New to the LS swaps
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Joined: Mar 2021
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New to the LS swaps Hi my name is Lamar & This will be my first Motor swap. I’m doing a 5.3 motor and transmission swap from a 04 Tahoe into my 2000 Camaro. I would like to know what all I have to change for it to fit and work.
Welcome Lamar! You’ll find plenty of swaps just like yours on our Conversions And Hybrids section. Read up over there. Tons of useful info!
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,467
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From: Bossier City, Louisiana
Stick with all Holley swap parts and you will be happy. Their 302-2 oil pan, their forward bias engine mounts and their Blackheart headers made my swap much easier.
Additionally, my LS power steering pump pulley hit my Saginaw steering box. A one inch smaller pulley from a junk yard Chevy S-10 solved that problem but you will need a shorter serpentine belt with this fix.
Rick
Additionally, my LS power steering pump pulley hit my Saginaw steering box. A one inch smaller pulley from a junk yard Chevy S-10 solved that problem but you will need a shorter serpentine belt with this fix.
Rick
Stick with all Holley swap parts and you will be happy. Their 302-2 oil pan, their forward bias engine mounts and their Blackheart headers made my swap much easier.
Additionally, my LS power steering pump pulley hit my Saginaw steering box. A one inch smaller pulley from a junk yard Chevy S-10 solved that problem but you will need a shorter serpentine belt with this fix.
Rick
Additionally, my LS power steering pump pulley hit my Saginaw steering box. A one inch smaller pulley from a junk yard Chevy S-10 solved that problem but you will need a shorter serpentine belt with this fix.
Rick
That said, to the OP, you will need an LS1 intake and most likely the front accessories from one too to clear the hood, unless you plan on a big cowl induction hood. You will also need an F body oil pan and exhaust manifolds too. May need to swap out the K member which would make the engine a bolt in deal, but could probably be made to fit the V6 K member with some fab work, but why reinvent the wheel?
TECH Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 453
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From: Alaska
I agree. I think in this case, since GM already built the car with an LS engine, you’d be time and money ahead buying the correct swap parts or a complete, wrecked donor car. I’d be willing to bet that it would be cheaper overall to buy a donor car with a real LS1, than to piece together the parts needed to make a truck block work - plus you’d end up with more power and an aluminum block to boot.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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I hate to be Debby Downer but I think I'd fine a nice 2000 Z28 Camaro and upgrade as you see fit. Buying a donor LS Camaro and then doing all the work will take a bunch of time and money. Not saying you shouldn't do it but do a cost estimate both ways.
