Engine covers 5.3

[daytonagp4]

I was wondering if any of you have custom engine covers on your 5.3? I can't stand the way the stock one's look and without one is ugly too. Does anyone sell one or do any of you make one? Thanks.

[5150.4.67]

Its tough with the tall truck plenum. I like the Vortec MAX 3 piece cover......
I plan to modify a 2010 Camaro SS cover, however with a ls6 intake.....

[BR3W CITY]

No one sells custom ones for the trucks (that I could find), but there are a few styles. Theres the Vortec Max and Vortec 6000 covers, the single peice 5.3 cover, the escalade style cover, and the old squareish style cover. There is a member on here who did a custom molded one from a 3 piece cover and it was pretty slick.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

No one sells custom ones for the trucks (that I could find), but there are a few styles. Theres the Vortec Max and Vortec 6000 covers, the single peice 5.3 cover, the escalade style cover, and the old squareish style cover. There is a member on here who did a custom molded one from a 3 piece cover and it was pretty slick.

These are pretty much your options if you keep the truck intake. IMO the old squarish one was the ugliest, the newer curved ones are better, and the 3 piece look the best.

They are all interchangeable although some of them require a little trimming if you have the DBW throttle body.

Here was a custom one I saw at the Auto Fair, not my favorite design but it was definitely smooth. Looks like he took one of the rounded ones, shaved it, then added wings.

Or you can do things to clean up the stock ones, this my one day transformation on my 01, a little filler primer, colormatched paint, and a silver paint pen went a long way. I was rushed, so I am going to redo it soon and smooth the spots where the labels used to be on the radiator cover, chrome coil covers and do a few other things.

[68 short step]

page 99 has one that look decent
http://www.hotrodlane.cc/2010%20PDF%...g2010main.html

[daytonagp4]

holy crap my heart just stopped for that price...............wow.......i think ill try and build one lol!!!

[OKGMC4]

Made this one, but not using it...

[abraham.hd]

Bump

[Andy4639]

I sure would like a custom cover for mine. If I ever get the time I will build one I guess.

[Houston Ben]

Here is what I have, Made by BH Custom designs for my truck intake. I don't have it painted or on the engine yet but it does fit.

[littlevictories]

I just don't get covering up a motor.
On that note: NSFW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tieA5wfcgH4

[OKGMC4]

Mine from BH. And modified for oil filler access. Looks like the front is a little different. Did you get coil covers as well?

[Silverado1976]

Stock cover smoothed and vortec badge removed. Then painted body color. Something a little different but still somewhat stock looking

[Silverado1976]

Before paint

[Houston Ben]

Mine from BH. And modified for oil filler access. Looks like the front is a little different. Did you get coil covers as well?

My engine is from a 2011 Silverado with the bigger alternator so a regular cover would not fit. I had to send it back and he made a new one for me with the cutout for the alternator. I skipped on the coil covers for now, we will see in the future. But I do need to paint it and put it on!!

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

These are pretty much your options if you keep the truck intake. IMO the old squarish one was the ugliest, the newer curved ones are better, and the 3 piece look the best.

They are all interchangeable although some of them require a little trimming if you have the DBW throttle body.

Here was a custom one I saw at the Auto Fair, not my favorite design but it was definitely smooth. Looks like he took one of the rounded ones, shaved it, then added wings.

Or you can do things to clean up the stock ones, this my one day transformation on my 01, a little filler primer, colormatched paint, and a silver paint pen went a long way. I was rushed, so I am going to redo it soon and smooth the spots where the labels used to be on the radiator cover, chrome coil covers and do a few other things.

bdub lol....that white looks good on that intake tube...i might have to copy that with orange...ya i said bdub

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by dman1982

bdub lol....that white looks good on that intake tube...i might have to copy that with orange...ya i said bdub

Bdub?

[Houston Ben]

Well, got mine painted this weekend with VHT wrinkle paint. I should have done some body work on it but I don't know how so here she is.

[Andy4639]

That looks pretty darn Cool.

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

Bdub?

Lol...ya it's something from a previous post haha

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

These are pretty much your options if you keep the truck intake. IMO the old squarish one was the ugliest, the newer curved ones are better, and the 3 piece look the best.

Wow. Tough crowd!

(lol)

I remember when we designed those for the GMT800 program. It was sort of our first foray into 'underhood aesthetics'. Total shock for me as a chassis/powertrain guy.

I designed the air cleaner to match the engine cover but the ribs were "insies". By the time I was done with the design "insies" were out and "outsies" were in. We ended up with the squarish cover you referenced and the airbox that is still in use (for the foreseeable future).

K

[Houston Ben]

OKGMC4, do you know what kind of bolts are needed to hold the cover in place? I took the cover bolt off the intake and took it to the store and found it fit bolt size M6-1.0 When I tried to screw that size bolt into place it only screwed in a few mm and then I couldn't screw it in any more (with hands only, I didn't want to strip anything).

Anyone have any ideas as to the size bolt I need?

[JNJchev77]

Originally Posted by Houston Ben

OKGMC4, do you know what kind of bolts are needed to hold the cover in place? I took the cover bolt off the intake and took it to the store and found it fit bolt size M6-1.0 When I tried to screw that size bolt into place it only screwed in a few mm and then I couldn't screw it in any more (with hands only, I didn't want to strip anything).

Anyone have any ideas as to the size bolt I need?

Just get a shorter bolt. The original intake, IIRC, bolt holes are raised a bit. Your new cover is flat against the intake manifold. You should just need a shorter version of what you have. Maybe like a 10mm?? Easy measurement with a small screw driver...

[Andy4639]

Went the other day to the local sheet metal place and had them make me a shroud for the radiator to put the twin fans on. I went to pick it up this morning and I asked if he could make me a cover for the intake. He took some measurements and went back inside and did a quick version of it out of galvanized sheet metal to get some idea of how to bend it. He is going to make it out of aluminum and then I can form it and after we get all the bends and cuts made he said they will weld a front piece on it to give it strength. He said it would be next week before he could do it which is fine.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by JNJchev77

Just get a shorter bolt. The original intake, IIRC, bolt holes are raised a bit. Your new cover is flat against the intake manifold. You should just need a shorter version of what you have. Maybe like a 10mm?? Easy measurement with a small screw driver...

I did use a slightly shorter bolt, and a couple washers underneath as shims for height adjustment to my coil covers. Also, went with round, allen head, stainless bolts because they is shiny. : ) Got them at Ace Hardware.