Jonsgreasemonkey

I though I would share this project with ya'll. The 3.4 flattened a cam lobe, so it was time to get rid of that motor.
I picked up a 5.3 with 101,000 miles on it for $400 bucks and started collecting parts.

PA racing k member
poly motor mounts
rebuilt 4l60e (loosened converter, shift kit)
new rings and bearings throughout
arp rod bolts and head bolts
cometic .027 head gaskets
ported 706 heads
ls6 fuel injectors (ls6 intake and 80mm maf to come)
2004 ls6 cam and springs
ls2 timing chain
lingenfelter high volume/pressure oil pump
mac mids
custom catted Y into 3.5 flowmaster merge
ported/polished truck TB
98 harness and ecu

I ended up using the truck accessories on it, but with a few modifications. I swaped the location of the alternator and the tensioner. I used the powersteering pump from the v6. works great.

Its a fun car now.

Gotta say thanks to The Merv. it seemed like every time I came across a problem wiring something, he had the solution. Other than a few hitches (grounding the vats controler and a bad fuel pump wire) wiring was pretty easy.

Fuel is provided by the stock fuel pump, but with a corvette filter mounted under the frame rail and a -6an line run up to the rail.

Build pics!




















I will update later with some better finished engine bay pictures (it has been smoothed and painted semigloss black).

Jonsgreasemonkey

First start, open headers:
http://youtu.be/y-73DOu9AMQ

2nd pull, rolled into it:
http://youtu.be/xZbSQbZiuNs

Spinning in 1st:
http://youtu.be/5mZG0ac088A

RS2SSxLS2

how did you get your cluster wired up and did you have to upgrade your fuel pump?

Jonsgreasemonkey

At this time I'm still using the original v6 fuel pump with 133,000 miles on it. seems fine.
as to the wiring, i used a 98 harness because it doesn't require the use of a bcm, so I just had to match up the correct pins under the dash. my tuner is going to modify the rpm pulse to work with the v6 gauges (3 pulses per rotation)

RS2SSxLS2

I just got the entire dash out of a 99 with harness. now just gotta figure out how it all wires up.....

k_cash1432

iTrader: (9)

From what i have you can swap out the entire interior harness. If you get the engine harness from a 99 and the headlight harness you should swap out all the harnesses so you can have the nicer cluster.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Glad it worked for ya..good lookin car.

The 1999-up gauges just need the Serial Data wire, not necessarily that whole harness.

V6 Gauges need the pulse setting to "4", 24x=6 hits per revolution, should be close on the V6 Gauges.

cruisin'73

iTrader: (8)

Jon

Did you use the V6 radiator and cooling fans for the V8? I am performing a 5.3 swap into a 73' Nova and on my last trip to the junkyard I found a V6 camaro with its cooling package still intact. I grabbed the dual fan set up and was contemplating stealing the radiator as well. Through some research it seems that the V6 and V8 radiators are very close, but the V6 is slightly thinner. Thanks! and nice swap!

Jonsgreasemonkey

Thanks! I used the v6 radiator and fans. Single fan. From what i've seen, the 93-97 radiator is more effective at cooling. I've had no issues with this setup so far.

Here's a better engine bay picture.

cruisin'73

iTrader: (8)

Jon

Thanks for the reply. I am on a pretty tight budget right now, but do not want to use an old copper core anchor radiator if I can avoid it. I think I will keep my eyes out for a V8 or even a V6 rad from that gen. Plus, then my cooling fan set up will drop right in! Thanks again, now get out and put some more miles on that thing!

speedfreak90

you made that look to easy... lol very clean looking

Jonsgreasemonkey

Thanks! I tore the car down over spring break and got it driving on finals. Sure felt like a long process.

Jonsgreasemonkey

This week I was able to get a proper cold air intake on the car, And I just finished the exhaust. I'm excited. It's almost done. I need to get a tune and it'll be set for a while.

Stinger22009

Very nice car.

JohnS Z28

iTrader: (1)

final cost on your project? because im highly interested in something like this but dont want to sink myself too deep into it without being able to get out.

831jd

iTrader: (3)

You didnt keep the stock fuel lines? Is it just easier with the 6an and a corvette filter im doing a same build with my 96

Jonsgreasemonkey

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure, and i'm still working on it. It still needs a tune and some other things fixed. I think cost to date is about $3,000. The transmission was the most expensive part, (100 for a core, 800 for a rebuild).

The ls1 uses a returnless fuel system, so you have to either replace your entire fuel system (pump and lines), put a vette regulator in, or get a 97 corvette fuel rail, but those have been discontinued and are really hard to find, but they do have a return on them.

Jonsgreasemonkey

Well it looks like the tired v6 fuel system is NOT up to the task. during the dyno pulls at started to lean out at the top end, just a bit. the injectors are at 98% duty cycle, so it's pressure, they should be able to supply more than enough fuel.

that said, motor made about 318HP, i'm pretty happy with it, i'm going to order a fuel pump pretty quick here.

ray1985

looks good. I just got done with my swap I put the 5.3 with 700r4 trans in 96 v6 Camaro. stock fuel pump stock radiator fans runs about 185-190 temp. I did use all stock 5.3 including intake. just wanted to know what kind of exhaust you used. thanks I have about 1600 into car as of today with new walbro 255 pump waiting to go in.