LSX swap.
 

In order to get the most enjoyment out of my car I have decided to go with a much milder car. My plan as it sits right now Is a Stock 5.3 liter LM7 with A z06 cam, P&P TB.Stock Ls1 intake,oil pan and manifolds with a catback and a nice tune all matched up to my th350 with 3500 rpm converter. The suspension will stay the same and will still Be a street/strip car. But will be leaned more to a street/cruiser until I can get a rear, a TR224 cam, ls1swap headers and an ls6 manifold.

What do you guys think? I know it wont be the best, but it sure as hell beats an unreliable car.

Anything can be unreliable.

Why would you go through all of that trouble and hassle only to drop in a 5.3? That's seriously like going through the trouble of ripping out a LO3 only to drop in a LB9 :rofl:

If you want to do a LSx swap then do a REAL LSx swap.

However it's your car so do whatever you want. Have you read up on the ins and outs of the swap? It can get difficult. Are you doing it yourself? Are you prepared for the big costs? It's a lot more involved than just swapping over a motor...which is why you probably shouldn't even bother with a 5.3, just do a LS1, build it how you want and be done with it.

Just my opinion.

Any transplant can still be unreliable. One bad wiring connection or bad ground and you are stuck on the side of the road.

Why not fix the (bigger) motor in it now?

Do you know that a 5.3 with a z06 cam, ls6 intake and stock manifolds in a an 01 camaro dynoed pretty much identical numbers to an ls1? Do you know you can get a complete low mileage 5.3 for $400?

So the 400 for a 5.3, does that include the wiring harness? New gauges? New motor mounts? New rad? Etc.

Why not just spend the money to fix what you have?

i know a ls1 motor with 5.3 truck heads on it....ls6...custom cam... in a heavy 4th gen trans am that goes pretty good....

i know a guy with a 5.3 with a turbo on it that goes pretty good.....

as far as a 5.3 with a "z06" cam and intake... your looking at 250-75 wheel horse ifff the cam is rite lol

not to mention its a iron block...you need wire harness, computer... computer tune to get full results... and a lot more factors... i would just put a shot on the stock motor and your at the same power numbers

Not all 5.3s are iron blocks (albeit I think the LM7 is)


Keep the personal comments to yourself.

For all the money you have spent you could get a low milage turn key ls1 with a t56 and be way ahead of where you are now

:lol: thats what i'm doing :lol:

im pretty sure you misread something. guys put 5.3 heads on their LS1s. and theres no way a 5.3 is going to put down the same numbers as a LS1 lol

To each their own, it's your car...if you're going to do it do it right...

So what if in a year from now you want more power? Stock LS1 power is only going to you content for so long...the LS1 is going to go a lot further than a 5.3 will.

I'm not trying to bash you or rip on you, I'm sincerely trying to help.

For how cheap you can pick up a complete LS1 or LS2 with an auto, I would save the time and effort of picking up the cheap motor, hunting down the correct harness, buying and swapping the cam and all those little parts, buying an intake, and buying a throttle body. You will end up spending almost the same amount of money and twice as much time just to get to the same point.

Depends on the comparison. Stock LS1 vs. Modded 5.3, I have heard 5.3s doing 400 crank hp.

I think he is looking at cost per HP here, and the 5.3 can be a low$$ way to do a retrofit. But you have to consider all the extra costs - fuel system, exhaust, etc. I'm not sure he has considered that only because he has not addressed that here. It's cheaper to do this for a 3rd gen than an old car because the 4th gen fuel tank and such can be used.

Well the LSX engines are non return fuel lines right? You could just run a sumped tank and pump and delete the EVAP.

Tim, stop making sense lol

98 had a return line, at least in the Fbodys they did...I would ASSume 97-98 'vettes did too.

What is wrong with your existing motor now?

Why? Just bolt in a 4th gen plastic tank. Plumb it like a 4th gen LS car.

It is just easier to regulate with a return and since there are already lines in the car it would be easy to just swap in 3rd gen EFI pump, pick up, and sending unit to get the job done. Even if the stock lines are insufficient, they are the perfect guide for running the upgraded lines.

Just figured it may b easier and cheaper to reuse the tank in it now.

just give me 28k, and you can have the tbss and my ls1 car....:)

good luck

IF 98 had a return it is the only year on f-body. The 99 and up uses a SHORT return at the tank and is regulated in the tank. And AFAIK all LS1 vettes use a regulator in the fuel filter.

THe LS1 plastic tank is a direct bolt in and is easy to plumb and work with if anyone decides to do an LSx swap

Yes, 98 was the only year for the Fbody IIRC.