Kemmerer29

I am looking to build either a 87-92 Trans Am or a 69-72 c-10
I realize the years for these vehicles spans a little farther then I specify

Either way I am going to go with a 5.3 of some
Sort what ever I can find pretty much that does not have alot of miles, I realize there are a few different version like LM-4 or L-33 or whatever there block castings may be
I'm going with a 5.3 linked to a t-56

I assume the engine will drop into the c-10 pickup without switching out things like pulleys water pump and intake manifold
What would I need to do to ensure that fit in the c10
What would I need to do for fuel system( cell, pump, etc...)
And if I were to go to the car
I would need the car engine versions pulleys,
Water pump, intake manifold, I heard oil pan as well.
Either way I probable wanna grab hopefully a complete harness with ECU with.

I was planning on a painless Harness so would I then only need the ECU or does all that come
With the painless and you program your ECU

Also I was thinking of going to a little steeper cam.
I don't wanna go nuts but something that's decent for the street
Any suggestions on that would be nice

And also. To link a T-56 to a 5.3 I assume I would need a car bell housing and what not seeing as how I can't recall a 2wd pickup that GM has recently put a t-56 in aside the SSR

What would I need to do for the Driveshaft with either vehicle

I'm gonna go with headers and true duals either way as well
Probable a cold air intake.

omc8

iTrader: (7)

Well you have a lot of questions there. First off the choice of which would be easier , the answer is the C-10 .For a number of reasons , C-10 has plenty room in engine bay and hood clearance, you can run the truck intake and accessories and even pan with the the C10.

superdave84

Having owned an '84 Trans Am in the past, I can tell you that headers are going to give you major problems. I could only fit shorties on mine (which are a waste of time) and routing the rest of the exhaust up from there back made it hang so low that I couldn't drive it anywhere. I'm sure there's options to work around that, but it's something to consider before you start

Kemmerer29

Me and my dad had an 82 trans am we put a 69 ram air 3 400 in
So I know my way around those that's why I was considering that as an option
Ours did have true duals on it but factory
Log manifolds
Reason being was because best way to describe
Is well 90 degres is a right angle Chevy heads are at like say 80 degrees pontic are at like 65 us no headers were made for it

I agree with the c-10 being much easier
But finding one in good shape will be alot harder then the trans am
Plus the trans am had the proper fuel tank and what not but I'm not worried about that too much
And I've always wonder what a 5.3 with a 6-speed and like 3:90 would be like in a car
Considering most t-56 have a 6th gear overdrive of like .56:1 or something insane
You would still have good quickness and great top.

I'm open for either one
Could consider an s-10 as well but that's probable biting he same thing as the trans am
So I guess it will come down to
What I find in the best condition.
I don't really wanna deal with welding or torching if I can cause I have neither
So I figure either one is a straight drop in with the purchase of the right mounts
The car would need different accessories and what not but its not much for welding or torching

And am In right with what I would have to get to link a t-56 to the 5.3
Any idea if there is a drive shaft out there or having to not be custom that would link the t-56 to the rear of a short bed c-10

Kemmerer29

Sorry I know about double posting and being a pain and what not

I know my way around both of the option vehicles I specified
They are what me and my dad built before he passed
Irinocislly totaled both of them

But that why I am wanting to use these vehicles
I took the pulleys and intake into immediate consideration when I thought of the c-10
Figured the only real pain in the but part with the c-10 would be the wiring everything else would be fine
But a painless would help that quite a bit

On I have an idea of what it entails to do either

Next question is cam
It's the only thing I really wanna do aside headers duals and a cold air intake
But I assume with a cam I would need an ECU
Tune
What about injectors with a cam

The one other thing
How does the 5.3 respond to clutch fan delete and going to dual 12" electric

Kemmerer29

If I do end with a C-10, I would probable rather go with the LQ-9
I guess the HO 6.0
I may just go that route anyways
Would it entail all of the same as the 5.3 in terms of what would need to be switched for a Car
(Intake pulleys water pump etc...)
And with a C-10 I assume It would drop right in

Would I need the same as the 5.3 in terms of bolting a t-56 to it
Bellhousing from an LS-1, flywheel and clutch etc...

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

5.3 and 6.0 will need the same parts to fit. Both will come from trucks. Transmission stuff will be the same (except for very early 6.0 applications with iron heads).

Electric fans are fine.

A tune is recommended even for a stock engine, especially if you add LTs and an exhaust. At minimum, you will need to have VATS deleted no matter what you do.

A cam-only 5.3 will need tuned. Injector choice depends on the cam.

Kemmerer29

I'm pretty set now on an LQ-4 or 9
Unless I can find a good sub 80k L-33
When saying vats did you mean Cats
Going to the 6.0 I'm not gonna bother with cam
Just header duals and Cold Air

Also I was thinking of this
I'm gonna go to a 4th gen type Ram Air Hood anyways
Would that allow enough clearance to run the stock intake manifold considering it flows better and the hood probable close to the cost of an ls6 intake manifold
Of a Cowl Hood like 2 or maybe 3 inch
Preferably the Ram Air there are a few different types and I would get the one with the most clearance
Although in reality having worked with the F-body befor I know how the fenders and hood slant and the ram air hood would not really help considering where the height is needed is not where the height of the ram air hood is
So would want a Cowl Hood

But the overall question is with the right hood would I be able to run the stock Intake manifold in any of these engines

What would my driveshaft options be for the c-10 if that's what I get
Would it need to be custom with running a t-56

And overall in either vehicle the c10 my dad had with Muncie 4 speed had posi 3:73
So I can't decide either 3:73 or 3:90 with this combo
Cause I would have good acceleration gears
But cause the t -56 has a great overdrive would still have a good cruise at 70

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

Do 3.90s. It will cruise fine.

VATS is the security system. It must be disabled to start your swap.

cobalt964

5.3's vary from 300hp in the h3 to 330hp in l33 trim. lq4's vary from 300hp to 335hp depending on year and truck or van. my .02

Kemmerer29

Thanks for that little piece of Info
I don't even know what Vats is but now I know and yes it will get taken care of

And also thanks for that I really couldn't decide
Between 3:73 to 3:90 might as well go to the 3:90 cause it does not make as much of a difference as say 4:10 or 4:56 would be compared to 3:73

And anyone with any idea as to if my hood question would allow the clearance needed to run the Stock Intake Manifold on either engine??

Kemmerer29

The first model 5.3 99-03 the LM-7 made between 275-300
Then verious others models were made ranging from 285 LM-7 to 310 the L-33

I've found the LQ-4 makes 320 hp and 340 tQ
I've the the LQ-9 makes 340 hp and 380

I'm looking for somewhere between 350-375hp
If I stumble across the LQ-9, 350 would be accomplished simply with a set of headers and duals Thorw and Intake Lighweight pulleys and No Clutch Fan replaced by twin 12" electric
350 should be a sinch

As opposed to getting 250 from 225 out of my Bimmer it would cost like $2000 to crank 25 more house outta that thing

Jeez $2000 in a 6.0 your pushing a solid 450 and possible have $ to spare
That is why I have decide to put together something with a LS-X swap
I thought of dropping the 5.3 in my Bimmer
But I want something that I can swap in simple
But getting the right Mounts and a harness
Not to mention I would have to pull the bumper grill and entire front end to do a swap as this in my Bimmer

Kemmerer29

Sorry guess I should specify
Im looking for a Pre 05 engine
I don't want one that came factory with Active Fuel Management
Unless those are easier to work with
Keep in mind in going to a painless

And yes 5.3 after 2005
All pretty much made 300 or more
And yes the First Model 6.0 made 300
This is why I'm being specific
Cause the More power the engine makes stock the less I have to add
I'm doing headers Duals and Cold Air
No matter what, with the right engine I won't need anymore then those bolt ons cause its making close to what I want stock
I just don't want an actual LS-1 or LS-2 I know that all share just about everything

I've drivin 5.3 trucks 6.0 trucks
The silverado SS was a bad monkey
But the ls1 and ls2 camaro and Trans Am I have drivin were pigs
I drove an I believe 04 if not 05
Gto with an LS-1 is wasn't to bad
I drove ad 06 GTO with LS-2
I swear id take the LS-1 cause I couldn't tell it was making 50 less horses, Accelaration was the same
It was sad when I was told yeah this has 50 more horses then the other one you drove
I was looking for a Car and ended up with a Bimmer
Smart Chioce!! But I test drove a couple Goats while looking and that little experiment is why I decided against the LS-1 or 2 cause that are dogs for what they make and there combo.
I realize the Goats are like 600 pounds more then the Trans Ams and Camaros
So you have been able to notice that extra 50 nope not at all
Not Really

Kemmerer29

LS-2 never came with Camaros and Trans Ams so I'll correct myself there

LS-2 gto is the only ls2 I have drivin

cobalt964

the l33 hp numbers I have seen conflicting numbers all over the place on the net. I have seen some say 310hp and some say 330hp. I would venture to say its likely the 330hp since there were plain jane lm7 iron block 5.3's in the 05-07 Silverado's that made 315hp. and since that's the time frame, 05-06 Silverado ex cab 4x4's, the l33 which is supposed to be a 5.3 HO came into the market place. the l33 has flat top pistons and more compression and a higher lift cam, so it would likely have more than the 315hp plain lm7 of the same year models. only reason I know this is I have several l33's and have done lots of research on them just my .02

Kemmerer29

What was the biggest thing that' was switched when the active fuel management was thrown onboard in 05-06 time frame through now
What did that switch
Is was looking more for a 99-04 time frame engine

I'm not the biggest understander of Ecu's and what not
Active Fuel Management
And a Stand Alone Fuel Management system which I know I have to have to run for the LS-X swap
How does all this shanangins work???

Kemmerer29

I can do Old school fuel and ignition
I've just never done much to the extent of a swap like this
I have. Good friend who will give me a good lesson when it come it getting this thing tuned when the times comes
Kinda why I'm leaning more to
An LQ
Unless I CAN find an L-33
Cause I don't wanna put a cam in then have to do all this crazy tuning
Rather then just drop it in
Throw on the what every hot rod hot have and be done cause that's gonna be a pain in tuning enough
At least it not a freaking BMw
Very nice car but a nightmare when it comes to getting it tuned
GM are simple to work with