new here, please help me understand what LS engine I have

[my kids toy]

I will be doing the LS swap in my 72 short box I am building for my Daughter.
I picked up a driving 1999 silverado truck for all the parts I need.

I do not know what model the engine would be or what other model parts are interchangeable.

I want to get some after market parts for it but I get confused with all the different models and what fits cars and what fits trucks
I want to switch out the intake and would like a chrome or polished intake similar to the Holley sniper but seen on summits website it does not fit the 96-02 truck motors
I also see similar models of the sniper on ebay that are no name models are they good intakes ?

I am going to have the engine torn apart and have it refreshed with just a mild cam put in it so what size throttle body should I stay with ?
I am looking to dress the engine up.

Thanks for any help.

[ls1nova71]

It's most likely a 5.3, the most common one. That is if it is the newer body style, as I believe they made the older one that year too that just had the old small block in it. There should be an emission sticker on the air cleaner box that says for sure what it is.

[Macdaddy1]

Some pics would really help.

[my kids toy]

Sorry, yes it is a 5.3
what is the difference in truck engines and car engines ?
I see on some intakes that they do not fit the truck so that confuses me as well.

[AussieinNC]

The truck intakes are generally taller, with different water bypass pipes etc.

Post us a pic of the engine from the front looking back...and we can help ya out with details...

Also...post a pic of the SPID label inside the lid of the glove compartment...it will give you the build codes for engine, trans, and rear end etc...

You could also post the VIN number without the last 7 numbers...the Alpha numeric codes detail the build codes such as engine etc...dont post the last 7 numbers...

[my kids toy]

[Clyde65]

lm7 is the 5.3

[mongocanfly]

LM7 should be a 5.3
M30 is 4l60 trans
.....and Clyde beat me by that much...haha

[my kids toy]

So it is a LS1 also ? this is were I get confused on the many different engine models.

[ls1nova71]

No, its not an LS1, it's an LM7. LS1 is an RPO code for a 5.7L engine in the Corvette and F body cars. It is what people refer to as an "LS" because its basically in the same engine family, sort of like all bandages are BandAids, and all crayolas are Crayons, if you know what I mean.

[my kids toy]

So when most people say they have a LS engine then it is more likely a lm7 or a lm#
And when shopping for parts like right now I want these parts for starters
Intake
Headers
motor mounts
Serpentine System

Do I have to search parts for a LS ?

[jessemthompson]

The LS is a family of engines, just like the Gen 1 Chevy small block. So when people say they have an LS, it can mean any engine from the LS family. They range from a 4.8 up to the LSX 454.generally speaking the trucks came with 4.8s, 5.3s and 6.0s. Some of the new trucks now come with 6.2s. When searching for motor mounts your looking for LS swap mounts for the 67-72 Chevy truck. It doesn’t matter what LS. There are several companies out there who make them. Same goes for headers. For the intake, are you going for looks? Cause the truck intake is the best for generating low speed torque. If you swap over to a car style intake you would most likely need a different serpentine system. I know Fast and Holley make an aftermarket truck style intake and you could keep the serpentine system you already have. They are pricey though.

[my kids toy]

Thanks, yes I am looking for a intake for the looks and also the Serpentine System for the looks.

[Macdaddy1]

I also have a LM7 5.3 motor and when looking for aftermarket parts I order them as a truck 5.3 LS motor and if they need the exact description I say LM7.

[my kids toy]

Thank you to everyone that helped me out.
Someone mentioned performance with the stock intake.
Am I going to loose much by using a 3mm sheet metal type 92mm intake ?
Are the Ebay ones any good with the throttle body, they are about $400 or more cheaper then a holley sniper

[Clyde65]

Just go with the stock stuff for now, get it running and driving and enjoy it, then start planning upgrades as you can.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by my kids toy

Thank you to everyone that helped me out.
Someone mentioned performance with the stock intake.
Am I going to loose much by using a 3mm sheet metal type 92mm intake ?
Are the Ebay ones any good with the throttle body, they are about $400 or more cheaper then a holley sniper

DO NOT put a sheetmetal intake on an otherwise stock truck, you'll regret it.
The larger intakes (especially sheetmetal ones) are meant to move way more volume of air than the motor is right now, and the 90+ mm intakes require the matching 90+mm throttle body. Trying to idle a large IM/TB combo on a stock motor isn't great, and unless you have a local tuner willing to help you, it'll be more headaches than its worth.

I'll also add that many of those sheetmetal intakes are designed for flow OVER velocity or mixture, meaning they are built to suit applications that are boosted or are spending their time at heavy/full throttle. Around town they won't offer you any benefit in usable power and may hurt your torque depending on the runner length on the manifold in question.

Also, any CHEAP sheetmetal manifold is crap. Period. There are plenty of companies from Ghaun Xou that sell products for $4-600 against companies like Wilson who retail for nearly 8x that price, and there is a reason. They will work physically, but for anything more than the appearance on a show car, they are paperweights.

[my kids toy]

What about a LS6 stock intake ?
the stock one I have is kind of ugly.

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by my kids toy

What about a LS6 stock intake ?
the stock one I have is kind of ugly.

I have the stock 5.3 with the LS6 intake. It goes on just fine but you will have to either modify your accessory drive or change it to another one. I opted to change it to the Holley accessory drive. If you go with the ls6 intake you will need to get the fuel rail for the ls6 intake too. Additionally the injectors for that intake are different so you would need those too. When you swap to those injectors you need to change the pigtails on your harness because the truck injectors use different connectors than the ls6 ones.

If you go that route I can help you with fitment. Attached is a picture of my LM7 with an LS6 intake in my 1950 Chev.

[my kids toy]

Thanks root2812
I will look for one of those complete intakes then.
Should I use the ls6 throttle body as well ?
I found a few one of them does not have the TB and has no provision for EGR
Or another one with this , TB with TPS and IAC sensors

I do not know what I need and what I do not need
I do have my original TB

[Root2812]

I think the throttle body is interchangable so you could use the truck one. I have both and I will compare tonight for you. You won't find the LS6 intake with EGR, the LS1 intake had that. Btw, they look similar so make sure you get the right one. Part numbers are best but they also look different underneath. Look online for photos. Supposedly the LS6 intake flows better than the LS1 and is an upgrade over the LS1.

With a swap you will delete the EGR anyway so if you get the older LS1 intake with the EGR provision you will just have to get a block off plate. Another thing I remembered is that the bolts that hold the truck and car intakes are different so you will need to buy those. ARP sells them cheaper than stock bolts.

Back to the accessory drive, I can't remember where I got it from but I have a part that I got and didn't use. It basically relocats the idler puller on the truck accessory drive so you can cut part of the stock bracket to clear the LS6 intake and throttle body. It was pretty cheap and you can keep the accessories you have. I will see if I can find it online or else I can find the one I never used and send you a photo.

[my kids toy]

root2812 I sent you a PM

[RedRider]

Sounds like you you have a lot to research and learn about LS swaps before you dig in. The internet is your friend, learn as much as you can before you turn a single bolt.

[my kids toy]

believe me I have been doing a lot of research, it helps to know what type of engine I have to search and that is what this post was about.

[RedRider]

Originally Posted by my kids toy

believe me I have been doing a lot of research, it helps to know what type of engine I have to search and that is what this post was about.

Check out the info on ls1tech.com if you haven’t already; tons of data on swaps engine ID, compatibility, etc. Then read through the swap that LS1Nova (above) did, it helped me a lot.

Didn’t mean to come off snotty, just wanted to direct you to the best resources.