CattleAc

iTrader: (7)

That's one of the cleanest 5.3's I've seen...now that being said...I buy super low dollar, high mile ones all the time.

How come the mileage dilemma...no dash???

Here's a pic of what a "grungy" one looks like...it's an '03.

This one was missing the dash...when I got the title back, it had 397'000 miles when it was last registered with the dmv in '09. Guy said he drove it for three more years after that. Yep, that means it has a tick over 400,000 on it. Don't give yours a second thought...These things are INCREDIBLE...

IRNMADN

That's amazing they can go for that long. I will post up some more photos as I open her up. I will pay attention to the oil as I drain it and check the pan out when I drop it to see if there is any metal settled down on the bottom.

IRNMADN

One weird thing is it was missing the starter. And the harness that I think went to the starter has been lopped off. I will take some pics of it to see what all was cut from the harness.

Redbull87

iTrader: (3)

Heads look pretty decent,the intake being oil filled like that is also signs of poor pcv issues. id pull the heads off and clean them out.take a look at the pistons/cylinder bores as you manually spin the motor over by hand.If you can still see the original cross hatches..you got a fine block.

What do you plan to put the motor into?

IRNMADN

I've heard about the cross hatches before. I will get pics asap.

xxtremes33

i agree with redbull. oil in the intake does not always mean bad things.

IRNMADN

That's kind of what I was referring to with the need of an oil catch can. Let's hope that's the case.

Fast86z

iTrader: (1)

Everything looka fine to me. Yea it's sucking a little oil through the pcv, no big deal. Run it dude that thing is clean. I personally wouldn't take the heads off or mess with the bottom end yet. I figure if it been fine this long why disturb it as long as it's ok.

IRNMADN

Heads have to come off anyway. I have 3 exhaust manifold bolts that broke off on removal. I'm not even gonna fool with trying to extract them. Theirs a shop a few blocks from my pad that will do it for me.

IRNMADN

So while I'm at it ; ) Anything else I need for my swap, that I'm missing here,

Gad pedal and Tac module


The engine harness. Although it was hacked right where the starter sits. The starter was removed before I got it and who knows what got cut off the end ?




The ECU and fuse box.


I pulled the driveline. Pulling the fuel tank, lines and all. The ebrake setup. Exhaust, tow package/hitch
Anything else??

Redbull87

iTrader: (3)

while the motor is apart you can take my advice or not but.highly suggest you replace a few things before dropping this block in since its got some mileage on it and its for you own peace of mind that you can continue to put more miles on it.lifter/lifter trays,cam and oil pump,valve springs too if you find a nice set of ls6 springs

heads look like some good old elbow grease will clean them up,take pics once the heads are off and seeing the pistons will tell more of the tale on how it ran before.the cam in there now looks a lil tired from what i can tell

gnx7

iTrader: (28)

I've seen a lot of crappy used engines and the picture of the top of the heads with the valve covers off you posted.... at least shows the person changed the oil at normal intervals. I've seen ones where you can't even see metal and it is covered in black sludge. These are engines from LKQ with "low mileage" which we send right back. It happens 25% of them from those jokers.

IRNMADN

Most likely I'm gonna freshen this thing up. I had already planned to put a better cam in it and min upgrade the springs. Porting the heads is out of the question $$$ but upgrading to larger valves may be an option. A buddy of mine took a similar motor into the shop aound the corner. Wanted them to hone the cylinders and install new main bearings and seals. It was like $500. Not sure if that included new rings as well.
I'm gonna just see what I looks like and go from there. Here's some shots of one of the heads removed. Tomorrow will be the other head and oil pan.

IRNMADN

This look like a factory converter? Curious if this trans is a rebuilt.



And a teaser of what it will be going into.

CattleAc

iTrader: (7)

I've never seen a stock GM converter painted...the ones I've pulled all had a sticker with the part# and bar code on them...

This still has the cross hatch in this pic...I wouldn't mess with this short block at all...




Project is going to be bitch'n when it's on the road...

KT2

truck looks awesome, as for the 5.3 pull the pistons ck the rings if all is good hone slam it bk together

pewterformula

iTrader: (2)

Looks like a good platform to build on. Dive in.

68 SS

iTrader: (23)

No need to pull the heads to get the studs out just lay a nut over them and weld the hole up then back them out. I would run that motor with no worries it is clean inside!

IRNMADN

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna change a few things being I'm right there anyway. Might as well know I'm starting fresh. I'm gonna just have the hone job, new rings, bearings and seals. I'll get a new high volume oil pump. I'm gonna try to score a Camaro/Firebird oil pan/pickup tube and the accessory drive setup from a guy I know.
Anything else I didn't mention worth upgrading? ARP?

IRNMADN

The pan.