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new here
hi all i am wanting to pull the 305 tpi engine out of my 86 camaro and put a 5.3 vortec in its place would like to know will that motor bolt to the tranny thats already in it or am i going to need a nother one and have to say i am haveing to do this on a budget
Last edited by littletimmy9; Aug 19, 2009 at 03:56 PM.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.
I moved this to the LTX/LSX subforum, because a 5.3 swap is basically the same as an LS1 swap.
The answer to your question about the transmission is "not exactly".
But, you need to answer a question we have for you - what transmission do you have now?
I moved this to the LTX/LSX subforum, because a 5.3 swap is basically the same as an LS1 swap.
The answer to your question about the transmission is "not exactly".
But, you need to answer a question we have for you - what transmission do you have now?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Re: new here
Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.
I moved this to the LTX/LSX subforum, because a 5.3 swap is basically the same as an LS1 swap.
The answer to your question about the transmission is "not exactly".
But, you need to answer a question we have for you - what transmission do you have now?
I moved this to the LTX/LSX subforum, because a 5.3 swap is basically the same as an LS1 swap.
The answer to your question about the transmission is "not exactly".
But, you need to answer a question we have for you - what transmission do you have now?
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Okay, that's good enough. Only one automatic transmission was available in the 1986 model year, the TH700R-4.
I should have pointed you to the "LS1 into a third gen Swap Guide" sticky in the top section of this forum. It has all of the basics, including this statement: "It is possible to mount the LS engines to traditional SBC transmissions but is not really advantageous unless you are going for a TH400 or TH350 set up that is a drag car only." You will need an adapter to move the flexplate to the proper position relative to the torque converter, or you can get a TH700 torque converter built specifically for the LSx engines. You also need to adapt the throttle body to operate the TH700 throttle valve cable, and you need a different throttle valve cable. The PCM will need to be modified so it doesn't get confused about the transmission. By the time you do all that, you could probably find a 4th gen f-body 4L60E, made for the LSx family of engines, for the same money. If you are willing to get an aftermarket swap transmission mount and torque arm that mounts the torque arm to the transmission crossmember, you can even use a 2WD 5.3 4L60E transmission (verify the total transmission length is the same as your current TH700).
Bottom line is it isn't easy to do an LSx swap on a tight budget. If you have good fabrication skills and access to junk yards, you can reduce the total cost significantly. But, even if you get the 5.3 for free, it isn't likely that you'd spend less than you would for a Gen I 350 swap.
I should have pointed you to the "LS1 into a third gen Swap Guide" sticky in the top section of this forum. It has all of the basics, including this statement: "It is possible to mount the LS engines to traditional SBC transmissions but is not really advantageous unless you are going for a TH400 or TH350 set up that is a drag car only." You will need an adapter to move the flexplate to the proper position relative to the torque converter, or you can get a TH700 torque converter built specifically for the LSx engines. You also need to adapt the throttle body to operate the TH700 throttle valve cable, and you need a different throttle valve cable. The PCM will need to be modified so it doesn't get confused about the transmission. By the time you do all that, you could probably find a 4th gen f-body 4L60E, made for the LSx family of engines, for the same money. If you are willing to get an aftermarket swap transmission mount and torque arm that mounts the torque arm to the transmission crossmember, you can even use a 2WD 5.3 4L60E transmission (verify the total transmission length is the same as your current TH700).
Bottom line is it isn't easy to do an LSx swap on a tight budget. If you have good fabrication skills and access to junk yards, you can reduce the total cost significantly. But, even if you get the 5.3 for free, it isn't likely that you'd spend less than you would for a Gen I 350 swap.