5.3L Swap Questions Before i Begin!

davr89 · 08-31-2009, 03:37 PM

hey there guys!

i have been a member of the site for quite some time but rarely posted as i havent had a s10 before now! i have had a 89 camaro iroc, 88 trans am gta, and a 01 sierra c3. i have recently picked up a 99 s10 for cheap off a buddy and have some questions about swapping a 5.3L Vortec into it!!

so onto the questions:
1. the truck is currently a 4.3L with a 5spd... can i keep the 5spd trans?
2. i dont want to mod the engine... i want to rip it out of the full size and throw it into the s10 as is... how easy is the swap overall?
3. the truck will be used to some auto-xing, my daily driver, and my tow vehicle (flat bed car trailer to tow my buddies 01 subaru rs with a ls1+t56 show car)... what kinda gas mileage/towing capacity and i looking at?

thanks guys! more questions will arise as i start to gather parts for the swap and i appreciate all the help!!!

and yes i have searched but the majority of people that swap the 5.3L into a s10 mod the crap outta it and throw a crap load of LSx parts onto it.

01blzxtreme · 08-31-2009, 04:10 PM

i asked the same thing about my 5 speed, and the answer to me was No...
ppl claim these transmission wont take that power....
and theres ppl that use the truck accesories, oil pan and a/c notch...

NCRides · 08-31-2009, 09:21 PM

My truck had a 2.8 w/5spd, after much research I found the original 5spd would not be worth the cost and effort of adapting it to the LS motor, since it is too weak and wouldn't last long, so I went with a 4L60E because it was easier than finding a T56 and with such a light truck the auto will be a little kinda to the tires ..I kept the motor stock and I hope to get approx 29 mpg...everyone I know that own full size trucks with 5.3's claim to have enough power for their needs so in a S10 that weighs just over 2000lbs pulling a trailer won't be a problem but the tongue weight might be for the stock suspension, since you say you will be auto-xing you probably don't want to add overload springs or bags so you will have to decide between having fun or towing your buddies car

chevysten · 08-31-2009, 09:21 PM

No it will not work.Too much tq and diff.bolt pattern.I'm running an 04 5.3 4l60e in my 98 s10 all truck acc.Just some guys like running the vette acc.

Petro · 08-31-2009, 10:43 PM

X2 on deciding wether the truck will be auto-xing or towing....Since you would probably need to go with something similar to the Z85 towing package suspension on S10/Blazers....

davr89 · 09-01-2009, 01:15 PM

thanks for all the help guys... it looks like im just gonna rebuild the 4.3L so i can keep the 5spd cause i dont want to give that up.

and i think im gonna stick to auto-xing the truck cause my buddy is thinking about picking up a 5spd xtreme to tow his LS1 subaru.

thanks again!

08-31-2009, 03:37 PM	#1
davr89 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 24 Location: User is: OffLine	5.3L Swap Questions Before i Begin! hey there guys! i have been a member of the site for quite some time but rarely posted as i havent had a s10 before now! i have had a 89 camaro iroc, 88 trans am gta, and a 01 sierra c3. i have recently picked up a 99 s10 for cheap off a buddy and have some questions about swapping a 5.3L Vortec into it!! so onto the questions: 1. the truck is currently a 4.3L with a 5spd... can i keep the 5spd trans? 2. i dont want to mod the engine... i want to rip it out of the full size and throw it into the s10 as is... how easy is the swap overall? 3. the truck will be used to some auto-xing, my daily driver, and my tow vehicle (flat bed car trailer to tow my buddies 01 subaru rs with a ls1+t56 show car)... what kinda gas mileage/towing capacity and i looking at? thanks guys! more questions will arise as i start to gather parts for the swap and i appreciate all the help!!! and yes i have searched but the majority of people that swap the 5.3L into a s10 mod the crap outta it and throw a crap load of LSx parts onto it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-31-2009, 04:10 PM	#2
01blzxtreme Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 247 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 5.3L Swap Questions Before i Begin! i asked the same thing about my 5 speed, and the answer to me was No... ppl claim these transmission wont take that power.... and theres ppl that use the truck accesories, oil pan and a/c notch...
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-31-2009, 09:21 PM	#3
NCRides Registered User Age: 53 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 294 Location: Amesbury Mass User is: OffLine	Re: 5.3L Swap Questions Before i Begin! My truck had a 2.8 w/5spd, after much research I found the original 5spd would not be worth the cost and effort of adapting it to the LS motor, since it is too weak and wouldn't last long, so I went with a 4L60E because it was easier than finding a T56 and with such a light truck the auto will be a little kinda to the tires ..I kept the motor stock and I hope to get approx 29 mpg...everyone I know that own full size trucks with 5.3's claim to have enough power for their needs so in a S10 that weighs just over 2000lbs pulling a trailer won't be a problem but the tongue weight might be for the stock suspension, since you say you will be auto-xing you probably don't want to add overload springs or bags so you will have to decide between having fun or towing your buddies car
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-31-2009, 09:21 PM	#4
chevysten Registered User Age: 45 Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 522 Location: Huffman TX User is: OffLine	Re: 5.3L Swap Questions Before i Begin! No it will not work.Too much tq and diff.bolt pattern.I'm running an 04 5.3 4l60e in my 98 s10 all truck acc.Just some guys like running the vette acc.
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08-31-2009, 10:43 PM	#5
Petro Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,544 Location: Savannah, GA User is: Online	Re: 5.3L Swap Questions Before i Begin! X2 on deciding wether the truck will be auto-xing or towing....Since you would probably need to go with something similar to the Z85 towing package suspension on S10/Blazers....
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 01:15 PM	#6
davr89 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 24 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 5.3L Swap Questions Before i Begin! thanks for all the help guys... it looks like im just gonna rebuild the 4.3L so i can keep the 5spd cause i dont want to give that up. and i think im gonna stick to auto-xing the truck cause my buddy is thinking about picking up a 5spd xtreme to tow his LS1 subaru. thanks again!
	[Reply w/Quote]