5.3 in second gen question ?
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Teching In
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: San Jose, CA
5.3 in second gen question ? my friend is doin a 5.3 conversion in his 2nd gen firebird and wants to know if he could use the ls1 manifold on the engine or if he should keep the truck intake. he will be getting ported 5.3 heads and most likely the tr224 cam or similar Thanx 
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From: DFW, TX
From what I hear the truck intake provides more torque, ls1 type is better for hp...
All depends on if he plans on reving the motor high, or just cruising on the street for some low end grunt, street id leave the truck intake, if he plans on racing/etc, ls1/ls6 intake....
All depends on if he plans on reving the motor high, or just cruising on the street for some low end grunt, street id leave the truck intake, if he plans on racing/etc, ls1/ls6 intake....
Teching In
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I've been considering this swap in my 71 Firebird. The primary concern for me is the overal height of the engine. The truck intake manifold is really tall and I don't know if it will fit under the hood. I have the ram air formula hood so I really don't want to change hoods for a cowl induction or anything of that nature. Anyone know if the 5.3L truck engine will fit under the hood on a 2nd gen????????
BTW, an F-body LS1 oil pan is supposed to work real nice for this swap. The truck oil pan sits about 3 to 4 inches below the cross member (and to me that is just asking for trouble).
Good luck and any feedback you can post back here is appreciated.
BTW, an F-body LS1 oil pan is supposed to work real nice for this swap. The truck oil pan sits about 3 to 4 inches below the cross member (and to me that is just asking for trouble).
Good luck and any feedback you can post back here is appreciated.
71 formula...I have a 71 camaro and looking to put a LS1/T56 into it. From what I have read, you might have to get a cowl hood to fit the truck motor on there. There is a guy here who did this to his late 2nd gen camaro. I am guessing the camaro/firebird structure is the same. However you might want to do some more research on the hood clearance issue. If you choose to go with the ls1...there will be not clearance problems.
to answer the orignal question you can swap out the intake manifold's. you will lose hp and toque with a ls1 manifold though so use either a aftermarket manifold or at lest a ls6. you can use the stock truck style injector's but they are taller and you'll have to shim the the fuel rail higher. I forget the exzact amount but it's someting like 7/16'sor maybe a little less. btw the truck manifold would bea tight fit under the hood. it might work but it's very close.
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I just completed this type of swap into a '79 Z28. I used Street and Performance motormounts which moved the engine back and up appx. 3/4". The intake would not clear the hood. I used a 4" cowl from harwood. Also you will have to get an LS1 oil pan because the sump on the truck pan sit way too low.
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Verdad Gallardo Teching In
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Thanks guys. That's what I was afraid of for clearance. I just hate the idea of getting rid of the RAIII snorkel hood, so I might try to find an F-body LS1/4L60E instead. Anyone know of any good deals on any? They sell almost everyday for 3k on ebay, but I didn't really want to spend that much since I can get a complete 5.3L and 4l60E with computer etc for $1525 from my local junk yard... too bad it doesn't fit without changing the hood.
Teching In
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From: Detroit, MI
I've been looking at this for some time now.
http://www.drysump.com/ls1-1.htm
There's other pans also, this one has the pump built in.
http://www.drysump.com/ls1-1.htm
There's other pans also, this one has the pump built in.
Originally Posted by 71Formula
Thanks guys. That's what I was afraid of for clearance. I just hate the idea of getting rid of the RAIII snorkel hood, so I might try to find an F-body LS1/4L60E instead. Anyone know of any good deals on any? They sell almost everyday for 3k on ebay, but I didn't really want to spend that much since I can get a complete 5.3L and 4l60E with computer etc for $1525 from my local junk yard... too bad it doesn't fit without changing the hood.
Just get it and put the car intake on it. you can pick up the LS1 intake cheap, not gonna lose that much HP over the truck intake to really have to worry about it. then later on step up to the LS6 or the Fast intakes. Oil pan and pick up you can find decently priced too most of the time.
Originally Posted by dcdime
if you use the car intake you gotta use the car accessories... if you use the truck intake, you gotta use the truck accessories
Why would you have to use truck accessories with the truck intake? Nothing belt related hooks to it.
Teching In
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I think there was i guy that adapted a ls6 manifold with truck acces. had to trim the alt mount and fool with the TB and the radiator outlet/inlet? it was either on this site or the truck site. I have one ? do you think the alternator is going to fit under the hood?
Teching In
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The water pump is different for the LS1 and 5.3L (LM7) causing an interferrance for the hose and the intake or TB with a 5.3 water pump and LS1 intake. A mod could possibley do the trick...? The alternator would be to tall too, but the F-body ls1 bracket should work to relocate it lower if the mounting holes are in the 5.3.
71
71
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I am running the truck set-up on my 68 lemans and the water pump upper hose nipple was still in the way for me to run the fan and shroud I wanted to and still be able to run my cold air pipe like I did so I had it cut off and rotated to where I needed it to go that might help the clearance problem. jim.m
I'm putting a 6.0 in my 81z with S&P style mounts and I'm going to try and use the stock truck pan. I don't think it'll hang down too low as the factory pan height at the rear measures 7 1/2" and the 6.0 pan measures 8 3/4". I can't see the 1 1/4" difference being a problem but I haven't got it in the car yet.
Last edited by Zedzag; Oct 23, 2005 at 12:16 PM.
