All in all I've got $200 invested.

[@travisblack417]

Congrats

[@davidowen888]

I shoulda got a great big note book to store all this knowledge while watching Travis's videos 😁 thanks for sharing Bud ☮️

[@JasonMcCord-qk3yb]

I highly recommend it! I have a little 3”x5” spiral notebook that I bought (at Walmart for less than $2, for a 4-pack) and keep all my notes in. I have several different “LS” motors, and I keep all the specs in them. Can’t “forget” if it’s written down! I was a traditional “Small block/Big block” GM guy for decades, especially when it came to fuel injection. I especially loved the Tuned port injection system’s! My favorite trick was take a TPI 350, put in a Dual-sync (ACCEL) and wire in a ‘93-‘97 Camaro Lt-1 ECM for sequential fuel injection. You would get an instant 45hp in N/A form, but with a turbo….. Whew!!! That was one of the secrets of the Buick Grand National’s horsepower. With SFI, detonation is far less likely. The LS takes everything the old generation I and II, and just bumps it to level 500! I love everything about them. Pull the trigger, you will be glad you did!

[@Radmutter911]

The LS Guru is back!

[@waffen631]

Now I know would of preferred a 5.3 for my nova, great information, Travis your the man

[@stevehenderson6101]

Great job explaining

[@briancavazos4237]

Thank you making this video. I have the same motor in my 07 trailblazer,about to do the DoD delete and nobody I've seen has info on this engine. You broke it down and made my mind so relieved lol I didn't know what was going on with that cam sensor on the timing cover and if it was a 3 hole cam. Thanks again great video

[@travisblack417]

If you’re 07 it probably isn’t this weird hybrid engine. It should be fully gen 4 58x. This thing is only 05-06.

[@briancavazos4237]

@@travisblack417 mine looks identical to the one you pulled out. Has the M in the vin number aswell

[@travisblack417]

@@briancavazos4237 vin M is LH6 regardless of if it was 24x or 58x. It’s very strange how GM changed RPO codes for certain things but not others. LH6 is both 24x and 58x.

[@briancavazos4237]

@@travisblack417 but I should be able to order the same cam swap/dod delete right? I’m not gonna be swapping anything from the bottom end

[@travisblack417]

@@briancavazos4237 it may in fact have a single bolt cam. At that point you would need to convert it to a 4x 3bolt cam gear.

[@davepritts494]

I’m just now getting into the LS engines I’m old school small block Chevy….love your videos you deffently have the knowledge on LS engines…..keep up the awesome work…thanks

[@andrewslagle1974]

Thanks for the information !

[@gizmokat90]

What a memory holy cow!!!

[@davidreed6070]

The l96 6.0 rec headed engines were flex fuel and have the 3412 injectors that are 50 lb. They will support quite a bit of power.

[@travisblack417]

@@davidreed6070 apparently those are only in the 40’s which is still quite high. I’ve read that only the LSA and L94 (flex 6.2) are the 50lb big boys. Once I get a set and test them myself I’ll know

[@PapaVrooom]

I just saw a short where the mechanic found an oil service sticker stuck up in pick up tube... I can at least understand how the oil seal got there.

[@kwiz8848]

This guy knows his stuff

[@JasonMcCord-qk3yb]

As far as intakes go, the Trailblazer SS intake is just about the best one you can buy. If you don’t already, check out Richard Holdener’s channel. He dyno tests them ALL. Only a few (like the 102 mm F.A.S.T. Intake) flow better. We’re talking infinitesimally small here! Like 22 hp on a 750 hp turbocharged 6.0L! It was even less on a naturally aspirated motor. Something like 8hp! I don’t know about everyone else, but if I didn’t already own my fabricated aluminum high-ram (I bought it, mostly, because it reminded me of the TPI 350 my ‘89 Trans-Am GTA came stock with.) I would definitely get the TBSS intake. The engine cover mounting bosses can be cut off, smooth out with sanding and metal glaze. Paint it a cool color, and you have a sweet custom intake!

[@pmotorsports8276]

You notice the L_6 has 4 bolt throttle body

[@joseg93ify]

Keep ‘em coming 👏

[@robstuckey]

great vid, thanks for sharing

[@tedplatt5040]

Excellent Video, so much info! Can you help me with a swap into a '93 Camaro?

[@travisblack417]

What do you need?

[@PRSQUAD88]

I have a question 2006 trailblazer with a 5.3 crankshaft interchangeable from the regular 5.3 iron block. Same years.

[@travisblack417]

Double check that your PCM is indeed 24x, but yes it should be identical. Despite the fact that all 5.3, 5.7, 6.0, and 6.2 have the same stroke and casting number on the crank (2216) they are balanced differently. But 24x 5.3 should be the same regardless of piston dish/flat

[@PRSQUAD88]

@@travisblack417 sweet love all the information keep up the good videos

[@pmotorsports8276]

Someone pulled the L33. Got to the counter and found out the new price. They said screw it I'll take the heads

[@travisblack417]

Probably accurate lol

[@jamesj5469]

17:43 great design lol. Chevy honestly probably didn't even want to do that

[@teflon-von4328]

I have this same LH6 in an 07 Saab Arc. Looking to swap cam and delelte DOD. want to use the stock heads. The 233 cam you may run for this 06 LH6, do you think that is a wise choice for my 07? If not what cam would you suggest? DD/ 500hp .....Really appreciate the detailed content 👍👍🤌

[@travisblack417]

500hp is quite a bit out of 325ci, but doable. It purely depends on what you define as “daily driver”. Shoot me a message on IG and I can spec something for you

[@evanperez8320]

I liked this video..very informative What are you gonna put that race 570hp race motor in??

[@travisblack417]

A certain special car that is about to make its triumphant return

[@22vampyre]

👍👍👍👍

[@mnmadman5405]

I just picked up an aluminum short block gen 3 with knock sensors on top. No heads just curious if u know do these run gen 3 or gen 4 head bolts?

[@travisblack417]

The head bolt change is earlier than gen 4. What do the pistons look like, and what’s the block casting number?

[@mnmadman5405]

@travisblack417 the number on the block opposite the 5.3 is 51542 The pistons have the + on them so they are not totally flat top. Haven't been able to pull the pan off yet to look at the rods the engine is still in the back of my truck

[@travisblack417]

@@mnmadman5405 I need the 8 digit number on the back by the head. Are they dish or flat

[@mnmadman5405]

@travisblack417 well since I helped me figure out which number to look up it appears it's an L33 block and will use the 2004+ cylinder head hardware.

[@mnmadman5405]

I guess let me know if you find out something different I appreciate you responding and helping out 👍

[@BillieWilliams-l6m]

Yes, J.B. Weld

[@PabloHernandez-wu3df]

What engine stand do you recommend

[@travisblack417]

This yellow one is made by jegs and I really like the crank action to rotate it. I got it free (from Dulcich lol) because it’s actually kind of a pain to rack up since the mount doesn’t separate from the stem. You have to line up the 4 bolts on a weird angle every time you mount and dismount. It’s not that bad because I only do LS’ so everything is the same every time.

[@TOROG13]

What type of engine would you slap on a 95 gmc 2500? Also I have rebuilt the motor but this time decided to swap it out for a rebuilt 5.7 v8

[@travisblack417]

Stock 6.0

[@TOROG13]

@Travis Black what if I wanted to modify it ?

[@TOROG13]

@Travis Black I just watched the video of you swapping out the lt1 corvette motor for the ltz on the truck. You make it look so easy

[@travisblack417]

@@TOROG13 practice makes perfect

[@TOROG13]

@@travisblack417 are you self thought or did you go to school?

[@israelfernandez9576]

Could you possibly Tig And fill that Surface?😊

[@travisblack417]

That’s the plan. I’ll take it too a machine shop at some point and see what they have to say. It comes down to if the repair costs more than the shortblock is worth.

[@thruitallauto2538]

Ha did y’all buy liv’s firebird

[@travisblack417]

You mean the car I built that suspiciously was attempted to be offloaded curiously cheaply? I guess you’ll find out soon enough.

[@thruitallauto2538]

@@travisblack417 lol I hope you watched her video when she was trashing the builder more or less

[@travisblack417]

@@thruitallauto2538 never did. I have my own video coming out that should clear some things up.

[@thruitallauto2538]

@@travisblack417 gotcha

[@matthewstorm5188]

Why not get that gash on the L33 properly welded and deck the block? It doesn’t cost TOO much, and you would have a good, salable block.

[@travisblack417]

@@matthewstorm5188 that’s the plan

[@davidreed6070]

They bore those 5.3s and press sleeves with a 4.125 bore and build a 427 out of then.

[@travisblack417]

@@davidreed6070 only the 2010 and later blocks. There’s a specific casting number. The LM4/L33/LH6 all still have the 5.7 non-Siamese wet sleeves

[@jasonbrown4443]

At 1:12 you mention you're first l33 was in a car?? Hummmmm.....

[@travisblack417]

By “car” I meant “vehicle”. It was a 2005 Silverado at Bakersfield LKQ, and was featured in the very first junkyard video I made on the old channel. Unfortunately that video has since been deleted.

[@Evl_67]

Did I see a bird?

[@travisblack417]

👀

[@jessielynn9520]

👁️ 👄 👁️

[@thruitallauto2538]

Yes liv’s bird

[@Evl_67]

@@thruitallauto2538 yeah pretty sure he bought it or got it back

[@thruitallauto2538]

@@jessielynn9520 hum a story is starting to emerge, can’t wait for that one. Lol

[@barrypearson644]

Camara person need to zoom out and quit moving so much.

[@JMX2332]

Dude you talk way too much on your videos I'm not watching them anymore.

[@travisblack417]

That’s kind of the point but ok. I’m literally narrating what I’m doing in a long form video.

[@adamseth328]

That was pure information. This would be a video you should want to see for motor knowledge. It was a bunch of bull crap talking and time wasting. I personally really liked the video and the plethora of info that it would take someone years to figure out on their own. And this man just supplied a lot of solid info for free and saved many people years of trial and error for info. Great work. Keep up the awesome vids

[@boostedperformance4529]

Weld it and deck it

[@travisblack417]

That’s the plan

[@BillieWilliams-l6m]

Yes, J.B. Weld

[@BillieWilliams-l6m]

Yes, J.B. Weld