Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Kree · 11-20-2018, 07:43 PM

Hey all! Been lurking for awhile and finally have my first question. Heading out to the junkyard to pull a 5.3 and trans this friday for my 68 C20. Other than an assortment of 10, 13 and 15mm sockets and wrenches, some pliers for coolant hoses, some elbow grease and an engine hoist... are there any other tools needed to pull the motor and trans out? Am I cutting the wiring harness at the firewall in order to keep the engine bay fusebox or can i cut at the fuse box to keep it all simple. I really dont want a bunch of stuff under the hood if its not necissary. Thank you in advace for any help, trying to make this a quick trip to the yard lol

**kwmech** · 11-21-2018, 01:56 AM

Unless you are getting a stand alone harness for the conversion I wouldn't cut a thing and try to get the entire harness. You can always trim down later

ls1nova71 · 11-21-2018, 04:03 AM

If you are going to be cutting down the original harness and not using the under hood fuse box, then you can just unbolt the harness from it. There are 7mm bolts holding the harness to the fusebox, no cutting necessary.

my kids toy · 11-21-2018, 06:03 AM

I needed a 18mm socket as well but I do not remember what it was for, I did remove the front clip so it could have been that. I had to go buy one to get mine out.

**Wgesnerjr** · 11-21-2018, 07:38 AM

Whay year are you pulling from?

if it's DBW, you will need the accelerator pedal and the TAC module. If it's DBC, I would take the throttle cable.

If you're running stock manifolds, a battery powered sawsall and a couple of blades will help you get the headpipes with the o2 bungs. might also help cutting trans lines if they become stubborn.

On junkyard trips, I usually forget an assortment of Torx head drivers I inevitably wind up needing. broke down and bought a cheap set from harbor freight to keep in a junk yard bag.

Take pics of the extracting and post.

Kree · 11-26-2018, 02:33 AM

First off thank you for the replies and sorry for not documenting the pull with pixtures. I had the intentions of doing so but ran low on time the day of the pull.

Ended up pulling 5.3l and 4l60E from a 2002 Yukon XL gonna check the vin in the morning. The junkyard is right next to my work lol. Was able to unbolt the center bluck from the fuse block and the rest basically unclipped. This yard cuts the exhaust at the cats so that saved from having to use the sawzall. I did use an 18mm socket on something just cant rember what and a small tirx to remove 2 bolts on the radiator support. A couple of guys next to me had a 4' or so pry bar and a huge set of what looked like branch lopers to cut oil lines and what not. Otherwise pretty straigtforward.

Removed headlights and plastics from radiator and inner fendes. Removed radiator and ac core. Then got the wiring harnes sorted out. Ended up cutting power steering line but kept power steering cooler. Removed 6 motor mount bolts and a trans mount bolt and had them lift it out with the fork lift. The hardest part I think was removing the radiator stuff. Now to cleaning it all up and going thru it all.

**paul mora** · 11-26-2018, 11:55 AM

Now you can take some photos. Just courteous what yard did you get it from.

Kree · 11-26-2018, 04:25 PM

Yeah ill start taking pics of the cleaning and process to get it in the truck for sure. I went to the pick your part in wilmington, ca with the primo yard.

**paul mora** · 11-26-2018, 10:27 PM

I know people around town that can tune and program down the road. I am just one city over so close by for help and question answering. I help at a shop where we convert reqularly, neighbors are all the builders shop who answer all our questions. Whart are you doing for the harness.

Kree · 11-27-2018, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul mora

I know people around town that can tune and program down the road. I am just one city over so close by for help and question answering. I help at a shop where we convert reqularly, neighbors are all the builders shop who answer all our questions. Whart are you doing for the harness.

Ive been researching the harness and I think im going to attempt reworking it myself. Ill definately need the ecu programed. Yeah we are really close. Im actually up by the 22 in little siagon.

Jstock85 · 11-28-2018, 10:04 AM

I redid my own harness. I researched "you can do it to" on you tube. The guy rebuilds a complete engine and harness in great detail. Brendan on lt1swap.com also has a couple good videos on you tube. His website also has a ton of good information. I also sent him my pcm to flash. He had it back in about a week. Fired right up on first try and has ran well.

11-20-2018, 07:43 PM	#1
Kree Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 4	Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard Hey all! Been lurking for awhile and finally have my first question. Heading out to the junkyard to pull a 5.3 and trans this friday for my 68 C20. Other than an assortment of 10, 13 and 15mm sockets and wrenches, some pliers for coolant hoses, some elbow grease and an engine hoist... are there any other tools needed to pull the motor and trans out? Am I cutting the wiring harness at the firewall in order to keep the engine bay fusebox or can i cut at the fuse box to keep it all simple. I really dont want a bunch of stuff under the hood if its not necissary. Thank you in advace for any help, trying to make this a quick trip to the yard lol

11-21-2018, 01:56 AM	#2
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,635	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard Unless you are getting a stand alone harness for the conversion I wouldn't cut a thing and try to get the entire harness. You can always trim down later

11-21-2018, 04:03 AM	#3
ls1nova71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Independence Mo Posts: 4,119	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard If you are going to be cutting down the original harness and not using the under hood fuse box, then you can just unbolt the harness from it. There are 7mm bolts holding the harness to the fusebox, no cutting necessary. __________________ My '72 short bed build. http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...6-0-4l80e.html 5.3 swap into my RUSTY '71 C10 http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...71-c-10-a.html

11-21-2018, 06:03 AM	#4
my kids toy Registered User Join Date: May 2018 Location: Grand Haven, mi Posts: 269	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard I needed a 18mm socket as well but I do not remember what it was for, I did remove the front clip so it could have been that. I had to go buy one to get mine out.

11-21-2018, 07:38 AM	#5
Wgesnerjr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Atlanta, GA. Posts: 737	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard Whay year are you pulling from? if it's DBW, you will need the accelerator pedal and the TAC module. If it's DBC, I would take the throttle cable. If you're running stock manifolds, a battery powered sawsall and a couple of blades will help you get the headpipes with the o2 bungs. might also help cutting trans lines if they become stubborn. On junkyard trips, I usually forget an assortment of Torx head drivers I inevitably wind up needing. broke down and bought a cheap set from harbor freight to keep in a junk yard bag. Take pics of the extracting and post. __________________ Jay Gesner Atlanta, GA 1985 C10 Long Bed 4X2 LS 5.3, 4L60E Father/Daughter Project

11-26-2018, 02:33 AM	#6
Kree Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 4	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard First off thank you for the replies and sorry for not documenting the pull with pixtures. I had the intentions of doing so but ran low on time the day of the pull. Ended up pulling 5.3l and 4l60E from a 2002 Yukon XL gonna check the vin in the morning. The junkyard is right next to my work lol. Was able to unbolt the center bluck from the fuse block and the rest basically unclipped. This yard cuts the exhaust at the cats so that saved from having to use the sawzall. I did use an 18mm socket on something just cant rember what and a small tirx to remove 2 bolts on the radiator support. A couple of guys next to me had a 4' or so pry bar and a huge set of what looked like branch lopers to cut oil lines and what not. Otherwise pretty straigtforward. Removed headlights and plastics from radiator and inner fendes. Removed radiator and ac core. Then got the wiring harnes sorted out. Ended up cutting power steering line but kept power steering cooler. Removed 6 motor mount bolts and a trans mount bolt and had them lift it out with the fork lift. The hardest part I think was removing the radiator stuff. Now to cleaning it all up and going thru it all.

11-26-2018, 11:55 AM	#7
paul mora Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: huntington beach california Posts: 976	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard Now you can take some photos. Just courteous what yard did you get it from. __________________ Pulatoy

11-26-2018, 04:25 PM	#8
Kree Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 4	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard Yeah ill start taking pics of the cleaning and process to get it in the truck for sure. I went to the pick your part in wilmington, ca with the primo yard.

11-26-2018, 10:27 PM	#9
paul mora Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: huntington beach california Posts: 976	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard I know people around town that can tune and program down the road. I am just one city over so close by for help and question answering. I help at a shop where we convert reqularly, neighbors are all the builders shop who answer all our questions. Whart are you doing for the harness. __________________ Pulatoy

11-28-2018, 10:04 AM	#11
Jstock85 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Brandon,MS Posts: 489	Re: Getting ready to pull my first 5.3 from the junkyard I redid my own harness. I researched "you can do it to" on you tube. The guy rebuilds a complete engine and harness in great detail. Brendan on lt1swap.com also has a couple good videos on you tube. His website also has a ton of good information. I also sent him my pcm to flash. He had it back in about a week. Fired right up on first try and has ran well.



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