5.3 SSR Engine Installed with 4L60E

[DarkFox1]

thanks, yea no hurry here, I started this project in 01 lol, the only thing original left is the cab, front suspension, rearend, and the control arms. everything else I've replaced/plan to replace.

I started with a 71 chyenne longbed 350, now I'm looking at a 67 shortbed LS1/Vortech/327/whatever else you wanna call it heh

I just decided when I got it down to the frame back in 01, that I wasn't gonna be happy unless I built exactly what I wanted, so I'm very very slowly following that dream.

This is a lot of good info indeed. If I were a great poster, or took pics worth a crap, I'd try and make a how-to on this stuff, cos I'd certainly like to see a sticky or a good article on the forum about this swap, its getting very popular to do I thnk.

I mean think about it.. 285+hp easy, 14mpg, overdrive, and an engine setup to handle all elevations and weather conditions.. how can it get better than that? hehe couple that with the feasibility of a T56 bolton.. the only thing that could be better is an ls2 maybe heh, or stacy's 572 in copperhead lol, but who has $14k to dump into a project engine anyway besides TV show hosts

[FirstGen]

keep in mind that the 4.8/5.3 has a different flywheel/flexplate design and you won't be able to run a T56 with out a custom flywheel/clutch setup. These are the only two of the gen 3 motors that are like that as. The 5.7 and the 6.0 are ready to rock n roll.

[DarkFox1]

oh yea I'd LOVE to have the 6.0, but I didn't have any such luck, I found a 5.3 and I think thats good enough for me. what I really wanted was an escalade motor.. 345HP to START with.. should be a pretty healthy ride with onna those.. but nope.. didn't get onna those.. oh well.

[djracer]

If some one wants a 5.3 and 4l60e I have a friend who bought a low milage 2003 pickup that is bend on most panels he is planning to part out!

[minibike]

I don't know if tunercat has a program for OBDII yet, but there software for OBDI (LT1's) is very user friendly, and cheap.

[Project1970]

Posting in what looks to be turning into the GenIII swap megathread. My dad JUST (as in: a few hours ago) picked up an LS1/4L60E out of a 2000 Camaro SS off of eBay that's here in town. We've been hemming and hawing over it ever since the 700R4 grenaded, and finally came to the conclusion that a Bowtie Level 3 plus the 350 / 383 I wanted to build later on wouldn't be as nice as an LS1 swap, despite costing about the same...and this way I can sell off my old setup on eBay, too!

The radiator is one thing I'm not sure about. Is there any way to use the stock truck one, or is it just not going to work? Worst case, I have the stock one from my dad's 2001 Z28...he installed a larger SLP unit.

[minibike]

I don't know about the LS1 cars, but the LT1 radiator (out of a 94) fits really well in our trucks. The beauty of it, is that the fans clip on the back of the camaro radiator, solving the electric fan problem too.

[Project1970]

Well, my question is, is there any reason not to use the truck one? Mine is only five years old and rodded out two years ago, and in good shape still. I know a few of the board vendors offer electric fan shrouds.

If it comes down to it, I suppose I could see if my brother wants to put the stock '01 radiator in his '94 The LS1's radiator is thinner than the LT1 radiator, though.

Fuel-injected Chevies are a family thing, even if mine's going into a GMC...

[glennhl]

Sorry Kirk, the LT1 engine will not cool properly with an LS1 radiator so you can't have Chris' radiator. The all aluminum LS1 cools much easier than the iron block LT1. In fact, there were some people that said not to buy the SLP High Capacity radiator for my 2001 and just go with the LT1 unit.

Thanks,
Glenn

[71Longbed]

isnt the 6.0 an LQ4 or 9 not LS1 ls1 is the 5.7

[68LSS1]

If you don't use a radiator meant for a LS1 you will need to have a nipple welded on the radiator for the steam lines from the heads. On LS1 intake equipped cars you can block the rear two lines. This will need to be done to install the LS6 intake and there is a kit if you want one. Of course the LS6 intake equipeed cars already have the rear two blocked so it's just a issue of the front two. I would not recommend blocking off the front two on either though.

[FirstGen]

I used a new stock truck radiator and it works perfect. The only issue was that I used a stock 99-02 chevy upper and lower hoses and they were REALLY tight gettin on the radiator.

You actually don't need any relief for the steam lines. All it has to do is equalize pressure from one head to the other to cycle any air. When I did mine I blocked off the rears which was stock on mine and is on some and isn't on others. I have a PN for these little buggers if someone needs it. Then I oxy/fuel welded the line going to the radiator closed and left it open between both heads.

I have LS1 fans that are programmed through the ECM to switch on at 180. I'm running a stock thermostat and I logged it with auto tap for several days. Never saw over 195 degree here in Dallas in traffic. I was surprised because typically these motors run pretty hot from the factory (210 range)...

BTW the truck intake acutally out flows the LS6 intake across the board. GM High Tech did a test on all three intakes.

[Project1970]

Originally Posted by FirstGen

I used a new stock truck radiator and it works perfect. The only issue was that I used a stock 99-02 chevy upper and lower hoses and they were REALLY tight gettin on the radiator.

...

BTW the truck intake acutally out flows the LS6 intake across the board. GM High Tech did a test on all three intakes.

Tight as in almost too short, or almost too narrow to get over the fittings?

Yeah, I've seen that article. Later on (as in: after the swap is done) I think I'll get either the 6.0 intake, or if anyone's figured out a way to make the throttlebody work, the new LS2 intake.

Thanks for the information, that'll come in handy.

[Joe67]

Originally Posted by 71Longbed

isnt the 6.0 an LQ4 or 9 not LS1 ls1 is the 5.7

They are all LSXX based engines/blocks

[DarkFox1]

you don't use a radiator meant for a LS1 you will need to have a nipple welded on the radiator for the steam lines from the heads.

ah so thats where that hose goes lol, I saw it but didn't know where it went.
couldn't you just tap into the overflow bottle? or drill a hole in the radiator and screw in a tap? I'm not too fond of welding things on

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by 67c10step

They are all LSXX based engines/blocks

Actually, it's the fuel management that's LS type. All the latest gen motors are using the same computer, intake design and sensor types.

The block is far different. LM7 is the designation for the 5.3L Cast iron truck block with aluminum heads. The LS1 is a 5.7L all aluminum design. LQ4 is the 6.0L, cast iron block with aluminum heads. L35 is the 5.7L truck motor, all cast iron... blah blah.

[bagged81]

I am subscribing to this thread. This is great info.

One question though, can the th350 be used instead of the 4l60e?

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by bagged81

I am subscribing to this thread. This is great info.

One question though, can the th350 be used instead of the 4l60e?

It can be done, but takes a bit of work. The bosses the tranny bolts to are a wee bit different. You'd need to make a spacer of about .004" to allow for the depth changes. It's also tough to hook up a kick down bracket to these motors for the TH350. Might want to use a manual valve body and a lokar shifter of sorts. Kickdown is controlled by the computer on the later models.

[bagged81]

Does that go for both the LT_'s and LS_'s?

[FirstGen]

[QUOTE=Project1970]Tight as in almost too short, or almost too narrow to get over the fittings?
QUOTE]

Tight as in too small of a diameter to get on to the radiator. I actually trimmed down the length.

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by bagged81

Does that go for both the LT_'s and LS_'s?

I believe the LT series uses the same bosses as the old motors. I have a later model Vortec (5.7L LQ30) that is bolted to a Th400.

It's the 1999 + Vortec's that need the spacer.

[FirstGen]

Originally Posted by 67c10step

They are all LSXX based engines/blocks

Technically speaking GM classifies them as Gen III base motors. This includes the 4.8FE block/5.3FE block/5.7AL block/6.0FE block/6.0AL block.

Pretty neat that all three of these motors have the same rod length and stroke just different bores. The 6.0 iron block motors also have a solid steel crank while the other motors have hollow cranks. Technically you can interchange almost every part on these things except for the pistons (different bores).

[FirstGen]

Originally Posted by DarkFox1

ah so thats where that hose goes lol, I saw it but didn't know where it went.
couldn't you just tap into the overflow bottle? or drill a hole in the radiator and screw in a tap? I'm not too fond of welding things on

These motors have a pretty complex cooling system. I'm not really sure where you would want to "tap" in to. I think you are making alot more work for yourself compared to plugging the return side line weather this by welding or using a rubber line with clamps and a plug. Its your time though...

From the factory it goes from the passenger head to the driver head then in one side of the TB which heats the TB for emissions (small power loss also) then out the TB and back to the radiator.

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by FirstGen

Technically speaking GM classifies them as Gen III base motors. This includes the 4.8FE block/5.3FE block/5.7AL block/6.0FE block/6.0AL block.

Pretty neat that all three of these motors have the same rod length and stroke just different bores. The 6.0 iron block motors also have a solid steel crank while the other motors have hollow cranks. Technically you can interchange almost every part on these things except for the pistons (different bores).

I have to disagree. The 6.0L uses a different block and crank. No interchange without serious machine work.

The 4.8L and 5.3L uses different crank and rods, but the same block.

They all use the same head, I am told, but I have not validated that yet.

[FirstGen]

Originally Posted by grendel

I have to disagree. The 6.0L uses a different block and crank. No interchange without serious machine work.

The 4.8L and 5.3L uses different crank and rods, but the same block.

They all use the same head, I am told, but I have not validated that yet.

Absolutly not. Every motor has identical crank and rod specs. We just put together a 5.7 with a 6.0 crank, stock rods, new rings on stock pistons. All we did was bearings. It was a safty tear down/rebuild.

Read any of the GM tech literature and they tell you all this. I've been through a few GM GenIII courses