Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

So on Saturday I finally had my truck trailered to the shop. And today I got some time off work to go the shop. Me and my buddy decided to paint the motor so I took all the accessories and exhaust manifolds off(got some f body manifolds on the way) and started cleaning all the gunk off. But since I can't pressure wash it I got a bucket of soapy water and scrubbing brush and started scrubbing it...its still not really clean...theres still alotta grease and dirt...any suggestions on how I can get it clean??
Anyway its starting to get exciting...I cant wait to start it for the first time. My buddy also got started on the wiring today and I still have to get a tranny...should have one soon though. Should also have the old motor and trans out really soon too.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!...w/pics
 

more pics....sorry about some of the pics being sideways...took em on my cell phone

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

That's a nice looking square body! Where did you find one so solid up in the Dakotas?

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Looks like a good start! Just keep scrubbing them they will clean up nicley.;):chevy:

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

I got it from my inlaws...it sat for 5 years in their yard...i cleaned it up and painted it with rustoleum paint this past summer just until i can get it painted professionally

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Camaro manifolds showed up today finally...got em from a guy on ls1tech who is parting out a z28...great deal at 40 bucks!

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Nice! Wish I would have gone with different manifolds!

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Nice score. I ended up getting LS6 exhaust manifolds from a corvette for $75 locally. Looks like you had a better deal.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

I can't tell, are those the cast ones, or the Steel formed ones?

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

they're cast I think

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

I need to buy some split wiring looms for my harness...anyone know what size looms I would have to get? also where can I find collectors for my f body manifolds? cant find em anywhere...

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

That depends on the amount of wires, which sorta depends on what stuff/how your harness is setup, and which part of the harness you mean.

anywhere from the 1/2 small stuff up into the 1 or 1-1/2 stuff.

The braided loom is better quality than the split stuff, flexes more and seems a little more appealing. I have a mixture, but I like that stuff better.

As for the collectors, you can junkyard hunt some off a stock exhaust, see if a muffler shop has something they can work with, or just buy the flanges and make a set.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

You may need to look in to a shallow slump pan for your swap, the stock truck pan is going to hang lower then the front cross member and your truck looks like you got a 6" drop in the front. This is the pan in order from my truck and it has every thing needed to swap.

http://www.summitracing.com/dom/part...2593/overview/

I'm just getting around to swapping a 4.8l into one my trucks, after having the motor for about 2 years. Keep up the good work.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

oh yeah im actually looking for an f-body oil pan for it

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

why are those f body oil pans so expensive compared to a truck pan?

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

50x more trucks were made that used the same part.

You can get the LH8 pan if you need more clearance without going all the way down to the fbody pan.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

UPDATE...Having my trans ordered today...should be at the shop tomorrow or so. My wiring is pretty much done.. just have to get it taped up. The pcm is going to be inside the truck in front of my floor shifter. We're going to fab a center console and have it sit in there and have the shifter sit a little higher.Hoping to have the old motor out soon.We're just prepping for the swap and getting everything in order. The motor is going to be painted and gaskets replaced.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

that's the way to be
half the headache is getting all the part numbers in order
having the right diameter heater hose on hand
little things
good luck on the actual nuts n bolts part

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

So went to the shop today and had the truck jacked up so we could check the rear end ratio and its a 3.08. We also decided to take the cab and front off together so we'll have a lotta room to work and my buddy's is going to start the engine on the stand first to make sure it runs properly before it goes in the truck. While the front of the truck is off I can clean and paint the engine bay.

Quick question about the transmission...when I looked on carpart.com for a tranny the is a choice between a tranny from a single cab and extended cab truck. Is there a difference between trannies in both body styles?

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Shouldn't be, just may chance which driveshaft it has and whether or not a carrier bearing was used. (doesn't affect you)

The 3:08 is gonna be a little tall with an overdrive tranny. I'd consider swapping that out to something a bit higher to take advantage on the low end. (it'll be fine on the freeway, but you might notice it takes a bit more work in passing or accel at cruising speeds)

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Looks good man

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

What gears do u think I should run?...I was thinking about running 3.73s but I don't really know much about that. My buddy was telling me the 3.08 gear should help me with fuel economy. Around where I live there's alotta highways but I do want that passing power and all too. Also what tires do u think I should run? I was thinking about going with those radial t/a tires with wider tires in the back. My truck is lowered so I wanna go with shorter tires. It currently has 235/75/15s in the back and tiny 215/60/15s in the front.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

I have 28" tall tires and 3.73s and 2000rpm is just about 65mph
However, everyone in Oregon drives about 55mph on the freeways
So I end up pulling it down into 3rd quite often.

passing power? that's what the 4-2 downshift is for
just kidding, don't do that.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

I have 235/75/15's as my "Replacement" rear size, when I'm not running the M/T 325/50/15' on my beadlocks.

3;08 will work, but the 3:23,3:73,4:11 have also been used to gain some advantage down low. My 4l80e has a very long second gear, so the more aggressive gearing helps.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

pics from yesterday...had the truck inside to check the rear end ratio...engine is still on the stand with wiring almost complete. After that's done then we'll take the intake off clean up the motor some motor and then paint it.
again sorry about the pics...don't know how to adjust em

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

on photobucket or wherever you host, there should be a rotate function

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

im actually uploading em from my pc and they're the right side up on the pc

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

A Little progress made...took the motor to the car wash today and cleaned it up and got her painted...at first I was just going to paint the block but I looked so good to me so I painted the whole thing.

stupid phone pics again...im gonna have to use my ipad from now on

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

what phone you got? my htc sense has an auto rotate enable thingy.

I dig the blue. I always paint my motors white so i can spot leaks and eyeball where fasteners fall to.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

I got a Samsung illusion from Verizon...at first I didn't really like it cuz it kinda looks like an old ford color but it grew on me...plus it'll match the color of the truck

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Got some goodies in the mail today....cold air kit, battery tray and f body exhaust collectors

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Well my buddy scored a great deal on a transmission for me...2002 4l60 with 45k miles for $500...not a bad deal at all if I say so myself

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Update...took my oil pan off today and put in a new oil pickup o-ring and cleaned up the pan...also painted the accessories black...saw my transmission for the first time today...2002 5.3 with 45k miles....aww man im just excited more than ever now. Now I just have to send my pcm out to get it reflashed. Anyone ever used the lt1swap guy to get ur pcm reflashed? I emailed him twice but he never replied...maybe he's busy or something
got some pics...they kinda suck but here they are....

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

He'll get back to you eventually. Took him about a week to get back to me. I dont think he is doing harnesses, or "mail tunes" but he will flash VATS out and disable emissions. Make sure you document all the modications to the harness, all your engine and trans data...injector size etc, and send that info with your pcm. I found the $12 flat rate priority mail box was the best deal.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

I got his replies this morning...I just figured he probably busy...I got everything ready to go...just waiting for some funds

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Sent my pcm out to Brendan from lt1swap today...all I need now is a new radiator and I'll official have everything ready to go.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

as soon as mine gets here my butt is off to the post office to do the same!!!!

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Update...got my pcm back from Brendan today all reflashed and ready to go. Went to the shop earlier this week and ended up painting the motor again in GM blue this time(the oil pan is going to be painted black)...also painted my exhaust manifolds and the transmission. You can see my truck just sitting there patiently waiting for her heart transplant...I'm beginning to get impatient myself...the wait is killing me!!

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

Update.....I put my engine back together today. Had to leave to driver side manifold off because there's a broken header bolt still in there so as soon as that's out ill put it on. Also have to clean up and paint the engine mount brackets. Everything else is on ready to go. Wiring still has to be completed.

Re: Finally starting my 5.3 swap!!
 

more pics