use the 5.3 flexplate & make sure it's on the right way. i don't think they'll go on backwards, but there's no harm in checking
yeah. don't compare it to the 4.3 stuff - they're gonna be different. as far as i know, the ls truck engines used the same flexplate from year to year (specific to the transmission, obviously). you'd get some clearer info from somebody who's worked with automatics - which is pretty much everybody else here