Thinking of ls1 swap...

[gibbs6]

I need some help as I am not the most knowledgable at this sort of thing. I am considering doing a ls1 swap(5.7l) in on my 00 RCSB Gmc with the 5.3l. I am wondering exactly what I would need to purchase to make this swap happen, just the most effecient way to do the swap, I will appreciate it if somebody can lend some time to help explain most of it to me as I have searched the forum and read a little but still need a bit of explaining. Thanks

[L82gofast]

I'm sure others will chime in here, but it will bolt up. I think the easiest way is to use the LS1 long block and just swap your truck intake, water pump, acc's, pulleys over to it. Then all you need is to get the pcm tuned....

Oh, and start saving for new tires cause you are gonna burn them up

[farmtruc]

This just gave me an idea to help out all of our new comers.

See the new post in the LS1 Conversion section.

thanks,

allen

[gibbs6]

Couple of more questions, as I have read all I need is the block and heads and that everything else will bolt up and thats it best to use the truck intake. Will the stock truck headers be alright till I can purchase some good longtubes for the engine? Also say I have some Asp underdrive pulleys will I need to use the stock with the engine or will those be fine, also with the air intake would it be best to use the stock or the Volant i have now? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks

[L82gofast]

Originally posted by gibbs6@Nov 4 2003, 08:15 PM
Couple of more questions, as I have read all I need is the block and heads and that everything else will bolt up and thats it best to use the truck intake. Will the stock truck headers be alright till I can purchase some good longtubes for the engine? Also say I have some Asp underdrive pulleys will I need to use the stock with the engine or will those be fine, also with the air intake would it be best to use the stock or the Volant i have now? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks

Yes. The manifolds will bolt up fine. If you are using the accesories from the truck now the ASP pulley will work. I think the ASP part number for the LS1 and truck pulleys are the same. The intake you have now will work also, there should be no dimensional change with this swap at all. start wrench'in!

[gibbs6]

Hey man thanks and thanks to farmtruc that thread answers alot of questions. But also if I go to buy some good long tube headers I would to need to buy them for the Ls1 not the 5.3l right? Thanks again. O btw I have been lookin on ebay but most I have seen are complete engines w/transmissions or just complete engines and the only blocks I have seen have either have a defect and come with no heads, whats the best way to go about getting the engine? Thanks

[farmtruc]

Originally posted by gibbs6@Nov 5 2003, 06:09 PM
Hey man thanks and thanks to farmtruc that thread answers alot of questions. But also if I go to buy some good long tube headers I would to need to buy them for the Ls1 not the 5.3l right? Thanks again. O btw I have been lookin on ebay but most I have seen are complete engines w/transmissions or just complete engines and the only blocks I have seen have either have a defect and come with no heads, whats the best way to go about getting the engine? Thanks

The corvette, truck and fbody pulleys are different height, so after you get that long block ls1 in there, just pretend you have a 5.3L in there, and order all your stuff for a truck, not a fbody or vette.
You're welcome on the thread. Get the long tubes for the truck, the exhaust bolt pattern is the same.
For your engine, see what valvegod (shaun) from SMCPerformance can set you up with. Tell him Allen sent you, heheh.
He sells aftermarket parts and has connections to get OEM style blocks and accessories.
He is more than used parts, but less than new dealer stuff, but his stuff is good and he stands by his parts. He builds all his engines from surplus parts and individual parts he buys from GM.
For example, if an engine is going down the assembly line and the intake gets broken, they don't replace the intake, they scrap the whole engine and ppl like shaun buy it up.

good luck,

allen

[gibbs6]

The pulleys will work though correct? And also on switching the parts with the block what about pistons, cam etc.? I see on the site I can get the block for $600 but what about a estimate on heads? Sorry again for all the questions.

[farmtruc]

I would use the volant if you have it, but the stock one will work fine also. Your truck is going to look completely stock except there will be an ls1 lurking underneath the intake, lol.
Yes, the truck ASP pulley will work, if they are for a truck engine. When you buy things for the project, just buy stuff for the truck. Except, things like cam and other internal stuff.
I would buy a complete long block so that you don't have to build an engine up, I don't think you can use the stock 5.3L pistons with the ls1 block, shaun would know for sure.
The heads go for about 250/300 for a bare pair.

The cam for the 5.3L and ls1 are interchangeable, as well as the 6.0L, the heads are swapable as are everything else that bolts to the block.

no prob on the questions, keep them coming,

allen

[gibbs6]

thanks for the help, so it would be best as you would to say to buy a complete long block with the heads,cam,pistons etc. already assembled to make the swap easier? can you shoot me a estimate for that and about how much I could get for my 5.3l as I cannot call shaun at smcperformance till tomorrow, also do you think the 5.7l would be best over the 6.0l as all i am looking for is a mid 13 runner NA with the help of a high stall and gears, with good gas mileage as i am not trying to build a 11 sec. runner anytime soon? Thanks again