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4.8 to 5.3

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Old 07-05-2019, 03:32 PM
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Default 4.8 to 5.3

Hello all, I'm new to the LS world, so please go easy on me.

I recently did a motor swap in an 07 Tahoe for a friend and came up on the old 5.3 with a collapsed AFM/DOD lifter. I planned to freshen it up and install standard lifters with a mild cam and some heads and swap it into my 02 Silverado which has a 4.8.

My question is, If I have a map for a 5.3 flashed to my ECU will the smog shops be able to tell? Currently they only do a plug in and a visual so I'm trying to make some changes that will go under the radar.
Old 07-05-2019, 04:30 PM
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A 5.3 is legal in every state in the union. Both the 5.3 and 4.8 use all the same sensors. Put all the 4.8 sensors on the 5.3, only put the knock sensors on the side of the block and the cam sensor on the 5.3 timing cover.
You will need the Lingenfelter conversion box to convert the cam and crank sensors because the 5.3 is a Gen IV if it had DOD/AFM, plus it has the 58x reluctor on the crank instead of the 4.8's 24x reluctor.
Old 07-08-2019, 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by G Atsma
A 5.3 is legal in every state in the union. Both the 5.3 and 4.8 use all the same sensors. Put all the 4.8 sensors on the 5.3, only put the knock sensors on the side of the block and the cam sensor on the 5.3 timing cover.
You will need the Lingenfelter conversion box to convert the cam and crank sensors because the 5.3 is a Gen IV if it had DOD/AFM, plus it has the 58x reluctor on the crank instead of the 4.8's 24x reluctor.

Thanks for the added info, I know the 5.3 swap is legal, but I'd have to take it to the ref and from then on my 02 Silverado would be smoged as an 07 Tahoe. I'd like to not go through the trouble. My curiosity is, if I flash a standard 5.3 map to my ECU, will the smog shops be able to tell there was a motor swap done.
Old 07-08-2019, 01:30 PM
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All the smog shops do one or more of-
1) sniffer
2) visual that all required smog gear is there
3) OBD2 connection for any codes.
Old 07-20-2019, 06:57 AM
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Sounds like you are in California... If a 5.3 was an option in that year, you can use one without the ref, you just have to make it look like a 2002. Chances are no one will be able to tell anyway, just make the tune look like a 2002.




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