How does the 5.7l hold up??

usmceric1 · 01-16-2008, 06:46 PM

I know the 5.7 350 (255hp/330lb ft)has been around awhile, I have the 1996 vintage (Vortec)...but I was wondering how in the real world it holds up against the 5.9 motor from Dodge (230-250hp/325-345lb ft), and the 5.8 351 Ford (210hp/240 in Lightning, unsure tq #'s), or the 5.4 (235-260hp/330-350lb ft) modular engine from Ford. I am trying to stay in the same era, that is why I am not comparing GM's 5.3 (Gen III 275-295hp/325-335lb ft), and 6.0 (300-325hp/360-370lb ft) motors. Both of them are more powerful than the 5.7, although the torque numbers are similar in the 5.3.

Is it easier to modify than the other offerings? How's the reliablility compare? What is everyone's opinion on the 5.7 from GM for the truck?

ryeja · 01-16-2008, 07:11 PM

In my own personal opinion I prefer the Chevys. I've had Dodge and Ford both as company vehicles and drive a Chevy as a personal vehicle.
As far as holding up, any engine has it's little quirks and problems. Just read any of the other forums. Besides I think this going to turn into a very long thread, much like some of the other opinion polls.
I'm sure whatever the decission the fine people on this forum aren't biased towards vehicle prefrence, they just enjoy helping solve whatever problems may arise.

436'd skylark · 01-16-2008, 08:23 PM

Seeing as how the chevy 350 is the premier motor among almost everything motorsport, it will do fine. if you want to make power cheap, its the canidate. no other motor has the aftermarket following the SBC does..

keithr0005005 · 01-16-2008, 08:42 PM

well i have a 98 which has the same motor as your 96 and can honestly say the thing rocks and it definately out performs the the ford and the dodge of that era by a longshot as far as power and speed. ive raced my friends many a time and the only gas truck that ive lost to so far is a 2005 dodge ram with a hemi motor. its still faster than fords new gas trucks with the triton 5.4 but the hemi motor in the dodges takes it in a race every time. As far as dependability i have 199,00 miles on motor and trans with no rebuilds and im not exactly easy on the truck. Major fixes were fuel injectors and fuel pump as far as keepin the truck running properly. other than that just basic maintenence Most expensive fix was the rear which i blew breakstanding 33 12.5 mud tires at 187,000 miles and it was only pricy because i had a shop re gear it to 3.73 from 3.42 and had a detroit truetrack gear driven posi installed.

WisconsinHick · 01-17-2008, 05:18 AM

I have a 96 with the Vortec V8 and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Mine has 211000 miles no major work. And yes fuel pumps do go out but thats all that I've had to replace to keep her running strong. I can turn my 32 x 10.5 with out a problem.

gmctrucks · 01-17-2008, 07:18 AM

Chevy/GMC is the route to go you can get so many miles out of them mine has 160,000 miles on mine and it still doesn't burn oil and gets the same good mileage as when it was new in fact it's better with the stuff I have done to it and you can get a lot of HP out of them I would buy nothing but GM products when it comes to trucks.

MORROWMUDDER · 01-17-2008, 07:55 AM

i gotta be honest when i first started driving i swore i'd never own a chev, turns out is all i've owned. first one was an 87 S-10, total piece of S**t!! then i got my 96 which i've had for about 5 years now it has got to and from at least 25 states since i've been driving, towed a jeep from ohio to colorado with it, plowed snow with it, got 157,000+ miles on it and still going strong. i keep up on maintenance real good. O did i mention i has never had a set of tires on it smaller than 33" since i've owned it. currently running 36" swampers. My boss has a 91 chev with the 350, its got 241,000+miles and he still uses it as a work truck. he's never done anything to the engine just a transmission rebuild. I'd go with the chev!!

fbhart@wk.net · 01-18-2008, 12:19 PM

problems:

fuel pumps, keep rubber hammer in tool box

intake gasket leaks

otherwise tough old trucks

Bonnor · 01-18-2008, 02:00 PM

i wouldn't trade my 96 gmc 5.7L vortec for anything...they are good motors..mine just needs afew new gaskets and oil cooling lines

stelmadl · 01-18-2008, 03:46 PM

you guys that have +150k miles have never replaced the intake gasket? that is rare. it seems the first one goes like clockwork....at +/- 50k miles. maybe you bought the truck after the replacement? other than the intake gasket, i've been pretty satisfied. i've owned my 98 (454ci) since it was new....and i've got 120k miles on the odometer.

01-16-2008, 06:46 PM	#1
usmceric1 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 82	How does the 5.7l hold up?? I know the 5.7 350 (255hp/330lb ft)has been around awhile, I have the 1996 vintage (Vortec)...but I was wondering how in the real world it holds up against the 5.9 motor from Dodge (230-250hp/325-345lb ft), and the 5.8 351 Ford (210hp/240 in Lightning, unsure tq #'s), or the 5.4 (235-260hp/330-350lb ft) modular engine from Ford. I am trying to stay in the same era, that is why I am not comparing GM's 5.3 (Gen III 275-295hp/325-335lb ft), and 6.0 (300-325hp/360-370lb ft) motors. Both of them are more powerful than the 5.7, although the torque numbers are similar in the 5.3. Is it easier to modify than the other offerings? How's the reliablility compare? What is everyone's opinion on the 5.7 from GM for the truck?

01-16-2008, 08:23 PM	#3
436'd skylark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 993	Seeing as how the chevy 350 is the premier motor among almost everything motorsport, it will do fine. if you want to make power cheap, its the canidate. no other motor has the aftermarket following the SBC does.. __________________ Joe 89 K2500 Chevy, Wee-Oh-five 294K miles 1962 Scout 80 parts I guess 1966 Scout 800 resto job 2005 Chevy 2500HD Short cab long box DURAMAX 1996 P30, 6.5 NA Mac Mobile whole lot of buicks

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01-16-2008, 07:11 PM	#2
ryeja Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 73	In my own personal opinion I prefer the Chevys. I've had Dodge and Ford both as company vehicles and drive a Chevy as a personal vehicle. As far as holding up, any engine has it's little quirks and problems. Just read any of the other forums. Besides I think this going to turn into a very long thread, much like some of the other opinion polls. I'm sure whatever the decission the fine people on this forum aren't biased towards vehicle prefrence, they just enjoy helping solve whatever problems may arise.

01-16-2008, 08:42 PM	#4
keithr0005005 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 156	well i have a 98 which has the same motor as your 96 and can honestly say the thing rocks and it definately out performs the the ford and the dodge of that era by a longshot as far as power and speed. ive raced my friends many a time and the only gas truck that ive lost to so far is a 2005 dodge ram with a hemi motor. its still faster than fords new gas trucks with the triton 5.4 but the hemi motor in the dodges takes it in a race every time. As far as dependability i have 199,00 miles on motor and trans with no rebuilds and im not exactly easy on the truck. Major fixes were fuel injectors and fuel pump as far as keepin the truck running properly. other than that just basic maintenence Most expensive fix was the rear which i blew breakstanding 33 12.5 mud tires at 187,000 miles and it was only pricy because i had a shop re gear it to 3.73 from 3.42 and had a detroit truetrack gear driven posi installed.

01-17-2008, 05:18 AM	#5
WisconsinHick Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 58	I have a 96 with the Vortec V8 and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Mine has 211000 miles no major work. And yes fuel pumps do go out but thats all that I've had to replace to keep her running strong. I can turn my 32 x 10.5 with out a problem.

01-17-2008, 07:18 AM	#6
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,635	Chevy/GMC is the route to go you can get so many miles out of them mine has 160,000 miles on mine and it still doesn't burn oil and gets the same good mileage as when it was new in fact it's better with the stuff I have done to it and you can get a lot of HP out of them I would buy nothing but GM products when it comes to trucks.

01-17-2008, 07:55 AM	#7
MORROWMUDDER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio/Montana Posts: 138	i gotta be honest when i first started driving i swore i'd never own a chev, turns out is all i've owned. first one was an 87 S-10, total piece of S**t!! then i got my 96 which i've had for about 5 years now it has got to and from at least 25 states since i've been driving, towed a jeep from ohio to colorado with it, plowed snow with it, got 157,000+ miles on it and still going strong. i keep up on maintenance real good. O did i mention i has never had a set of tires on it smaller than 33" since i've owned it. currently running 36" swampers. My boss has a 91 chev with the 350, its got 241,000+miles and he still uses it as a work truck. he's never done anything to the engine just a transmission rebuild. I'd go with the chev!!

01-18-2008, 12:19 PM	#8
fbhart@wk.net Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 119	problems: fuel pumps, keep rubber hammer in tool box intake gasket leaks otherwise tough old trucks

01-18-2008, 02:00 PM	#9
Bonnor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 90	i wouldn't trade my 96 gmc 5.7L vortec for anything...they are good motors..mine just needs afew new gaskets and oil cooling lines

01-18-2008, 03:46 PM	#10
stelmadl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 116	you guys that have +150k miles have never replaced the intake gasket? that is rare. it seems the first one goes like clockwork....at +/- 50k miles. maybe you bought the truck after the replacement? other than the intake gasket, i've been pretty satisfied. i've owned my 98 (454ci) since it was new....and i've got 120k miles on the odometer.