Quick, cheap 5.3 swap into a 1990 Silverado
08-21-2009, 02:08 PM
#1
Quick, cheap 5.3 swap into a 1990 Silverado Bought this truck a week ago. Pulled out the original engine the day I got it, thought I had a harness laying around but I didn't so that slowed me down a bit. Should have it running in a day or so. I'll tally up the parts I used, pretty cheap, basic swap that didn't take much time.
Basic rundown:
02 5.3 w/ 70k miles
Stock truck harness w/ fuse panel (easy but ugly)
Using the existing TH400 w/ GM adapter
Stock manifolds fit fine
1" setback CarshopInc mounts - stock trans location
Truck accessories - steering lines worked fine
Gonna fabricate a mount for AC compressor later
AC/Delco pump swapped intank in place of TBI pump
Adapter fittings at filter to 6AN - up to fuel rails
Fbody radiator - stock truck fan
The truck.... 1990 454SS, broke motor...kinda beat up truck, but from the south, NO rust anywhere. As I bought it...
Up in the air, started removing stuff..
....and it's gone
hmmm...which one???
Workin on the wiring..
.....and it's in....wiring the new 5.3 up
I'll post up more later today...
Basic rundown:
02 5.3 w/ 70k miles
Stock truck harness w/ fuse panel (easy but ugly)
Using the existing TH400 w/ GM adapter
Stock manifolds fit fine
1" setback CarshopInc mounts - stock trans location
Truck accessories - steering lines worked fine
Gonna fabricate a mount for AC compressor later
AC/Delco pump swapped intank in place of TBI pump
Adapter fittings at filter to 6AN - up to fuel rails
Fbody radiator - stock truck fan
The truck.... 1990 454SS, broke motor...kinda beat up truck, but from the south, NO rust anywhere. As I bought it...
Up in the air, started removing stuff..
....and it's gone
hmmm...which one???
Workin on the wiring..
.....and it's in....wiring the new 5.3 up
I'll post up more later today...
Last edited by MeanYellowZ; 08-21-2009 at 02:35 PM.
08-21-2009, 05:09 PM
#4
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Poor truck...I guess that used to be a 454SS truck? I love conversions but I guess I'm a purist when it comes to stuff like that. You can pump up the power an awful lot for $1500-2000 on one of those. I guess in the end it's yours (or your customer's) I just always kind of wanted one of those. The engine you took out should be a 4 bolt main with steel crank and 7/16 rods. I'll take it off your hands to save you the trouble of junking it.
08-21-2009, 09:06 PM
#5
meanyellow, i am so jeaous. i love your garage. i wish i was a tenant there. just kidding. i read your post on budget 5.3 swaps. i must thank you for my interest in 5.3's. they're cheap compared to lq4's/lq9's/ls2's i've priced. i bought a '06 5.3/4l60e combo for $1200. im swapping it for 383/700r combo. any advice from you or anyone else would be greatly appreciated. i ordered the harness, ecu, maf sensor, tac mod, pedal, motor plates in tank fuel pump, and filter/regulator & i'm waiting for it to arrive. i want to do the swap myself(novice) to keep the cost down. please keep this post updated for i want to follow. i can be emailed straight @ dec010974@yahoo.com. i still figuring out this site. thanks. clark.
08-21-2009, 09:50 PM
#6
How do you get any work done with a recliner in the garage????
Cool swap, but I kinda have to agree with Bowtie70SS, seems like kind of a shame to take the 454 out of a 454SS. I have a friend who bought one of those brand new when they first came out in 1990, was a cool truck, but it did lack some power.
Cool swap, but I kinda have to agree with Bowtie70SS, seems like kind of a shame to take the 454 out of a 454SS. I have a friend who bought one of those brand new when they first came out in 1990, was a cool truck, but it did lack some power.
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08-21-2009, 11:43 PM
#8
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I really wasn't trying to hate on you. I just think of people searching for the original engine for their car. I agree that it is a cool project and I could see why you would pick a SS, it already has all of the goodies.
08-22-2009, 07:53 AM
#9
I can understand the purist point of view, but there are always those people out there that modify these types of vehicles....I'm that guy 
The turbo vette I just finished and posted around here was an actual 96 collectors edition with 39k miles on it before he let me "cut it up"....
Anyhow, this truck has 140k miles, is a little beat up...already halfway modified and well...454ss trucks kinda sucked. They looked great, I LOVE the bodystyle, but lets face it, they made a ton of them and the 454 made 220 horsepower...weeeeee...not. With this swap it picked up some power, lost some weight, picked up some mileage and I guarantee it will be faster 1/4 wise than a stock one....Everything I find shows them running around 15.6-15.8 in the 1/4 with the gas guzzling big block....The only real loss here is some torque...which was good for spinning the tires everywhere....no real loss to me
The turbo vette I just finished and posted around here was an actual 96 collectors edition with 39k miles on it before he let me "cut it up"....Anyhow, this truck has 140k miles, is a little beat up...already halfway modified and well...454ss trucks kinda sucked. They looked great, I LOVE the bodystyle, but lets face it, they made a ton of them and the 454 made 220 horsepower...weeeeee...not. With this swap it picked up some power, lost some weight, picked up some mileage and I guarantee it will be faster 1/4 wise than a stock one....Everything I find shows them running around 15.6-15.8 in the 1/4 with the gas guzzling big block....The only real loss here is some torque...which was good for spinning the tires everywhere....no real loss to me
08-22-2009, 08:11 AM
#10
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looks good man.where are you located?i am wanting to do the same thing with my 454 truck.i have a 5.3 that i want to put in mine.i also have a zo6 cam,317 heads and an 88mm precision turbo that i want to use on the 5.3 with a blow thru carb.where did you get the motor mounts from or did you fab them yourself.thanks in advance.
08-22-2009, 08:49 PM
#13
well it runs today, week and a half into the swap. Had to make a small plate to offset the trans mount a bit so everything lined up. Put a EP-381 AC-Delco pump in the tank, which is a direct replacement pump with enough pressure for the LS engines. Finished up some wiring here and there. Still have to throw a radiator in it and hoses, elbow off intake for MAF and air filter, throttle cable and then exhaust. Should be able to drive it to the exhaust shop by Wednesday.
some pics from today:
Easiest way to do a fuel pump on a truck if ya ask me.... Check out the hillbilly driveway full of crap, but also note the rust free truck
made a quick bracket to use the stock, CS style alternator that came with the truck since it's what I had...
and a super cheesy video
View My Video
some pics from today:
Easiest way to do a fuel pump on a truck if ya ask me.... Check out the hillbilly driveway full of crap, but also note the rust free truck
made a quick bracket to use the stock, CS style alternator that came with the truck since it's what I had...
and a super cheesy video
View My Video
08-23-2009, 01:25 AM
#16
wow, one week is quick.
question- first, I like where the alternator sits. my thing is on my nova build I will be running only the alternator and water pump off the crank. will I need a new accessory drive setup and tensioner, or can I go with the stock one and just use a shorter belt. sorry if its a newbie question.
btw, can you make me one of those alt adapter things so I can run my si alt as well?
question- first, I like where the alternator sits. my thing is on my nova build I will be running only the alternator and water pump off the crank. will I need a new accessory drive setup and tensioner, or can I go with the stock one and just use a shorter belt. sorry if its a newbie question.
btw, can you make me one of those alt adapter things so I can run my si alt as well?
08-27-2009, 08:44 PM
#18
Well I have now owned the truck for 2 weeks and one day. The day I brought it home it was a complete big block truck. Today I drove it all over and it drives great, just got the exhaust buttoned up today and it even sounds great. Ill have some more pics and videos as soon as it quits raining. For now though I have my $$$ list for the swap.
Used '02 5.3 w/ 75k miles $450
02 Silverado harness w/ fuse box from JY $150
AC Delco EP-381 intank pump $85
CarshopINC 1" setback mounts $50
Russell fuel rail fittings, 5/16 & 3/8 - 6AN $28
GM flexplate spacer and bolts $60
S&P coolant temp adapter 3/8NPT-12mm $24
o2 sensor bungs (2) $8
junkyard ECM $40
ECM tune to eliminate VATS, etc $100
o2 sensors # 13193 Bosch (2) $100
Delphi MAF $94
PCV valve $5
Spectre air filter $25
Heater Hoses $12
Upper radiator hose $22
Used Camaro radiator $40
Used Camaro e-fans $60
Fuel filter (factory) $7
Fuel line & -6AN hose ends (4) $80
adapter from metric o-rings to 6 AN (2) $22
y-pipe fabrication from local exhaust shop $80
Total $1542
Things like the radiator/ fans/ heater hoses might not even be needed in your swap if your parts are good. My radiator was shot and I chose to do the electric fans, could have just used the stock 5.3 fan. I also reused the alternator from the truck by making the small adapter bracket. The stock 5.3 power steering worked fine in the truck and the lines from the truck hooked right up.
To finish up the entire build, here's how I sit.
Bought the truck for $1600
engine swap cost $1542
trans fluid $18
new battery $60
trans mount $22
2000 stall converter $100
Total: $3342
sold off big block/ TBI/ ECM/ etc $420
Total in truck $2922
Used '02 5.3 w/ 75k miles $450
02 Silverado harness w/ fuse box from JY $150
AC Delco EP-381 intank pump $85
CarshopINC 1" setback mounts $50
Russell fuel rail fittings, 5/16 & 3/8 - 6AN $28
GM flexplate spacer and bolts $60
S&P coolant temp adapter 3/8NPT-12mm $24
o2 sensor bungs (2) $8
junkyard ECM $40
ECM tune to eliminate VATS, etc $100
o2 sensors # 13193 Bosch (2) $100
Delphi MAF $94
PCV valve $5
Spectre air filter $25
Heater Hoses $12
Upper radiator hose $22
Used Camaro radiator $40
Used Camaro e-fans $60
Fuel filter (factory) $7
Fuel line & -6AN hose ends (4) $80
adapter from metric o-rings to 6 AN (2) $22
y-pipe fabrication from local exhaust shop $80
Total $1542
Things like the radiator/ fans/ heater hoses might not even be needed in your swap if your parts are good. My radiator was shot and I chose to do the electric fans, could have just used the stock 5.3 fan. I also reused the alternator from the truck by making the small adapter bracket. The stock 5.3 power steering worked fine in the truck and the lines from the truck hooked right up.
To finish up the entire build, here's how I sit.
Bought the truck for $1600
engine swap cost $1542
trans fluid $18
new battery $60
trans mount $22
2000 stall converter $100
Total: $3342
sold off big block/ TBI/ ECM/ etc $420
Total in truck $2922
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