* * * 5.3 swap with 4L60e and other questions ... * * *

[droopyzda1]

Hello guys. I am a newbie at this this site. I had a 2000 Silverado extended cab I sold a couple months back and loved the 5.3 I had in it. Had it for 4 years and no issues. Hence this swap I am now doing to my 1994 C1500 W/T. This is my engine first swap. I am mechanically inclined and I recently pulled out the broken 4.3 with 4L60e trans that was in. I was told the trans was rebuilt a couple years back so I would like to reuse it without spending any extra cash. I purchased a bare 2002 5.3 DBC with basically the block, heads, intake and wire harness that had been partially cut. The person selling it got it from LKQ for their truck but sold the truck before they can put 5.3 in. I got this and other parts off craigslist, so I call this my craigslist budget build. Throughout the pass couple weeks, I have gotten a 5.3 flywheel with the concaved center (kind of curved in the center) where the bolt go, a 2002 PCM, 2004 full factory truck intake box and hoses, ls1 intake manifold (may hold off till later) and few other things from the internet like dirty dingo mounts. I swapped the frame mounts to V8 mounts already and it was not that hard as long as U have someone else assisting. This is going to be a simple driver on the weekends, nothing to be raced. I have a few questions that I see different answers, so here they are:

Can I use my 1994 4L60e with this motor? Will a shift kit help with extra power of the 5.3?

I read up on some people saying to swap out the inside trans harness to that of one of 1996 and later. Or when I have the PCM reflashed, can I tell the one doing, it to disable the PWM for the older 4L60e trans.

I am looking for an inexpensive way to mount the old 4.3 a/c compressor. Is it possible to use the old 4.3 a/c bracket on the 5.3 with some modification?

Can the power steering pump off the 4.3 bolt on the 5.3 alternator / p/s bracket?

Is it recommended to change the rear main seal on the 5.3 since I have it on the engine stand?

I am planning on getting an LS wire harness ready for the 4 wire hook up, or if that does not go thru I will be doing the harness myself (I am soldering inclined).

In getting the 4 wire harness, the EGR and rear O2 sensor wires are deleted. I live in Miami which doesn't require emmisions testing, but I do not want to be killing myself with all those unfiltered exhaust fumes. Can I simply put on a couple aftermarket cats to filter that out? Will they last even thought the O2's will be deleted?

Can I used the 5.3 flywheel that is concaved ( kind of curved in the center) as is or will I need a spacer for the 5.3 to meet with the 4L60e?

Thanks and I know I am missing something

[blacstar]

Hello guys. I am a newbie at this this site. I had a 2000 Silverado extended cab I sold a couple months back and loved the 5.3 I had in it. Had it for 4 years and no issues. Hence this swap I am now doing to my 1994 C1500 W/T. This is my engine first swap. I am mechanically inclined and I recently pulled out the broken 4.3 with 4L60e trans that was in. I was told the trans was rebuilt a couple years back so I would like to reuse it without spending any extra cash. I purchased a bare 2002 5.3 DBC with basically the block, heads, intake and wire harness that had been partially cut. The person selling it got it from LKQ for their truck but sold the truck before they can put 5.3 in. I got this and other parts off craigslist, so I call this my craigslist budget build. Throughout the pass couple weeks, I have gotten a 5.3 flywheel with the concaved center (kind of curved in the center) where the bolt go, a 2002 PCM, 2004 full factory truck intake box and hoses, ls1 intake manifold (may hold off till later) and few other things from the internet like dirty dingo mounts. I swapped the frame mounts to V8 mounts already and it was not that hard as long as U have someone else assisting. This is going to be a simple driver on the weekends, nothing to be raced. I have a few questions that I see different answers, so here they are:

Can I use my 1994 4L60e with this motor? Will a shift kit help with extra power of the 5.3?

I read up on some people saying to swap out the inside trans harness to that of one of 1996 and later. Or when I have the PCM reflashed, can I tell the one doing, it to disable the PWM for the older 4L60e trans.

I am looking for an inexpensive way to mount the old 4.3 a/c compressor. Is it possible to use the old 4.3 a/c bracket on the 5.3 with some modification?

Can the power steering pump off the 4.3 bolt on the 5.3 alternator / p/s bracket?

Is it recommended to change the rear main seal on the 5.3 since I have it on the engine stand?

I am planning on getting an LS wire harness ready for the 4 wire hook up, or if that does not go thru I will be doing the harness myself (I am soldering inclined).

In getting the 4 wire harness, the EGR and rear O2 sensor wires are deleted. I live in Miami which doesn't require emmisions testing, but I do not want to be killing myself with all those unfiltered exhaust fumes. Can I simply put on a couple aftermarket cats to filter that out? Will they last even thought the O2's will be deleted?

Can I used the 5.3 flywheel that is concaved ( kind of curved in the center) as is or will I need a spacer for the 5.3 to meet with the 4L60e?

Thanks and I know I am missing something

there is a sticky on the first page, specifically for this swap, that will answer all of your questions

[Mickeymotormount]

I would check the sticky as suggested above. I will answer what I can.

Chances are you can use your current trans but I would investigate the changing of the interior trans harness to work with the new PCM. You may just be able to rework the exterior harness to accomodate the interior trans harness.

I would think the trans would hold up provided that your not going to be drag racing or beating on it. If it's babied, it may hold up. I'm crossing my fingers on this one since I have been babying my 4L60E backed 6.0. So far, so good. Occasional light trailering and scrap metal runs. 6000 miles and counting.

If you have this compressor mounting bracket, check this link. It worked for me.
http://www.maliburacing.com/forum/vi...p?f=34&t=79059

The power steering pump may work. I actually used a 4.3 pump on my 6.0. It came out of a 2000 or '01 truck with 4.3. In order to access the bolts behind the pulley, I burned 2 holes 180 degrees apart in the pulley to use a socket to remove the bolts since I didn't have the proper pulley puller.

I would change the rear main seal. I did mine since my engine had 140,000 on it when I installed it.

Check this link out: It may answer some questions about the flex plate and spacer:


http://www.hotrodlane.cc/PDFFILES/Lisa%20Tahoe.pdf









Here's a pic of the crank flange that DOES NOT require the spacer.

[droopyzda1]

Thanks mickeymotormount. I have looked online for some of these answers and everyone had different answers. Thank's for clarifying some of them.

Here are some pics .......

ON THE WAY TO ITS NEW HOME:



PARKED AT HOME:





FUTURE WHEELS I HAVE SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR IT:



PULLED THE MOTOR & TRANS:




THE NEW V8 MOUNTS:



THE NEW MOTOR:



THE BACK OF THE ENGINE:



THE WAY IT LOOKS AS OF 4/6/13:

[Mickeymotormount]

Sorry for the lack of the recent crank pic. I was doing some cleaning in my Photobucket and forgot that any moving of pics affects posted pics in forums. I did place it back in my last post.


As for your new vehicle, I like it. It's a clean looking truck. I'm sure she's gonna run good when that 5.3 is between the fender wells.

[blacstar]

what size spacer are you gonna run for the ss wheels?

[chevy_addicted]

Nice truck

[droopyzda1]

My 4.3 alternator does not line up with mounting holes on the 5.3 accessory bracket. Could I use one off a 95 and later 350 engine set up or the one off the 5.3?

[Mickeymotormount]

Just use the one off the 5.3, if you have it. The brown wire that went to your original alternator can be used and plugged into the "B" terminal of the alternator plug. This should work since this is what I did for my '93.

[jeast]

When i did my swap, the tranny shop recomended i install a shift improvement kit and use the v6 torque converter (higher stall than the v8 torque but same strength). Ive been running for a couple summers now and everything is holding up fine. Time for more power now though, turbo build this winter lol.