5.3 prep questions

[Sooner Aviator]

Hello all, great forum! Already answered a lot of my questions. Am swapping out my anemic 4.3 with a 5.3 in my 02 RCSB Silverado.

-What should i do to the 37K mile 5.3 before i install it. As in cleaning and new parts.

Not performance mods really, unless theyre inexpensive relative to the total project cost. One person suggested draining the oil, and filling the crankcase and cylinders with kerosene and rotating every now and then to flush and clean it... is this reccomended?

Thx,
Jesse

[RedHeartbeat]

wow, don't think I'd ever do the kerosene thing unless the block is seized and probably wouldnt do it then. Change oil. Replace rear seal if it looks like it could have been leaking. Take off intake and vacuum up all the garbage under it. Thats about all I'd do. Leave the intake off until the engine is in the vehicle. Tape over the intake holes so no garbage gets into the ports.

[Botlfed]

before install remove the oil sending unit from behind the intake, or else you'll break it

[Sooner Aviator]

before install remove the oil sending unit from behind the intake, or else you'll break it

Yeah, I did that on my 6, and it was still in the truck!
Jesse

[txarkitekt]

I would only do a oil change and quick inspection of the gaskets/seals...in addition to removing the intake and doing some general cleaning. Its also a good thing to check the Knock Sensors and the wires--they are in the valley cover and you will see them once you remove the intake.

As for the oil change, I would replace it with cheap oil...so that once you get the motor installed--start it up and also add some motor flush to the crankcase. Who knows what crap got in there before! Once the flush has worked itself through, go back in with good oil and a good oil filter. Mobil 1 is preferred.

[George C]

before install remove the oil sending unit from behind the intake, or else you'll break it

never once have i broke the oil sender. I install the complete drivetrain as one with wiring and all




to the OP ive used kerosene to throughly clean motors before. granted motor was on stand and was just the shortblock. did this to remove any thing i didnt seem to like. went thru a few gallons doing this with brushes. after using kerosene you should spray everything down with WD40 till you install the motor

[txarkitekt]

never once have i broke the oil sender...

I was thinking the same thing...

[zebra]

before install remove the oil sending unit from behind the intake, or else you'll break it

i installed mine with the intake on & still didn't break anything

[molitor]

i like to buy a can of spray on chain lube grease from walmart and hose blocks down when i'm not going to get to them for a while, its sucks to clean though unless you have a dip vat.

other than that, if you have a screw in type compression tester you might test each cylinder and write down the test results in a notebook and keep a log of everything. and be sure you take the TB off and clean it really well. i would also install a brand new thermostat and you dont have to flush the engine per-se, but pouring about 2 quarts of diesel in the oil tube and letting it sit a couple of days will help break up the sludge in the bottom of the pan, you can then drain it and you'll be one step ahead

[RedHeartbeat]

yuck, that ought to be nasty. Have you ever seen engine fogging oil they sell at boat shops? At the end of the season when you put the boat away you fog the engine with the stuff to prevent rust and corrosion. When spring rolls around you wash it off.