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Finally... my 5.3 swap

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Well its week 3 of daily driving the blazer and I could not be more pleased. I drove it half way sane last tank and it got 13 mpg [emoji1], that is a victory in itself for me! I believe if I drive it like a grandpa it should get even better.

I think the single best modification I did during this swap is the transgo shift kit, it shift so quick and under WOT it absolutely slams. I definitely recommend it!

But moving forward my checklist is :
1.Drop tank and replace sending unit.
2. Tidy up some wires underhood
3. Drop tcase and rebuild
4.Reinstall dash once my speakers get here
5. Install CAI so I can run a passenger side a.c. comp.

And of course a long term goal is getting the a.c. back together using a kwik performance bracket and sanden style compressor.
 
For a long over due update, here we go... Making some decent progress but really just enjoying the blazer.

I was struggling with my modified stock shift linkage and couldn't get lower than OD manually. I did some reading and others have had great success with a Lokar linkage kit. It took wayyy too long for me to bend the rod correctly but it is working flawlessly.
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Lokar PN ACA1800.

Also got my new fuel tank and sending unit in, all is well there. Glad to have all my gauges functioning again. 

I've done some tidying up under the hood and got my windstar fans completed, man they pull a ton of air!

I was quite impressed with the rig this past weekend, the blazer towed my 24 ft camper 290 miles round trip and had plenty of power, but I found the blazer just doesn't have the footprint for a trailer that big. It was swaying like a bitch! But the 5.3 did great.
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Still gotta get my CAI, then I can get rid of the elephant trunk [emoji1]
 
Good. I saw you asking questions in another thread, and thought you were thinking about doing it to this rig. I was almost sad when i thought you were going to. This seems like way to nice of a rig.

Martin
 
82355 said:
Good. I saw you asking questions in another thread, and thought you were thinking about doing it to this rig. I was almost sad when i thought you were going to. This seems like way to nice of a rig.

Martin
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I appreciate that a lot, I like keeping my stuff clean and I like stock appearance
 
+1 I'm glad you are keeping a stockish look to the truck. It's way too clean to hack up lol.

Now that you've had some more road time since you swapped the 5.3 what do you think? Anything you would've done differently? How has the mileage been with the newer engine?

Your build thread is motivating me to get going on my own 5.3 swap. That and my wife getting tired of having the wrecked donor sitting in our driveway lol.
 
NorCalAnthony said:
+1 I'm glad you are keeping a stockish look to the truck. It's way too clean to hack up lol.

Now that you've had some more road time since you swapped the 5.3 what do you think? Anything you would've done differently? How has the mileage been with the newer engine?

Your build thread is motivating me to get going on my own 5.3 swap. That and my wife getting tired of having the wrecked donor sitting in our driveway lol.
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I have been nothing but pleased with the 5.3. With 100% of the torque management deleted it has more than enough power. It feels like it makes the most around 2500-3000 rpm, right in the power band.

I am getting 13-14 mpg with 35" tires and 4.10 gears with moderately aggressive driving.

The best thing I did in this swap was the transgo shift kit, hands down. Its night and day compared to a stock 4l60e. And it makes me feel better about removing the torque management.. [emoji1]


I do need to revisit the motor mounts as the stock type mounts have settled and are too close to the crossmember for my liking. I should've gone diy4x from the beginning.

I wish I had spent more $$ on the fuel system with braided lines and such, that will be addressed eventually.

Other than that, nope.
 
MAX89K5 said:
I was quite impressed with the rig this past weekend, the blazer towed my 24 ft camper 290 miles round trip and had plenty of power, but I found the blazer just doesn't have the footprint for a trailer that big. It was swaying like a bitch! But the 5.3 did great.
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So envious, that's exactly why I want to put a 5.3 in my truck. :waytogo:
 
Thanks, although I am in the market for a smaller camper.. Preferably a single axle 14-16ft. I would feel more comfortable towing it long distances.
 
Got the interior of the blazer completely buttoned up tonight, crazy how much difference it makes. Also tracked down a pinched wire running to the rear glass causing it not to work.

One question: the glove box light, how does it function and where does it go? It has arms on it that appear to clip into something but I cannot find it, and I missing something here??[emoji52]
 
I know but it's just hard to explain! The button goes right next to the latch. The glove box door turns the light on and off when it opens and closes.
 
y5mgisi said:
I know but it's just hard to explain! The button goes right next to the latch. The glove box door turns the light on and off when it opens and closes.
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Have a pic handy?

I see the hole for the switch but I don't know how to orient it or how it turns on/off
 
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