I have some questions relating to putting a 5.3l in my 1987 Trans Am. Please dont hate on me for not searching because I did, everything is just spread out and hard to pinpoint specific answers. My car was carb from factory and want to keep a carb setup on the 5.3. The car is a 305 automatic.

1. Will the 5.3 work with the 305 motor mounts? If not what is needed?
2. Will the 5.3 bolt up to the 700R-4? If not what transmission will I need?
3. Will I need to get a different fuel pump set up other than what is installed on the car stock?
4. Is there anyway the stock truck accessories will fit under the stock Trans Am hood?
5. Will the stock 5.3 manifolds fit?
6. I need a 4th gen oil pan correct?

Thanks for all your help and any information you can give me, whether I asked or not will be greatly appreciated.

 

No you cannot use SBC mounts, you need lsx swap mounts, yes you need to upgrade the pump. These are answers that are covered well within the STICKY at the top of this sub-forum. Please refer to it as the 5.3 is an lsx platform and most of the information applies.

Anywho:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...otor-into.html
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...third-gen.html

 

I have read through most of that but am still unsure on a couple things. Does a carb setup on a 5.3 sit lower than the truck intake? And will the 5.3 work with the 700R-4?

 

Here you go, seems you are doing what i am, here is pricing:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...t-ls-swap.html

Here is my build thread, you can use 40$ adapters from Ebay that will allow use of the stock mounts just like mine, they work well but some grinding to the clam shells is sometimes needed, skip past the turbo parts to see what is going on, it will be running carbed all motor for a bit:


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/orga...a-project.html

The 700R will work with the right spacer for the flexplate.

The carb sits pretty high, i will measure mine for you tomorrow to get an idea but a stock hood, i dont think it will work with an air cleaner.