What I did today...

[TimE]

I've been puttering along at removing this 5.3 for a coupla months now and I finally decided that today was the day that it came out.

Getting it lifted up


Sitting on the slab


Couldn't get the exhaust bolts to break loose so I still have exhaust. I'll be able to get it broke loose now!!


I only had one OOPS!! This is on the back of the intake where it caught the cowl.


Now the only thing is I don't know if it will ever run again!! I'm gonna be asking for lots of

If I ever get around to actually assembling anything and making some progress I will start an actual build thread. Until then, just random posting for me!

Sorry for the big pics. I'll work on figuring out resizing them tomorrow.

[jason65]

Thats cool. Why did you go with a 5.3 and not a 6.0?

[joe231]

Jason, Tim got a good deal on a whole wrecked truck.
the 5.3 is a sweet set up also.
looks good Tim!!!
nice progress!!!

[LILRED66]

After looking at my factory 283 and 327 V8 motors, I had to do a double-take looking at your 5.3. They are so much more complicated and busy than the old carb'd motors. Wow...I would be lost in space working with one of those, but hats off to you for tackling the project. Please keep us posted on your progress.

[YOLO]

nice work. keep it up!

[ChiefRocka]

SWeet !!

5.3....the NEW 327 !!!

[scotts62]

Nice dude!! Keep the pics comming in
Ok you got it out today and we expect it runnung by tomorrow

[joe231]

[62 short step]

What its not running yet!

[scotts62]

there ya go help us force motivate ol' Tim!!

[PrerunnerRob]

I've reasearched this swap alot over the past year, and here is what I have learned:
You will need outside help to make it not throw the check engine light, GM usese a very easy to manipulate system, and there is a TON of info out there to help you. Let me see what I can dig up for you, and I'll post it later today.

[TimE]

Here's a little background on the 5.3.

My initial intention was to run an I6 with a 4 barrel/split exhaust, from one of the old pontiac sprint sixes, backed up by a NP833 o/d tranny and a 3.42 12 bolt. This is the direction I was going and then I ran into a friend of mine that has a towing service. We were talking and I asked him if he had any late model stuff. He then told me about an '05 rollover that he had.

I went to his impound to look at it and it turns out it was an '03 that had been sitting for a year/year and a half with the hood up and the front end pretty much torn away leaving the motor partially exposed to the elements. For those of you that don't know, we tend to get alot of rain here in south Alabama.

I immediately called and asked him if he minded if I covered the motor up to help protect it, from that point forward anyway, and asked him what he wanted for it. I was told to cover it if I wanted too and he would get back with me on a price. Didn't hear from him for a week or so, called him up and he still didn't have a price. We talked about it and he told me $1000 for anything I needed to make the motor run in my truck. This is when the direction of my '64 started to change.

We talked back and forth for several weeks and he ultimately brought the truck out to my ol' shed/shop where I work on my stuff and told me to get what I wanted off of it. Now that the motor is out I intend to talk with him again and see how liberal "whatever I want" is. I hope to keep the column, ALL of the wiring harness, gas tank, rearend(and if I get that I would like to have the master cylinder/brake booster too), the seats and pretty much anything else tha I can remove and possibly use for my '64.

Right now, my poor ol' 64 is sitting on jackstands with no front clip and the rear suspension has been removed. I installed a CPP C-notch and then found out that the studs on the Firestone bags that I have were not long enough to bolt in with the notch. I was planning on getting another pair of bags when the 5.3 deal came up. Then the Holidays...

Basically my truck has been on hold waiting for more funding and motivation. It's time to start bulling forward with it, even if it means reinstalling my drop springs for the time being.

Whew! That was a mouthful!!

[TimE]

Thanks for the kind comments guys.

Jason- That's why I went with the 5.3. Can't be too choicy when the price is right!

Lilred- I'll agree with you, it's a little overwhelming looking at it initially, but as you posted not too long ago "inch by inch, it's a cinch". I am by no means exactly sure how I am gonna get this thing together yet but I have found the wiring diagrams for the donor and will sit down and start studying them when the time comes. My first step will be to get the I6 out of the '64 and get the 5.3 physically into its place.

Rob- Thanks for the info to come. I hope to get a local tuner to get me lined out when the time comes. There are a couple within about 45 miles from me that have great reps.

Thanks to olsofti for the pics of the motor mount adapters. Now I need to get some 1/4" plate and get started on them.

I guess since I started this thread, it would be as good a place as any to compile all of the info that I gather on this swap for future references for everyone. Sorta like an LS conversion thread.

As far as the motor running... technically, I could bust it off sitting on the slab.



Bear with me guys as this will probably be a slow process. I am also tinkering with a few other things at the same time I intend to do this conversion so progress will be a little slow.

Thanks again to all who have posted!! I'll keep this thread updated as I get things done...or not done, whichever way it goes.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by TimE

Bear with me guys as this will probably be a slow process. I am also tinkering with a few other things at the same time I intend to do this conversion so progress will be a little slow.

We’ll be here and looking for an incremental update with accompanying pics. Looks like a viper nest to me - but to each his own. Good Luck and keep us all updated.

Mac.

[502tripower]

Personaly I prefer the 5.3 to the 6.0. Good score. If he said anything for 1000.00 I would offer 1000.00 for the whole rig and be done.

[protrash64]

Nice score TimE....... I just read an article about this swap and it appears that someone makes a kit to swap these and get rid of a bunch of the unnecessary stuff. Cant remember where I saw it, probably Classic Trucks Mag as I subscribe. I saw a 4.8( the new 283) for sale locally for 300 bucks and it really got my head spinnin'.

[ol Curt]

I have a 5.3 in my '00 Silverado and I like it a lot!

[protrash64]

TimE.......March 'o9 issue of Classic Trucks has the article about these swaps. Good luck with your project.

[TimE]

Thanks! I'll have to go pick that one up.

502- He told me he wanted the hull back when I was through pulling whatever I wanted. I assume he wants it back so he can crush it when the scrap price goes back up.

Everyone else- thanks for the kind words!!

[olsofti]

Good job Tim,there's no turning back now!

Looks like in one of the pics that the cover mount is broken off.I fixed a wrecked truck with the same problem.Think I used JB weld and it hasn't had a problem.Just make sure it seals well.

If you have any more questions just ask.I'll help any way I can.

[TimE]

Thanks olsofti! I'm sure I'll pick your brain from time to time.

Yeah, I had an issue with clearance when I was pulling the motor, heard a 'pop' and thought "there's no turning back, it's gotta come out". As it turns out the 'pop' was the rear cover mount and the MAP sensor. I wasn't much concerned about the mount as I figured JB weld would work as you mentioned. The MAP sensor, on the other hand, broke off the mounting tabs and is flush with the manifold. I'll have to see what happens on that one.

[ol Curt]

Originally Posted by protrash64

TimE.......March 'o9 issue of Classic Trucks has the article about these swaps. Good luck with your project.

Is that out yet? My buddies truck is in there.

[TimE]

My wife went to Wal-Mart this evening and they didn't have it. Although that doesn't mean it's not on the stands because our WM stinks!

I will be actively looking for it though.

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by TimE

because Wal-Mart stinks!

I will be actively looking for it though.

yes it does!!!

Yeah i checked here too when we went to wally world tonight, yeah no luck..

[TimE]

I got these pics from an Ebay ad that is linked in another post. I am thinking something along these lines for the dash in my '64. Time will tell...












I realize this is a '61 so my dash is different but I still think it could work.