Self introduction and 5.3l swap questions

[phoenix19l]

Hey yall,
I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself. I am Jordan and Im from Charleston, SC. Im 22 and playin in the world of small blocks. I have a 2001 4.3l xtreme and am looking for more power. I recently fell acrossed a 5.3l vortec from a 2002 1500. I am looking to do the swap but am kind of lost. I have the engine, trans, wiring harness, all accessories, and ecu. I know I will need to swap motor mounts, radiator, fans, but what else needs to be swapped over? will I need to shorten my drive shaft? how about my rear end? Where can I find a good motor mount conversion for the 2001 xtreme? any help is appreciated. Thanks for helping out a young buck.

[spacecadet]

Welcome to the site. I think you might get more answers to your questions if you post in the rigt spot. You posted in the classifieds.

Anyways. theres a lots of stuff inthe parts store here. You might bee able to use mounts from a donor pick-up. However I am no sure cause I haven't installed one yet.
Space

[ZR1BLAZER]

welcome to the site. you will need to cut the frame in a few spots just to get the motor in. that swap is really inteded for the highly qualified fabricator or a very skilled swapper. not something you want to tackle your 1st time out. but you can buy a book on it. i think you can still get it at www.v8s10s.com

[phoenix19l]

How do I get a Mod to move this thread?
The books that I have bought/read really dont give any information on the newer 98-04 models. What would happen if I decided not to notch the frame? would the engine stick up higher and require a cowl hood?

[Rinkrat456]

Just notch the frame. It takes all but 2 minutes with a 4" angle grinder with a slim cut off wheel, and box in the frame with 3/16 or 1/4 flat stock once you're done. The whole job shouldn't take more than a half hour. Not notching the frame would mean the engine would sit up at least 6-7" higher, and would not clear the trans tunnel. Your motor mounts would also be dangerously long, amidst countless other clearance issues not even worth mentioning. It's not a plausible idea. Just do it right the first time or keep the stock motor you have.

[phoenix19l]

Exactly what and where on the frame will it have to be notched? around the engine mounts or what?

[Ryoung68]

I know the passenger side frame will need notched to clear the compressor, but search the forum and gallery. I know there are post and pics of the needed mods.

And welcome to the site! :icon_wave:

[Scotty_S-15]

Yes, welcome to the site.

I'd suggest you go our "forums" list and pick the "Projects" forum, and the 2nd thead from the top is a "sticky" about Carshop's project. A WHOLE bunch of great photos, including carving up the crossmember for the oil pan, and the frame rail for compressor clearance.
(Link) http://www.s10v8.com/showthread.php?t=1073757272

And then, check out the "LS1,LS6 etc." forum. Take a look at all the recent threads, you could pick up a bunch of good information.
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[Rinkrat456]

This is what you're looking at for notching. The crossmember notch is to clear the truck oil pan, the frame notch is for the A/C compressor.

[phoenix19l]

great pics rat..thanks. When I mount the engine on 4.3 mounts with the adapter plate, will the engine and the condensor and brake booster be in the way?

[Rinkrat456]

You unbolt the 4.3L mounts from your frame, throw them away, then buy replacement 2.8L mounts to bolt on in their place. It's a direct bolt on, you thread the stock bolts right back into the same bolt holes...one at the top and two at the bottom. Then the conversion plates slide over the 2.8L mounts with a bolt through both the conversion plate and 2.8L mount. The conversion plates bolt to each side of the block, which allow for 1" of side to side adjustment on the X-axis, 1-1/4" of front to back adjustment on the Z-axis and has 2 slots for 3/4" up and down placement of the motor on the Y-axis...so these LSx conversion plates have quite a bit of tune-ability in them allowing you to move the motor around obstacles in the engine bay.

Plan on sliding the motor all the way back and 1/2" to the passenger side on the lowest engine height slots (upper plate slots, you'll see).

Being that your Xtreme is an 01, you can re-use the stock PCM you already have and reflash it for the V8 tune. Anybody with tuning software around you locally can do this, which I'd recommend; or you could send your PCM out to a company to have it tuned if there's nobody locally. I have the ability to do this if you wish with HP Tuners pro edition, PM if you're interested.

Depending on how comfortable you are with wiring will determine which route to take for your engine harness. You could merge the 4.3L harness with the 5.3L harness and go from there doing it yourself, or have a company build you a one-off harness that is literally plug-and-play out of the box...very convenient I might add. I've had great business with Current Performance wiring over the years and have bought from them twice now. Their harnesses are worth the asking price in my opinion, but I say that because I have trouble with sophisticated wiring diagrams that demand perfection.

You do not need to swap radiators, the 4.3L radiator is sufficient as long as you get a good fan or set of fans to pull air through. The problem child is clearance between the front accessories and said fan, especially from a truck. The truck accessories stick out 1-1/2" further out from the block than the Vette accessories and I believe 3/4" from the F-body accessories. So there's a room issue you'll have to address, putting the radiator into the core support solves this.

You will most likely have to shorten your rear driveshaft. No biggie.

[phoenix19l]

GREAT INFO RINKRAT!!! Exactly what is the purpose of notching the frame? is it for clearance with the headers? Also, I already have the 5.3 PCM. Will I still need to flash it or will this one work plug and play?

[Rinkrat456]

If it's not too much to ask, "Rinkrat" or "Rink" please.

The purpose of notching the frame is to clear the oil pan and to make room for the stock-style A/C compressor.

You can sell the 5.3L PCM you have and use your stock 4.3L 98 PCM after it's been reflashed for the V8. That way there are fewer wiring modifications to the harness, but I do not know what all is needed, as I haven't a clue. I do not wire engine/trans harnesses. I buy my harnesses already made for my specific builds and plug them in.

[phoenix19l]

Sorry Rinkrat...I understand the notches now. Do I really have to flash the PCM or can I just use it and use the 5.3 harness?

[Rinkrat456]

Regardless of what PCM you use you'll need to reflash or tune it anyway. You're putting a motor from a full size with 3.73's and 31.6" tires and a 26 or 32 gallon fuel tank into a truck that comes stock with 3.42's, 26.1" tall tires and a piss poor excuse for a 19 gallon tank. Not to mention there is no room for a clutch fan so you'll need to have the PCM control the parameters for an electric one unless you afro-engineer some thermostatic probe to trigger a relay. Things will be need to be addressed within the PCM, needing a tune.

I'm willing to bet you can use quite a bit off that 5.3L harness, if not the entire thing. But I have no clue as to where you splice into your existing harness to get all the gauges to work, Park/Nuetral safety switch to deactivate, tell the PCM what gear you're in so it can set up the correct trans calculations and even work the speedometer so you shift out of first.

[phoenix19l]

gotcha. great explanation. thanks. I like the way you answer questions. Its never just a simple yes or no. You actually explain the reasoning so no one will have to ask it later. thanks

[Rinkrat456]

I find 'why' to be a better question than any else, so I answer the 'why' when I reply. Glad I could be of help.