5.3 into 72

[jessemthompson]

[URL=http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/jessethompson1/media/Gti/Car/0A8F7E2C-891E-4F09-9366-6F96DEDAE1CF.jpg.html][/URL]

[jessemthompson]

So I started about 2 weeks ago on my LS swap. I have been gathering parts for the last 2 years while I was stationed in Korea. I picked up a gen IV 5.3 4L60E from an 07 suburban. I decided to go with ECE for the engine and tranny mounts. They worked well with my truck pan and they clear my Gibson conversion headers, although it's close. I'm waiting for a harness from bill over at bp automotive. (I've heard nothing but great things about him. Out back I went with a 25 gallon blazer tank with an in tank walboro 255. I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but I'm just happy to finally get started on my project. It's been a long 2 years thinking about it. I have my fingers crossed, but so far all has went pretty smoothly.

[oldman3]

First thank you for your service. Project is looking good...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Great project and progress. I too thank you for your service!

[jessemthompson]

So I'm looking for exhaust exit opinions. I am stuck between coming out behind the rear tire with side exit chrome tips or just coming over the rear end and having dumps behind the bed.

[solidaxel]

I would take it to the rear either out back or behind the wheels, your choice but all the way to the back
YES thanks for your service!

[First c10]

This is what I did. It has 40 series flow master clones. A little loud but sounds great.

[First c10]

View from under. Just an idea. Keep up the good work on the truck. You will love it when it's on the road.

[jessemthompson]

Does anyone have pics of there ECM and TCM mounting in their cabs? I was thinking somewhere in the glovebox.

[kevmac]

Used PCI harness on my 70 sub and had enough slack to route under the carpet to under the pass seat. Obd2 runs into the console. Just a thought

[jessemthompson]

I am waiting on a harness from BP Automotive. Once I get it in I can figure out where I can mount it. I am at somewhat of a stand still on the project right now. Hopefully everything continues to go smooth.

[mongocanfly]

I made a bracket and mounted my ecm behind the glovebox..I wish I had put it under the pass seat. Would have made life easier.

[jessemthompson]

I should have my harness in from BP Automotive next week. I ordered the showstopper harness. Hopefully everything falls into place and I can get it running without any issues. I have decided to mount my ECM and TCM behind the passenger seat on the wall of the cab. I'm going to build a bracket and hang it from the tank bracket. I still have to decide whether I'm coming in from the firewall or the floor of the cab. I'm leaning towards the firewall cause I don't know about having all the wires underneath the cab.

[BR3W CITY]

Are you going to have enough harness length to do that? The back wall is another 20" or so from where most harnesses would stretch to.

[jessemthompson]

Bill at bp said I'll have 5 foot of harness to get into the cab with. I explained specifically what I was looking to do and he reassured me it was possible.

[jessemthompson]

Anyone have some advice on where to pick up some rubber isolators to mount my ecm and tcm to their brackets? As BP advised me, I don't want them to be grounded.

[mongocanfly]

Mcmaster carr has all types of isolation pads to chose from..they are excellent to deal with and ship extremely fast.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by jessemthompson

Anyone have some advice on where to pick up some rubber isolators to mount my ecm and tcm to their brackets? As BP advised me, I don't want them to be grounded.

IMO just go grab a small 1/8" sheet of silicon. Reason I say this is that; its cheap, it can be used for gaskets and other stuff, and it has a greater dampening/isolation effect than rubber, plus is far more chemical resistant.

I took a little weatherstrip adhesive and put two little strips of silicon sheet on my ecu to do just that.

[Willie Makeit]

I second the McMaster Carr suggestion. I'm a firm believer in these type mounts/isolators and have been using them for years in all types of applications. (air ride compressors, air ride valve plates, MSD boxes, ECU's, anything that generates noise/vibration OR anything that vibration could harm).

http://www.mcmaster.com/#rubber-isolators/=xkah1c

Look for the "Vibration-Damping Sandwich Mounts"

I like the look of these as they are engineered solely for the purpose of isolating vibration and resonance sources - think aircraft applications. This type mount combined with poly-loc fasteners give your truck a more "thought out" & "engineered" look where the rubber/silicone sheet just stuffed under a noise source looks a bit amateurish and just plain cheesy in my opinion.

[BR3W CITY]

You realize that silicon pad is one of the things listed in your link?......

[Willie Makeit]

Please go re-read my post. Pay close attention to the part where I say:

"Look for the "Vibration-Damping Sandwich Mounts"

The trolling here by some is tiresome and borders on juvenile.

[68c10airstream]

When i did my 5.3 install 5 years ago i went with painless wiring and paid a little more for 5 additional feet. Drilled a 1" hole low in firewall above the hump. Once inside i laid down sticky ice and water guard (roofing product) then laid the wires flat and spread out and topped it with one more layer of ice and water guard. When it got under the seat i took it back to being round and swept it behind the driver and used the stock truck pcm mount and used small square tubing to make a framework. My diagnostic plug, added fuse/relay box and check engine light are behind the seat. Can't tell the wires are under the carpet.

[siggyfreud]

Just my personal take, but I'm always hesitant to put critical wires in areas where they may be subject to impact. Under the carpet they're shielded, but overtime they'll still experience wear and tear, especially if they're spread out. My plan is to locate it either behind the dash somewhere, or to build a center console and locate the ECM inside of that in front of where a floor-shifter would go.

I would also avoid putting them on the underside of the cab, mainly because anything that COULD come in contact there (which would be unlikely) would be doing so at speed.

I plan on using bulkhead connectors to go from the cab to the engine bay. Will require more planning in wiring, but should make for a cleaner install in the end.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aww-500666

[jessemthompson]

I received my showstopper harness from bill at bp automotive today. The harness came out beautiful. I got the harness ran from the cab into the engine compartment and hooked up to all the appropriate sensors. I still have the hard wiring to do and placing the ecm, tcm and fuse block. So far I am more than impressed with the harness. I will post pictures when I get the chance. Friday I hope to have the front end back on the truck and my hard wiring complete.

[jessemthompson]

Got a few things going today. I got my fuse block and ecm in their places. I didn't have enough harness to get them exactly where I wanted, but it was close. They will both be under the seat. Changing fuses will be a pain, but when I laid them out it seemed to be the only feasible way. I also removed parts of the original harness not needed such as the voltage regulator. I put everything in wires looms. I'm trying to get everything as clean as possible. I can't afford to build a show truck but I'm working with what I have.