Something doesn't add up....... 5.3 into 72 elco

[Materman]

OK..... After many late nights of researching I thought I was prepared for my carbureted 5.3 to finally reside in the engine bay of my 1972 GMC Sprint (same as the el Camino for those that aren't familiar). Anyways, I get the engine in the car only to find out there are many things that don't fit..... And here's the list:

1:power steering pump clearance
truck accessory setup is being reused, only after I read several different forums and articles saying it would indeed fit, BUT my power steering pump pulley contacts the steering box.... I think I have the solution, Dorman part # 300-130.... Thoughts on a smaller p/s pulley?
2: alternator to hood clearance
will the truck accessory setup interfere with my hood, seeing as the alternator is very tall on the truck accessory setup?
3: motor mount adapters
for motor mount adapters I purchased ICT billet aluminum SBC adapter plates. Will these work or did I need to buy some other mount adapters?
4: exhaust manifolds
I had read multiple things about what exhaust manifolds to use, and came to the conclusion ( by reading through several ls swap threads in A body cars) that the best stock manifolds to use were F body cast iron manifolds.... Which don't fit AT ALL. What did i do wrong here????? (Also, I cannot afford high dollar headers, which I'm not Impressed with anyways, so I'd really like to stick with cast iron manifolds if at all possible.)
5: oil pan......
Knowing that its very deep and me being on a tight budget, I decided to reuse my stock truck oil pan and build a skid plate to protect it until I can afford a Holley pan.... Which from everything I read, the truck pan fits but hangs down low.... Problem is, the inner tierod hits the oil pan when turning very sharp....is there an inexpensive stock pan that fits the A body car WITHOUT my tierod smacking it?


thanks in advance.
Richard

[dayj1]

Originally Posted by Materman

3: motor mount adapters
for motor mount adapters I purchased ICT billet aluminum SBC adapter plates. Will these work or did I need to buy some other mount adapters?

I used speed engineering mounts in an A Body swap. They look identical to the ICT 551628 mount. So, I'd say the ICT are as good as any. I did use 1/4" mount spacers to raise the motor slightly. They look like these 3/16" ones: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...8090/overview/

Originally Posted by Materman

4: exhaust manifolds
I had read multiple things about what exhaust manifolds to use, and came to the conclusion ( by reading through several ls swap threads in A body cars) that the best stock manifolds to use were F body cast iron manifolds.... Which don't fit AT ALL. What did i do wrong here????? (Also, I cannot afford high dollar headers, which I'm not Impressed with anyways, so I'd really like to stick with cast iron manifolds if at all possible.)

Which F-Body manifolds? Gen V Camaro LS3 manifolds cleared easily for me, but we ended up using headers.

Originally Posted by Materman

5: oil pan......
Knowing that its very deep and me being on a tight budget, I decided to reuse my stock truck oil pan and build a skid plate to protect it until I can afford a Holley pan.... Which from everything I read, the truck pan fits but hangs down low.... Problem is, the inner tierod hits the oil pan when turning very sharp....is there an inexpensive stock pan that fits the A body car WITHOUT my tierod smacking it?

Based on the crossmember clearance when I did it, buy the Holley 301-2 pan. I don't see how any stock pan would work and I've used most of them on different swaps over the years.

[Materman]

[quote/] Which F-Body manifolds? Gen V Camaro LS3 manifolds cleared easily for me, but we ended up using headers.[/quote]

I used gen IV.... Is that my issue?

[BR3W CITY]

Were risking confusion with the "Gen" thing, because Gen IV motors aren't in 4th Gen Fbodies...if that makes any sense.

The 4th Gen Fbody is a Gen III engine, and early ones use a header-style manifold that is fairly thin and clears some swaps pretty well, but the 02 sensor location may not clear the frame depending on how its set in the frame.

The 5th Gen Camaro is a Gen IV motor, and uses a very tight-to-the-block manifold that has become popular for swaps for its block hugging.

Both can be made to work, but there are differences in flange location and clearance etc.

[Materman]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Were risking confusion with the "Gen" thing, because Gen IV motors aren't in 4th Gen Fbodies...if that makes any sense.

The 4th Gen Fbody is a Gen III engine, and early ones use a header-style manifold that is fairly thin and clears some swaps pretty well, but the 02 sensor location may not clear the frame depending on how its set in the frame.

The 5th Gen Camaro is a Gen IV motor, and uses a very tight-to-the-block manifold that has become popular for swaps for its block hugging.

Both can be made to work, but there are differences in flange location and clearance etc.

That is probably what happened... I read that gen IV manifolds fit, thinking it meant 4th gen fbodies.... not the gen IV engine

[Materman]

Update.......

I went ahead and purchased the holley oil pan and have perfect clearance with this area.

With the power steering pulley, it STILL hits the steering box, no matter where I position it, so what's a boy to do?

[68basket]

Originally Posted by Materman

Update.......

I went ahead and purchased the holley oil pan and have perfect clearance with this area.

With the power steering pulley, it STILL hits the steering box, no matter where I position it, so what's a boy to do?

I just finished a 5.3 swap into a 71 chevelle.

Holley is the goto for getting it to fit. I used their engine mounts and oil pan. Fitment is perfect with a set of 2000 camaro z28 stock exhaust manifolds and a $30 dorman ps pulley. i used the holley pan and have zero fitment issues. I have the smaller amp alternator and it clears the hood fine. I am running the truck intake but there is no room for the plastic cover to fit on it.
Let me know if you have other questions, i can help out.

[Materman]

@68Basket, first of all, very nice setup! I'm jealous lol!
What radiator hoses did you use?

[dec010974]

yeah, what lower radiator hose is that? I want (2) of them

[robertsjm711]

Kinda looks like a ~2003 Silverado upper hose

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-26390...WDK8Q0N0DMHFJ3

[robertsjm711]

And lower

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...RoC7hoQAvD_BwE

[SparkyRnD]

If you decide you want to change to an LS radiator that has the ports in the correct locations, we make them here in the USA by hand, and we're a board sponsor:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590670