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You did such a great job with this buddy! Looks totally factory like engine swaps should look 
CK5
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My 5.3 swap thread!
- Thread starter y5mgisi
- Start date
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Thanks! I tried. Hopefully pinsco63's swap turns out as clean. Only difference is we are going to mount his computer under the hood instead of under the dash. But it will still look factory.
Looks a lot better with cover.
Been thinking about doing a 5.3L swap on the crew cab and I'll have to read through this thread to figure out how it works. Looks really good in that last picture. So cool to have an "old" truck running on "new" technology.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
They run good. Even in these big trucks they move them around pretty good. Tho you have to do it knowing that 5.3 will leave you wanting more power if it's anything more than a cruiser like mine. If you plan on towing with your crew, don't bother with the 5.3. It will do it, but not in the same way a 6.0 will.
6.0 would be great, but it seems like people want twice as much for them as they do the 5.3L. I figure if it works in my brother-in-law's 2007 crewcab 1/2ton it would be okay for the '89. The most we plan to tow is a 3000lbs camper trailer.
Maybe a supercharged 5.3! Hey, I can dream can't I?
Maybe a supercharged 5.3! Hey, I can dream can't I?
y5mgisi
1 ton status
If you have realistic expectations like that, you'll be fine. I think the most important performance gains on the 5.3 come from a tune and long tube headers.
And a cam swap.
Westside K5
Registered Member
NICE BUILD, hope mine comes out as well (ok, I'll take running and driving, but it would be nice to have something this nice). 
As for the cam swap & turbo talk, check out this link, if you haven't already seen it, probably have, but still a fun read.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1109_stock_gm_ls_engine_big_bang_theory/
As for the cam swap & turbo talk, check out this link, if you haven't already seen it, probably have, but still a fun read.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1109_stock_gm_ls_engine_big_bang_theory/
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Love that article! Read it a few times! These motors are crazy strong!
damn, lots of good **** in this thread...
y5mgisi
1 ton status
So im not 100% satisfied with the way this thing is wired. For one, its wired for an F-body computer which doesn't play nice with a truck tune. Mostly the problem there is the way the oxygen sensors are wired is much different. Also im just not satisfied with a few other things with the way i wired it into the truck. Probably it would last forever but i know i took a couple short cuts that i have lingering in my mind. So im going to totally rewire it. Im going to get a new truck side harness off a 90 burb and start from scratch there. and im going to dissect my existing LS harness and rewire it the correct way for a truck.
Im undecided if im going to keep the ECM under the dash or under the hood. Im thinking of going under the hood. I know its not as aesthetically pleasing but i just feel like its a better spot for the way the under dash is setup on this truck. There really isnt room for it. The way i had it mounted meant i had to remove the vent in the passenger footwell. By doing that i eliminated the recirculate option on the A/C. And i would really like to have that back.
Now, when i do all this, i plan on being very meticulous about documenting what im removing and splicing into so that at least the 90 guys will have what im hoping will amount to a step by step how to. I have learned a fair bit since i did my wiring on this initially and plan to put that to use to make it more of a factory wiring job as opposed to a factory wiring job with a LS harness spliced in. If that makes any sense.
I'll get started on it this winter. I have a little bit to still put together from the paint job and then i need to put the interior together still. So probably November? December? Something like that. All i know is that I will feel alot better and alot more at ease about the wiring after i redo it all.
Im undecided if im going to keep the ECM under the dash or under the hood. Im thinking of going under the hood. I know its not as aesthetically pleasing but i just feel like its a better spot for the way the under dash is setup on this truck. There really isnt room for it. The way i had it mounted meant i had to remove the vent in the passenger footwell. By doing that i eliminated the recirculate option on the A/C. And i would really like to have that back.
Now, when i do all this, i plan on being very meticulous about documenting what im removing and splicing into so that at least the 90 guys will have what im hoping will amount to a step by step how to. I have learned a fair bit since i did my wiring on this initially and plan to put that to use to make it more of a factory wiring job as opposed to a factory wiring job with a LS harness spliced in. If that makes any sense.
I'll get started on it this winter. I have a little bit to still put together from the paint job and then i need to put the interior together still. So probably November? December? Something like that. All i know is that I will feel alot better and alot more at ease about the wiring after i redo it all.
I used the factory computer mount form an 07, that mounts to the core support. Turned it upside down and bolted it to the fender well. This is the only pic I have now but I can get a better one later.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Mine uses the bigger 0411 PCM. I think i want to get a set of these mounts and mount it to the inner fender like normal people.
Mine uses the bigger 0411 PCM. I think i want to get a set of these mounts and mount it to the inner fender like normal people.
Like normal people sooooo me wanting to wire all of this to a fancy plug on the firewall isn't normal?
got mine from 00-01 Silverado vin .
dealer under 30 bucks mount / cover .
oem mounts on left batt tray area . and I am swaping in a left tray for my batt also and my air box to old pass tray .
dealer under 30 bucks mount / cover .
oem mounts on left batt tray area . and I am swaping in a left tray for my batt also and my air box to old pass tray .
y5mgisi
1 ton status
I still want it to look really clean. So mostly any factory mount would work fine. I kinda like the idea of the one with the cover.
Baba, No thats not quite normal, but thats ok! If i was doing a truck like yours i would do it the same way your doing it! But im going for more of a factory 90 vortec truck. Na mean?
Baba, No thats not quite normal, but thats ok! If i was doing a truck like yours i would do it the same way your doing it! But im going for more of a factory 90 vortec truck. Na mean?
Yes I do, I just want everything perfect and simple to work on.
Do you have any pictures how you mounted yours? I was thinking about using the glove box door for a mount and fuse box.
Do you have any pictures how you mounted yours? I was thinking about using the glove box door for a mount and fuse box.
