86silverado

Hello all. I know now that due to emissions laws here in CA i can only swap to a truck style engine. I think leaning more towards the 5.3 as oppose to the 6.0. I know some of these engines use the drive by wire set up. Is there a certain year i should stay away from? Can the drive by wire set up easy to install with the swap? Im planning on putting this motor in an 86 chevy shortbed.

Thanks in advance..
this is site just what i have been waiting for.

hotrodscrap

iTrader: (10)

Sounds like a cool swap, I love those trucks. Do you have any pic's of the truck, is it a short bed? I don't want to give you bad gouge, I think any of the LS motors can be swapped to use DBW or not. Gl, bump for some more info for this guy!

-SS

bmxmon

iTrader: (5)

I would say stay away from the early motors with iron heads and the longer crankshaft.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

The early ones had an Oil Plumbing issue. Seems like the 2001-up are the good ones.

86silverado

2001 and up it is. I been looking to do a swap like this for long time. This swap makes the most sense to me. Its a shortbed truck. I was thinking of doing it on my elcamino but i use the truck more when it comes to testing stuff out. If it all goes well i proboably swap the el camino over too. Truck really gives me more room to work with. Is there a big power difference between the 5.3 and the 6.0?

techrunner

iTrader: (4)

make sure you know what years have the longer crankshaft, and that it will work with whatever transmission you want to use. i htink it was 2001+ that has the same length as the ls1, the older ones have a longer crank snout that will not work without an adapter.

86silverado

im going to bite the bullet and use the transmisson that came with the engine..Might as well go all the way. I would like to link up a manual verion but i think i need to keep this swap as simple as possible.

Bo185

Truck engines you could include the LS2 as well as they were use in Trailblazer and the SSR. Also there is the aluminum block L33 5.3L as well.

The early 99-2000 6.0l and 4.8l had the longer cranks. The 99-2000 LQ4 6.0l had iron heads I would avoid these but they aren't to common now that they are getting old.

Bo185

Make sure if you get a 5.3l its not a 4.8l as well as they are marked with both on the block.

86silverado

cool. So pretty much stick with the 01 and up. Whats s good way to determine if it is a 4.8 or a 5.3..Is there any 100 % way to tell.

Bo185

Remove a park plug and look at the pistons at TDC.
Most the 5.3l have dished piston some of the iron block's have flat tops as well like the 4.8l. These are mostly in the 07 up motors.

gectek

iTrader: (2)

Stay away from engines labeled LT1 thru 5 and you will be ok

NemeSS

iTrader: (127)

lolz!

gectek

iTrader: (2)

also any overhead cam variants running around out there

Modern_Muscle

iTrader: (11)

none of those 60* variants either...lols

Brismo7

iTrader: (3)

Stay away from LS engines that have pistons sticking out the side of the block.

dpd069

iTrader: (1)

If you can get the VIN from the vehicle the motor came out of you can determine if it is a 5.3 or a 4.8.

There is a letter code that is different between the two motors. Search here and you'll find threads talking about it (or maybe the truck forum)

Also there is a partial VIN on the deck of the block on a lip that sticks out past the heads (in the back I think), but I think you need to take that number to a dealer to make sure it is a 5.3 or 4.8.

Lacking the vin from the truck it came out of or access to the dealer's database, you will have to measure it as stated before.

On the drive by wire - most people that have it like it, especially for cruise control. Make sure you get the TAC, pedal and jumper harness from the same vehicle you got the engine from if you are going to go this way. Saves a lot of research and headaches.