I have a 1998 1500 with a 350 and 192,000 miles. It's got real bad piston slap and now I need to replace the head gasket. The motor is still strong with plenty of power but the piston slap worries me. I've got a 5.3 out of a 2002 1500 with only 45,000 miles. Am I better off putting the 5.3 in my 1998? Will it even be possible with the computer and electronics? Or do I just look for a different 350?

 

I would just rebuild the current 350, you should be able to get more power and in turn get more fuel econ from the rebuilt 350 versus trying to get the 5.3 to work in you truck. Now that being said, most will tell you to put in the 5.3 because of the mods. Now if you want to put a lot of power in your truck, the 5.3 is going to be your best bet. Aftermarket parts for the 5.7's are getting harder to come by, esspectially when you start to talk about tuners and forced induction.

All of the above is just my opinion!

 

I would rebuild the 350 and just build it up.

 

I will also like to rebuild the 350.

 

Add another check mark next to 'Rebuild the 350'.

Any halfway decent machine shop will be able to help you out with nearly any questions you might have, and they might even offer some suggestions. The 350 is a solid base for dang near anything you could ever want to do to an engine, so that's my vote.

 

I vote to go with a 383 stroker! That is what we are replacing the tired 350 with in my dad's old 1990 model.

 

I would agree if it weren't going to be fuel injected. However, he was wondering about the 5.3L. Now if you really want to put down the power, I would put in a blown 427. High revvs and lot's of power. (IMO great for mud and street fun, nothing close to what would be there if I were strickly drag racing)