03 5.3 In A 2000 V6 Firebird
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
03 5.3 In A 2000 V6 Firebird I found a 2000 V6 Firebird and an 03 5.3 LM7 for cheap. What kind of issues will I run into swapping the motors? I know that I will probably need a K-member, sway bars and coil springs. Will the 5.3 bolt up to the v6's 4L60E tranny?
Couple things that come to mind... 1) What intake manifold and fuel rail are you planning on using? If you are going to slap on a LS1 or LS6 intake with a LS1 fuel rail or another aftermarket LS intake then you are going to have to address your fuel system. I don't know if the v6 fuel pump is up to the task, and if it is, you'll still need to convert your fuel system to a returnless-style, single hose feed.
2) You'll likely have to run an additional ignition feed from the fuse block to the engine wire harness because the v8 engine needs an ignition feed for each bank of coils and injectors, the v6 chassis harness should only be feeding one.
3) I remember reading that the v6 trans has a different input shaft and would require a different flexplate and torque converter, however you'll have to double check on the validity of that.
That's all I got for now.
2) You'll likely have to run an additional ignition feed from the fuse block to the engine wire harness because the v8 engine needs an ignition feed for each bank of coils and injectors, the v6 chassis harness should only be feeding one.
3) I remember reading that the v6 trans has a different input shaft and would require a different flexplate and torque converter, however you'll have to double check on the validity of that.
That's all I got for now.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Awesome. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to change out the K-member or any of the steering stuff. I may go with beefier coil springs to handle the extra weight though. Thanks for that.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
1) What intake manifold and fuel rail are you planning on using? If you are going to slap on a LS1 or LS6 intake with a LS1 fuel rail or another aftermarket LS intake then you are going to have to address your fuel system. I don't know if the v6 fuel pump is up to the task, and if it is, you'll still need to convert your fuel system to a returnless-style, single hose feed.
2) You'll likely have to run an additional ignition feed from the fuse block to the engine wire harness because the v8 engine needs an ignition feed for each bank of coils and injectors, the v6 chassis harness should only be feeding one.
3) I remember reading that the v6 trans has a different input shaft and would require a different flexplate and torque converter, however you'll have to double check on the validity of that.
That's all I got for now.
2) You'll likely have to run an additional ignition feed from the fuse block to the engine wire harness because the v8 engine needs an ignition feed for each bank of coils and injectors, the v6 chassis harness should only be feeding one.
3) I remember reading that the v6 trans has a different input shaft and would require a different flexplate and torque converter, however you'll have to double check on the validity of that.
That's all I got for now.
I was thinking about changing the in-tank V6 fuel pump for an in-tank v8 fuel pump.
I have read that the bell housing was different and wouldn't bolt up to the 5.3
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,540
Likes: 207
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
You can run all the stock steering components, but you may need to install an LS1 steering rack and column if you want to run long-tube headers that are designed for 4th-gen LS1 cars. That would depend on the bend geometry of the specific long-tube headers you want to use, but I know the Hooker 4th-gen headers won't fit with the V6 rack and column. You can keep the stock steering rack and column for sure if you run stock LS1 exhaust manifolds.
I am going to run shorties.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
The truck water pump may interfere with the TB when you are using the car intake manifold. I would do a search on the ways to get around that. One option is to use a spacer kit w/ a LS1 water pump and the rest of the truck accessories.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Thanks for all of the help and info guys. I had been going back and forth on if I should do this or just buy a Trans-Am.
Do you think I could use the PCM that is in the car right now, use the Silverado PCM or should I get an LS1 PCM?
Do you think I could use the PCM that is in the car right now, use the Silverado PCM or should I get an LS1 PCM?
If the v6 has the 411 pcm then you can retune it to run the 5.3. I think you should also be able to use the truck PCM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Another question. Since the V6's transmission won't bolt up to the 5.3 should I try to find a transmission from an LS1 or could I use a 2wd transmission from the kind of Silverado that the motor came from?
Banned
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,540
Likes: 207
Using the Hooker 4th-gen engine mounting brackets and transmission crossmembers/adapters allows you to easily install a 4L60-4L70, T56 or even a 4L80 into a 1993-2002 4th-gen F-body car behind an LS engine. Here's what a 4L80 looks like in that application...
The 4L60E from an LS1 car and a 2wd 4L60E from a truck/suv/van is the same except for the tailshaft housing. To use a 2wd truck 4L60E you'll have to swap on a tailshaft housing from a LS1 4L60E (I can't seem to find out whether there are differences between the v6 and v8 fbody tailshaft housings). If the v6 fbody tailshaft housing is the same as a v8 fbody then you already have what you need.