Her Name, is Circa. 5.3/t56 swap (56k warning)

[Christobevii3]

Hahaha, last to finish, man I started mid march and still ain't got the tranny mounted to the engine. Let my fuel line get here and i'll have an engine and tranny in within 24 hours.

[circa]

Im still trying to negotiate a settlement with the insurance lady from when i got hit from a drunk driver

i need somewhat free money...working sucks!

[Zerocool350]

Ill be the last one done probably. Im still hunting down a transmission. I havn't pulled the v6 yet. Im waiting til I get every part I can think of in before I start. And plus im putting a motor in my back up ride (1959 GMC stepside ).

Circa what are you doing intake and accessories wise?

[So-GT0071]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rompn

Also, I would think the 5.3 engine will drop the front at least an inch or so so consider that.

Nah, it won't. The front end on my truck sat higher with the LS1 in it then it did with the V6...the all iron V6's are heavy...

As for a 3 inch drop, why not just use 2 inch drop spindles and 1 inch drop springs. If you want coil overs up front, Spohn makes tubular lower A-arms that will fit QA1 coil overs in them or they can make them to accept the factory springs.

Cool project!

[Rompn]

Quote: Originally Posted by So-GT0071

Nah, it won't. The front end on my truck sat higher with the LS1 in it then it did with the V6...the all iron V6's are heavy...

Well, he's swapping in a 5.3 not an LS1 so I think his front end will actually be heavier than with the V6 setup. The 5.3 is still an iron block.

I agree with the drop options mentioned above. However I would just run the 2" drop spindles so all of the geometery stays the same. If I'm correct about the 5.3's weight, the front should drop another 1" or so giving you the 3" your asking for.

[circa]

Quote: Originally Posted by So-GT0071

As for a 3 inch drop, why not just use 2 inch drop spindles and 1 inch drop springs. If you want coil overs up front, Spohn makes tubular lower A-arms that will fit QA1 coil overs in them or they can make them to accept the factory springs.

Cool project!

I was looking at Spohn's setup last night its about 900 shipped give or take 20$
control arms with Qa1 coilovers

the v6 didnt seem that heavy maybe im just strong
the t56 is heavier then the nv3500 by i think 30-40 pounds dry
maybe could even it out

gotta work on my frame tonight, the sun is out

[So-GT0071]

Ya, the block is iron but the heads are aluminum. V6 is all iron. They will probably weigh about the same.

[Rompn]

Quote: Originally Posted by So-GT0071

Ya, the block is iron but the heads are aluminum. V6 is all iron. They will probably weigh about the same.

Ya, I agree they are probably close in weight but I still think the 5.3 is going to be a little heavier. Maybe not enough to affect the ride height though. Don't know, guess there is only way to find out.

[circa]

well my packing slip said 473 pounds which was the engine complete and the roughly 30-40 pound wood crate.... and the nearly 10 pounds of shrink wrap

just bought mounts and headers from current performance

i took a picture of the truck missing the engine on my cell, its the wallpaper and every time i open it...

[circa]

Quote: Originally Posted by Zerocool350

Circa what are you doing intake and accessories wise?

90mm tb and the tubing i havent figured out...probably route it down by where the battery box use to be as i'll be moving it to the bed

accessories... no a/c and if everything fits then its just gravy

i will have to cover up the a/c box for room with the coil packs and probably a vette booster to help with clearance also

[BadS15v8]

So are you running the truck accessories?

I've seen how they fit in bucket's swap, but wouldn't the P/S Pump hit the gear box under hard torque or am I just tripping?

[circa]

huh? P/S is no where near the gearbox its pretty much in the same location as the 4.3's

[So-GT0071]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rompn

Ya, I agree they are probably close in weight but I still think the 5.3 is going to be a little heavier. Maybe not enough to affect the ride height though. Don't know, guess there is only way to find out.

Indeed!! Drop that sucker in there

[AceHaag]

Quote: Originally Posted by BadS15v8

So are you running the truck accessories?

I've seen how they fit in bucket's swap, but wouldn't the P/S Pump hit the gear box under hard torque or am I just tripping?

The enginge twists away from the steering box.

My engine ended up so low that i had to modify my ps bracket to get it in there.

Changing from a 2.2 to an iron 6.0 dropped the front of my truck 1in.

[s10-den]

Your using headers?I dont know about the ls1 swap headers,but on the other small block headers you will need to do something about the clutch master.If the stock clutch line dont work,should be able to use one from a 2000 4 cyl s10.

[BadS15v8]

This is what I was talking about: (This is from Bucket's Swap)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...Picture129.jpg

[BadS15v8]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...Picture129.jpg

[Rompn]

Quote: Originally Posted by AceHaag

Changing from a 2.2 to an iron 6.0 dropped the front of my truck 1in.

Now that I could see completely. That little 2.2L is tiny compared to the size and weight of a 6.0L.

[circa]

it's close but it should be ok, bucket would say something im sure

I gotta buy a sand blasting gun and some abrasive tonight so i can remove front suspension and sand blast the rust away, give it a coating. Hopefully I recieve my steering from suicide doors, spohn lower a-arms w/ QA1 coilovers :>
redoing entire front suspension. I'm looking at the SC&C upper a arms that someone just posted but they are pretty spendy...along with new spindles and a big brake kit, brakes could wait awhile though

[circa]

Still waiting on parts! Jared's headers were out of stock so he is having them shipped directly from Sanderson which is in california and im in washington..mounts are on their way though

spindles upper/lower arms are off along with the stubborn sway bar
no balljoint seperater, so I used a torch.





Nothing caught fire if any of you are wondering...

[circa]

Remedies for stubborn lower control arm bolts?

spohn lower control arm's and QA1 coilover kit should be in by the end of the week (fingers crossed)
same with headers
buying steering linkage and upper a arm's from suicidedoors.com as we speak
spindles rotors and brakes from summit...still browsing
sway bar i think im getting the hook up from a friend at schucks...not sure though

[circa]

havent posted pics in awhile... nothing "major" really done

got my mounts

waiting on lower control arms coilover kit upper control arms and entire steering linkages, havent ordered spindles or rotors from summit yet..they ship pretty quick anyways

Also, i've been sanding and blasting the frame...front only for now
probably going to prime it black...wouldnt mind leaveing a raw metal finish


on this pic you can see where it was welded when it was fixed from w/e accident it was in

[circa]

ohhh it sucks doing this outside...im waiting for a good rain and it gets surface rust and i have to go over it all again

damn the northwest...damn!

[slam]

Looks good man. Do you happen to have a pick of the wiring harness? And how hard do think it is going to be to hook it up?.... ( Any thing you think you will have a prob with?) Thanks!

[circa]

probably will have a problem with the harness but i'll be talking to jared about it

in the mean time...look what arrived im jumping and giggling like a school girl





start of interior work :>
still working the front frame a bit...finishing it about the same time al the other front suspension parts arrive

[Zerocool350]

Looking good. Im starting mine this weekend! I Cant wait

[BadS15v8]

lookin good man, like the coil overs....

[circa]

Quote: Originally Posted by BadS15v8

lookin good man, like the coil overs....

finest 1000$ i ever spent (including control arm)

thats a pretty big incentive to NOT quit this project :>

[willey878]

wher did you get the coil overs and the control arms?
should be awsome when its all dont im starting on mine in a week or 2

Quote: Originally Posted by circa

finest 1000$ i ever spent (including control arm)

thats a pretty big incentive to NOT quit this project :>

[circa]

Quote: Originally Posted by willey878

wher did you get the coil overs and the control arms?
should be awsome when its all dont im starting on mine in a week or 2

Spohn Performance, Inc.

pretty neat stuff...for a pretty penny :P

[mattryanmusic]

i see parts, i see a truck, but no parts in a truck?