What I did today...

[TimE]

I've been puttering along at removing this 5.3 for a coupla months now and I finally decided that today was the day that it came out.

Getting it lifted up


Sitting on the slab


Couldn't get the exhaust bolts to break loose so I still have exhaust. I'll be able to get it broke loose now!!


I only had one OOPS!! This is on the back of the intake where it caught the cowl.


Now the only thing is I don't know if it will ever run again!! I'm gonna be asking for lots of

If I ever get around to actually assembling anything and making some progress I will start an actual build thread. Until then, just random posting for me!

Sorry for the big pics. I'll work on figuring out resizing them tomorrow.

[jason65]

Thats cool. Why did you go with a 5.3 and not a 6.0?

[joe231]

Jason, Tim got a good deal on a whole wrecked truck.
the 5.3 is a sweet set up also.
looks good Tim!!!
nice progress!!!

[LILRED66]

After looking at my factory 283 and 327 V8 motors, I had to do a double-take looking at your 5.3. They are so much more complicated and busy than the old carb'd motors. Wow...I would be lost in space working with one of those, but hats off to you for tackling the project. Please keep us posted on your progress.

[YOLO]

nice work. keep it up!

[ChiefRocka]

SWeet !!

5.3....the NEW 327 !!!

[scotts62]

Nice dude!! Keep the pics comming in
Ok you got it out today and we expect it runnung by tomorrow

[joe231]

[62 short step]

What its not running yet!

[scotts62]

there ya go help us force motivate ol' Tim!!

[PrerunnerRob]

I've reasearched this swap alot over the past year, and here is what I have learned:
You will need outside help to make it not throw the check engine light, GM usese a very easy to manipulate system, and there is a TON of info out there to help you. Let me see what I can dig up for you, and I'll post it later today.

[TimE]

Here's a little background on the 5.3.

My initial intention was to run an I6 with a 4 barrel/split exhaust, from one of the old pontiac sprint sixes, backed up by a NP833 o/d tranny and a 3.42 12 bolt. This is the direction I was going and then I ran into a friend of mine that has a towing service. We were talking and I asked him if he had any late model stuff. He then told me about an '05 rollover that he had.

I went to his impound to look at it and it turns out it was an '03 that had been sitting for a year/year and a half with the hood up and the front end pretty much torn away leaving the motor partially exposed to the elements. For those of you that don't know, we tend to get alot of rain here in south Alabama.

I immediately called and asked him if he minded if I covered the motor up to help protect it, from that point forward anyway, and asked him what he wanted for it. I was told to cover it if I wanted too and he would get back with me on a price. Didn't hear from him for a week or so, called him up and he still didn't have a price. We talked about it and he told me $1000 for anything I needed to make the motor run in my truck. This is when the direction of my '64 started to change.

We talked back and forth for several weeks and he ultimately brought the truck out to my ol' shed/shop where I work on my stuff and told me to get what I wanted off of it. Now that the motor is out I intend to talk with him again and see how liberal "whatever I want" is. I hope to keep the column, ALL of the wiring harness, gas tank, rearend(and if I get that I would like to have the master cylinder/brake booster too), the seats and pretty much anything else tha I can remove and possibly use for my '64.

Right now, my poor ol' 64 is sitting on jackstands with no front clip and the rear suspension has been removed. I installed a CPP C-notch and then found out that the studs on the Firestone bags that I have were not long enough to bolt in with the notch. I was planning on getting another pair of bags when the 5.3 deal came up. Then the Holidays...

Basically my truck has been on hold waiting for more funding and motivation. It's time to start bulling forward with it, even if it means reinstalling my drop springs for the time being.

Whew! That was a mouthful!!

[TimE]

Thanks for the kind comments guys.

Jason- That's why I went with the 5.3. Can't be too choicy when the price is right!

Lilred- I'll agree with you, it's a little overwhelming looking at it initially, but as you posted not too long ago "inch by inch, it's a cinch". I am by no means exactly sure how I am gonna get this thing together yet but I have found the wiring diagrams for the donor and will sit down and start studying them when the time comes. My first step will be to get the I6 out of the '64 and get the 5.3 physically into its place.

Rob- Thanks for the info to come. I hope to get a local tuner to get me lined out when the time comes. There are a couple within about 45 miles from me that have great reps.

Thanks to olsofti for the pics of the motor mount adapters. Now I need to get some 1/4" plate and get started on them.

I guess since I started this thread, it would be as good a place as any to compile all of the info that I gather on this swap for future references for everyone. Sorta like an LS conversion thread.

As far as the motor running... technically, I could bust it off sitting on the slab.



Bear with me guys as this will probably be a slow process. I am also tinkering with a few other things at the same time I intend to do this conversion so progress will be a little slow.

Thanks again to all who have posted!! I'll keep this thread updated as I get things done...or not done, whichever way it goes.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by TimE

Bear with me guys as this will probably be a slow process. I am also tinkering with a few other things at the same time I intend to do this conversion so progress will be a little slow.

We’ll be here and looking for an incremental update with accompanying pics. Looks like a viper nest to me - but to each his own. Good Luck and keep us all updated.

Mac.

[joe231]

they make TTII's......
protrash has a set on his from a newer truck

[TimE]

Yeah but aren't they 6 spoke vs 5 spoke? I looked at some a long time ago for my wifes Sub but just didn't care for them much.

Who knows-I may go 6 lug and just run steelies until i run across something else that strikes my fancy.

The wife told me just a little while ago "It sure would be nice if you got it running before we go on vacation. You could follow us out there." Almost sounded like a challenge...

[scotts62]

Sounds like she is letting you get more time with the truck to me
Now you tell her to snap some pics as your going, bc we wana see pics
Im guessing vacation is coming out this way..?

[joe231]

yeah they are 6 lug...
I think that is a challenge, you better man up and show her how it is done

edit: sorry i meant 6 spoke

[TimE]

Originally Posted by scotts62

Sounds like she is letting you get more time with the truck to me
Now you tell her to snap some pics as your going, bc we wana see pics

Originally Posted by joe231

I think that is a challenge, you better man up and show her how it is done

I told here it would take some dedication and time on my part and in return I got one of those "So what, Stupid, just do it" kinda looks. I think I'll give it a shot. With the time frame and money constraints it will strictly be a "put it together and make it work safely" kinda thing. As for pics, once I start making a little headway, I'll see if I can muster up enough pics to keep the S.A.P.P. off my tail.

Originally Posted by scotts62

Im guessing vacation is coming out this way..?

Yeah. We'll be leaving here on 5/25, arriving in Shawnee 5/26 and leaving on the 2nd or 3rd.

Originally Posted by joe231

yeah they are 6 lug...

I did have a thought though. The late model Tahoe/Sub 5 spoke/6 lug 20" wheels would look sweet on there!! Little bigger than I want but...

[scotts62]

So we'll see you on the 27th we'll meet up sometime

[TimE]

[joe231]

yeah I really like the new factory 20's...
I want a set for our suburban

[gulfcoast66]

Cool score on the 5.3, for that price man cant wait to see this done..... good luck.. with this....Chris......

[TimE]

Quick update for tonight...

I got the I6 out of the '64 today and pulled the cab too! I now have a frame sitting where there used to be a truck... I am starting to think that I may be

I'll post pics tomorrow with some more details. I've been reading/posting for almost 2 hrs just trying to catch up.

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by TimE

Quick update for tonight...

I got the I6 out of the '64 today and pulled the cab too! I now have a frame sitting where there used to be a truck... I am starting to think that I may be

Yeah i think your crazy and i wont believe you without the pics to prove it..