Got a 2002 'burb that's the family hauler, and once a month race car hauler. I will be pulling 2 trailers, an open steel 18" with a 3,000 lb car on it (BTDT no problem), and a 3,500 lb (empty) 24' enclosed with a 3,000 lb car occasionally. I know the 24' is already pushing the tow rating, but the few times I've pulled with it, it does ok. Brakes and stability are great, a little more motor would be welcome.

I am considering a 6.0L swap just because a used LQ9 seems to be cheap enough to try it. I've got a shop/lift and no stranger to this so I don't mind spending my time doing it.

I'm not after some massive peak hp number, that's what the race car is for. Just want some extra torque in the 1,500-3,500 rpm range.

Do the 5.3L and 6.0L motors have different intakes? I know the heads and obviously block are different. basically I'd be looking to just use the 6.0L long block and my old 5.3 accessories and intake/TB, rails and injectors, etc

What do I need to look out for? LQ9 that much more desirable than the LQ4? What years are a direct swap possible? I know the reluctor wheel count changed at some point.

any good long tube headers that will help out low end grunt with the 5.3L or the 6.0L?

any advice would be great

 

01-07classic 6.0 longblock is what you want. your intake and accessories will all bolt up. theres a slight compression difference between the lq4 and lq9 but generally with tuning the lq4 puts out the same power. pacesetter lt headers have always been my favorite.

 

get an LQ4 unless you find a good deal on a LQ9, most people want too much money and its not worth it
it will definitely have better grunt than the 5.3, maybe add a tune with I/H/E and maybe a fast intake to get some mpg's from the 6.0 while also helping the power

make sure its has aluminum heads if its an early motor
the intake may have a couple different connections between the 5.3/6.0 of the same year but different years can have many differences, i used the intake off my 5.3 since the new intake was missing parts and was drive by wire
the swap is easy, but you could have issues, exhaust manifold bolts are a problem

 

What is the problem or difference in the exhaust manifold bolts?

 

Your best bet is an '04+ LQ4. If you want more, mill a set of 243 heads and slap them on there. You can also run a TBSS intake for more umph.

 

There isn't one that I know off.. All ls based engines manifold pattern is the same, including the ls1s.