L33 T56 Swap
 

I Sold the 13b-msp and trans so its time to get started. So last night I pulled everything i don't need for the swap and listed it for sale. The new engine and transmission will be here in a week or so. Until then I will be modifying the ls harness, mounting the 8.8 rear end, relocating the abs pump, running a -6 return fuel line and a -8 feed line and working on the CAN interpreter. I will keep you guy updated as much as I can. Thanks for looking!

hoping that this thread will actually deliver a finished product unlike the rest of them..... gl

SOME PICs!

Absolutely I'm going to be the first one I know of that will have a full functioning car, with A\C, Factory power steering, ABS, no lights on dash and OBD2 Compliance. Not to mention 26-30 mpg and 450hp!! gotta love the lsx!

Hey man! Ah, do you mean "LS3"?
Title says L33? Get a moderator to change it?

If you're indeed putting in an LS3, was the donor car a Vette, G8 GXP or Camaro SS?

Good luck with the build! Definitely going to be following along!

Nope ls3's are way over priced. A L33 is a all aluminum 5.3l with ls6 cam and heads 10.5cr that makes OVER 300hp stock.

Yup. They came from the newer GM pickups and are rated at as much as 330hp. The Miata guys are using them in the V8R spec cars.

Stock L33

http://www.performancetrucks.net/for...k-l33-dyno-jpg


Why bother with this motor over an LS6, etc? Just curious.

Cost?

You can get one used for like $800.00. They can make decent power but they are not 300Hp stock, not even close. Nelson is local and the they with a lot of performance trucks.

Long block or short block LS6 for $800?

Oh I thought you meant the L33. You can get a long block L33 for around $800.00 - $1,000.00 with everything. There is an LS6 for sale locally with 6 speed tranny for $4,000.00. I bet he would take $3,000.00 though.

How many versions of the L33? I just read this on a High Output version.

The Gen III Vortec 5300 is available in a new lighter, higher output variant optional on some 2005 Silverados and Sierras. RPO L33 will be introduced in short bed, extended cab versions of these pickups. The L33 features an aluminum engine block, new cylinder heads and a high-lift cam. Torque will increase, and horsepower is expected to exceed 300 in final production trim.

One of the L33’s distinguishing features is its engine block. As with the 2004 LM4 Vortec 5300, the L33’s foundation is a cast-aluminum block with pressed-in iron cylinder liners, similar to the block used for GM Powertrain’s LS1 and LS6 car V-8s. The L33 block is exceptionally light; as a result, a fully dressed L33 is 100 pounds lighter than cast iron-block Vortec 5300s (RPOs LM7 and L59).

The L33 takes its cylinder heads from the LS6. Originally developed for the Z06 Corvette, these heads improve airflow in and out of the engine. With their pent-roof combustions chambers and new flat top pistons (the pistons in other Gen III Vortec 5300s have a slight sump in the piston deck), the L33’s compression ratio increases from 9.5:1 to 9.9:1. This increase improves the engine’s volumetric efficiency yet still allows it to achieve full power with regular grade gasoline.

Finally, the L33 is equipped with a higher-lift camshaft. Maximum valve lift increases from 11.6 mm on the LM7 and L59 to 12.5 mm. The new cam and compression ratio are the primary sources of the L33’s increased horsepower.

The L33 camshaft and cylinder heads were developed in conjunction with the new Gen IV Vortec 5300 (RPO LH6). The design objective was more horsepower for customers who need it, without requiring a step up to the Vortec 6000 (and an increase in operational costs). RPO L33 expands GM Powertrain’s lineup of Vortec V8s and gives GM’s truck customers even more flexibility and choice.

The L33 Vortec 5300 will be built at Powertrain’s Romulus, Mich., engine plant. With its introduction, Powertrain will cease production of Vortec 5300 RPO LM4. The Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL, previously equipped with the LM4, will now be powered by the Gen IV Vortec 5300 with Displacement on Demand. The 2005 Chevrolet SSR will be powered by the new LS2 truck V-8.

I think a LS6 will cost considerably more than that.

Edited my post :) Yeah there is an iron block version and an aluminum version which is 100lbs lighter.

What was that dynoed in the l33 was mostly in 4WD trucks and I'm assuming that is at the wheels. The last l33 swap i did was in a s10 with headers intake and custom Hp tune that made 332rwhp. This is the same basic of the ls6 engine that produces 405hp the only real difference is .5L of displacement and the tunning.

Just one version. The L33 is a version of the 5.3L vortec engines (L33, LM4, LM7, L59) . The reason i use these is the cost is a fraction of the cost of the ls1, ls2, ls3. ls6 etc... Also these blocks are 18lb lighter the the ls1 blocks and can be bored out to accept ls1\ls6 pistons. With the identical stroke and bore add a ls1 or preferably a ls6 intake and you lighter more powerful version of the ls1 for the same cost!

The L33 is definately a great engine for the price. I watched a video of an L33 Miata catch a Ferrari F430 on a track and that car was only making 288whp. I believe that car was a lightened race car though.

if I am not mistaken it also has a better oil supply

Interesting.Would you be able to have an 8 with an L33 as a daily driver? or is that out of the question? other then good luck with the swap, I'm sure it will be sick.

Yeah that is on a chassis dyno so that is to the wheels. No doubt it can make power I was just correcting the insinuation that it made 300+HP stock. Hopefully this build gets finished and you can get the car running properly.

Exactly how do you plan on getting that 5.3L to 450hp?

450hp NA out of an L33 won't be easy and it probably won't be very nice for a daily driver.
I know you can get close to 50 HP on most LS engine from only a cam swap but from what I've been told by friends that have done this is that the engine idles like shit so most guys I know have taken them out and either gone back to their stock cam or a much less aggressive aftermarket cam.
I think if a number like 450hp is your goal you might be better off in the long run to just purchase an LS1 or LS2, I know they'll probably cost you about 3-4K more for a clean one but you're looking at a lot of cash to build an L33 to 450hp. Now if your hp goal is somewhere closer to mid to high 300's then the L33 is an excellent choice for the money.
Good luck getting to the 450hp, I hope you do, it will be interesting to see.

It would definately be able to be driven daily. I just went our in my buggies 2003 Miata which is 99% completed. He's using and LS1 with a T56 transmission, the rear end is from the previous gen CTS-V.

I can't believe how fast this thing is and the LS1 is stock except for a full custom header back exhaust and an aftermarket intake as he can't use the oem camaro intake and exhaust. It drives like the engine was designed for the car, so I would think in a larger stiffer RX8 it would feel even more at home.