5.3 into a 3.4 camaro
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Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
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From: Austin, Texas
5.3 into a 3.4 camaro 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).
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).
Last edited by Jonsgreasemonkey; May 8, 2012 at 09:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
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
http://youtu.be/y-73DOu9AMQ
2nd pull, rolled into it:
http://youtu.be/xZbSQbZiuNs
Spinning in 1st:
http://youtu.be/5mZG0ac088A
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
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From: Austin, Texas
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)
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)
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.
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.
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.
Trending Topics
Radiator 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!
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!
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Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
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From: Austin, Texas
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!
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!
Here's a better engine bay picture.
Good Info 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!
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!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
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From: Austin, Texas
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
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.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
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From: Austin, Texas
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.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Austin, Texas
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.
that said, motor made about 318HP, i'm pretty happy with it, i'm going to order a fuel pump pretty quick here.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1
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From: iowa
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. 