ok my buddy has an 02 chevy 5.3L vortec out of a 02 silverado, with like 9k on it and he would give it to me. i was wondering if it would fit in my 91 rs 305 with a t5. would a 5.3L bolt to my t5? what could i do for the mounts? would this be a good swap? i am broke so free motor swap would be awesome!

any thoughts?

 

I may be totally off-base here, but I was under the impression that the 5.3l is a Gen III SB, like the LS1, so it would be pretty much like an LS1 swap.

Hardly a "free" swap, I'd think.

But, I may be totally wrong...

 

You'd pretty much need a T56 from a 98 up 4th gen car, and the mount kit from tgr, other than that some wiring diagrams, and cut a chunk out of your K member for the a/c compressor, custom lines, free no, possibly very cheap, I may be interested in trading you an almost complete T56 setup for your T5 if you are interested PM me.

 

That is an LS1 motor and will require the same procedures as any LS1 swap will require.

 

The LS1 is an emissions-legal swap because it was offered in a like/newer model. The Vortec, however, was in a truck, so "technically" would not be legal.

This wouldn't be a "free" swap, but the free engine isn't a bad start.

 

what all is needed to complete that t56 swap? i might be interested if it isnt too much trouble

 

if you can get the engine for free, i say you go for it! it will definitly be a cool and unique swap, plus u'll get a good amount of power from that gen III engine. stuff that you will be looking into are as follows:

-ls1 swap engine mounts
-4L60E or t56 tranny plus a crossmember that will allow the tranny to be bolted in
-wiring harness
-notching the frame for the a/c compressor if you want a/c
plus some other tid bits.... but if you dont want that engine, you could just pass it along to me!

 

wait so basically to do the swap all i'll need is the t56? it has a tranny im not sure if its a 4l60e but its what ever shipped with the silverado 1500 in 02. i'd rather go manual, but i could most likely get the tranny for free as well. so then all i'd need is a cross member, shifting linkage (if i was going auto) and the mounts, ecm and wiring harness? could i just use the harness out of the silverado? and would my driveshaft bolt up to the silverrado tranny or a t56? i dont plan on using a/c so i dont need to notch the frame. will my hood clear it? and would i just use silverado headers? or could i go with ls1 headers? then all the performance parts like jet chip, tb spacer, bigger throttle body would be for that silverado?

thanks for the tech help

 

I was gonna do this since the 5.3 is so cheap. You may have issues with the accessories also. The trucks don't use the same acc. setup as the fbody or vette. As for ecm and such if you have it reprogrammed you can use a vette or fbody setup. I would install the longblock and then add on fbody or vette intake, ignition etc.

 

It's that kind of simplistic thinking that's going to get you in trouble.

As previously stated, this is similar to doing an LS1 swap (for which there are stickies above). That ain't easy or cheap, even if the engine is free. You're doing one other "different" thing starting with a truck engine. I haven't heard of anyone that frequents this forum that has done this. For that reason, I have no clue if the truck exhaust manifolds will fit, but LS1 manifolds/headers might (I simply don't know for sure).

If you are getting the tranny with the engine for the same price, it makes sense to use it. You'll need both the ECM and transmission control computers. You might be able to adapt the truck harness to the car, but don't count on it being straightforward.

You originally said you're broke. Doing this "free engine/transmission" swap is going to require some serious coin - count on it.