Alright, I'm rounding up the money to do a LS3(5.3) or LS2(5.3)/4l60e or 4l80e swap. But I am stepping into a whole entire new realm for me, because personally i've been an old block kinda guy with a carb on top. I'm curious what needs to be done to upgrade one of these motors, I believe the cam is same idea, but what would be a good cam? (I have a .460 lift in my 305) and after upgrading that what else needs to be done? ALSO are the transmissions too much work to make fit? Should I just find a 700R4 and put a shift kit in it? What all fabrication needs to be done?

Thanks guys.

 

Back up a few steps for a minute. There is a LS3, a LS2, and a 5.3L of various generations. None of these are the same. What vehicle is the engine coming from that you are considering?

 

Oh man I probably sound like a moron, I promise I'm not (last motor was 69 350 lol) I'm planning on pulling from an 01ish silverado. I thought the 5.3 in them was a base LS motor (also know for sure I don't want aluminum and I'm 75% sure it's not in the trucks)

 

5.3/6.0 has various of names same for the 6.2l 350s etc. The thing about LS swaps thats not from a 4th gen u will pick up the price on the swap. I got my 06 LQ4 for 200 but I need all the accessories from a f body and the oil pan as well. Harness and pcm, intake trans etc. And if u don't know a cheap source it can cost 2500 or more. Do some more homework look for deals and read up.

 

The oil pan i didn't think about. But if I pulled harness, PCM, complete motor and trans, couldn't I just rewire car with that new harness?

 

Yes u can. But ls1 t56 drop outs are 2500-4500. So many ppl go the cheaper route with a 4.8,5.3,6.0 truck engine because they can be had for 1200 or less. U dont want to run a 700r4 it's a basic swap but a 4lxxe trans bolts right up plug and play. 4l60e is pretty much the same thing (cost the same to build).

 

What fabrications are to be made? Or is everything literally plug and play other than wiring and motor mounts

 

K member mod (clearance for the oil pan. If u want to run tge ls1 ac u have to notch the k member. Or u can buy a tubular k member (my route). New cross member, motor mounts. All these things can be bought for simple plug and play.

 

Did you run the ac? If so how much did the fab cost you? As in k member and crossmember.

 

Cross member depends on the route. 100 bucks to 560. The ac k member notch u can buy from hawks 3rd gen. Im not running AC and I will buy a k member