Topic: 5.3L Vortec in 1st gen

[lilbuddy]

OK so my friend comes up to me today, he says "You know that 5.3L Under my workbench, well if you want it come pick it up." So It got me thinking....

Its a 5.3L Vortec that came out of a 2001 Chevy Silverado with only 25,000 miles on it. The guy got a little water in the engine and it blew up a rod and put a hole in the side of the block. Also he said hed throw in a TH350 with that. SO What I want to know is if anyone has put a 5.3L Vortec in their first gen pickup. I took a look on pirate and it only poped up with 4.3 swaps.  Id be running the 5.3, th350, and dual t cases.

What Id need to get is a wiring harness, fix the hole, a new piston and rod (the rest of the bottom end is good because he went through it when they took out the broken rod), a radiatior, 350-toy adapter, computer, fuel pump,and Im sure some random things.

Would this swap be even worth my time? My 22r is starting to hate me and it has 220(ish),000 miles on it. Also about how much money am I looking at? I figured about a grand after everything is all done in told, but is that motor too much for a yota running stock axles (minus the 5.29s and locker)? Also what are the cons in this motor?

[derek]

sounds to me like the engine is junk if it threw a rod through the block. you cant just fix the hole, will be replacing the block.
and rebuilding the 5.3 will probably cost close to a grand by its self.
also need all the external stuff to go with the engine, as well as wiring and computer.
sounds like it would be cheaper and easier to rebuild your 22r, can be built for under 1000 easy.

derek

[ol yeller]

I talked to advance adapters, and they said they had heard of no one trying this and they didn't have anything readily available.  I was asking for my 85 4runner,  the guy I talked to said the exhaust may be the biggest problem.  I think it would be great if someone could produce adapters as these are great crate engines from gm.

[derek]

also need bigger radiator, adapter to yota case if you keep them.
hoses, new fuel lines ran for the FI, tons of little stuff.
if you can do an engine swap for around 1000 i will be impressed.
i have more than that into my future 4.3 swap just getting the parts together.
and i have not gotten all the pieces i need yet.

derek

[79coyotefrg]

lilbuddy,  id be worried about the wiring,  since its just the motor no wiring ,truck, and you would need to be very careful  of the block having cracks into water jackets,   this is possible but     if the guy is giving it to you, maybe you can swap it later to somebody with a 3rz

[RokCrawlinToy]

Chris, its going to be a Pain in the    to get it CA smog legal. My buddy does them at his shop. If you want, I can give you his number and you ask him ??sss.

[kyle_22r]

any engine that tosses a rod through the block is junk imho...

[lilbuddy [OP]]

Painless makes a wiring harness for this motor, so itd be easy. Not only that they priced a harness from Painless and they said it was only $150.  All the other junk for the motor I figured. Its still a free motor and I would be more than happy with the amount of power that it will put out.  Only thing thats really setting me back is the broken rod/hole.

Ron, Still in the idea going through my head, so I might take the number if I actually do this.

[BigMike]

Sounds like an earnest venture, but remember, with more power, and in this case, much more weight, it wont just be an engine swap. To be really finished with it, you'll need a V6 rear third member, 23-spline dual case setup, consider an FJ80 front end (for the birfeld strength), Auto tranny cooler, and of course, larger 86+ rear brakes, so a late model wide rear end, or rear disk brake conversion with e-brake support (I dont like the driveline e-brake), and also vented front brakes with larger calipers (hence the FJ80 conversion), and not to mention a larger brake master cylinder............................................................................

Multiplying your current setup by 3 times the horsepower and almost 4 times the torque sure sounds SA-WEET! Power is fun, using it wisely is even more fun of course

If anything less, do what Glen is talking about, get the engine for free, and then later, if you find a 4.3, a Toy 3.4, or a 2.7, then use the 5.3 as bait

[FIREBALL]

Dude.....hole in block=boat anchor.......and even with a free (very broken) motor, there's going to be a lot of other expenses.