Chevy & GMC Vans

If anyone is looking for an almost new 5.3L Gen III engine, complete with everything for a swap, check out Chev's posting in the "For Sale" forum under "2005 5.3 for v8 transplant". I've seen it and it's worth looking into. I wish I'd found it before I purchased my "used" engine.

is the 5.3 block similr at all to the 5.7 block, has anyone ever done this swap? would it be almost as easy or way different? and do those 5.3s put out comparable power?

GnarliSafari wrote:is the 5.3 block similr at all to the 5.7 block, has anyone ever done this swap? would it be almost as easy or way different? and do those 5.3s put out comparable power?

I'm with you about the same questions.I've seen guys talk about these swaps,but don't understand the attraction to it.Maybe someone will chime in and explain.

I may have a solution for you. Neil (LS1AWD) has been looking at getting a Ford something or other. He might be interested in selling his van. AWD with an LS1. Damn thing is reliable and trouble-free. It would save you tons of fabbing work etc, even if you were to yang the engine/mounts ets out and stick it in your truck.

Just an idea

GnarliSafari, the 5.3 engine is one of the new LS style engines, similar to the LS1 And up. It is a great engine but not like the old style 5.7 or 350 as we all know it. It has different mounting points that you will need to consider in a swap. Trans connections are different too, as it has a different bolt pattern. I have noticed that the old style will fit if you don't mind leaving out one bolt on the tranny. I have this engine in my pick up and it is a great little engine. Good mileage and power for what it is. You can do a lot to them and raise the power up fairly easy too with few to no parts. If you have TBI now you will have to rewire it for the new 5.3, as the wiring is totally different. This swap can be done and has, LS1AWD did it with a LS1 which is a bigger version of the same engine, but not as easy as dropping a 5.7 TBI into one of our vans.

I am about 70% complete on my 5.3L swap. It is an intense project, and not for the casual hobbiest. There are many things that require deep thought, fabrication and extra parts. The engine is almost too wide for the doghouse, but does fit. The transmission is a 4L60E, but it has a different belhousing, bigger and deeper torque converter, bigger front pump and a much larger and heavier input shaft. Nobody makes engine mount adapters yet, and A/C in the LS location requires crossmember notching and boxing (unless you get creative and duplicate the Astro accessory drive system. I did). Exhaust is tricky as you require the Y pipe with 2 cats, and 4 O2 sensors (unless you have custom programming to eliminate the rear O2 sensors). Fuel system can be different depending on the engine (some have 1 fuel feed and no rail regulator, some have the conventional feed and tank return). Single feed lines will require the proper tank sender/fuel pump regulator unit, or an external bypass fuel regulator to eliminate the return pipe to the rail (but you will run the return from the regulator back to the tank as usual). The Astro pump does produce a bit more pressure than the LS engines require, but they may not match the volume requirement. The fuel pump will need to be upgraded. It goes on and on, and is a very challenging swap. The benefits are the reliability (if you don't cut corners on your swap), power and efficiency of one of G.M.'s best small block engines to date. This engine is only 323 c.i., but produces better horsepower and usable torque than most of the Gen II small blocks it replaced. I work for a G.M. truck plant and have experienced the power this engine has. For me, there was no question that I would go the extra distance and upgrade my Astro with the 5.3L V8 and the incredible electronic engine management system that operates this powerplant. As a closing note, any V8 Astro swap is difficult to service, so by choosing the current 5.3L, I expect another 10 years of reliable service out of this engine, without needing to tear it down.
Hope this information is useful to anyone contemplating a V8 swap.

Good luck with the swap! If you have any questions about the pump etc, I can hook you up with LS1AWD who pulled this swap off quite some time ago. I believe HPStan also did this swap. Great guys to hit up for questions!