chevy 5.3L

[pmg8134]

i`m running Auto Lite plugs and my mechanic tells me I have the wrong plugs and I`m short changing myself and the motor. so what am I supposed to use?

[TCracin440ex]

ac delco. gm vehicles tend to run better on ac delco plugs then any other brand. but you might want to ask over on fullsizechevy.com and see what kind of answer u get.

[LTandRaptorider]

Originally posted by TCracin440ex
ac delco. gm vehicles tend to run better on ac delco plugs then any other brand. but you might want to ask over on fullsizechevy.com and see what kind of answer u get.

Yep, use AC-Delco plugs. I've had a couple Chevy trucks, tried different brands of plugs over the years including Autolite. AC's work best, I like the AC Rapid Fire best. More pricey of course, but seem to work better and last longer.

[TCracin440ex]

as bad as it is to say the ac delcos are more expensive, and i know its poor maintence to do this but we got 200k out of a set of ac delcos in a 5.3ltr before we replaced them. but the manufacture recomends changing every 100k or 150k i cant remember exactly.

[scottproquad]

ac!!!!!! nothing but!!

[NED441SUZ]

AC Delco or NGK.

[TCracin440ex]

Originally posted by NED441SUZ
AC Delco or NGK.

just delco, no ngk. chevys do the best on ac-delco. so why change a good thing? yes they are pretty spendy, but you get your moneys worth out of them

[pmg8134]

thanks guys. leaves me no choice Ac it is! is it in my head or when the fuel pump got changed it made a huge difference in performance?

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by pmg8134
thanks guys. leaves me no choice Ac it is! is it in my head or when the fuel pump got changed it made a huge difference in performance?

if the pump is getting worn out and weak, its possible its not sending enough fuel through the system(low pressure in the lines etc). this will cause a loss of power. i had a 350 in my old truck and before the fuel pump quit completely, i had a total loss of power over 3500 rpm. it wasnt able to put the fuel into the engine

[pmg8134]

yeh the fuel guage hasn`t been working right for about two years and it`s all together in one sending unit, i think it was called. i don`t have a ping when i stomp on it now. pretty excited three problems gone and it only cost me $500... yeh that hurt, but it`s running great now.

[krt400ex]

Originally posted by pmg8134
yeh the fuel guage hasn`t been working right for about two years and it`s all together in one sending unit, i think it was called. i don`t have a ping when i stomp on it now. pretty excited three problems gone and it only cost me $500... yeh that hurt, but it`s running great now.

ouch dude. i didnt mine for like $160. did you do it yourself or have someone install it?

[pmg8134]

oh your right cost on the part isn`t that bad, labor got me. that truck has been on the beach it`s whole life you can`t even recognize threads on exposed bolts underneath the truck it`s so rusted. i don`t even dare touch stuff it`s a nightmare to do.

[Pipeless416]

im not entirely sure about 5.3s, but NGK's are very popular in LS1s. ;)

[TCracin440ex]

Originally posted by Pipeless416
im not entirely sure about 5.3s, but NGK's are very popular in LS1s. ;)

same motor platform. aint but some minor details different. matter of a fact a big common swap in the ls1 are a set of 5.3heads because they are iron and will hold up to a larger cam & the 5.3 heads flow better then factory ls1 heads

[witech]

Since we are on the suject of 5.3's anybody change valve seals on a 5.3? My avalanche smokes up a small cloud on cold start after a long trip. The last set i put in was in my 85 vette (L98) which was gravy. Has anything changed much on the 5.3 or is it the same. The only thing that seems to be a horror is crawling under the hood to get at it. Pretty sweet engine otherwise. Also do they need a timing chain at 100,000 like the small blocks of old ? This ones got 155,000 on it.

[trx310R#24]

Originally posted by TCracin440ex
as bad as it is to say the ac delcos are more expensive, and i know its poor maintence to do this but we got 200k out of a set of ac delcos in a 5.3ltr before we replaced them. but the manufacture recomends changing every 100k or 150k i cant remember exactly.


i change mine every 10k =p if that haha at least once a year.... even if they look like new. just to be sure everything is working how it should... spark plugs tend to have a less powerful spark after a while...

[TCracin440ex]

Originally posted by trx310R#24
i change mine every 10k =p if that haha at least once a year.... even if they look like new. just to be sure everything is working how it should... spark plugs tend to have a less powerful spark after a while...

man you aint even gettin full life out of your plug man. the plugs we pulled out at 200k still had great spark, and the gaps were still correct. we just changed them for peace of mind.

[F-16Guy]

I just installed NGKs in my 2004 Tahoe LT. It was on the factory AC plugs at 107K miles. I haven't noticed a drastic change - it runs a little better and smoother, but I also changed the wires, fuel filter, and cleaned the carbon from the TB, so it's hard to tell what really made the difference. Incidently, if anyone needs the filter coupling tool for a Flex Fuel GM, I'll sell mine (used once) for $10 shipped - just PM me.

[CJM]

Originally posted by trx310R#24
i change mine every 10k =p if that haha at least once a year.... even if they look like new. just to be sure everything is working how it should... spark plugs tend to have a less powerful spark after a while...

Id say 50k is a better benchmark if your gonna change them often, platinum type plugs, hell even regular old plugs last a long time now a days. Your just throwing your cash away changing them so soon.

[Aarons 01 400EX]

Autolites are fine. I ran Autolites in my lt1 and ls1 F-bodies. Are you running a colder plug? I think 104's are one stage colder than the 106's and the 103's were used mainly for N20 systems.