5.3 Drift Ready Longblock - from $6,969.69
Introducing the Flag Motorsports 5.3 drift ready longblock, affectionately called the “PowerSlide” for its relation to drifting, and the ability to configure this engine’s power output on a sliding scale depending on parts choice. This engine will be available in a base NA configuration, and in a boost-ready configuration for a turbo charger or supercharger. Our goals with this combination were:
To offer a well built, affordable power plant for the drift community featuring high quality, durable components that can be refreshed or upgraded as needed.
To be able to grow with drifters as they require more power in a linear way that is well set up from the very beginning with highly modular options.
To compete price-wise against other crate LS engine options, while offering the build quality of a hand built engine and component quality far exceeding crate engine options.
PowerSlide NA Features:
500+ horsepower, 450 lbs.-ft torque, max RPM of 7200. Power band set within 4000-7000RPM.
10.8:1 compression
Custom painted iron block* (color of choice) with AFR cylinder heads and head studs
BTR platinum valve springs, custom ground camshaft, US made aluminum link bar roller tip rocker arms, swirl polished stainless undercut valves, GM lifters and trays, .080 wall pushrods
King tri-coated bearings, Melling high pressure oil pump, forged pistons
Front or rear sump oil pan (customer choice)
Offered at $6,969.69
PowerSlide Boost-Ready Features:
Rated for up to 1000 horsepower while boosted, max RPM of 7400. Power band dictated by forced induction choice.
9.6:1 compression
Custom painted iron block (color of choice) with AFR cylinder heads and head studs
BTR platinum valve springs, custom ground camshaft, US made aluminum link bar roller tip rocker arms, swirl polished stainless undercut valves, GM lifters and trays, .080 wall pushrods
King tri-coated bearings, Melling high pressure oil pump, forged pistons and forged connecting rods
Front or rear sump oil pan (customer choice) and valve covers with larger breather ports for forced induction
Offered at $8,469.69
Optional Upgrades:
- Aluminum block option available for +$400
- Fully dressed with intake, accessory drive + engine management available (cost depending on parts selection)
- Tuning available for Holley, Aces, HalTech, GM ECU (HPTuners), FAST, MegaSquirt, and Edelbrock ProFlo.
The PowerSlide build is designed to compete with GM part #19435110, the LS3 495hp crate engine. However, there are many advantages to choosing the PowerSlide over an LS3 crate:
Better build quality and higher quality components - LS3 crate engines come with cast pistons, stock cylinder heads, stock valve springs and valves, and stock rocker arms. The PowerSlide offers a massive improvement here, with forged pistons on the NA configuration and forged pistons and rods on the boost ready configuration. We also use performance valve springs, upgraded valves, billet aluminum linked roller tip rocker arms, and use aftermarket AFR cylinder heads. Additionally, as GM slows down LS3 production we have seen lower and lower build quality from the factory. It is not uncommon for us to see significant core shift, where the sleeves are bored/honed off-center. Linked here is a photo of core shift on a brand new LS3 block. We also commonly see rust on the sleeves from sitting, the occasional loose rod bolt, and one fun one where we found a surprise extra rod bearing swimming in the oil pan as a freebie.
Iron blocks can be rebuilt and safely bored over roughly twelve times before needing new sleeves. Iron blocks start at 3.780 bore and can go up to 3.905, leaving a whopping twelve .010 rebuilds available whereas an LS3 can only safely go to .010 over, which is two .005 rebuilds. For an LS3 at .010 over, boost is no longer recommended as the sleeves become too thin. For our clients planning on a long, illustrious drift career this makes the 5.3 the more future-proof choice.
While the 24 month/50,000 mile warranty from GM is hard to beat, it can also be hard to get them to honor it if they find evidence of any modifications (i.e anything you may do to the engine to help it perform and survive in the notoriously harsh world of drifting). When you purchase the PowerSlide, we know what you’re doing with it, and we support it. Not only do we offer engine refresh packages starting at $1,999 (typically performed yearly, or after a certain number of drift events) to help keep your engine in perfect health, we also stock all of the parts for the PowerSlide build at our shop in Escondido, CA. If you encounter an issue, break a part, or need support in your local drift series there is a high probability that we can fully rebuild your engine within 24-48 hours, even if it needs machine work. Budgeting $2000 a year for a refresh is much easier than spending $10,000+ after 2-3 years on most engine builds.
If you would like to convert your NA PowerSlide to the boost-ready PowerSlide, we are able to offer the conversion for $3500 assuming the cylinder heads are healthy. This would be a conversion for a used NA PowerSlide to a new boost-ready build, and would include: a full hot tank for the block and all components, bore/hone, a crankshaft polish, rotating assembly balance, new forged pistons, forged rods, new rings/bearings, a new oil pump, new valve springs, and all new gaskets. If you were to convert an LS3 to be built for boost you would need to throw away every piece of the engine aside from the block, bare cylinder heads, and crankshaft, and the cost would be much higher than the $3500 cost to convert your PowerSlide to be boost ready.