5.3 Vortec Big Block? or Small Block?

Question

I have a 2000 Silverado Z71 5.3 Liter Vortec engine. I was wondering if this is a big block engine or a small block engine.

Answer 1

If I remember correctly, GM considered an engine a big block because the block was physically bigger than other blocks using similar displacement and can be bored out to much more displacement. This is over simplified I'm sure, but I doubt any of the V8 blocks today are considered "big blocks" CI displacement measurements are not directly related to size of the physical block obviously. The 427 in the Z06 is considered a small block engine.

Answer 2

It is neither. Small blocks were the first generation design for chevy V8s available from 265 to 400 cubic inches. Then there were 348s and 409s and a rumored 430 "W" block. Then big blocks from 366 to 572 including truck engines and never factory installed GMPP engines. They for some reason received the second generation designation from the public which would make the gen II Chevy engines but not gen II small blocks. Get it? Probably got that name from the same teeny bopper who decided that a "goat" was a GTO. He didn't know so he guessed and it just kind of stuck. And finally the latest family of V8 engines from chevy of which your 5.3 is one. It is neither an early small block nor a later big block. It is just a new design from Chevy.

Answer 3

the 5.3 325 ci is a small block. that was the replacement from the old 5.7 350 ci. it a shame what chevy has done, given the public a smaller engine =[ when ram has the hemi 5.7 now. but anyways the biggest small block is the 427 ci all aluminum small block which they first put on the 69 corvettes and the rare 69 camaros which they only made 69 of the. thats why they sale very expensive on autions =D. they call that engine the zl1 (google it if u think im lying). so if u think u have one rare 69 camaro zl1, u better think twice before calling ecology auto parts lol. thats why i love chevy and that why my dream car is any 69 camaro ss or z28 or whatever ill just buy the 427 and swap the engine. man just thinking bout it makes me go loco. thanks for reading. hope it helps

Answer 4

Back in the day GM had different motors for all their different division, but today they all share power plants. As for big blocks and small blocks, big blocks are physically larger then small blocks, it does not depend on displacement of the motor its self. Currently the smallest displacement “small block” V8 offered by GM is the 4.8L used in the Silverado and Sierra and largest “small block” is the LS7 7.0L (427 cu. in.) V8 used in the C6 Z06. GM currently does not use any big blocks in a production car or truck except for the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC Topkick that use the 8.1L, the Heavy Duty Silverado’s and Sierra’s stop use of the 8.1L (496 cu. in.) Vortec V8 in 2007, it was replaced by the “small block“ 6.0L Vortec V8. You can still purchase a big block crate motor though, by way of GM Performance Parts, up to 572 cu. in. So yes your 5.3L Vortec V8 is a Gen III small block.

Answer 5

5.3 is a gen III small block its about 325cu in. Donnie is incorrect about the exhaust port location on gen III small blocks they are like 0 0 0 0 not 0 00 0.

Answer 6

I believe that the optional engines for the 2000 year are the 4.8 L small block 5.3L small block and the 8.1L big block

Answer 7

small block...... big blocks are like... 7.5 ...



Yours is a 327 i believe..



the smallest is a 283, the largest is a 400...



a 350 is a 5.7L



beyond that, the smallest bigblock is a 402, which as far as i know they haven't made since before the 60's, then essentially a 454 (7.5L i think), then 502.. big block.. edelbrock makes a 555 now though... but it's technically edelbrock.. not chevy...



(by the way, all of this changes with newer corvette motors... but is inapplicable here)

Answer 8

Small block

Answer 9

small block its between like a 305 and a 350 v8 and those are also both small blocks

Answer 10

A 5.3L vortec is a small block.

Answer 11

its a small block

the best way to tell on chevy v8s is look at the exhaust manifold. on a small block the 2 ports in the middle look like this ....(o oo o) on a big block they look like this....(o o o o) i hope this helps

Answer 12

5.3 Vortec

Answer 13

5.3L is a small block. It's 323 cubic inches.