49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Let me start by saying I didn't build this suburban but I have made some changes since I bought it and I plan to make many more. Its a 49 suburban with a heidts mustang II front and in the rear it has a leaf spring set up with blocks. It rides and drives great. When I bought it the burb had a 350 with a 700r4 in it. I have rode on that for quite a while but after putting some miles on it I've noticed the engine likes to use quite a bit of oil and has quite a few leaks too. It still runs great and made a 2500 mile round trip on the hot rod power tour 2013. But the old 350 is pretty tired and its time to move on to LS power. So a few weeks ago I picked up a donar engine,trans,harness,pcm,etc from a local yard that came out of a 2000 Yukon 2wd. I am gonna post pics and fast forward to the point I am on this project now.

Attachment 1201334

Attachment 1201335

This is the burb. We snapped these pics on the 2013 Power tour in a small town in Texas.

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Attachment 1201343

Here is a shot of the engine. Im gonna check it over good and put new intake gaskets new plugs, wires, fix two broke exhaust manifold bolts which is a common problem on the LS engines, replace oil pan with a camaro oil pan and new gasket and also replace the rear main seal and the transmission filter. This engine had 137K when it was pulled and the fluids that were in it looked very clean. I believe its gonna make a good one.


Here are a couple pics of the beginning stage of pinning out the factory engine harness and the aftermath of wires leftover from doing it. I will try to post a pic of the completed engine harness. I haven't snapped one yet.

Attachment 1201337

Attachment 1201338

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Will be watching ;)

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

One of the biggest challenges of this whole swap is the fuel tank situation. My plan is to remove the factory fuel tank and go with a newer modern tank from a late 80's s10 blazer. That way the tank is baffled for the fuel injection setup. I bought a new 20 gallon tank and plan to mount it in the back behind the rear axle and make a trap door through the factory wooden floor so the fuel pump can be easily taken in and out if needed. I also go a pump that will attach to the factory drop in sending unit on this tank and flow the proper psi that the LS engine needs.


Attachment 1201339

Attachment 1201340

Attachment 1201341


Here are some pics of the burb in the shop now under the knife. Removed the whole front clip and have the engine yanked out. It wont be long until im ready to drop the LS back in. I'm waiting on some more parts to come in and Im gonna clean the firewall up and paint it and the inner fenders.

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Following....Looks nice 48. I was wondering about the tank situation as well. I like your ideas.

Marc

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

When you get a chance post some pics of the inside as well..what are you running for seats?

I would also like to do the power tour when mine is finished.

Marc

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Will try to post some. It isn't much to look at though. I have bucket seats in the front from a 03 Silverado and in the rear I have a bench seat from a 04 Avalanche. The reason I chose those seats is the built in seat belts and having kids it makes it easy to tie them down in their car seats. I set the rear seat right in front of the wheel welds in the rear in hopes to notch and tub the rear for bags. I am trying to set it up to be bagged in the near future. That is the other reason for moving the tank to the rear. That way I can hopefully 4 link it in the future and the stock tank would just be in the way anyways.

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

I hear you on the kids factor. I have (2) boys and they are a lot of the motivation for this build. I also want to try hard to run all (3) rows of seating with a notch. I really dont know until I really get my chassis figured out and see how everyhting lays out if it is possible. Plenty of time for that.

Marc

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Forgive my ignorance...but explain the fuel tank. I am doing the same but don't know jack about the LS setup. These are all things I need to understand. Thanks in advance

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Bagged, I'm along for the ride, to see how it goes...Jim

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

The factory tank has no baffles inside and would be a bunch of fab work to get a pump etc dropped in it and get it all working right. Plus I have future plans to bag this burb so the factory tank would just be in the way of a 4 link setup. The LS engine needs around 58-60 psi of fuel pressure I believe to run properly. The s10 blazer tank I went with fit up great behind the axle area. I bought the factory straps to go with the tank and had to fab some straps of my own to get it all hung in place. This tank fits great and doesnt hang down to low either like I originally thought it was going to. I will try to get some pics as soon as I'm back in the shop so you can see what it looks like hung in place

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

If you got a pick up from what I've seen, a Camaro tank would go in the rear without to much of a problem. I got hold of a 2000 Camaro tank to try, haven't put it in yet but there is plenty of room and it won't hang down to much. I was going to replace the pump with a Walbro pump. On the LS rear main replacement, replace the rear plate assy. You can buy the rear plate with a gasket and seal done installed for around $50 from GM or Felpro also offers it. I've seen the gasket leak more than I've seen the rear seals, replacing 1 now. Nice build.

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Bagged, sweet ride! Seems like burb guys always have at least two things in common...kids. Can't get 'em all in my truck. I plan to hit the Power Tour this summer, maybe I'll see you and youngrodder there. We might start a trend!

Mitch

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Cant wait to see more!!

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Well I havent thought to snap a picture of my gas tank. I finally got it all worked out I believe. It fits up under there better than I thought It was going to. I have been so involved with the engine trying to get it ready to set in its not even funny. I have pretty much re sealed a majority of the engine now. Intake gaskets, rear main and cover, oil pan was converted to a LS1 camaro pan to gain clearance, rear trans output shaft seal, new trans filter and gasket, new water pump gaskets, also had to replace the trans drain plug because someone must have decided they wanted to run it up with a impact gun. While all that was going on I had three broke exhaust manifold bolts to remove which was very time consuming. The torque converter bolts were allen heads rather than hex so they rounded out because they were either loc tited in or someone way over torqued them and had to have nuts welded onto them to be removed which was also a pain. But now with all of that out of the way and tons of elbow grease I am now pretty much done with the engine aside from putting on the exhaust manifolds and a few other odds and ends. It cleaned up pretty nice I snapped a quick picture of what it now looks like.


Attachment 1203772

Attachment 1203773

Now Im ready to move on to my cleaning up of the firewall and inner fenders and will be ready to start trying to set it in shortly right after that and hopefully not have any major clearance problems.

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Looks great. if you can posts some pics of the gas tank. Do you plan on using all of the stock accessory brackets? I'm sure that I will have more ???'s later.

Nice progress.

Marc

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Haven't took much time to update my thread but I have been taking progress pics. Been working pretty hard on this thing and am real close to being ready to fire it now. Engine is in place and all wired up. The biggest hurdle I have to cross now is the exhaust. I have a set of hooker block huggers ordered from summit. Hoping they will fit but I believe my steering is still gonna cause problems and I am gonna have to rework it. I snapped a few pictures of my gas tank and the straps I made for it. I have a couple more than Im uploading this time so I will try to add them to the next post.

Attachment 1209982

Attachment 1209983

Attachment 1209984

Attachment 1209985

Attachment 1209986

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Is your a/c going to clear the inner fenders? What bracket is that?

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

The bracket is made by a company called ls-brackets.com I bought it off ebay. It fits up good. The inner fenders will not clear though. Had to cut a hole in the inner fender to get clearance. I plan to go back and make a piece that bevels in to give it a finished look. That's the downfall on these brackets that mount the ac up high. Most of them I have seen have the compressor laying off the side of the motor a ways. I guess its either that or hack the frame pretty bad if it was left in the stock location if it is even possible. Most of them I have seen on swaps in other vehicles that left the compressor in the stock location had to have a big hunk cut out of the frame to clear the compressor.

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Nice burn and swap. Especially love the shop you are working in

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Man, I Love the shot of the shop with all those sick trucks. Would love to visit and check them all out!

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

Yea sure if you would like to swing by sometime just pm me and I will send you the address

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

The burb is looking very good.

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

48Chevbagged,

is there any chance of getting close up pics of your visor? I am just about to fit the same one and would like to see a few more pics of it?

Very jealous of the burb btw. Absolutely love it!

Thanks Shane

Re: 49 Suburban 5.3 LS Swap
 

You usually up there on weekends? PM me the addy, I'll swing by, bring a board member, and we can get some stuff knocked out.