V8 Engine Swap - NOT LS1/LT1

[Timbo1969]

Originally posted by 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.

Iron Block 6.0 blocks are 60lb heavier than the LS-1/6 blocks

[asdf1234]

I'm pretty sure there was a huge thread on this a couple of months back. You might want to run a search and check it out, there will probably be some useful info in there [img]smile.gif[/img] . Sounds like a cool swap.

[Justin Kirkham]

So with it being so heavy, would the suspension of the car need to be re-worked? At first I was just joking, but with your guy's responses, I am considering it more seriously... The engine have 75,000 miles on it. Is that a concern?

-Justin

[malice10985]

Pick up Chevy high performance magazine. The 5.3 vortec truck intake manifold outflows the LS6 intake.

Stab a huge cam in your truck motor, and drop it in. You will have an iron block beast.

If you are worried about mileage, just pull off the rod caps and check the bearings before you install the engine. Make sure they aren't scuffed up.

[John_D.]

Originally posted by malice10985:
The 5.3 vortec truck intake manifold outflows the LS6 intake.

True, but it sticks up too high for an easy install in an f-body...

[John_D.]

Originally posted by Justin Kirkham:
So with it being so heavy, would the suspension of the car need to be re-worked?

I would at least put v8 springs under the car, probably even go a little stiffer. 1LE springs possibly, or custom spring rate. Not too sure what rate to recommend though...

[Cole Angrimson]

Why don't you take what you can from your brother's truck, sell it then buy your LS1. I've heard a few people talk about doing this(truck Vortec swap) and they say it is do-able. Try it and find out. If you can pull it off you have 1 of a kind.

[teal99camaro]

i think you should go for it. Get an ls6 intake manifold and you should be okay.. This should be a really fun project.

[navyblue2000]

the 5.3 is merely an iron blocked, de stroked LS1. get the intake manifolds and what not off an LS1 engine, you oughta be fine!!

oh that and a nice LS6 cam...ls6 cam plus 5.3 heads = teh Win

[Quijeeboe]

I wonder if a big cowl hood would be enough to clear the Vortec intake, provided a cowl hood cleared that intake and you picked up a 99 PCM off an ls1 then you should be in the same boat as a regular ls1 swap for our cars.

[John_D.]

The engine sits too far under the cowl though...

The part that's under the hood would be ok, but the back 2 cylinders sitting behind the windshield will be the problem.

[Mr. Spock]

if the 5.3's intake is too tall swap it for a ls1, ls6, or lsx intake manifold.
I've been really looking at a swap like this. Mainly because a brand new LQ9 is only $3800 and should mate up fine to a t56. LQ9 is the 6.0L with ls6 "like" aluminum heads and makes more power than the $5800 LS1.
As for your swap the 5.3L is less powerful than the LS1 of course, but can use almost all of the same aftermarket parts. It's still better than what's in there now.