Quick, cheap 5.3 swap into a 1990 Silverado
Swap Nice, n like you say, it will have more HP then that ol boat anchor 
There's a lil old S10 sittin down the street. Looks like it's been there for years. I have a ls1 in pieces n a T56 that could find a home there ?
But might B buying a house, so gotta hold on projects
There's a lil old S10 sittin down the street. Looks like it's been there for years. I have a ls1 in pieces n a T56 that could find a home there ?
But might B buying a house, so gotta hold on projects
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Well I have now owned the truck for 2 weeks and one day. The day I brought it home it was a complete big block truck. Today I drove it all over and it drives great, just got the exhaust buttoned up today and it even sounds great. Ill have some more pics and videos as soon as it quits raining. For now though I have my $$$ list for the swap.
Used '02 5.3 w/ 75k miles $450
02 Silverado harness w/ fuse box from JY $150
AC Delco EP-381 intank pump $85
CarshopINC 1" setback mounts $50
Russell fuel rail fittings, 5/16 & 3/8 - 6AN $28
GM flexplate spacer and bolts $60
S&P coolant temp adapter 3/8NPT-12mm $24
o2 sensor bungs (2) $8
junkyard ECM $40
ECM tune to eliminate VATS, etc $100
o2 sensors # 13193 Bosch (2) $100
Delphi MAF $94
PCV valve $5
Spectre air filter $25
Heater Hoses $12
Upper radiator hose $22
Used Camaro radiator $40
Used Camaro e-fans $60
Fuel filter (factory) $7
Fuel line & -6AN hose ends (4) $80
adapter from metric o-rings to 6 AN (2) $22
y-pipe fabrication from local exhaust shop $80
Total $1542
Things like the radiator/ fans/ heater hoses might not even be needed in your swap if your parts are good. My radiator was shot and I chose to do the electric fans, could have just used the stock 5.3 fan. I also reused the alternator from the truck by making the small adapter bracket. The stock 5.3 power steering worked fine in the truck and the lines from the truck hooked right up.
To finish up the entire build, here's how I sit.
Bought the truck for $1600
engine swap cost $1542
trans fluid $18
new battery $60
trans mount $22
2000 stall converter $100
Total: $3342
sold off big block/ TBI/ ECM/ etc $420
Total in truck $2922
Used '02 5.3 w/ 75k miles $450
02 Silverado harness w/ fuse box from JY $150
AC Delco EP-381 intank pump $85
CarshopINC 1" setback mounts $50
Russell fuel rail fittings, 5/16 & 3/8 - 6AN $28
GM flexplate spacer and bolts $60
S&P coolant temp adapter 3/8NPT-12mm $24
o2 sensor bungs (2) $8
junkyard ECM $40
ECM tune to eliminate VATS, etc $100
o2 sensors # 13193 Bosch (2) $100
Delphi MAF $94
PCV valve $5
Spectre air filter $25
Heater Hoses $12
Upper radiator hose $22
Used Camaro radiator $40
Used Camaro e-fans $60
Fuel filter (factory) $7
Fuel line & -6AN hose ends (4) $80
adapter from metric o-rings to 6 AN (2) $22
y-pipe fabrication from local exhaust shop $80
Total $1542
Things like the radiator/ fans/ heater hoses might not even be needed in your swap if your parts are good. My radiator was shot and I chose to do the electric fans, could have just used the stock 5.3 fan. I also reused the alternator from the truck by making the small adapter bracket. The stock 5.3 power steering worked fine in the truck and the lines from the truck hooked right up.
To finish up the entire build, here's how I sit.
Bought the truck for $1600
engine swap cost $1542
trans fluid $18
new battery $60
trans mount $22
2000 stall converter $100
Total: $3342
sold off big block/ TBI/ ECM/ etc $420
Total in truck $2922
MeanYellowZ, stop playin. you've inspired me to great things with my '06 5.3/4l60e combo, in an '87 GMC C-10, with my little mechanical ability(labelling works). removing an engine/tranny combo from a vehicle is not an easy task. also my wife was constantly screaming" i dont want any vehicle juice in the driveway." my 383 stroker/700r4 was fine but, since i've joined this website, i caught the LS1 bug. tomorrow is a new day, and i must keep on pushin'. i have about 2350.00 invested so far and i wonder if can pay some one to complete the job? they say once you convert to ls1, gen 1 sbc is just a memory. MeanYellowZ, i may email you for info. any help is greatly appreciated ls1tech fam. later.
1.'06 5.3/4l60e -$1200.00
2.harness,tac mod,
pedal,maf,cpu,
programmed -1150.00
3. day to myself -Priceless
1.'06 5.3/4l60e -$1200.00
2.harness,tac mod,
pedal,maf,cpu,
programmed -1150.00
3. day to myself -Priceless
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Launching!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (19)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 647
Likes: 17
From: Davenport, Iowa
MeanYellowZ. help us newbies out as much as possible. us newbies need some technical data such as how to get the factory gauges to work. i want you 2 know your the reason i started this swap. today, i pulled the383/700r4. thanks to you, i had tranny fluid, busted oil fliter oil and leftover radiator juice all over my driveway. i had to scramble like crazy to cleanup before the wife came home. all i have left to is get the 5.3/4l60e in the engine bay. plub the fuel, coolant and power up to the wire harness and that should be a warp.til the next post.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (19)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 647
Likes: 17
From: Davenport, Iowa
If you keep track of the stock oil pressure wire and water temp wire its easy to make those gauges work. I got an adapter to run the stock 1990 temp sender in the head and hooked it up. The oil pressure wire hooked right into the 5.3 oil sending unit, and read correctly. GM used the same resistance in its oil senders for quite a while so that is easy. Other than that, volts gauge still worked as normal and the speedo in this truck wires up through the factory VSS and changed none due to the engine swap. Im not running emissions in this truck so there is no VSS feed for the ECM although I could add it easily if needed. I upped the idle RPM by 50 and it has had zero running issues. I now have 200+ miles on the swap, drove it out of town an hour on Sunday and it drives like stock.
thanks for the info MeanYellowZ. for my swap i have the temp and oil pressure resolved. i just need to drop the 5.3/4l60e in it place. im gonna removed the radiator support for ease. i must contact autometer for speedo. my main concern is to get it running beforei do all an fittings to make it look fancy. can i block off heater core and steam lines? plumbing the motor for no leaks is my main issue. check my albums for pics.