Quick, cheap 5.3 swap into a 1990 Silverado
09-02-2009, 06:51 PM
#42
MeanYellowZ, hello. what did you do to all the tbi wiring? i see from the photos you removed it. my '87 c10 has that tbi xtra wiring which i want to remove. also did these truck have the fuel filter on the frame rail? if so what do i do with that also? i want to plumb the fuel, coolant and tranny tomorrow. can i leave the fuel filter there? remove it? or do i replac with fuel line?
09-02-2009, 08:51 PM
#43
MeanYellowZ, hello. what did you do to all the tbi wiring? i see from the photos you removed it. my '87 c10 has that tbi xtra wiring which i want to remove. also did these truck have the fuel filter on the frame rail? if so what do i do with that also? i want to plumb the fuel, coolant and tranny tomorrow. can i leave the fuel filter there? remove it? or do i replac with fuel line?
I took the truck wiring harness out, layed in on the ground and removed all the loom and tape. Then cut out all the wires you dont need that involved the TBI stuff. You need to leave the wires that go to the wiper motor and truck related stuff obviously. This is a good time to find your pink ignition wire to supply your keyed power to your ls harness now. Also find the tan oil pressure wire and green temperature wire for your factory gauges. As the wires exit on the passenger side to head to the original ecm you can find the wires for the factory check engine light and the serial wire running to your old ALDL connector. You will need a manual if you dont recognize these wires or some good ESP.
Swap the fuel filter out for a new one, then order an adapter to go from the metric o-ring coming out of the filter to 6an and run some lines. I might have a pic of this
09-03-2009, 02:51 AM
#45
hello MeanYellowZ. thanks for the help. i guess ill need some esp. a few techs have worked on the truck and i must decipher what they have done. patience will be needed due to the fact that no one loves the truck like i do, and ill do the best job my ability will allow even if it takes a week. some of the old wiring has been removed 'cause the truck was carbed b4 i removed the 383/700r4. originally, in '87, it came tbi. also much shouldnt be needed(wiring). only autometer gauges, radio, wiper blades, speaker amps and ac wiring. the truck has no power accessories.
Last edited by dec010974; 09-03-2009 at 02:57 AM.
09-04-2009, 07:38 PM
#48
MeanYellowZ, i hope all is well. #1. what do i do with the fumes feed line on the fuel sending unit. #2. im hAVING PROBLEms WITH A/N FITTINGS ON THE fuel sending unit. not fitting properly. any solutions? #3. how do i get the factory fuel line off the quick connect from the fuel rail. im running braided line. joke- i posed these same questions to my former mechanic(worked on the 383/700r4 combo). he told me i must pay for my knowledge. he wants to install the 5.3/4l60e in my '87 c10. as much money i spent with this dude, he said that to me. this why i gotta learn my own stuff. besides my theory" Luck Up or F-ck Up. what do i have to loose. my daily driver is a 2001 honda accord. also thaks for the info in advance.
11-04-2009, 04:45 PM
#49
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So you don't need the VSS signal to the PCM if you aren't running an electric tranny?
I thought the PCM needed the VSS signal to adjust fuel injection during highway driving. Do I misunderstand?
I thought the PCM needed the VSS signal to adjust fuel injection during highway driving. Do I misunderstand?
11-10-2009, 08:00 AM
#50
I originally read this post on LS1Truck, and then stumbled on it here. posted a few questions over there but doesn't look like you stop by that site much so I thought I'd post them here. hope thats not a problem.
anyway
I have an '86 454 suburban where I want to do the same thing. I also have a stock th400 trans. I have questions about your mount adapter plates.
For the plates you used, did you use the original 454 engine & frame mounts? Also, I want to verify that you didn't have to relocate your TH400 at all? That would be nice, since no driveshaft changes would be necessary.
so, it looks like all I would have to do would be use 1" setback mounts and the engine will drop right in w/o relocating my trans?
these are the plates I was thinking making & using. are these the same as what you used?
http://matt.undiagnosed.org/ls1/imag...ount_plate.jpg
carshopinc mounts, are these what you used? they look like they are in fact further back than tthe above templates.
http://www.carshopinc.com/images/Picture042.jpg
One last thing. So did you reuse your original 454 th400 flex plate with the new adaptor & bolts or did you use the 5.3L flexplate w/ adaptor & bolts?
thanks for posting the original thread!
Morgan
anyway
I have an '86 454 suburban where I want to do the same thing. I also have a stock th400 trans. I have questions about your mount adapter plates.
For the plates you used, did you use the original 454 engine & frame mounts? Also, I want to verify that you didn't have to relocate your TH400 at all? That would be nice, since no driveshaft changes would be necessary.
so, it looks like all I would have to do would be use 1" setback mounts and the engine will drop right in w/o relocating my trans?
these are the plates I was thinking making & using. are these the same as what you used?
http://matt.undiagnosed.org/ls1/imag...ount_plate.jpg
carshopinc mounts, are these what you used? they look like they are in fact further back than tthe above templates.
http://www.carshopinc.com/images/Picture042.jpg
One last thing. So did you reuse your original 454 th400 flex plate with the new adaptor & bolts or did you use the 5.3L flexplate w/ adaptor & bolts?
thanks for posting the original thread!
Morgan
11-10-2009, 01:29 PM
#51
I used the CarshopINC mounts....which isn't a hard choice because they work well....and they are here in town 
That puts the engine/ trans back as close as possible to stock. This is still about 3/8ths forward from where it was, which may need a small amount of crossmember mods like elongating the bolt hole, but this usually shouldn't affect the driveshaft unless it was too short before the swap, as 3/8" isn't much.
You need to use the LS flexplate with the spacer and bolts. set it on the converter first to see if those holes line up or if you will need to modify them at all. There are a few flexplates out there and a few torque converter bolt patterns, sometimes you get lucky....sometimes ya don't
That puts the engine/ trans back as close as possible to stock. This is still about 3/8ths forward from where it was, which may need a small amount of crossmember mods like elongating the bolt hole, but this usually shouldn't affect the driveshaft unless it was too short before the swap, as 3/8" isn't much.You need to use the LS flexplate with the spacer and bolts. set it on the converter first to see if those holes line up or if you will need to modify them at all. There are a few flexplates out there and a few torque converter bolt patterns, sometimes you get lucky....sometimes ya don't
11-10-2009, 09:15 PM
#52
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hey guys, i have a 97 silverado 1500 step side short cab and bed with a 4.3 5spd, i wanna do an lq4/6 speed and havent really found out too much info about the 6 speed swap in them.. you guys have any good websites for trucks?
11-11-2009, 09:05 AM
#53
01-09-2010, 10:04 PM
#54
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this is great info, my dad wants to put a 5.3 in his 1990 silverado 4x4 and I'm doing some research before I dive in.. do you know if you use the 5.3 with the 4l60e will you need an adapter to bolt to the 1990 k1500 t-case?
Last edited by RPS13; 01-09-2010 at 11:00 PM.
02-16-2017, 04:39 PM
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I have 1991 silverado 350TBI, buying 02 with 5.3, complete truck,was wrecked just little front damage but cann buy $1500 110,000 miles on motor. couple questions, since have complete truck is there any need on reprogramming computer, what are some of the things i will need to install it, and make factory gauges work.
02-16-2017, 07:15 PM
#58
I have 1991 silverado 350TBI, buying 02 with 5.3, complete truck,was wrecked just little front damage but cann buy $1500 110,000 miles on motor. couple questions, since have complete truck is there any need on reprogramming computer, what are some of the things i will need to install it, and make factory gauges work.
01-23-2019, 07:04 PM
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I been considering doing a 5.3 swap in to my 98 Silverado. From what I see, it looks pretty easy. I was just wondering how you did the wiring harness, i was wondering if you know how well a harness for a V6 would need to be completely replaced or could i just splice in to it. I was also wondering if the 5 speed in my truck would bought right up or would I need a bell housing adapter. Nice build though.
