5.7 to 5.3 vortec swap

[lehtola]

greetings!

It's been probably 10 years since I've last posted. I'm sure there are tons of threads on this topic but just getting back into this I thought I'd ask directly.

I have a 1990 Jimmy with the 350 TBI. It's been sitting probably the entire time since I've posted last. Prior to me abandoning her for better gas mileage she was my daily driver. 78,000 miles. At the time I needed a top end job.

I'm now looking to change the 5.7 for more power and a better transmission.

What can I do? Easy to do? Any help is appreciated.

Very respectfully,

Wayne

 

[ZooMad75]

You are right there are a ton of threads on the subject. I've got one. What's the budget? That's what is going to dictate how you get the job done. There is more than one way to skin that cat for sure. It can be done on a frugal budget like mine, but I've got an advantage working at a Chevy dealer. I say frugal, because it's not a cheap swap. A lot depends on your ability with a wrench.

If all you need is a top end job you might be better off changing out the heads for better units like the 5.7 vortec or similar aftermarket replacement. It will have more power, just not sure how much better fuel economy it might have.

 

[lehtola]

You are right there are a ton of threads on the subject. I've got one. What's the budget? That's what is going to dictate how you get the job done. There is more than one way to skin that cat for sure. It can be done on a frugal budget like mine, but I've got an advantage working at a Chevy dealer. I say frugal, because it's not a cheap swap. A lot depends on your ability with a wrench.

If all you need is a top end job you might be better off changing out the heads for better units like the 5.7 vortec or similar aftermarket replacement. It will have more power, just not sure how much better fuel economy it might have.

Thanks for the reply...I'm not concerned about the cost so much and I work on all of my own stuff so it'll be ok.

Just curious where a good place to get the donar parts. Salvage? Or somewhere online? I've tried looking for suburbans and such. I've had an escalade in the past with the 6.2 and thought about that but the 5.3 will provide me with plenty of what I need and I'm sure at a lower cost.

 

[dyeager535]

I don't think the swap would be particularly difficult, especially if you are going to go with the newer transmission to boot. Hardest part is probably wiring. The LS swaps are so popular, any hardware necessary for the swap is likely now available off the shelf.