5.0 Ford to 5.3 ls swap, can I break even.
05-02-2012, 11:46 PM
#1
5.0 Ford to 5.3 ls swap, can I break even. After spending a few years messing around with the old 302 I finally decided to take the plunge and swap a 5.3ls into my coupe. I couldn't get more than a couple of days out of the old set up without developing an exhaust leak. I even had the flanges machined flat. I am going to try to sell all my 302 stuff, build the 5.3 and run 1 full second quicker in the quarter mile than I did with the 302 only spending the money that I have from selling the ford parts.
The fastest the ford went was an 11.2 at 122. I will be running an L33 with LS9 gaskets, pro comp head studs, custom cam and patriot golds. Boost will be coming from a MPT70 with a .96 housing. TH400 with a brake, 3.08 gear, no inter cooler just some methanol. Here is the car it's going into.
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The fastest the ford went was an 11.2 at 122. I will be running an L33 with LS9 gaskets, pro comp head studs, custom cam and patriot golds. Boost will be coming from a MPT70 with a .96 housing. TH400 with a brake, 3.08 gear, no inter cooler just some methanol. Here is the car it's going into.
[IMG]
[/IMG] Last edited by chiaj144; 05-02-2012 at 11:59 PM. Reason: no picture
05-03-2012, 12:07 AM
#2
Here are a few more pics. I am running the msd box with megasquirt. Everything is wired up except for the actual boxes. Engine and tranny are in and hot side is done up to the down pipe. I found a way to mount the alternator on the passenger side and use the stock tensioner on the drivers side.
Merge pipe.
Parts
Just before she went in.
Crossover/hotside
Pulley setup. Accessories will get cleaned once I get everything aligned.
Merge pipe.
Parts
Just before she went in.
Crossover/hotside
Pulley setup. Accessories will get cleaned once I get everything aligned.
05-03-2012, 01:29 AM
#6
Yes just spacers. I mounted it with one bolt. I'm going to use some flat bar to make a bracket that goes to the other mount on the alternator. I did the same thing with the stock tensioner on the other head. Just made a couple of spacers and it bolted right on.
05-03-2012, 03:10 AM
#7
I found a little better pic of the car. It still didn't have the window trim on and there was still a little buffing compound around the mouldings from after the garage paint job but this is pretty much how it looks right now. Getting the whole car repainted along with the hood in a booth back to the original emerald green.
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05-05-2012, 11:41 PM
#8
I got everything wired up fuel lines done today. I messed around with it for an hour or so. It fired for about 3 seconds and died. The megasquirt keeps dropping communication with the laptop and I'm getting no tach signal from the MSD, cant get it to sync to the laptop etc. Going to go back out tomorrow and mess with it for a bit. I hate electronics, lol.
05-06-2012, 03:26 AM
#10
I found a little better pic of the car. It still didn't have the window trim on and there was still a little buffing compound around the mouldings from after the garage paint job but this is pretty much how it looks right now. Getting the whole car repainted along with the hood in a booth back to the original emerald green.
05-06-2012, 12:54 PM
#12
You will def run a second quicker than you did with the 302 setup. Look at what denmah on here is doing with a junkyard 4.8l that he bought for 80 bucks in a Ford Fairmont. He is supposed to be at the track today and expects to run low 10's high 9's.
05-06-2012, 04:09 PM
#13
Well I got the car to run a little longer today but I'm still having the same issues with the megasquirt and msd. I don't have the proper cable to hook up to the msd so I need to find a laptop with the proper serial port. Once I find one I will be able to see what is going on.
Last edited by chiaj144; 05-09-2012 at 10:27 AM. Reason: spelling
05-06-2012, 04:12 PM
#14
I want to run 1 second quicker at the same boost level. The old setup would run 11.50's @ 118mph all day long at 9psi so I will need to hit 10.50's at 9psi with this setup. I'll need a good 60' to get there. My best time of 11.2 was on a higher boost setting but I'm not sure what it was. It was dark out and I lost all my interior lights that night.
05-09-2012, 05:40 PM
#15
Got the new intake on. Hopefully getting a Holley HP efi and some new fuel fittings and I will be close to having her running for good. I need the coolant crossover for a stock ls1 intake if anyone has one for sale. My truck one won't clear the front of the ls intake and I really don't want to cut mine up. Here is a pic the intake really cleaned up under the hood and now I can ditch my 4 inch cowl hood.[IMG]
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05-10-2012, 08:54 AM
#20
Looking good!
The 10.50's on the same boost you had before might be an issue. These motors make great power on boost but I don't see it making enough power at only 9 psi to get 10.50's.
Maybe if you left on 9 lbs and hooked it, it might get down there in those numbers.
Off topic: A buddy of mine just picked a 92 GT mustang in real good condition for 200 bucks and I have an LS1 laying in the garage next to some 317 heads. I think we might have to do some wrenching since you have posted this thread up.
The 10.50's on the same boost you had before might be an issue. These motors make great power on boost but I don't see it making enough power at only 9 psi to get 10.50's.
Maybe if you left on 9 lbs and hooked it, it might get down there in those numbers.
Off topic: A buddy of mine just picked a 92 GT mustang in real good condition for 200 bucks and I have an LS1 laying in the garage next to some 317 heads. I think we might have to do some wrenching since you have posted this thread up.