First gen 5.3 swap.

horsepwraddict · 10-13-2007, 01:28 PM

Picked up a 5.3 from an '00 fullsize for the dime a few weeks ago. Its gettin carbed with my 650 demon and using the TH350 that was behind my 355. If money allows i will throw a cam in it but we'll see.

THe before:

Motor out.

INterior out

The new bullet.

Made room for the exhaust, cut the seem out and made more room to get at the bellhousing bolts.

s10-den · 10-13-2007, 08:29 PM

I see a motorless truck.I see a 5.3 sittin on the ground......------oh,and then he takes a perfectly good v8 s10 apart??????...lol

***SweetS10V8*** · 10-14-2007, 01:59 AM

His sig says he has a 5.3L S-10 already, this must be his 2nd one.

horsepwraddict · 10-14-2007, 01:09 PM

ahhh shut up, you know what i mean LOL

EDIT: is that better

horsepwraddict · 10-14-2007, 01:11 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by s10-den

oh,and then he takes a perfectly good v8 s10 apart??????...lol

i need something to do this winter.

s10-den · 10-14-2007, 02:02 PM

i hear ya...I"used" to take apart good running trucks myself,well,still do sometimes...ha

horsepwraddict · 10-14-2007, 07:57 PM

its ok as long as your making things better...and IMHO i am. Im giving up a few ponies but i can deal with it for a smoother, more reliable running truck.

~~LS2Sonoma~~ · 10-14-2007, 08:17 PM

wholy firewall fabrication! youre not messing around with this swap...

horsepwraddict · 10-14-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by LS2Sonoma

wholy firewall fabrication! youre not messing around with this swap...

eh, i dont hold a candle to the body drop guys, they motivate me big time.

fixed a small rust hole in the floor neer the seat stud and sealed up all the seams, next comes paint, bonding the firewall and painting it black. Then i have to notch the cross member for the oil pan.

~~LS2Sonoma~~ · 10-14-2007, 11:10 PM

well, it sure as hell beats hammering the firewall for extra clearance

keep the pix comin!

DozerDan · 10-15-2007, 05:58 PM

is it necessary to cut the fire wall like that or is that just something you wanted to do? looking to maybe do a similar project

horsepwraddict · 10-16-2007, 12:18 AM

no, its not neccesary, i just dindt like not being able to get at the bellhousing bolts with my old small block, so i figured i would make it easier on myself this time around. The exhaust was also way closer to the firewall/floor than i liked, it melted my carpet at one point so i made a little more room doing this also.

horsepwraddict · 10-18-2007, 06:54 PM

sold the top end off my 355 and bought a TR220 cam, comp springs and pushrods for the 5.3, should put me at around 365fwhp with a good idle im hoping.

horsepwraddict · 10-20-2007, 06:12 PM

finished up a few spots and sealed the seams. Still have to fix that uhhh...thing up in the upper left corner. Its not the prettiest but it works. Their is tons more room to work now.

Sorry for the shitty pictures

s10-den · 10-21-2007, 10:19 AM

I cut the top part out of one of mine one time so i could get to the bell-bolts.And actually thought about doing something like that but never did.More room for the hands,thats for sure.Just dont go crazy....

horsepwraddict · 10-21-2007, 09:08 PM

nah, not goin crazy. What i did should leave plenty of room for the bell bolts, i did it for exhaust clearance too. I dont know if my truck was different or something but with my old motor the passenger side header was so clost i couldn't hammer it enough, i had to cut the flange off the header and weld an extension onto it.

horsepwraddict · 10-21-2007, 11:14 PM

not much to show for today, just pulled the intake thats all.

horsepwraddict · 10-23-2007, 06:16 PM

de-accesorized the motor, cleaned it up a litle bit and got one valve cover painted...gunmetal, i dont know if i like it, might get them powdercoated

shot the firewall to keep it from rusting

kevdog · 10-23-2007, 06:27 PM

Interesting project. Good luck with the build!

horsepwraddict · 10-26-2007, 06:12 PM

cleaned up the motor a little today, I will finish painting when the timing cover is off for the cam

Thunder racing cam, pushrods and comp dual springs came today too

Should i paint the heads black too or leave them natural?

camaro1 · 10-26-2007, 06:24 PM

why would you put the dual springs on the 5.3 heads,, any beehive ls1 spring is a drop in for your heads, probly cheaper and you could use your stock retainers and keepers

and if you are going to be revving this engine up you should at least put a gm LS2 timing chain on it , they are only $40 (use your stock gears) and shim your oil pump spring .100"-.120" for a little more pressure at high rpm

i started with a 5.3 and a hotcam, and it loved to rev over 6500,, and the hotcam is a very small cam

what syle spacer are you going to use for the trans?

s10-den · 10-26-2007, 06:54 PM

if i was you,i would not get ANYTHING on the table!!!!lol

horsepwraddict · 10-26-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by camaro1

why would you put the dual springs on the 5.3 heads,, any beehive ls1 spring is a drop in for your heads, probly cheaper and you could use your stock retainers and keepers

and if you are going to be revving this engine up you should at least put a gm LS2 timing chain on it , they are only $40 (use your stock gears) and shim your oil pump spring .100"-.120" for a little more pressure at high rpm

i started with a 5.3 and a hotcam, and it loved to rev over 6500,, and the hotcam is a very small cam

what syle spacer are you going to use for the trans?

Im going to use the hughes spacer. And the springs came with the cam along with retainers and locks...... Im way ahead of you with the chain.

horsepwraddict · 10-26-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by s10-den

if i was you,i would not get ANYTHING on the table!!!!lol

huh?

s10-den · 10-26-2007, 07:08 PM

the table with the cam sitting on,howd you get away with that??

horsepwraddict · 10-26-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by s10-den

the table with the cam sitting on,howd you get away with that??

i dunno, ive had everything from carbs to pistons to heads on that table lol

comgtsom · 10-26-2007, 08:45 PM

what are the specs on the cam?

camaro1 · 10-27-2007, 01:38 AM

dont forget the new bolt for the balancer pulley, it is a one time only bolt, and there is a several step procedure to install and torque it correctly

horsepwraddict · 10-27-2007, 09:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by comgtsom

what are the specs on the cam?

its a TR220-114 (220*, 551")

horsepwraddict · 10-27-2007, 09:24 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by camaro1

dont forget the new bolt for the balancer pulley, it is a one time only bolt, and there is a several step procedure to install and torque it correctly

I know, I got the longer ARP one.

PS, did you get my payment?

camaro1 · 10-27-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by horsepwraddict

I know, I got the longer ARP one.

PS, did you get my payment?

i didnt even realize till now that it was you from ls1.com,,, yes i got it friday and i willl ship out your parts monday from work and i will send you the tracking number,

jay

horsepwraddict · 10-27-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by camaro1

i didnt even realize till now that it was you from ls1.com,,, yes i got it friday and i willl ship out your parts monday from work and i will send you the tracking number,

jay

yup, its me...thanks.

horsepwraddict · 10-27-2007, 10:27 AM

well i just opened the springs to check them out and their are 3 missing retainers, i bought the cam used and he threw the springs in extra so im not to bummed.

looks like im goin beehives afterall

10-13-2007, 01:28 PM	#1
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	First gen 5.3 swap. Picked up a 5.3 from an '00 fullsize for the dime a few weeks ago. Its gettin carbed with my 650 demon and using the TH350 that was behind my 355. If money allows i will throw a cam in it but we'll see. THe before: Motor out. INterior out The new bullet. Made room for the exhaust, cut the seem out and made more room to get at the bellhousing bolts.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-13-2007, 08:29 PM	#2
s10-den takes 2 balls in our game Age: 36 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,283 Location: florida User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. I see a motorless truck.I see a 5.3 sittin on the ground......------oh,and then he takes a perfectly good v8 s10 apart??????...lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-14-2007, 01:09 PM	#4
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. ahhh shut up, you know what i mean LOL EDIT: is that better Last edited by horsepwraddict : 10-14-2007 at 01:11 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-14-2007, 01:11 PM	#5
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by s10-den oh,and then he takes a perfectly good v8 s10 apart??????...lol i need something to do this winter.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-14-2007, 02:02 PM	#6
s10-den takes 2 balls in our game Age: 36 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,283 Location: florida User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. i hear ya...I"used" to take apart good running trucks myself,well,still do sometimes...ha
	[Reply w/Quote]


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10-14-2007, 07:57 PM	#7
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. its ok as long as your making things better...and IMHO i am. Im giving up a few ponies but i can deal with it for a smoother, more reliable running truck.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-14-2007, 08:17 PM	#8
~~LS2Sonoma~~ Banned Age: 27 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 509 Location: edmonton, alberta, canada User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. wholy firewall fabrication! youre not messing around with this swap...
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-14-2007, 09:25 PM	#9
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by LS2Sonoma wholy firewall fabrication! youre not messing around with this swap... eh, i dont hold a candle to the body drop guys, they motivate me big time. fixed a small rust hole in the floor neer the seat stud and sealed up all the seams, next comes paint, bonding the firewall and painting it black. Then i have to notch the cross member for the oil pan.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-14-2007, 11:10 PM	#10
~~LS2Sonoma~~ Banned Age: 27 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 509 Location: edmonton, alberta, canada User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. well, it sure as hell beats hammering the firewall for extra clearance keep the pix comin!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-15-2007, 05:58 PM	#11
DozerDan Registered User Age: 23 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. is it necessary to cut the fire wall like that or is that just something you wanted to do? looking to maybe do a similar project
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-16-2007, 12:18 AM	#12
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. no, its not neccesary, i just dindt like not being able to get at the bellhousing bolts with my old small block, so i figured i would make it easier on myself this time around. The exhaust was also way closer to the firewall/floor than i liked, it melted my carpet at one point so i made a little more room doing this also. Last edited by horsepwraddict : 10-16-2007 at 12:20 AM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-18-2007, 06:54 PM	#13
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. sold the top end off my 355 and bought a TR220 cam, comp springs and pushrods for the 5.3, should put me at around 365fwhp with a good idle im hoping.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-20-2007, 06:12 PM	#14
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. finished up a few spots and sealed the seams. Still have to fix that uhhh...thing up in the upper left corner. Its not the prettiest but it works. Their is tons more room to work now. Sorry for the shitty pictures
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2007, 10:19 AM	#15
s10-den takes 2 balls in our game Age: 36 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,283 Location: florida User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. I cut the top part out of one of mine one time so i could get to the bell-bolts.And actually thought about doing something like that but never did.More room for the hands,thats for sure.Just dont go crazy....
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2007, 09:08 PM	#16
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. nah, not goin crazy. What i did should leave plenty of room for the bell bolts, i did it for exhaust clearance too. I dont know if my truck was different or something but with my old motor the passenger side header was so clost i couldn't hammer it enough, i had to cut the flange off the header and weld an extension onto it. Last edited by horsepwraddict : 10-21-2007 at 09:11 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2007, 11:14 PM	#17
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. not much to show for today, just pulled the intake thats all.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-23-2007, 06:16 PM	#18
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. de-accesorized the motor, cleaned it up a litle bit and got one valve cover painted...gunmetal, i dont know if i like it, might get them powdercoated shot the firewall to keep it from rusting
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-23-2007, 06:27 PM	#19
kevdog bank owned Age: 25 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,576 Location: Ohio User is: Online	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Interesting project. Good luck with the build!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 06:12 PM	#20
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. cleaned up the motor a little today, I will finish painting when the timing cover is off for the cam Thunder racing cam, pushrods and comp dual springs came today too Should i paint the heads black too or leave them natural?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 06:24 PM	#21
camaro1 Registered User Age: 35 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 300 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. why would you put the dual springs on the 5.3 heads,, any beehive ls1 spring is a drop in for your heads, probly cheaper and you could use your stock retainers and keepers and if you are going to be revving this engine up you should at least put a gm LS2 timing chain on it , they are only $40 (use your stock gears) and shim your oil pump spring .100"-.120" for a little more pressure at high rpm i started with a 5.3 and a hotcam, and it loved to rev over 6500,, and the hotcam is a very small cam what syle spacer are you going to use for the trans? Last edited by camaro1 : 10-26-2007 at 06:30 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 06:54 PM	#22
s10-den takes 2 balls in our game Age: 36 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,283 Location: florida User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. if i was you,i would not get ANYTHING on the table!!!!lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 07:05 PM	#23
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by camaro1 why would you put the dual springs on the 5.3 heads,, any beehive ls1 spring is a drop in for your heads, probly cheaper and you could use your stock retainers and keepers and if you are going to be revving this engine up you should at least put a gm LS2 timing chain on it , they are only $40 (use your stock gears) and shim your oil pump spring .100"-.120" for a little more pressure at high rpm i started with a 5.3 and a hotcam, and it loved to rev over 6500,, and the hotcam is a very small cam what syle spacer are you going to use for the trans? Im going to use the hughes spacer. And the springs came with the cam along with retainers and locks...... Im way ahead of you with the chain.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 07:06 PM	#24
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by s10-den if i was you,i would not get ANYTHING on the table!!!!lol huh?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 07:08 PM	#25
s10-den takes 2 balls in our game Age: 36 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,283 Location: florida User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. the table with the cam sitting on,howd you get away with that??
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 07:23 PM	#26
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by s10-den the table with the cam sitting on,howd you get away with that?? i dunno, ive had everything from carbs to pistons to heads on that table lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2007, 08:45 PM	#27
comgtsom Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 329 Location: richmond,va User is: Online	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. what are the specs on the cam?
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10-27-2007, 01:38 AM	#28
camaro1 Registered User Age: 35 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 300 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. dont forget the new bolt for the balancer pulley, it is a one time only bolt, and there is a several step procedure to install and torque it correctly
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2007, 09:23 AM	#29
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by comgtsom what are the specs on the cam? its a TR220-114 (220*, 551")
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2007, 09:24 AM	#30
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by camaro1 dont forget the new bolt for the balancer pulley, it is a one time only bolt, and there is a several step procedure to install and torque it correctly I know, I got the longer ARP one. PS, did you get my payment?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2007, 09:54 AM	#31
camaro1 Registered User Age: 35 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 300 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by horsepwraddict I know, I got the longer ARP one. PS, did you get my payment? i didnt even realize till now that it was you from ls1.com,,, yes i got it friday and i willl ship out your parts monday from work and i will send you the tracking number, jay
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2007, 10:06 AM	#32
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. Quote: Originally Posted by camaro1 i didnt even realize till now that it was you from ls1.com,,, yes i got it friday and i willl ship out your parts monday from work and i will send you the tracking number, jay yup, its me...thanks.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2007, 10:27 AM	#33
horsepwraddict s10 newb Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 606 Location: Princeton MA User is: OffLine	Re: First gen 5.3 swap. well i just opened the springs to check them out and their are 3 missing retainers, i bought the cam used and he threw the springs in extra so im not to bummed. looks like im goin beehives afterall
	[Reply w/Quote]