Western Members - I just came up on a 5.3 vortec and i need some advice on wat to do with it!

I just came up on a 2005 5.3 vortec with 20k on it and has the 4l60e on it for 6 bills... Complete with wireharnesses. Oil pan is cracked but i need to switch it out if i drop it in my 3rd gen. But everything else is good, no oil leaking from the block, so let me know:confused:

LS6 intake, keep the truck coils, injectors and harness. You would need to switch to a f-body pan anyways so no biggie about the cracked pan. Don't bother stroking it, it will make decent power as is. I would use a thinner gasket to bump the comp. ratio and toss in a nice healthy 22x cam. If at all possible FI would make it really wake up, (if you go that route keep the lower comp ratio)

If you have to swap intakes you want to grab a F body water pump too. 5.3's make great power, and on cheap gas too! google swaps and there are motor mounts and headers that make the job smoother. I would check the bearings if the oil pan was cracked. Unless there was a huge puddle of oil under the motor when you picked it up.

I have swapped a 5.3 into two different Fbody's (one being my '99 SS :emb:).

You can mod a 5.3 in the exact same way you would mod a LS1/6...everything is interchangable.
You will need a LS1 oil pan, windage tray, and pick up tube. While you are doing the swap pick up a new oil pump o-ring. Pick up a LS6 intake manifold and a LS1 TB. You will also need a LS1 water pump. Get some LS1 swap LT headers. I don't know if truck accessories will work in a 3rd Gen, but if not you will need to pick up a set of LS1 accessories. There is a bolt hole on the aluminum blocks that the iron blocks don't have that is used for the LS1 alt bracket. It's no biggie, just don't use that extra bolt and you will be fine. The alt bracket will still be held on by two bolts and that's more than sufficient.
At the minimun I would pick up a cam similar to a TR224. Get all the valve train parts required; springs, hardened pushrods (new timing chain & ported oil pump are optional).
You'll have a nice performer that will be a HUGE step up over any TBI/TPI.

Put it in a Colorado! They have that option available now, so you can have a fast ass truck!

start lookin on the classifieds for 4th gen parts

a lot of parts are interchangeable with 3rds gens

ls1 throtle cable
a plastic fuel tank.
4th gen fuel lines.. bend em a bit . they fit ..
upgrade the fuel pump

spohn sells the conversion motor mounts and tranny mounts.

ill go with the fbody accesories. alternator, tensioner, water pump for a better looking set up .. it might be in the way of ls1/6 intake manifold and the alternator in the way of the steering gear box and hoses

u might wanna chose the right harness for your vehicle.
or if anyone here can make you a standalone harness.

you can use the 4l60e.. not sure what the difference is on the truck tranny..

lt headers for 3rd gen ls swaps cost rougly about $900.
or use 4th gen manifolds. and a fabricated y pipe

youll probably need individual gauges for the intrumental panel or a digital analog box that cost about $350 to use your stock mph gauge.. not worth it

sell it to me!!!!!...convertions cost alot of $$$$$..:nod:

going to be sick!!!!!!!!!!

sell it to me!!!!!...convertions cost alot of $$$$$..:nod:

I'm with this guy :lol: I posted first so i got dibbs. :devil:

or you can take it to some guy in b.p. whos had quiet of experience on thurdgens transplant for about .. idk less than expected to pay. i can use your other iroc in exchange for labor.. lol


you got quiet a project there..

put it in a geo metro!!!lol

I'd try to invest in some fourth gen interior as well to be honest, that's quite a job though.

Should be a solid build, with a cam it should be close to 400hp.

or you can take it to some guy in b.p. Whos had quiet of experience on thurdgens transplant for about .. Idk less than expected to pay. I can use your other iroc in exchange for labor.. Lol


you got quiet a project there..



haha is that mechanic in b.p. Short, weak....

Lol i wont give the iroc up for exchange! .... I could pay in corona's and some wing stop!

i'd try to invest in some fourth gen interior as well to be honest, that's quite a job though.

Should be a solid build, with a cam it should be close to 400hp.



i have custom seats already and i just need to redo my carpet, sail panels and headliner! Everything else is pretty much done i went with cosmetics first ....

i have custom seats already and i just need to redo my carpet, sail panels and headliner! Everything else is pretty much done i went with cosmetics first ....

boooooo on ur cosmetics go with power first lol

boooooo on ur cosmetics go with power first lol


lol... When painting comes free then i paint so until power is free ill change..

When i had my 5.3 in my truck..my truck came close to 400rwhp with just cam and bolt ons..I had a 224/224/586/114lsa intake long tube headers corsa exhuast, 3in and 3 in cut out ..91 octane 3k stall converter .. With all this it netted me 374 rwhp /362 rwtq ..my previous numbers seen in my sig were with shorties