vortec cover mount - ls swap

[Mgicm]

So i have this 5.3 in a 50 AD pickup.. and doesnt have the vortec cover . i have one.. but seems i am missing the mounting plate to attach it to the motor. Anyone have photos of what i am looking for and how i should be mounting it. I suppose i have to go to a junkyard to find this piece as i dont see any covers with this for sale. sure appreciate help on this . GP

[47 Fasttoys]

This should be what your looking for, my intake is mounted backwards so it is towards the front of the engine. I mounts with 3 bolts using a 10mm hex head into brass inserts in the intake manifold.
Rob

[Mgicm]

so wait.. the cover has like one bolt. i assume that fits in the hole on the intake and that metal plate with the three bolts somehow supports it? I dont recall that metal plate on my engine.. i suppose thats what i am missing. Will recheck.

thanks!

[Desert1957]

Rear bracket has two clips that the top cover clip in, front bolt keeps the whole thing in place.

[Desert1957]

[Mgicm]

Seems i need that plate.. fun!

[Mgicm]

Do i dare ask if anyone can source that part? I assume only a junkyard woudl have? thanks!

[Mgicm]

ok i see the plate on ebay.. any idea on the bolt size? thanks!

[solidaxel]

What was name you used on ebay?
I am missing one also

[Mgicm]

The plate you need is part number 12561510 they are about 10 bux. no bolts tho... need to know size of those.

[Lextech]

I am almost positive the bolts are 6mm x 1.00 and about 15mm long. You should be able to get them from your local hardware store.

Jeff

[Mgicm]

So having trouble with this still. I got a mounting plate and it seems to only have two of three holes to attach to the intake?? I will get some photos. But then when i put plastic cover on.. the one bolt in the cover has nowhere to screw the bolt into. Maybe this motor does not have a cover?

Will try to get some photos....

[mongocanfly]

Are you asking about the bolts for the mounting bracket or the cover itself?.. if its the mount you could have a mount for a different style intake..

[Mgicm]

Bolt that is like part of the vortec cover itself.. the single bolt. Doesnt line up with anything i can see on the motor/intake. I suppose the cover is not the right one but its a 5.3 motor... from a savannah van. i really only see two places where anything can bolt to intake. will get some photos.

thank you

[mongocanfly]

I went and pulled mine off to show..as you can see there are the 3 bolts in the back that hold the bracket on..look about 6" in fromt of the bracket and you'll see the mounting boss sticking up..it has the brass threaded insert in it....a van engjne may have never been designed for a cover..you might can fab a bracket of some sort for the front bolt...

[mongocanfly]

I went back and looked at the pic of your engine...there appears to be a bolt in the hole for the cover..mine was that way..cover and mount got broke in the wreck it came from..they gave me a new cover and mount

[Mgicm]

see i dont have that big round connector/bolt opening you do which looks like it is where the bolt in the plastic cover should go into. mine is like a flat round 'cover'.

for that 3 bolt mounting plate.. i see mine has a place for two bolts side by side.. but i dont see where i can connect the one single bolt at the top.

[dsraven]

i dont see that riser for the cover bolt.it looks like there is just a plug there where the riser should be. if you got a riser from a wrecked manifold you could try epoxy to see if you could glue one on. the used truck manifolds are pretty cheap cause guys replace them with a shorter manifold or an aftermarket manifold. they are easy to replace and the only coolant you may lose is in the heat lines to the throttle body. those can be pinched off easy. some guys even re-use the gaskets. if you got a deal on a manifold it would be easier to swap than spending time fabbing up a bracket or whatever, and also you would get a chance to check the knock sensors under the mnifold. they are in a well and always rust out and give issues because water collects in the well due to poor/hard grommets. you should also replace the short wiring harness connected to them because you get new grommets then. check some engine swap sites or speed shops, maybe somebody has one for cheap.
below is a few pics of what it looks like

[47 Fasttoys]

I'm pretty sure your issue is the Express van donor. I don't think the vans had engine covers to start with.
Rob

[Task Force Era]

We did learn that there is different style vortec covers for different model 5.3's, LM7, L59, etc etc. They may look the same but there's different mounting points for sure...

[Mgicm]

so i guess since this came from a chevy van.most likely didnt have a cover. is there any way i could get it setup to accept a cover? It does look better. sure appreciate

[mongocanfly]

really only about 2 choices...swap intake to one that accepts a cover or fab a mount on your existing intake..