Carbureted LSX forum - 5.3 swap into 85 Trans Am

This is a swap that i am helping the little brother with, he is 22 and this is his first LS swap, or LS motor in general.

Bad luck was, we bought 2 alleged 5.3 engines, (GEN IIIs), ran the crank numbers today and they are 4.8s....go figure.

So, i looked at the engine that was supposed to be a 4.8 that i am swapping into my moms 96 S10(will be EFI....) and sure enough, a 5.3, so a switcheroo happened and we got the brand new F body pan on today, painted it a bit, nothing fancy, just a quick job to make it look better, and what do you know, the one missing manifold bolt was....not missing but broken. EZ out broke off, so a few attempts with the welder and i got it free.

The car needs some body work, a nose clip and fender. Going to be fun making the PERFORMER RPM fit under the formula hood....will see hot that wont work.


Once this is done, we will start a 4.8 swap in his 88 GMC Jimmy.

Still waiting on ignition, and starter. Looking for 4th gen F car shorty headers to finish as well, but will not be long.

From this:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/451fb1b7.jpg

To this:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/4faefd96.jpg

in a few hours.

This should be a cake walk since i know youve done atleast 2 now.

I've done 5 or 6 swaps so far, lol. 3 were my personal vehicles.

What exactly did you use to clean it. Mine looks exactly like that before picture, what should i tackle it with. Rag and degreaser?

Step one is to hit it with a wire brush, this engine had its nastiness, but was not as bad as some of the others i have cleaned int he past. Once done, hit it with the wire brush in all the spots you didnt get that you thought you did. My brother helped and i kind of left majority of it to him, as this is his first real engine swap, not just a engine replacement and there is a bit of pride here, well allot. He is ultra excited, i am helping but trying to hold back so he is doing as much work as possible. He is learning fast but i am reminding him of things he forgets, so hopefully it will hone his skills. That being said, it is not as nice as mine if i did it myself, but it is decent for his first daily drive LS swap. Going to damn near let him solo the 4.8 swap in his jimmy. After the thorough brushing, clean the brush or find another and use carb cleaner to get as much prep as possible and rid of debris and remaining oil deposits. Small brushed get the small places of course. Razor blades help the valley and other spots, ect.

Here is what is done so far along with the ignition controller came in, we are fixing to drop the motor in if the paint is dry.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/af0efc59.jpg

Wish i did a before pic, beotch was nastaaay. But there was no light outside at 700P when we started.

Headers and on the way thanks to a tech member.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/0d8bbba2.jpg

What gauges are you running in your cars you've done? My cars a 84 ta with mechanical Speedo, but im running a new 4l80e so I will need a electric Speedo. Gauges are so damn ecspwnsive. I was thinking of finding a way to repla e just the Speedo and tach and keep the factory little gauges.

I got screwed, on my 89 RS, i have oil and water in the cowl, same in the 86 TA. The stock voltage works in both, but they have aftermarket tachs inside of both, so the stockers again, no good. The 94 GMC, has every gauge stock working except the water temp because i have not found the cheap adapter to run the stock sender, between other stuff going on, i have just relied on a aftermarket electric setup.

Ok, for speedos, i have had back luck, the 89 has a T56 from a 2000 Z28, and the stock pickup is....mechanical, the 86 TA, electric and the TIC TH400 competition trans....no output at all...., and then the 94 GMC, has a 2000 4L60, and the stock pickup is a electric, and i wired it in, and found nothing, so i need to see if one of the outputs from the stock two wires is supposed to ground, even though i would imagine GM would ground it under the gauge cluster, but again, no telling. I only have the optuon left of trying to see if there is the chance of one being a ground and i just tried the output to both. It worked with the stock 5.7 and 4L60, so idk...


Here is where we just finished, unfortunately, the good news is a stock hood with a truck bracket and 87-92 V8 alternator will fit but the carb as i was sure, has about 2 inches to work, but i have a plan, a carb hat i can shave down on the side that is hitting after i mill the bottom, do what i need to to get my brother on the road, but the cowling on the dr side gives me room to work, will be close and nothing pretty but damn it, we will get it done. Vic Jr? No effin way.

There is the 22 year old eager learner in the process of excitement...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/fc82b443.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/0aeddf3c.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/7c2dd18a.jpg

This should be running a clutch fan like factory till he can fork out a electric fan setup...

Hope to get the trans in tomorrow, but she went in fantastic.

Looks good man, Im not sure what the hell to do about all my gauges right now. I priced new ones out and they are gonna run about 700$ for them:(

This is a swap that i am helping the little brother with, he is 22 and this is his first LS swap, or LS motor in general.

Bad luck was, we bought 2 alleged 5.3 engines, (GEN IIIs), ran the crank numbers today and they are 4.8s....go figure.
So, i looked at the engine that was supposed to be a 4.8 that i am swapping into my moms 96 S10(will be EFI....) and sure enough, a 5.3, so a switcheroo happened and we got the brand new F body pan on today, painted it a bit, nothing fancy, just a quick job to make it look better, and what do you know, the one missing manifold bolt was....not missing but broken. EZ out broke off, so a few attempts with the welder and i got it free.

The car needs some body work, a nose clip and fender. Going to be fun making the PERFORMER RPM fit under the formula hood....will see hot that wont work.


Once this is done, we will start a 4.8 swap in his 88 GMC Jimmy.

Still waiting on ignition, and starter. Looking for 4th gen F car shorty headers to finish as well, but will not be long.



An interesting read in case you ever decide to go turbo on the 4.8 motors:

http://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/1519665-ordered-5-3-sold-4-8-how-screwed-am-i-going-700-whp.html


In the thread the reference an article in HotRod about a 5.3 build that they tried to destroy. Turns out it was a 4.8.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1109_stock_gm_ls_engine_big_bang_theory/
60+ pulls on the dyno at >1000hp Stock bottom end!

Also, doing some research on the Performance Truck Forums. I found out that the 4.8 is preferred over the 5.3 for turbo builds, something about the stroke and bore. ???

Just a thought if you ever think of going Forced Induction.

Good Luck!

Hell, even naturally aspirated, the shorter stroke allows the lower piston speed and roaring mass to turn the limit of the 24x reluctor wheel, imagine a 7700 rpm stock bottom end Ls, all day. I am going to do it one day, and it will sound killer, down on tq but will not be intended as a race car in that aspect....or will it. On theturboforum, quick made 774 rwhp if I remember correct, at times hit 22 pounds but was usually at 17.

Well, here is what was left of the carb hat, had to take allot more than I thought, but the end result that I thought was going to be pretty ugly actually turned out half decent with wrinkle finish vht and it clears great, first third gen to use stock hood with carbed Ls? Only due to the formula hood either way:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/26d41bc3.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/d6b3fa11.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/0f9a2194.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/67ff75ee.jpg

Thats cool mang!
U make u own mounts now?

Naaa, just buy the adapters for 50$ off eBay, don't have the equipment to make my own.

hey looks good. im not sure if you posted it but what type and size of carb are you running?

The carb in the pic is my stocker 750 holley, he has a street avenger series 750 going on, here is what i came up with as a filter element, it will get him on the road and do its job. Actually contacts the hood, but not much, enough to tell but not prevent shutting.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/c6d83a03.jpg

Any particular reason you went with an older Alt? Or was it mainly for clearance of hood?

For one, it fits, that is not a OE alternator to the 85 TA, it is a 87-92, but it will wire right in as well, nothing fancy, gets the job done. Have the same on my 3 Ls swaps, if it works don't fix it right?

Looking good. You remind me of me and my old man always tinkering around with our cars.

For one, it fits, that is not a OE alternator to the 85 TA, it is a 87-92, but it will wire right in as well, nothing fancy, gets the job done. Have the same on my 3 Ls swaps, if it works don't fix it right?Sure, really didn't think about the 'wires right in' thing. I wouldn't change it either.

I got a good firebird hood and fenders. If looking. Maybe splice in a cowl on s stock hood. Should b cheeper than aftermarket.
I also got some odd ducktail looking spoiler and hatch.

Still the firebird fenders without the ducts in the side?

No.
I sold that ta bout 2wk ago. Ones i got just plain firebird fenders and hood.
Im looking for 350 block. Prefer roller if u got one

I have a tbi 350, it is a roller block, complete engine, but I have a set of roller lifters, maybe the other pieces as well.

I have a tbi 350, it is a roller block, complete engine, but I have a set of roller lifters, maybe the other pieces as well.

what u asking for it?
No spun bearings or damage?
Has mech pump hole?

Was running when pulled, idk of the mech pump location is functional, some were some weren't. I will as the lil bro, it is his, how much you want to give?

hey is there anything that you had to do to get that newer style alternator to fit?

One side fits in perfect, the other requires removal of the metal dowell and use washers to get it lined up when the bolt is installed since one side does not run through like the other.

Alright, did several things today, including fire the ol girl up, s you would assume, she snapped to life at the flick of the key once the battery was charged after it had been sitting all winter, need to mod the flanges for regular collectors, otherwise, great fit. Took the stock fan shroud off of what was a 2001 GMC 3/4 ton, flipped it upside down and hacked away till i got the desired fit, this was a clutch fan car as it was and the A hole i got the car from jacked the shroud for a 82 TA i traded him. Of course, hood clearance issues, so i hacked the bottom, that is now the top and put some sheet metal over it, matches the air cleaner.....unintentionally. So, this is proving to be as budget as possible and not wait around for good deal on every part. Intake and ignition was new, headers used, used motor of course, intake gaskets, carb studs, and oil pressure gauge kit, we are at 1600$ total, including new oil pan for 260 and swap plates.

Not too bad, but not out of the woods yet. Need exhaust work to connect old to new, idler pulley and belt, alternator(one in pic is for mock up, non functional).

Here is more result so far:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/eaab04d8.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/3a7e90b3.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/fe5f1c13.jpg

Looks good, Whens the drive videos coming?

Eventually, got a few things still left to complete cooling, Trans cooling lines, driveshaft, all the small BS.

Sounds pretty bad ass for a 5.3, little brother is siked.

This is 2 1/4 to a 3 inch intermediate I pipe, then dualed out over the axle, sounds perfect cruising and acceleration. straight pipe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USvCJLFABE4&list=UUqE7et4xdmge1ql0WOXX1eg&index=1&feature=plcp

Well, primered the car last night, getting ready for a tird gen meet tomorrow, once i got done spraying, i told the little brother i would see him later, and he put the car back together...all except these:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/fa4e049c.jpg

Looked good, but the hood flew up after he left.....so it doesnt look as hood, needs a new hood, windshield, fix a few dinks...but, before he forgot that, here is what happened:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/7c256f38.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/88f36e0c.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/04775a95.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/c000113b.jpg

Dam!
I got a stock flat hood he can have.
Not gonna make it to the third gen roundup.
Gotta work a 12:(
I ordered a clutch and parts. Sent wrong clutch. Engine and trans sitting outside of the ss.
Just went ahead and got some valve springs,and poly mounts for it since its sitting outside.
Plus i really wanted to drive my ss out there. But its in pieces for at least nother week.

As man, swore you were going. I will let him know about the stocker. He can bolt a cowl to it if he needs.

I asked for day off, but i have to come in if something needs to get done or behind.
I knew since fri. I was.prolly not gonna make it. Running behind, 2 ppl quit about 2wk ago.
So everybody else gotta pick up slack
Im prolly gonna quit too. And get job at whataburger by my house as a bun package opener or french fry salter. And can walk to work.
Prolly get fired fot stealing fries from customers bags. Tho.:jest:
Long day.

Hood is good and strait,just fadded paint. Stock flat firebird

Sweet, i told him, he will have to get a cowl to bolt to it, i will text you for when a good time would be if i have to drive to you or whatever, tired you you making the haul up here, LOL.

Here is the new craigs list find hood after install, they had the hood pins in a spot i can only assume some bracket was used to make it work for the front, they were about where the headlight motors are. Anyway, i glassed the old holes and set them where the existing pins belong.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/9266a0cb.jpg

Little bit of customization for he heck of it:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/a9e6646e.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/ZONES89RS/e55e66bf.jpg