5.3L Vortec V8 Conversion

[ElkyRacer]

Bracket mods- idler relocator. Speartech? Alt bracket cut for TB clearance?

You dont HAVE to have car waterpump to run a car intake like most ppl think. You can heat up the upper radiator hose outlet and rotate it to clear the linkage.

Fan looks familiar. Lincoln mark?

 

[Frank Z]

You dont HAVE to have car waterpump to run a car intake like most ppl think. You can heat up the upper radiator hose outlet and rotate it to clear the linkage.

I don't think that works with a DBW TB.

 

[ElkyRacer]

I don't think that works with a DBW TB.

Thats just something else to go wrong anyways! :looney: But it sure makes cruise control easy to rig up. Im trying to decide which way Im going to go with mine. Its an 03 motor. But I dont have a pedal or tac currently.

 

[John D]

I don't think that works with a DBW TB.

See where the boss is above the hose outlet? That's where the 5.3L outlet would come out. No chance it could work without a LS1 water pump if using DBW.

Thats just something else to go wrong anyways! :looney: But it sure makes cruise control easy to rig up. Im trying to decide which way Im going to go with mine. Its an 03 motor. But I dont have a pedal or tac currently.

The pedal and TAC are easy to find in a salvage yard. They have very little problems so they don't sell many of them. Can be purchased pretty cheap.

 

[fatwreck]

The pedal and TAC are easy to find in a salvage yard. They have very little problems so they don't sell many of them. Can be purchased pretty cheap.

I just went to buy a set last week thinking that I had a problem with mine. They initially wanted $50 for both, but then when I didn't pick it up right away...they took some extra time to see what they are worth and changed their price to $100. Fortunately, I found the broken wire right at my pedal connector and fixed it without having to buy the junkyard set.

 

[John D]

I just went to buy a set last week thinking that I had a problem with mine. They initially wanted $50 for both, but then when I didn't pick it up right away...they took some extra time to see what they are worth and changed their price to $100. Fortunately, I found the broken wire right at my pedal connector and fixed it without having to buy the junkyard set.

I traded a pedal and a TAC for a couple large pizzas at lunch time on a Friday. Maybe your method of aquiring parts needs improvement :laugh:

 

[wolfpackjeeper]

I traded a pedal and a TAC for a couple large pizzas at lunch time on a Friday. Maybe your method of aquiring parts needs improvement :laugh:

nice

 

[HYTECHMJ]

Fan was a modified Ford Taurus twin speed. High speed is extreamly powerful. the radiator is a Griffen off-the-shelf dual pass.
the Water neck was heated and rotated.
altougth if I was to do it al over again these are the points that everyone doing this swap should do
-run a Camaro/Vette motor or use the camaro /vette accy.drive (total)
-Run a custom radiator like the one from NOVAK (yes its +$500 but what is your time worth?)
right there will save a ton of $ and time

 

[HYTECHMJ]

DBW throttlebody users can also use the 2007+ 6.2L Waterpump, it has a neck that clears. but if your going that route just change everything to a Camaro (not the NEW camaro:YTBD) Accessory drive, it's >1" closer to the motor and the truck alternator is the same.

 

[ElkyRacer]

but if your going that route just change everything to a Camaro (not the NEW camaro:YTBD) Accessory drive, it's >1" closer to the motor and the truck alternator is the same.

Only bad thing about the F-Body setup is it puts the alternator at the very bottom. I dont LOOK for giant mud holes, but I do find them sometimes and dont really have a way around them. I would rather not have my alternator dragging mud.

I do like the Kwick Peformance brackets. Truck stuff is generally cheaper and easier to get ahold of(at least around here) so if you already had the truck accessories, you could re-use them with this kit and probably still be in the same ballpark as tracking down all the F-car stuff.

 

[HYTECHMJ]

Kwick Performance...i've looked it up and can't find anything on them do you have contact info for everyone?

 

[Frank Z]

http://www.kwikperf.com/

 

[Frank Z]

Well folks I'm back on this project this weekend. Scored an OEM AC Delco fuel pump for less than half of the dealer price. Still need gauges but at least I'll be able to fire it up again and continue tweeking the installation.

 

[eflores]

hey frank id sure like to see this thing...maybe get some idea's for jacobs old manche....yano truggy mark I

 

[kdailey4315]

:worship::worship::worship::worship:
This thread is pure greatness!! The 5.3L Vortech is a vastly underrated motor. It kicks ass in a 4K+ lb chevy SUV. Imagine what it will do it a XJ. Well done sir. Well don.

 

[yossarian19]

300+ ponies and 21 MPG in an Avalanche... Yeah, the 5.3 will do the job in an XJ. A lot of guys will talk about the stroker and buck for buck they may be right... but I think this thread is awesome. Let us know how it drives

 

[Frank Z]

I'll give you and honest comparison ofthe 5.3 vs. 4.6L stroker after this swap is complete....but there's still lots to do.

A little teaser of more tech to come:
You can use a stock AW4 shifter to control a 4L60E tranny.

 

[John D]

A little teaser of more tech to come:
You can use a stock AW4 shifter to control a 4L60E tranny.

Yeah, just keep teasing with this one...

 

[Frank Z]

Turns out the new pump isn't the same as the old pump, it's too short.

One step forward, two steps back.....sigh.

 

[xtremexj94]

A little teaser of more tech to come:
You can use a stock AW4 shifter to control a 4L60E tranny.

That's great news considering I just ordered one of the new Rock shifters from RADesigns.