Need a shop to rebuild Chevy 5.3L in So Cal

[DanG]

Looking for a shop to rebuild my sons 2017 Chevy 5.3 with a blown head gasket. He lives in Beaumont.

About 6 months ago my son purchased a 2017 Chevy from Pacific Auto Sales in Fontana. Within 300 miles the transmission went out. They partially covered it at cost ($3400) to rebuild the transmission. Now 7000 miles later it has a blown head gasket. Truck is currently at Tom Bell in Redlands.

Would like to see if anyone has a recommendation of a shop he can have it sent to for a replacement or rebuild.

Thanks, Dan

 

[rivermobster]

Close to you?

CBM Motorsports | LS Engine Specialists

Specializing in the GM LS series engines. Turbocharged, Supercharged, Procharged LS3, LS7, LSX, RHS LS racing engines.

www.custombuiltmotors.com

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Havent personally used these guys, but as I have a 2016 GMC with the 6.2, if the engine failed on me I was taking it to these guys:

Wayne's Engine Rebuilding

Wayne's engine rebuilding home page

www.waynesengines.com

 

[DanG]

Close to you?

CBM Motorsports | LS Engine Specialists

Specializing in the GM LS series engines. Turbocharged, Supercharged, Procharged LS3, LS7, LSX, RHS LS racing engines.

www.custombuiltmotors.com

Thanks, I will have my son message them. Yes, they would be close to him.

 

[pronstar]

Would you consider a take-out engine?

L83 5.3 Engine

We do our best to bring you the best drivetrains available. All of our drivetrains have been compression and leak down tested so you can buy with confidence. *want to save 3%? Email us before your purchase for other methods of payment. We add 3% to higher ticket items in order to cover the...

engineswapsupply.com

 

[DanG]

Havent personally used these guys, but as I have a 2016 GMC with the 6.2, if the engine failed on me I was taking it to these guys:

Wayne's Engine Rebuilding

Wayne's engine rebuilding home page

www.waynesengines.com

Thank you. Looks like a good shop. I will have my son message them as well.

 

[DanG]

Would you consider a take-out engine?

L83 5.3 Engine

We do our best to bring you the best drivetrains available. All of our drivetrains have been compression and leak down tested so you can buy with confidence. *want to save 3%? Email us before your purchase for other methods of payment. We add 3% to higher ticket items in order to cover the...

engineswapsupply.com

Def something to consider. Thank you

 

[pronstar]

To help with your shopping, his engine is an LT (evolution of, but technically not an LS) and the engine code is L83

Here’s another source for take-outs

LKQ Online

LKQ Online is North America's largest online provider of recycled original equipment (OE) auto parts for cars and light-duty trucks requiring collision or mechanical repair.

lkqonline.com

 

[Melloyellovector]

Nick at hustler, he’s directly across from waynes in riverside. He probably has a 5.3 ready to go for a decent price.
otherwise CBM is good, they’ll likely want to swap to a 6.0 crate motor, but they have the ability for full install and making it work W factory mefi system
Cbm swapped my sons 5.3 with a 6.0
trans we just did on his few months ago with high desert mechanical for 2500.00 Brian LaCroix. He does great work

 

[DanG]

thanks for details and recommendation. I will send the info to my son.

 

[Livewire Fabworks]

Nick at hustler, he’s directly across from waynes in riverside. He probably has a 5.3 ready to go for a decent price.
otherwise CBM is good, they’ll likely want to swap to a 6.0 crate motor, but they have the ability for full install and making it work W factory mefi system
Cbm swapped my sons 5.3 with a 6.0
trans we just did on his few months ago with high desert mechanical for 2500.00 Brian LaCroix. He does great work

Curious on the 6.0 swap your son got, is he able to keep smog legal or is it registered in AZ?

 

[lbhsbz]

Why not just do the headgaskets? Can't have too many miles on it being a 2017.

 

[ElAzul]

Why not just do the headgaskets? Can't have too many miles on it being a 2017.

This is RDP he's gonna throw it in the gutter and go buy another

 

[pronstar]

One more thought:
If rebuilding, delete the DOD crap (lifters and cam).

If building fresh, no builder is gonna install DOD So that’s covered, but worth confirming with the shop.

If he goes the take-out engine route, consider deleting the DOD crap, now is the time to do it before it’s in the truck.

 

[Melloyellovector]

Curious on the 6.0 swap your son got, is he able to keep smog legal or is it registered in AZ?

Yes still registered in ca. It’s all factory crap, mefi computer programmed etc, smog plug in sees factory settings

 

[2FORCEFULL]

thanks for details and recommendation. I will send the info to my son.

I'd do an auto zone motor....

 

[lbhsbz]

I'd do an auto zone motor....

Why would you ever consider doing such a thing? Production line reman assemblies are typically about 2 steps below used as far as quality and defect rates go these days....and that's if you buy them from a reputable supplier...which Autozone is not.

 

[rivermobster]

Why would you ever consider doing such a thing? Production line reman assemblies are typically about 2 steps below used as far as quality and defect rates go these days....and that's if you buy them from a reputable supplier...which Autozone is not.

He's probably saying that cause just like the rest of their rebuilt crap, they give you a lifetime warranty.

Odds are that you will use it. And probably more than once!

 

[2FORCEFULL]

He's probably saying that cause just like the rest of their rebuilt crap, they give you a lifetime warranty.

Odds are that you will use it. And probably more than once!

I've pretty much had to eat every "custom build motor". and even though auto zone has a great warranty, never had to use it ... we get 3-4 of them each month and never an issue,... auto zone pays us to R&R the motor if it goes bad, small low power chevy motors are like changing tires ,...i've also had better luck with target motors then custom builds.... every custom leaks oil and spins bearings.... and is always coming back for something... put an autozone motor and never see the car again unless it something non related to the car goes wrong...just like boat motors, put a reman merc and your done...... put a custom motor and keep cleaning the oil out of the bildge till it blows, and then listen to the builder tell you all the reasons it was your fault...auto zone.... no questions asked and the customer can take it where ever to get replaced...custom builder have the motor setting in their shop for a year and and tell you stories about why they haven'y touched it... stock re builds run... barn yard race motors don't...

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Why not just do the headgaskets? Can't have too many miles on it being a 2017.

thats where I would go..... we do it all the time at our shop with no come backs....

 

[Shlbyntro]

I've pretty much had to eat every "custom build motor". and even though auto zone has a great warranty, never had to use it ... we get 3-4 of them each month and never an issue,... auto zone pays us to R&R the motor if it goes bad, small low power chevy motors are like changing tires ,...i've also had better luck with target motors then custom builds.... every custom leaks oil and spins bearings.... and is always coming back for something... put an autozone motor and never see the car again unless it something non related to the car goes wrong...just like boat motors, put a reman merc and your done...... put a custom motor and keep cleaning the oil out of the bildge till it blows, and then listen to the builder tell you all the reasons it was your fault...auto zone.... no questions asked and the customer can take it where ever to get replaced...custom builder have the motor setting in their shop for a year and and tell you stories about why they haven'y touched it... stock re builds run... barn yard race motors don't...

This!

Exactly why I only do mild builds if any at all on stuff that isnt mine. Ill spec higher quality bearing/piston materials but generally OE style stuff from my machine shop. Then maybe a better carb/exhaust/efi tune on the outside. the rest of it just isnt worth it!

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

@Bigbore500r

 

[rivermobster]

I've pretty much had to eat every "custom build motor". and even though auto zone has a great warranty, never had to use it ... we get 3-4 of them each month and never an issue,... auto zone pays us to R&R the motor if it goes bad, small low power chevy motors are like changing tires ,...i've also had better luck with target motors then custom builds.... every custom leaks oil and spins bearings.... and is always coming back for something... put an autozone motor and never see the car again unless it something non related to the car goes wrong...just like boat motors, put a reman merc and your done...... put a custom motor and keep cleaning the oil out of the bildge till it blows, and then listen to the builder tell you all the reasons it was your fault...auto zone.... no questions asked and the customer can take it where ever to get replaced...custom builder have the motor setting in their shop for a year and and tell you stories about why they haven'y touched it... stock re builds run... barn yard race motors don't...

I understand what you're saying.

It also depends on what barnyard you use.

 

[Bigbore500r]

thanks for details and recommendation. I will send the info to my son.

If it's just a head gasket, you should be able to have it fixed for under $1000, assuming the head isn't junk. Did something else happen that's requiring the whole engine to be rebuilt - was it driven and cooked, or ?

If it needs an entire engine - I'd be looking for a take-out 5.3 from a salvage yard with a warranty. You can get an entire motor for less than $4,000.
I've always used LKQ salvage yards with good luck, but there are alot out there.

Here's one for close to $3000 -

Engine 5.3L Opt L83 Fits 14-16 SIERRA 1500 PICKUP 778861 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Engine 5.3L Opt L83 Fits 14-16 SIERRA 1500 PICKUP 778861 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[240Hallett]

If it's just a head gasket, you should be able to have it fixed for under $1000, assuming the head isn't junk. Did something else happen that's requiring the whole engine to be rebuilt - was it driven and cooked, or ?

If it needs an entire engine - I'd be looking for a take-out 5.3 from a salvage yard with a warranty. You can get an entire motor for less than $4,000.
I've always used LKQ salvage yards with good luck, but there are alot out there.

Here's one for close to $3000 -

Engine 5.3L Opt L83 Fits 14-16 SIERRA 1500 PICKUP 778861 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Engine 5.3L Opt L83 Fits 14-16 SIERRA 1500 PICKUP 778861 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

That ad shows year models 14 - 16. Would that work in an earlier model 2003 or are there different generations of the 5.3?

 

[Bigbore500r]

That ad shows year models 14 - 16. Would that work in an earlier model 2003 or are there different generations of the 5.3?

99 - early 2007 are Gen III 5.3 (LS based) motors.

2007.5 - 2013 are Gen IV 5.3, similar to 99-07 but with AFM and 58 tooth crankshaft signal (and a slew of other small changes, but mechanically similar)

2014-up are the current generation of "LT" based direct injected motors. 99% different than the 2013-older stuff.

 

[Chili Palmer]

Pacific Auto Sales is a pretty sketchy place - first of all there no parking anywhere and the majority of their vehicles are of the caliber you’d see on a lot like on the movie Used Cars (a great movie). I looked at a 2015 Cadillac CTS V and noticed that the drivers’ door wasn’t closed, but it was snug on the bottom. On the passengers’ side it was the opposite it was out at the bottom, but tight on top. The hood and trunk lines had huge gaps to no gaps. The whole car was bent. And the dealer told me they couldn’t be, it was checked out. Yeah, no thanks.

 

[CLdrinker]

Pacific Auto Sales is a pretty sketchy place - first of all there no parking anywhere and the majority of their vehicles are of the caliber you’d see on a lot like on the movie Used Cars (a great movie). I looked at a 2105 Cadillac CTS V and noticed that the drivers’ door wasn’t closed, but it was snug on the bottom. On the passengers’ side it was the opposite it was out at the bottom, but tight on top. The hood and trunk lines had huge gaps to no gaps. The whole car bent. And the dealer told me they couldn’t be, it was checked out. Yeah, no thanks.

They mainly buy turds at auction and polish them. I’ve kicked a few tires at the place. They made it easy to walk away.

 

[wzuber]

For what it's worth ( the option, not the vehicle) you could try engine quest in las vegas for a take out or replacement parts. It'w where most shops go for take out's etc.
Www.enginequest.com

 

[WAAZ]

99 - early 2007 are Gen III 5.3 (LS based) motors.

2007.5 - 2013 are Gen IV 5.3, similar to 99-07 but with AFM and 58 tooth crankshaft signal (and a slew of other small changes, but mechanically similar)

2014-up are the current generation of "LT" based direct injected motors. 99% different than the 2013-older stuff.

When did they go from a cable operated throttle body to fly by wire - ‘02 ‘03??

 

[lbhsbz]

When did they go from a cable operated throttle body to fly by wire - ‘02 ‘03??

02 was the last year of cable.