Got a few questions that need to be answered before I start accumulating parts for a conversion into a fox mustang:

1. If I choose to run a 5.3 or 6.0 out of a truck with an automatic, will the existing wiring and PCM work if I choose to run a T56 from a camaro? I would rather have a stick car, but a 5.3 or 6.0 is probably cheaper, but have automatics. Can I convert?

2. Again if I choose to run a 5.3 or 6.0, can I bolt up a camaro or corvette accessory drive to the 5.3 or 6.0 without a problem?

3. I don't believe that the 5.3 or 6.0 (or even the camaro 5.7) is drive-by-wire. Can someone please clarify that for me?

4. Can I run a LS6 intake on a 5.3 or 6.0 without any problems? Will the 5.3 or 6.0 computer have any problems with this?

5. I would prefer not to run any emissions equipment (ie smog pump, EGR valve, etc.). Which accessory drive system and intake should I get to avoid all of this? Corvette? Or can I just eliminate it all from a 5.3 or 6.0 system and make modifications to the wiring harness and PCM? I'm trying to get the cleanest install possible. The car will have to be "emissions legal" but I thought I heard somewhere that either the Corvette or some other car didn't have all of the erroneous smog equipment straight from the factory.

6. Can I get a 5.3 or 6.0 PCM to run the electric fans from a camaro? I heard that the fan and radiator is pretty much a drop in and would love to have the PCM run the on/off for the fan.

Thanks for any insight you guys can provide me on these topics. I'm sure it's all basic knowledge to everyone on here, but I'm not that familiar with the LSX.

 

1. Yes the harness can be converted. I am doing a '02 Firebird auto harness to manual right now. The question is can the truck PCM take a manual program?

2. Yes this should work without a problem.

3. I think some onf the newer 5.3's are drive by wire.

4. You can put an LS6 intake on either.

5. I removed all the emissions from my harness and from the motor. Not a problem. Passing emissions is a different question. What car is this goin in? Do you have visual inspection or just a sniffer?

6. Yes

That is my go at it. I'm sure someone can varify or go into more detail for you.

 

1. Yes. I'm not sure what is no longer required (harness-wise) or what programming changes are necessary, but it is certainly possible. As far as the hardware goes, the early model truck motors had a different crank (longer by like .4") than the car motors. I think they went to a common design in like '99 or '00 so be careful to get one that is new enough.

2. Yes, they bolt up. Be warned that you also have to change the balancer when you change systems.

3. Alot of the 6.0 are drive-by-wire. My '04 LQ4 6.0L was drive by wire. I personally converted back to a cable throttle body for my application (it was easier & cheaper).

4. You may have to do some programming changes to accomodate the different intake. Also, be warned that the truck fuel rails, EVAP solenoid, MAP sensor, PCV system, and probably a few other things are different and can't easily be swapped from one to the other.

5. Depends upon which "smog" equipment you don't want to run. Again, my '04 LQ4 didn't have a smog pump or EGR, so I don't have those. But it does have an EVAP solenoid to take care of gas tank pressure without running a vented cap (which wouldn't pass in my home state of Maryland) which I had to buy when I converted to the LS6 manifold (due to height restrictions).

6. Yes. Question will be how you want the fans to activate. You really have 2 choices. The factory wires the 2 fans in series for low speed, so both fans are running on 6v DC (and thereby running half speed) and then trips both fans to 12v DC (full speed) for the high setting. Requires an extra relay, and if you burn 1 motor up, neither fan runs on low. Also I'm not sure of how much air they move running at half speed. I've got mine set up so that on low 1 fan comes on (on 12V) and then for high the 2nd fan comes on (on 12V). Not sure that it'll really make all that much difference. Guess I'll find out.

'JustDreamin'

 

1) The truck PCM should be able to handle a manual program because some fullsize trucks with a 4.8L had a manual 5 speed behind them.


2) Yep, but the balancer must be changed as mentioned.


3) The '03+ 5.3L and 6.0L was drive by wire in the fullsize trucks and SUVs. 99 - 02 Trucks had cable operated throttle bodies.


4) Yep it can be done but be aware of just what JustDreaming said.


6) Yes, HP tuners and others can turn on electric fans through the PCM.

 

'JustDreamin', you're saying that the truck motor you have doesn't have a smog pump or EGR from the factory, or you just removed them? And I'm assuming that EVAP solenoid is similar to a charcoal canister vent release??? How did you plumb the lines and any other related hardware from the tank to the solenoid and how does it mount on the engine with regards to the LS6 manifold? The visual inspection should be pretty easy. The tech guys down at the inspection center don't know really what they're looking at anyways other than the non-vented gas cap, so I think as long as the motor wasn't originally equiped with a smog pump or EGR I'll be fine with just the EVAP and cats.

Also, you said that you converted over the drive-by-wire to cable on your '04. Was it just that easy? What throttle body did you use and did you have to make any changes in the PCM?

Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

All of the later model LSx engines have stopped using EGR and air injection, I don`t remember what the cutoff years are though. I think they may have stopped using those around 02.

The EVAP solenoid is the charcoal canister release, I just hooked the line (that used to go to my old motor) from the charcoal canister to it. Can`t help on how it mounts to the LS6 manifold though, I`m still running the truck manifold.

To converto to a Cable TB you would have to run a TB from a f-body, reflash the PCM with a cable TB program, and make some changes to the wiring harness.

 

Thanks G-Body. I'm going to try to relocate the existing Mustang charcoal canister from the lower passenger side of the engine compartment to a more inconspicuous location to clean up the engine compartment, or at least make it less visable. Alternatvely, is there a charcoal canister system that would work similar that is a smaller/better looking setup that anybody else is using? The charcoal canister on the Mustang is butt ugly and pretty big.

 

My '04 doesn't have a smog pump or EGR stuff. No fittings on the stock truck exhaust manifolds. Problem would be that I couldn't use the stock truck manifolds, because they hit the frame rails, so I have heavily modified camaro manifolds on there now (with all of the EGR & air injection stuff welded up. I was suprised how well the manifolds welded with my MIG).

EVAP is a small solenoid with a short piece of formed line (with special connectors on both ends). I ended up ordering them from a GM dealer. The connection for EVAP on the LS6 manifold is just behind the throttle body on the drivers side (brass "stub" for lack of a better description).

EVAP functions pretty much as described.

For my application, I just swapped to a cable throttle body. Actually, I went with a SLP ported F-body unit. Told the guy who was doing my programming & harness what changes I was making. Have no idea how hard it was for him.

Hope that helps!

'JustDreamin'

 

'JustDreamin': I'm assuming the throttle position sensor can just be swapped from the drive-by-wire throttle body to the cable throttle body without affecting the performance, or did you get a TPS that was specific to the F-body throttle body?

 

I actually didn't pull anything off of the DBW throttle body. I removed it, put it in a box, and replaced it with a fully loaded (new sensors & such) cable throttle body.

I don't think the DBW TB uses the same TPS, since it doesn't have a mechanical linkage. Nor does it have the IAC (Idle Air Controller or whatever they call the little electronically controlled passageway that provides air (with the throttle closed)) so that the engine runs at idle).

I think I paid $200 for a new 2nd hand ported TB. Probably could have done better, but everything was new in box, and I didn't need a core.

'JustDreamin'