johncharlesb wrote:Only big in the overhead cam. 440 hundred pounds is a featherweight engine. I do not want to take anything away from the LS, it is a good, strong, light engine. It has to be, it is a small block ford copy. It is the current flavor of the month. If you want to make your LS fast, you can always bolt some Cleveland heads on it since the decks, the bore alignment, and the head bolt patterns are the same.
The factory GM truck heads outflow a 2V Cleavland head. Cleveland heads are heavy steel, unlike the GM heads. The 4V heads does flow more than a standard truck head. You will spend $1200-$1600 finding a decent set and have them machined/rebuilt.
Here are some more comparisons:
------------------ LS3 ------------ 5.0 Ford Mod
Weight ----------- 430# --------------------- 440#
Size -------------- Small ---------------------- Big
HP --------------- ~425 ---------------------- ~412
Cost ------------- $6200 --------------------- $6500
On paper they are close. Here is where the difference is: I can buy a 5.3 truck motor for $400, spend $250 on ECU and Harness, $250 on a LS1 intake, $400 on a good cam, Headers for $300, and make 400HP for $1600. Can I pick up a used Coyote or mod motor and do that? No.