5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

SWAPPING IN A 305, 350 OR ANY OTHER SMALL BLOCK, POST THEM HERE.
User avatar

HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by HPbyStan »

Hey Logan, when you drop the sub frame, the only brake line you have to open is the one going from the abs to the rear axle. Loosen the master cylinder from the hydro boost and let it hang and the front brakes will be ready to go when you reassemble everything and you only have to bleed the rears.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
User avatar

peter
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1354
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:41 pm
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Contact:

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by peter »

Betcha the sumbitch'll end up actually making money on his swap. He did so the last time.... :smurf:
"Just keep swimming..."
97' 4wd Safari
ZZ 502 Ramjet
4"L"80E/NP241C
Ford 9"


Kinky is using a feather.
Perverted is using the whole chicken.

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crimes".
- Thomas Jefferson
User avatar

dunedog
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 686
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:22 pm
Location: Pioneer Valley WMass

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by dunedog »

"Full speed ahead captain"...aye aye "Full speed ahead" :supz:
1999 LS AWD 3" Lift,4.10's,Snowplow,9500lb Ramsey winch
User avatar

Mr_Roboto
I sleep in my van
Posts: 537
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:12 pm
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Mr_Roboto »

Check out LS1AWD's swap. What you're doing should come out to be very similar.

original_balzer
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:48 pm

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by original_balzer »

I really shouldnt see these 5.3 threads......... it puts ideas im ny head.
User avatar

GnarliSafari
I sleep in my van
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:18 am

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by GnarliSafari »

this all took place a year ago, did logan ever finish?
99 SLT Safari AWD, G80/GT4 rear, Burgundy, 196,000 and counting (strictly AMSOIL) flowmaster 40series muffler no more cat, K&N Kone Filter, roll pan, 255/60/15 rubbers mounted to 15x8.5 inch American Racing Tailgunner wheels, billet grille, CB Radio, Alpine Deck, Shag carpet, the list goes on....
03 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, LB7 Duramax Diesel, 5 speed Allison Tranny, Crew Cab Long Bed, no muffler or cat, 4 inch turbo back and side piped. not too many other mods yet, also addicted to AMSOIL.
User avatar

Topic author
Logan
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 160
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:43 am
Location: Newark, Ohio

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Logan »

I haven't even gotten the engine!! I called to make sure it was still there before I went to get it and it was already gone to someone else. Grrrr. I told them to call when they had another setup and never heard anything back. I kinda forgot about it actually and Honestly, with Miranda and I reconciling, then the birth if the twins, purchasing a lot of diapers and paying a lawyer for a divorce I never got; the swap has kinda taken a back burner. Then I bought that bus (impulse buy) and then the Excursion..... I'm flat broke. I really miss my AWD too. Even though I get to drive my V8 everyday and I've put 20,000 miles on it since I finished, I wish I had my Awd back. I'm actually thinking about just pulling the heads, having them checked and replacing the gaskets. IF I can ever find the time.
1988 Astro Shorty full cargo - 350 TBI - 5 speed
1993 Passenger 4X4 Astro 305 TBI V8 -2 speed transfer case 5" custom lift - Built by Lockdoc
2015 Ram Promaster City - work car
2004 AWD Express 5.3
2005 Express 15 passenger 6.0
1984 Beauville Full Size Sport Van- built TBI 355-electric fans- 4L60e 95,000 original miles
2001 International School Bus

wdmickjr
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:12 pm

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by wdmickjr »

yup. i am subscribed to this post/thread.
would like to know where the stock location A/C settles in at.
cable or drive by wire?
hard plumb lines for a/c aren't that much of an issue.
i am looking for a 5.3L LM7.
94 Roadmaster LT1 (w/ Soloman Power Tune) powered 87 Astro CS
User avatar

mdmead
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2153
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:45 pm
Location: Selah, WA
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by mdmead »

wdmickjr wrote:yup. i am subscribed to this post/thread.
would like to know where the stock location A/C settles in at.
cable or drive by wire?
hard plumb lines for a/c aren't that much of an issue.
i am looking for a 5.3L LM7.
If you check the last post date, this may not be one to follow. :)

Here's what I've determined with my imaginary swap. (I have the van, 5.3L and subframe sitting in my shop.)

The A/C can't stay in the stock 5.3L location down low, at least on an AWD swap. But there is an affordable kit to mount the A/C back up in the 4.3L stock location. Requires a specific Sanden A/C compressor and I've never checked to see if it is the one we already have.

A lot of people swap to the drive-by-wire, but to me that seems like the hard way. I'm going to find a cable-operated throttle bottle and keep mine stock. I think this will also make it easier to keep the cruise control. This route will for sure require a PCM flash, but that is just about necessary to remove VATS and other stuff not needed/wanted.

The stock 5.3L truck pan appears to interfere with the axle on an AWD, although guys on the Astro/Safari Facebook swear they are running the stock pan with no mods. (I believe they custom made their mounts and I'm trying to work with LS-to-small block adaptors and JTR AWD mounts.) I think the H3 V-8 pan will be *really close* to a bolt in and am likely to try it if the stock pan doesn't work. (I found some LS-to-small block mounts that can adjust up to 1/2" rearward which may help... although I don't know if most can afford to move the V-8 deeper into the stock engine cover. My subframe will incorporate a 5" lift, so I think it won't be an issue if need be.)

That's all I know... or think I know... for now.
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!


No new projects until the current ones are done!
Post Reply