04 Z71, swapping in a new 5.3

[bradshow]

Came up with a few questions I thought of while taking pics of the engine bay last night. I'm a decent shadetree mechanic but I've never pulled an LS engine before. The engine I bought has everything, intake, headers, CP's, etc, its complete. So nothing needs to be swapped over.

1. It appears that I can get away with not having to take the A/C lines off, is this true?
2. I will pull the radiator just to make sure I have enough room, probably a good idea right?
3. It's a Z-71, is there anything that may get into the way from the underside that I should know about? I'm leaving the tranny in place.

[00shortbox]

Just unbolt the compressor and let it lay out of the way, same with the power steering pump. Yes take the radiator out, will give you some more space for sure. Never pulled one out of that era but I know the NNBS ones are a LOT easier to pull out without the intake manifold on the engine.

[Frenchy]

if it were me, I'd strip it to a long block to re&re. Saves some grief.

[bradshow]

20 total hours, only 5 of those I had help with. Pulled out and swapped in quite easily. Only issues were the drivers side manifold bolts were seized up. Left the radiator in. Now that I know the process after a few years I'll swap in a beefed up 6.0.