5.3L swap-opinions on possible donor

[Dustint]

Planning on swapping a 5.3 and 4L60E tranny into my 48. Looking into a 2000 Silverado that has been wrecked, front end damage and bent frame. Has the aforementioned combo and a very recent tranny rebuild with paperwork. According to the seller the frame is bent and almost touching the starter, and the starter began smoking when trying to start, so has not started since wreck but ran fine before. The only damage to components I would possibly be using is the trans cooler.
Anywho, could buy the pickup as a whole for $750. Thinking myself that's a pretty good deal. Would you guys agree or does anything sound like it may be something to stay away from?

[Daze57]

i would go for it - but find out why it was smokin first - if its an easy fix ? jump on it .


just imo

[yossarian19]

Starter smoke is a little suspicious. I'd look around that area for any obvious wiring damage. Make sure the engine & trans both turn over two full revolutions to make sure nothing is majorly wrong.
Also look at the water pump & crank pulleys, fan clutch too, and make sure nothing hit the front of the motor too hard.
$750 is a heck of a deal for a running 5.3 / 4L60E combo with all the trimmings. I'd buy it in a heartbeat if you can verify everything turns over and the front of the motor didn't get damaged. Accessories on the front can be replaced... but if the thrust / main bearings took a hit, it's junk.

[Dustint]

Plan to look it over well, talked with the seller briefly. The front accessories didn't sustain any damage or get shoved into at all. Sounds like the starter is just some wiring that got fried from possibly touching bare metal, not 100% sure. What would be the best way of checking motor and trans without starting it?

[57chevyman]

if the motor and trans arent damaged and its a wiring thing that made the starter smoke, it sounds like a great deal to me. whats the mileage on the motor? i recently sold my 2000 silverado with 250,000 miles on it. it still ran great, but the rear main seal was leaking bad. does the silverado come complete? part out the rest of the truck and scrap what you cant sell and you got yourself a free motor and transmission.

[Advanced Design]

Dustint...good advice here. I secured my 5.3 and 4L60e from a rolled 2004 Sierra I bought for $800.

[yossarian19]

Take a 1/2" ratchet, some short extensions & a set of sockets. I don't recall the socket size for the crankshaft pulley but what you want to do is turn the motor clockwise two full rotations (720 degrees) and make sure everything turns. It almost certainly will. If you pull the plugs or loosen them it will make life easier - that way you aren't fighting engine compression.

If you can get the rear tires off the ground and put the trans in Neutral, verify the driveshaft turns with no chunky / alarming noises. I'm not sure I'd bother.
At $700, it's a steal no matter what's good or bad.
Harness, ECM, accessories, brackets, rebuildable cores + selling some junk off of it = WIN

[Dustint]

Thanks for the advice on that. With paperwork on the transmission I feel pretty good about it, will definitely check the motor. Pickup is solid from the front fenders back so I'm sure will be able to sell some off of it as well. Also been trying to decide on buckets or bench seat, so would have some around to play with at the very least. If all goes well and can arrange everything will probably pick it up in a week

[whitedog76]

Do a search and check your castings on your engine. I know some of the LS engines with the Castech casting had problems.