B-Rad420

iTrader: (1)

I am currently looking at buying a 2006 L33 5.3L with the factory alum block, higher lift cam, and ls6 heads for $900 with 100K. I am wondering if I can go buy a used harness and pcm from an 01, a non dbw throttle body, and hook it all up and it will run fine. Also what cams does this engine take? Can it use an 02-04 Z06?

Palomba

iTrader: (1)

I think you would need the PCM for a 2003+ engine. They changed a little

http://www.lt1swap.com/cable_conversion.htm Thats how you would go the other way around, and so you would have to have a pcm that had those connections.

Jones'n

You can use the older harness if you also swap the engine to a cable throttle body

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

The newer engine will have the 58x wheel so the PCM won't work with any engine designed for 24x (pre 2003 I believe). You could change the reluctor wheel to 24x but that requires removing the crank... I agree with Palomba and suggest buying the "right" (58x wheel) PCM and harness for the engine then eliminate DBW in the programming if you don't want it.

ryanvv355

iTrader: (17)

-The early harness could be converted if you wanted to go through all the pain
-The early PCM will not work due to the 58x wheel as mentioned
-You can convert the engine to non DBW but why?? I did it to mine, and it can be done.
-If you get the proper ECM do not convert the engine or harness to cable TB, the new ECMs do not have drivers in them for the IAC

Jones'n

Wow.... This is what I love about forums.
The 58x 5.3L didn't come out until late '07. The earlier harness and earlier computer will work fine from the earlier truck with drive by cable.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

My bad, I was thinking your engine was a 2007... sorry. Jones'n is right, for 5.3's the 58x didn't appear until 2007 so you should be fine with the older harness / PCM. Make sure you have a black crank sensor to be sure (Gray is 58x).

Thanks for the eyes, Jones'n. The collective mind is smarter than the single.

rojs234

iTrader: (5)

You need to check and make SURE that the engine you are buying has the BLACK crank sensor connector (behind the starter) that indicates it IS a 24x engine. Are you sure this is an L33 and not an LH6? The LH6 GEn lV 5.3's had the LS6 type heads #799 but I'm pretty sure the aluminum block L33's still had the regular 5.3 heads. Also, if it actually is an '06, it could very well be a 58X engine. I was under the impression that '04 was the last year for the L33. The only reason I bring this up is because we have done what you are suggesting. We bought an '05 all aluminum 5.3 out of an Envoy. This turned out to be a GEN lV engine with #799 LS6 type heads, front mounted cam sensor, and is in fact a 24X engine. After some research we found out they changed to 58X in SOME '05's and then '06. This is also confusing since I know of at least one Gen lll type '06 that is a 24X engine. We changed our engine to drive by cable using a 2002 harness and #411 2002 PCM. We changed the complete intake manifold because the injector plugs were different on the 2005 engine and it was damaged when we bought it. We also had to move the 2002 knock sensors down on the side of the block and extend the cam sensor wires to the front and reverse the two outside wires on the harness plug for the cam sensor. Some of this is same mods you would use to install an LS2. Sorry to be so long winded, but as I said at first, the main thing is to be absolutely sure of WHAT engine you are buying. Ron

B-Rad420

iTrader: (1)

The L33 was never made until 05'. It was an option on extended cab 4x4 05'-07' Classic 1500s. This is not the trailblazer/envoy/ssr motor you are thinking of which have 5.3L heads. This engine also has HD rods, flat top pistons, and 9.9:1 compression over the standard 9.49:1 from an LM7. Even comes with active fuel management...whatever that is. Now I am really confused if its 24x or 58x...The engine is kinda far away so I hate to drive that far and find out. Can the sensor be looked at without removing any parts so they junkyard could look for me?

Jones'n

I don't know how many times I have to say it is a 24x engine.
The 58x wasn't in any trucks until '07. So if it is from a vehicle that was made prior to '07, it is 24x.

As for the DOD, that part wouldn't work with an older computer. You would need to keep the electronic throttle and run the right computer for the 24x 5.3L DOD engines (aka E40)

gjohnson

iTrader: (4)

Alright, I have a L33 with 55k that I picked up from a 05 Silverado. I am running a 04 truck harness and a 04 GTO PCM. I converted the harness and the engine to DBC, because I was having crazy issues with DBW, 04 Truck PCM and T56.

Oh, and I'm also running a stock Z06 cam and springs, F-body accessories and LS1 intake.

Jimbo1367

[QUOTE=Jones'n;12857094]I don't know how many times I have to say it is a 24x engine.
The 58x wasn't in any trucks until '07. So if it is from a vehicle that was made prior to '07, it is 24x.

As for the DOD, that part wouldn't work with an older computer. You would need to keep the electronic throttle and run the right computer for the 24x 5.3L DOD engines (aka E40)[/QU

ROFLMAOOOOOOOOOOO

rojs234

iTrader: (5)

Sorry! My bad. I stand corrected on the L33. After doing a little checking I find I was talking about the LM4 which had the aluminum block but had standard heads. Active fuel management is same as DOD. And now I'm confused. Is the aluminum block a GEN lV or a copy of a GEN lll? Anyone know for sure? Does L33 have front mounted cam sensor? Knock sensors down by motor mounts? Ron

B-Rad420

iTrader: (1)

Wouldnt I need to change out the DOD lifters and cam if I installed the older pcm to eliminate the DOD?

rojs234

iTrader: (5)

OK, since I messed up on the L33, I'll TRY to get this part right. If you,re going to use the early PCM and harness and you want to eliminate the DOD. I/We just finished doing this with a lot of help and info from other members on here. Do a search for a thread titled *5.3 LH6 Progress and Problems* by **Geezer's Garage ** or one titled *info to eliminate DOD * by **rojs234 ** You can find them easily by clicking on advanced search and typing them in the boxes. There is also a thread right now in the GEN lV internal engine forum titled *AFM/DOD Delete by **sommatt** that has some info. Even though these are about LH6 engines it would also apply to your L33. Ron

bozzhawg

So you can eliminate the DBW function in the program and convert to cable by wire?

gjohnson

iTrader: (4)

Ok, there still seems to be some confusion here. The L33 does not have DOD and the L33 is 24x. You will be just fine if you decided to convert the harness to DBC and use a DBC PCM. Again, I have a L33, that has been converted to DBC and I am using an 04 GTO PCM and a 04 Silverado wiring Harness with blue and green connectors that was originally DBW.

gjohnson

iTrader: (4)

[edit] 5300
[edit] Generation III
The Vortec 5300, or LM7/LM4/L59/L33, is a V8 truck engine. It is a stroked (by 9 mm) version of the Vortec 4800 and replaced the 5700 L31. L59 denoted a flexible fuel version, while the LM7 was the standard version of the engine.

Power output is 285-295 hp (213-220 kW) and torque is 325 lb·ft (441 N·m) to 335 lb·ft (454 N·m). Displacement is 5.3 L (5,328 cc (325.1 cu in)) from 96.01 mm bore and 92.00 mm stroke. Vortec 5300s are built in St. Catharines, Ontario, Romulus, Michigan, and Silao, Mexico.

[edit] LM7
The LM7 Vortec 5300 was introduced in 1999, and can be considered the "garden variety" version of the Generation III 5.3 liter V8's.

LM7 applications:

2002-2005 Cadillac Escalade 2WD
2002-2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
2003-2007 Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
1999-2007 GMC Sierra 1500
1999-2006 Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL
1999-2006 Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
[edit] LM4
The LM4 was an aluminum block version of the LM7, and had a short production life. It should not be confused with the L33.

LM4 applications:

2003-04 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
2004 GMC Envoy XL
2004 Chevrolet SSR
2004 Buick Rainier

L33 Vin code "B"

The L33 was an aluminum block version of the LM7, and was referred to as the Vortec 5300 HO in marketing materials. Power increased by 15 hp (11 kW), to 310 hp (230 kW), over the LM7, and torque was unchanged. It was only available on extended cab 4WD pickup trucks. Only 25% of trucks made in 2005 had the L33 engine.

L33 applications:

2005-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD
2005-2007 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD

rojs234

iTrader: (5)

First, I would like to thank you for the info you have provided. It SHOULD clear up exactly what an L33 is and what it comes in. It also brings up again whether the engine he is looking at is an L33 or an LH6. Personally, I would do what another guy suggested and check the vin #. The reason I asked in the first place was because we didn't know enough when a friend bought a 5.3 recently. We thought it was an L33 because it had an aluminum block, had the #799 heads (same as LS6) and had the black crank sensor indicating 24X. Turned out to have DOD (a pain in the rear to change) and was a GEN lV block. The point I'm trying to make is.....make sure what it is and what it actually came out of. The vin # will tell you that, and might save the buyer the expense and trouble we have had. Ron

B-Rad420

iTrader: (1)

The only thing I could verify was that it had an alum. block. But, before buying I will make sure that it has the correct 799 or 243 heads.