V8 Engine Swap - NOT LS1/LT1

[Justin Kirkham]

I just thought that I would ask here, since I thought the idea was kinda a funny one. I doubt that I will do it, but who knows.My brother has a 1999 Chevy Silverado, with a 5.3L VORTEC V8. He is going to be swapping in a 454 big block, and said that I could have the engine for free. What are the possibilities of a swap?
[img]graemlins/popcorn.gif[/img]

-Justin

P.S. I doubt it will work, but the idea is fun. Plus 270HP, and 315 toque is fun too.

[ July 26, 2004, 12:11 AM: Message edited by: Justin Kirkham ]

[Ian]

pretty sure that engine is throttle body, or CPI, and you would have clearance issues with it. LT1 and LS1's are fairly short engines, height wise, so thats why they fit. Id say measure it out, oil pan to top of the intake, and check. I honestly dont think it would be worth it. But hey, take the engine, sell it on ebay, and buy a cam or something....

[John_D.]

Doesn't the vortec use the LS1 iron block, just not bored out as much?
I know the 5.3 heads fit the LS1 aluminum blocks. They're commonly used to boost compression a bit and they flow better too.

You'd need an LS1 f-body oil pan and intake manifold though.

[yellowfbod]

the vortec is a LS1 with diffrent heads, intake, and smaller sleaves (you don't bore an LS1 you resleave it with larger bore sleaves), also various other small diffrences.

[malice10985]

Do it. If you don't like it, you have got a good short block already in the car and you can convert it to a real LS1 easliy. Plus, with the iron block, you can shove lots of boost into your LS1 and have durability that aluminum blocked LS1's do not have.

[Justin Kirkham]

Anyone else? ttt. So will this be the same as an LS1 swap?

-Justin

[John_D.]

I think it will be the same effort as an LS1 swap.

Only with more weight and less displacement than an LS1...

[Timbo1969]

Same as an LS-1 just use the LS-1 or LS-6 intake and CPU. I think the stock 5.3 intake is to tall but I'm not for sure.

[Justin Kirkham]

John D., I do appreciate the sarcarsm, but isn't it still worthwhile, especially since I can get the entire engine for free? Or should I just save up the $2000-3000 that I need for the LS1? I just love the idea of swapping the engine, since it is free. How much am I looking at for cost of the swap-necessary items?

Timbo, so I should get a LS1 computer and switch it in? What will this do for me?

-Justin

[KBeezy]

Do something different, put in the 5.3, and slap on a blower! :D

[3.4 [deployed]]

do it. sell your current drivetrain to pay for swap, thus ending up free, and buy a whipple for it [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

edit: not sure if erl pan clearance issues will come in....

[ July 27, 2004, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: 3.4 [deployed] ]

[John_D.]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be sarcastic.

I forgot you said "free". That's a big factor! [img]smile.gif[/img]

It will be heavier though. Not sure by how much. Might need some stiffer front springs for it.

[John_D.]

As far as cost, I don't know, if you end up having to piece it all together... That was my concern about getting a new LS1, then having to buy all the stuff for it. So I ended up buying a used one with most of the parts included.

LS1 intakes should be cheap, with so many people going to LS6 intakes, there should be a bunch of LS1 intakes just laying around now. If you end up getting an LS6 intake, the best price seems to be around $400.

I didn't use the stock k-member, I bought a bmr tubular. Another $400 right there...

I bought some used headers and y-pipe. MAC mid-length. $250, it was a good deal. New headers are a lot higher. You could probably find some stock exhaust manifolds and stock y-pipe cheap.

Transmission... varies.... maybe $400-500.

I don't know if the accessories carry over. Placement of the alternator or powersteering might be in the wrong place. And the idler and tensioner pullies, etc. That stuff, depending on where you get it, maybe $100 each for the accessory and its bracket.

Some sensors will be different. For example, the water temp sensor is probably going to be an oval 2-wire connection, and the f-body harness will have a round 3 wire connector.

Oh yeah, harness and pcm. I don't know on this. Probably $200 or so.

Anybody that has all the pieces, would probably rather sell the complete package, because they'll be thinking they'll be stuck with some of the parts if they break it up.

[John_D.]

Steering rack too. Going rate seems to be $100-$150. The v6 rack (even the y87) interferes with the exhaust. The shaft coming out of the ls1 rack is tilted more toward the rear and to the driver's side.

[Timbo1969]

Originally posted by Justin Kirkham:
John D., I do appreciate the sarcarsm, but isn't it still worthwhile, especially since I can get the entire engine for free? Or should I just save up the $2000-3000 that I need for the LS1? I just love the idea of swapping the engine, since it is free. How much am I looking at for cost of the swap-necessary items?

Timbo, so I should get a LS1 computer and switch it in? What will this do for me?

-Justin

Iwas just thinking the LS-1 harnesses would be better and easier to re-wire than the truck harnesses..