Well with my new job i can afford to do a swap like this, im still kicking my a** that i litterally gave my 90 rs away to the first person with a trailer.

ok, i picked up a 83 z28 for 500 bucks, it had a 305 with converted t-5 to th350. had some light mods as far as a quicksilver B&M shifter, a MAC tools tach and some other gauges that didnt go to anything.

the engine ran with a really bad knock, so i replaced the lifters and rods hopeing that would help as they looked like crap. started it up and still had the knock. so i left the valve covers off and ran it again, and on the passenger side is where the really bad knocking was, and the oil drains, not really sure what the actuall name is, had smoke coming out of them, so i decided to do a tare down, i started on the side that was knocking, and come to my supprise, #8 piston was hitting the heads. i put some pictures up of the damage

 

So i decided that i will give it some new muscle, i love my supercharged 5.3 in my silverado, so i figured if i got some decent numbers in a full size truck so why not try it out in the camaro, i was reading threads for weeks on what to do, diffrent setups. the one i really really liked and thought it looked "old school" was the carb conversion, the setup would save me a couple thousand, wireing computer tuning and parts to convert to ls1, can also use a 700r4. BUT, there is the fact of throttle response, custom tuneing and the use of a 4l60e and the the cool corvette covers. ok enough blabbing.

so i got ahold of our outragiously expencive junkyard to get a 5.3. was to my supprise a full complete engine, the only thing missing was the computer that was for 700 bucks, oh and the engine had only 75k miles on it, i checked the vin, carfax is oustanding.

So far i have the ls6 intake manifold with fuel rails and 28 lb injectors, a 99 silverado ECU, and 99 camaro waterpump, and the adapter kit from kwik perf. so i can mount the alternator and ps pump. im out of funds from all of that, and also i cant do much because we are getting blasted with snow, i wish i was back in FL.

my understanding all i need left is the wire harness and exhaust, i am getting a harness from a memeber on here, just need to get to work some how and get my check so i can get this project moving.

the first picture is the engine bay, with the engine not torn down


this is the 5.3 i got for 700


then a lil cleaning because it was dirty

 

these are the pics of the car so you can see what im working with

me dragging her home!


this is the B&M shifter and tach


random shot of the outside.

 

A good start

 

cannot go wrong with that at all, Zo6 cam,better valve springs,full exhaust and a tune you will be ahead of the game!

 

Sweet, looks like it was a 5 speed car, go T56!

 

I would love to have it back as a manual, but a t56 is way out of my price range.

 

I strongly recommend staying EFI, the carb conversion parts are actually more expensive than staying EFI.

 

If you want the look, go with a single plane EFI manifold and a SD tune. Keeps EFI and looks like a carb setup

 

Agreed, Now it'll look "old school" but with "new school" technology

 

Yea im staying EFI, its been about a week and i still havent recieved my parts, the snow is messing with my feelings! speaking of feelings, will the LS6 intake manifold have any issues with it sitting on the steam pipes, the only reason im asking is that i notice the LS1/truck intake manifolds are not completely flat like the LS6, so i was just wondering if anyone ran into this issue?

 

If you use the Fbody coolant tubes, grind the bottom ribs off the LS6 intake and it will fit fine

Plan B is to get the LS6 crossover with rear plugs

 

LOL we're getting snow in Florida right now! it's crazy, never seen snow in the 18 years I've lived here

 

i lived out in mayport and all 7 years i was there i think the closest i have seen snow was when the ground would frost up.

on the ls6 grinding note, i was looking around in the forums and seen that some one shaved some on the bottom of the manifold, looked like a good idea.

day 8 and no parts yet.

 

Thats what I meant. Some people even use a chisel. It doesnt hurt anything to remove them, just dont get crazy

 

speaking of my conversion, i found a site that has cheap exhaust manifolds pair for 120 bucks, http://store.racer-union.com/Headers/c242474-1-2/ the next page has more too. i just wonder if those will fit.

 

The shorties are meant to replace manifolds and reuse the stock Y-pipe on a 4th gen

They will work just like manifolds as far as your swap is concerned. LS1tech member often had issues with their headers fitment and quality. Performance will be negligible over manifolds

 

i do have a question about this swap, as far as gauges are concerned, am i able to use an after market oil/engine temp senders without harming the engine, or should i leave the stock ones on? the only reason i ask is i plan on doing a mold of my stock gauge cluster and give it new life. since i dont feel like spending money on electronic VSS to cable, i figured why not just get an electronic spedo.

i found all the adapter fittings from oem to aftermarket online, and i still have a full set of auto meters "Z-Series" from the previous owner. the only things im missing is the spedo-tach. i plan on getting rid of my tach since i would like to keep it looking some what stock.

 

Use whatever gauges you want

 

All right after waiting and the untimely death of my silverado, i think its time to get this project going again. Oh on that note, i have an extra 5.3 and 4l60e.

I went and got a fully complete LS6 intake manifold 400 bucks, im sure there are some cheaper but this one has 0 miles.






I know shes a lil dirty but i just put the manifold on to see how it would look. just need a few more things
oil pan swap kit
throttle cable
front drive kit
Driveshaft
exhaust
bracket for the vortec supercharger (current one is setup for trucks)
wire harness (got one from pocket)

if there is anything missing from the small list of things lemmie know, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

 

Fuel system
Mounts
Longer DS, only the 9" tail version of the TH350 fits the 83-02 DS. If you have a 9" tail, you're good to go
PCM and tune
Fluids and other basics that get overlooked until the end and cost more than youd think
Lots and lots of metric bolts. Go to a JY with a bucket and grab all you can. I bet you still wont have enough

That camaro will be quite a handful with the blower

 

ill just mock up engine/trans and plop the drive shaft on to see what im working with

im still trying to find a shop here in MD to get my ECU tuned, i know there are places online but i dont want to send something back and forth if something is missed or not working right.
as far as the bracket for the supercharger. i ordered one from vortec only 120, i will put it on later after i get a feel for a smaller vehical, i never driven a car... and im serious when i say this.
i didnt get a chance to rip appart my truck yet, but does anyone know if the throttle cable will match up to the 3rd gen pedal?

 

The pedal end should fit. Distance from the firewall to pedal, firewall to TB bracket etc will likely be wrong

Try it and see. It may end up fitting better

 

Yea its worth a shot, i might have a couple extra feet of cableing if it does...