LS3 in to '08 Suburban LTZ

[smkeeling]

Looking for thoughts, ideas or suggestions... I pull a 21' Yamaha AR210 jetboat, load it witj two kids, two german shepherds and the hot wife, oh almost forgot all the kids (both girls) stuff and the hot wife's stuff. SO, this burb pulls a heavy load during the summer to the lake and back. We live in a pretty hilly part of Virginia and travel to Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Anna and a lake or two in NC/MD. The burb as the 5.3 with either the A4 or A6 (need to double check) 4wd tow package 20" wheels.

Thoughts are supercharger/turbo.
-Turbo gives the torque that is needed to pull this heavy boat to the water.
-Supercharges great for power little less on the torque side and they are efficient when not under load.
-The down side to both is the cost for either running $7500-$10K installed.

The other option is a used LS3 from the forum or bone yard mated to the A6. The price of this system will run about the same as the SC or Turbo, give or take a few hundred, and will grant me more power/torque stock. Just the price of the install.

Like I said thoughts, ideas, suggestions..

[Cruuzin LV]

Originally Posted by smkeeling

Looking for thoughts, ideas or suggestions... I pull a 21' Yamaha AR210 jetboat, load it witj two kids, two german shepherds and the hot wife, oh almost forgot all the kids (both girls) stuff and the hot wife's stuff. SO, this burb pulls a heavy load during the summer to the lake and back. We live in a pretty hilly part of Virginia and travel to Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Anna and a lake or two in NC/MD. The burb as the 5.3 with either the A4 or A6 (need to double check) 4wd tow package 20" wheels.

Thoughts are supercharger/turbo.
-Turbo gives the torque that is needed to pull this heavy boat to the water.
-Supercharges great for power little less on the torque side and they are efficient when not under load.
-The down side to both is the cost for either running $7500-$10K installed.

The other option is a used LS3 from the forum or bone yard mated to the A6. The price of this system will run about the same as the SC or Turbo, give or take a few hundred, and will grant me more power/torque stock. Just the price of the install.

Like I said thoughts, ideas, suggestions..

What ever option gives you the most TQ at the lowest RPM would be the best bet when pulling a boat out of the water and up hills. At speed I would imagine they would all preform pretty well.

[SS4Fun]

Originally Posted by smkeeling

Looking for thoughts, ideas or suggestions... I pull a 21' Yamaha AR210 jetboat, load it witj two kids, two german shepherds and the hot wife, oh almost forgot all the kids (both girls) stuff and the hot wife's stuff. SO, this burb pulls a heavy load during the summer to the lake and back. We live in a pretty hilly part of Virginia and travel to Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Anna and a lake or two in NC/MD. The burb as the 5.3 with either the A4 or A6 (need to double check) 4wd tow package 20" wheels.

Thoughts are supercharger/turbo.
-Turbo gives the torque that is needed to pull this heavy boat to the water.
-Supercharges great for power little less on the torque side and they are efficient when not under load.
-The down side to both is the cost for either running $7500-$10K installed.

The other option is a used LS3 from the forum or bone yard mated to the A6. The price of this system will run about the same as the SC or Turbo, give or take a few hundred, and will grant me more power/torque stock. Just the price of the install.

Like I said thoughts, ideas, suggestions..

Hey how's it going!!! Been there done that............ we had a 30' BAJA offshore racing boat. Those were some fun times down at Lake Anna!!!!! Definitely, had to have 4wd to pull that thing out of the water. Had a 1989 full size Blazer that did the job!!!

[smkeeling]

Originally Posted by SS4Fun

Hey how's it going!!! Been there done that............ we had a 30' BAJA offshore racing boat. Those were some fun times down at Lake Anna!!!!! Definitely, had to have 4wd to pull that thing out of the water. Had a 1989 full size Blazer that did the job!!!

Doing good, how have you been? The burb pulls the boat ok but on the long hauls and the steep hills she can struggle.

[MikeSVX]

S/C or T/C will be far less difficult and less time consuming. Modern vehicles aren't just bolt it in and hook up a couple wires like in the old days. Now you have to deal with a lot of wiring to keep it legal. You will likely need the entire wiring harness from the engine, ecu and tcu. You will have to splice all that into the trucks wiring harness. you don't mention the year of the "burb". I'm assuming with the 5.3 in it, it is fairly new. You may have better luck swapping in a 6.0. I believe the suburbans were available with it. If so, the wiring harnesses should match up better and require less splicing then using an LS3 from a Camaro.

A truck engine would probably have a better torque curve for what your using it. They would have a cam thats better set up for towing and the iron block truck engines run a grand or two cheaper then the aluminum blocks they use in the cars. The Silverado SS's used the iron block 6.0, the Trailblazer SS's used the aluminum block 6.0.

[SS4Fun]

Originally Posted by smkeeling

Doing good, how have you been? The burb pulls the boat ok but on the long hauls and the steep hills she can struggle.

I hear ya............... I remember pulling our 19' with a Monte Carlo SS to Smith Mountain Lake. That was a memorable trip!!!! Tell the wife and daughter "HI" for me!!

[VictorySS]

Originally Posted by MikeSVX

S/C or T/C will be far less difficult and less time consuming. Modern vehicles aren't just bolt it in and hook up a couple wires like in the old days. Now you have to deal with a lot of wiring to keep it legal. You will likely need the entire wiring harness from the engine, ecu and tcu. You will have to splice all that into the trucks wiring harness. you don't mention the year of the "burb". I'm assuming with the 5.3 in it, it is fairly new. You may have better luck swapping in a 6.0. I believe the suburbans were available with it. If so, the wiring harnesses should match up better and require less splicing then using an LS3 from a Camaro.

A truck engine would probably have a better torque curve for what your using it. They would have a cam thats better set up for towing and the iron block truck engines run a grand or two cheaper then the aluminum blocks they use in the cars. The Silverado SS's used the iron block 6.0, the Trailblazer SS's used the aluminum block 6.0.

There rewiring would be min at most, we are talking a few sensor. Guys drop LS3 in 4th gen Camaros and other GM platform all the time that are based on the LS platform. I wouldnt use an LS3 go find yourself a L92 to drop in. They have more TQ & HP where you need it and they dont cost as much

[TRIPWIRE]

Originally Posted by MikeSVX

S/C or T/C will be far less difficult and less time consuming. Modern vehicles aren't just bolt it in and hook up a couple wires like in the old days. Now you have to deal with a lot of wiring to keep it legal. You will likely need the entire wiring harness from the engine, ecu and tcu. You will have to splice all that into the trucks wiring harness. you don't mention the year of the "burb". I'm assuming with the 5.3 in it, it is fairly new. You may have better luck swapping in a 6.0. I believe the suburbans were available with it. If so, the wiring harnesses should match up better and require less splicing then using an LS3 from a Camaro.

A truck engine would probably have a better torque curve for what your using it. They would have a cam thats better set up for towing and the iron block truck engines run a grand or two cheaper then the aluminum blocks they use in the cars. The Silverado SS's used the iron block 6.0, the Trailblazer SS's used the aluminum block 6.0.

I agree with what he said....supercharger or turbo would be alot more convienient and prob cheaper.

[dorfmac]

Why not buy a new car that is capable from the start? The amount you'd drop on a SC or TC would make a good downpayment, and you'd get the trade value on your current vehicle.

[smkeeling]

Originally Posted by dorfmac

Why not buy a new car that is capable from the start? The amount you'd drop on a SC or TC would make a good downpayment, and you'd get the trade value on your current vehicle.

I wanted the diesel, but chevy and GMC no longer offer that and I am not a ford guy, had one and it went tits up just over 100K. If it wouldn't cost me a kidney or 2 I'd swap the burb over to a 2500's chassis with the duramax with allison transmission. My oldest rides horses and I know I will be pulling a horse trailer here soon enough.

[smkeeling]

Originally Posted by VictorySS

There rewiring would be min at most, we are talking a few sensor. Guys drop LS3 in 4th gen Camaros and other GM platform all the time that are based on the LS platform. I wouldnt use an LS3 go find yourself a L92 to drop in. They have more TQ & HP where you need it and they dont cost as much

I know a few here have said the L92 but its not different than the L99 other than intake, cam and tune. Both are 6.2, same heads, AFM/VVT. Making roughly the same horsepower and torque. The blocks LS3/L99 are more robust in design allowing for you to make more power without the fear of hurting them.

[Frank in MD]

Trading or selling your Burb for a new one isn't a bad idea. SLP makes packages for Suburbans w/ up to 700HP!- Click Here -. for more information. They will easily do what you want.

[dorfmac]

Originally Posted by Frank in MD

Trading or selling your Burb for a new one isn't a bad idea. SLP makes packages for Suburbans w/ up to 700HP!- Click Here -. for more information. They will easily do what you want.

HOW DARE YOU POST THAT LINK YOU'RE NOT A VENDOR!!!

POSTING LINKS LIKE THAT JUST TO HELP SOMEONE OUT IS NOT ALLOWED!

[Tribute]

OP - just sent you a pm. I might just have an LS3 available...