Gathering parts for my 5.3 swap.






-I'm using a ls1 intake and have both a DBW & DBC throttle body. Is there any advantage to using the DBW-I have both harnesses as well. To me it seems like using a cable would be easier?




-Will be using a ls1 (Camaro) water pump +truck damper. No ac & no ps. Do I need a truck or car alternator and what spacing will I need for the water pump?


-Ive got the early 862 heads with the ridge and from what I've read I cant use the mls gaskets. Anyone know if the oem head gaskets can hold boost or would I be better off finding a different set of heads? Update: Ordered a pair of Victor Reinz 54441 head gaskets which are mls and made for the heads with the notch.

 

You can't use that water pump with that damper. The belt won't ride on the pump pulley. If nothing else, mod the truck pump to clear the TB.
Cable TB is preferred, with an 0411 pcm, unless your crank has a 58x wheel on it.
Edit: if you can find spacers for the pump, then they should already be the correct thickness.
You can mod the truck ps bracket to lower the alt, using all truck accessories, brackets, and pump is the cheap and easy way to go.

 

I ordered a spacer kit with the steam port fitting from ICT Billet so the water pump and truck damper should be good. I don't have an alternator yet but for the price of brackets I'm planning on making something work myself.
As of now I'm planning on using the cable throttle body. For accessories I just have an alternator and water pump so Im thinking Ill just use a turnbuckle type piece to mount it.
Appreciate the response-I thought this forum was pretty much dead.

 

I admit I've been a bit distracted lately, but I didn't think it was that bad...

What kind of boost are you talking about? I would tend toward an SFI damper rather than saving a buck by reusing the factory damper. You can get whatever spacing you want.

I've never used WP spacers. Seems like a leak waiting to happen. If the only reasons for using them are the truck damper and steam line, there are better solutions.

 

Thanks for the input guys-I haven't been on here much since theres a ton more info on ls1tech. Between the daily grind and moving I still need a few more parts but almost there.
Ill be using an ebay gt45. I doubt Ill go above 10 lbs. I do have a couple buddies that have already done the lsx swap so my harness will be taken care of as well as tuning. I originally planned on using my t5 which is 14 spline (spare me the gasps lol) but awhile back I picked up a low mile th400 although I'm reconsidering since I would still need a custom driveshaft and overdrive would be nice. I may be picking up a low mile 4l60e from a wrecked '02 Camaro today though.
Can anyone confirm the driveshaft would be the same as my current t5/700r4 ds if I go 4l60e?


-thanks

 

Assuming no setback, a 3rd gen driveshaft will work with an LS 4L60E and 10-bolt.

But it's kind of like the damper - penny-wise and pound-foolish. Although the 10-bolt will be your "fuse"...

 

What are thirdgen guys doing for a driveshaft with a lsx/th400? Anything factory available or would I have to shell out big bucks for a custom piece?

 

Most will go for a custom-built shaft if upgrading from the 10-bolt.

It's been a few years since I had one built from scratch, but I believe it was around $250 from a local outfit. I just measured from the end of the tranny output shaft to the face of the pinion flange, told them what u-joints I needed, and they built it up. Fit perfectly. Earlier this summer I swapped in a Moser 12-bolt, did the same measurement, and they redid the shaft they made for me in 2010 to get it to fit. Again, fit perfectly (I had to change the rear u-joint yoke, so it was around $100 this time).

To the best of my knowledge, no factory driveshaft will fit a TH400 in a 3rd gen. A short-tail TH350 can use an '82-'83 3-speed auto or 4-speed stick driveshaft. A long-tail TH350 can use '84-'92 TH700/T5 driveshafts. The TH400 is right in the middle.

I believe some outfits like Spohn & Hawks offer swap/upgrade driveshafts. I'm sure there are others.

 

[QUOTE=five7kid;6095278]Most will go for a custom-built shaft if upgrading from the 10-bolt.

It's been a few years since I had one built from scratch, but I believe it was around $250 from a local outfit. I just measured from the end of the tranny output shaft to the face of the pinion flange, told them what u-joints I needed, and they built it up. Fit perfectly. Earlier this summer I swapped in a Moser 12-bolt, did the same measurement, and they redid the shaft they made for me in 2010 to get it to fit. Again, fit perfectly (I had to change the rear u-joint yoke, so it was around $100 this time).

To the best of my knowledge, no factory driveshaft will fit a TH400 in a 3rd gen. A short-tail TH350 can use an '82-'83 3-speed auto or 4-speed stick driveshaft. A long-tail TH350 can use '84-'92 TH700/T5 driveshafts. The TH400 is right in the middle.


Thanks. Trying to decide if I should use my th400 or grab this 45k 4l60e for $650. I got a quote from Spohn for $390 for the driveshaft.
Id like to daily drive the car but its a 50 mile trip one way so I don't know how doable the th400 would be.