The 5.3L crate engine is rated at 326 horsepower at 5,300 rpm and 350 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm.
The California Air Resources Board has approved a 5.3-liter V8 crate engine for installation in 1995-and-earlier cars and trucks that predate OBD II on-board emissions diagnostics.
The certification is the second in the so-called E-ROD line of crate engines to get approval for use on some 20 million pre-1996 vehicles on California roads. Both manual and automatic versions of the E-ROD 5.3L are approved. GM Performance Parts said in a statement.
All E-ROD crate engines include required emissions equipment, such as catalytic converters and a fuel tank evaporative emission canister, along with an engine control module calibrated for a balance of performance and efficiency. GM said it is the only automaker with authorized, emissions-compliant high-performance aftermarket engines.
“GMPP is leading the way with engine systems and supporting components that enable enthusiasts to build a car that complies with the law, satisfies their desire for a cleaner hot rod and doesn’t sacrifice the performance they want,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, product integration manager for GM Performance Parts.
The E-ROD 5.3L is rated at 326 horsepower at 5,300 rpm and 350 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm. It carries a suggested price of $7,125 and is based on the 5.3L V-8 with an aluminum cylinder block that is used in the Chevrolet Silverado and other full-size and mid-size GM trucks.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
