Thanks for the clarification. Just bussed my 2004 LQ9 open and it has gen 4 rods! Happy about that.

Proper tune keeps them alive, leave timing out at peak torque to keep the peak cylinder pressure down. Save you from putting an inspection window in your block 😎 2007 first year for DOD/AFM with 2011 being the year of VVT. Also Gen IV pistons are floating wrist pin vs pressed on Gen III.

I have a LS3 rotating assembly and it still has hypereutectic (cast) pistons. Maybe LS7/LS9 are forged but I think even LSA are hypereutectic.

5.3 out of 04 avalanche has gen3 headbolts, 24 tooth crank with gen4 rods

I have an 05' 6.0 and it came with the dimpled rods and skirted pistons. Also had the same size bolts for the heads. First time I've torn one apart and found that and thought it was a rebuild at first but its a virgin block and some engine groups told me it started happening in 05'. I was going to do a rotating assembly in it for boost but now I think im gonna keep it and just change out springs in the heads and the change out the cam. Cheap reliable...ish turbo build with good ring gap and factory 9.4 to 1 with 317 heads.

Great video 👍

Good video, thanks! I am finding that 2004 is the transition year. The rods are typically 32-36 grams heavier in the gen 4. So you would want to be sure and use a gen 4 crank & pistons yo keep it balanced. I am building a hot rod, so thinking that I may just upgrade my gen 3 block to a gen 4 with the gray sensor in the back and 2004 wiring harness & computer. Interested in your opinion.

Good video

Hey I had question I had a bad crank shaft on my 5.3 I was wondering if I can use a gen 3 5.3 crank shaft I have sitting around I just gotta take my reluctor wheel off my gen 4 and replace it on the gen 3 then bolt it back up

Hmm... So I have a 5.3 out of a 2003 GMC 1500 Van. And it has the Gen 4 Dimpled Rods. But it has the mixed sized head bolts. And last week I inherited a 2000 5.3 out of a Chevy Silverado 1500 with Gen 4 rods (Dimpled) that had all the longer head bolts. Both engines had NO VVT, AFM or DOD. And both had the 24x reloctor wheels. And I know for sure the 2000 Chevy Silverado was all OEM GM,Because a family member owned the truck since it was new. And we have the PCM and Vin that says it was manufactured in May or 2000. Which make a lot of people scratch there heads. Ive been told (By a Retired GM Employee that worked at the Tonawanda, York engine plant) that they got the Gen 4 rods long before the Flint, Mi engine plant did. Because they made 3 times as many of the 5.3's than Flint, And the St. Catharines,Ontario Plants did combined. I can't say for sure this is a fact, But it would make sense if thats what happened back in that period of GM and all of there wisdom.

I was told all gen 4 rods are the same is this true? What about a Gen 4 rod that came from a 24x crank vs one that came from a 58x crank?

i had a 2004 silverado with a 5.3 with the crank sensor behind the starter the heads all had short head bolts mls gaskets 706 heads but get this it has the beefy dimple rods but the wrist pin is pressed into the rod and the piston floats.when i tore it apart just to check it out, now mind you the previous owner told me it had 300k on the clock and that it had seen half of that working hard hauling fire and the like.anyway i found nothing but some of the piston skirt coating worn away. that being said can these rods be bushed for floating pins in your opinion i want to replace these with new flat-top service replacements that are ceracoated.

You was just at my job🤩

Are those gen4 rods compatible with gen3 crank also is the wrist pin floating

I need to replace the rod bolts in my gen 4 rods. Does anyone know what hex size the gen4 rod bolts are? Or did they use gen 3 bolts in gen 4 rods?

Look for 10mm versus 13mm on valley cover and exhaust manifold bolts. 13mm will be gen 3.5 engines with gen 4 rods is my understanding. Ive cracked open ones to discover this too. I ask guys before i buy engines to measure the exhaust and valley cover bolts.

Hey man I need help. I got a 86 monte ls 4.3l tbi that won't start. It cranks its getting fuel and spark but still won't start.

Which way do you install the gen 4 style rods? They don’t have much of a chamfer on either side

If the 4 rods are thicker on the big end it wont fit on a 5.3 crank with gen 3 rods. Too wide.

🦾🙏🏽

I built a spaceship using a 300000 mile gen 3 5.3 ls. It took Japan and India to the moon and back twice. They are indestructible