5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

SWAPPING IN A 305, 350 OR ANY OTHER SMALL BLOCK, POST THEM HERE.
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Logan
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5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Logan »

Okay everyone. I'm doing some bench racing. The top end gave out on my 2002 AWD. I think even one of the heads are cracked. She has 365,000 miles so I really want to just replace the engine. I called a couple yards and can get an exact replacement 4.3 for $450 or I can get a 5.3 with 87,000 miles from a 4x4 1500 with computer for $500. I don't know much about these newer motors. Would they use the same AWD V8 conversion mounts or do I need to fabricate something? It sounds easy to me but I'm sure I'm missing something. Any experts out there?
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
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HPbyStan
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by HPbyStan »

The 5.3 wont bolt to your transmission is the first problem I see. The motor mounts will also be different. That would be a good swap as swaps go IF you get the complete engine/transmission from a 4wd truck along with the computer and all its wiring. Otherwise I'd slip another V6 into that thing. Stan Millard
'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....
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Logan
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Logan »

The transmission won't bolt to it? I thought they both used 4L60e's? Did they change the bell housing or something? Maybe they have removable bell housings? They offered 4.3 v6's in a 2001 C1500. That's the same drivetrain as the Astro, Right? Am I missing something else?

What V8 engine would bolt to my transmission setup? 4.8, 5.3, 6.0? LS1?
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

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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by astrozam »

5.7
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HPbyStan
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by HPbyStan »

Logan wrote:The transmission won't bolt to it? I thought they both used 4L60e's? Did they change the bell housing or something? Maybe they have removable bell housings? They offered 4.3 v6's in a 2001 C1500. That's the same drivetrain as the Astro, Right? Am I missing something else?

What V8 engine would bolt to my transmission setup? 4.8, 5.3, 6.0? LS1?
None of the new gen III engines bolt to the older transmissions. The bolt pattern on the rear of the blocks is different. The newer 4L60E transmissions have a removable adapter between them and the engine. You could probably change that to a gen III one but I'm not sure about the flex plate/flywheel/torque converter.
'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....
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by mdmead »

My understanding is the stock transmission can be used but adaptors may be needed. I found this thread over at LS1Truck.com. (There are others talking about the same thing, but I didn't take the time to find them.)
http://www.ls1truck.com/forums/lsx-truc ... tions.html

I seem to recall the transmission bolt holes all line up except for one, but lots of folks have run with one missing bolt with no issues. (I also seem to recall there is a cut-off date on which 4L60e's can be used and I think it is around 96. I think that is when the removable bellhousings came into play. I'm a bit foggy since I did my initial research more than 2 yrs ago.)

This is my swap... unfortunately I haven't tried to bolt my 5.3L to my transmission to know for sure...

As for motor mounts, it's true the regular AWD V-8 swap mounts won't work. But... I wonder if they would work if combined with a set of LS plate mounts designed to provide a normal small block mounting configuration. (The plate mounts allow a LS series motor to mimic a regular small block and bolt in to any GM application that had a small block.) I had a link to these mounts from advanced adaptors, but can't find it now. Other companies also make these mounts and I suspect a diagram is on the web somewhere so anybody could have them made...

The next question though is exhaust manifolds... My 5.3L manifolds look to dump pretty close to where my 4.3 manifolds do. This is critical on the AWD and there isn't much room for them to go anywhere else. If it isn't right, headers will be needed... and I don't have a clue which application would work.
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!


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Logan
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Logan »

Okay, cool. Thanks Matt. I think I'm going to do it if I can get the MONEY borrowed. I talked to my guy at the J/Y and he says I can get the 87,000 mile 5.3 with transmission (without the transfer case) from a 2001 4X4 silverado for $1000. Including computer and wire harness. I'm gonna drop the subframe and may do a body lift at the same time. My only real concern now is the accessories.
I agree the LS adapter plates should work fine (in theroy). I'm gonna hang around ls1truck a little more too.

Wasn't there a guy somewhere around here that did a 4.8 swap??
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
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by HPbyStan »

If you can, get the vin number from the doner truck as well. On my Cali trip with the LS1 Astro, the MAF screwed up and the local Chevy dealer in Little Rock just used the doners vin number that I had stuck right over the test port under the dash and had the answer in a matter of seconds. The techs "test ride" took three times as long as the work ;-)
'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....
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Logan
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Logan »

That's a great idea Stan!!

I talked with Mike at Advance Adapters and P/N 713088-P is the plate adapter that changes the 4 bolt square patterns on the 5.3 to and traditional small block 3 bolt triangular pattern. Which means I can install the AWD V8 mounts onto those mounts!! YAY!! One problem solved! A million to go!!
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
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HPbyStan
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by HPbyStan »

Look at my LS1 2wd swap and you'll see what to mod on the battery box/puter holder to make the gen III puter fit in the Astro spot. By using the truck engine you don't have to change oil pans, make 240 splices in the wiring to get the computer to fit in the Astro, I think the fuel systems are the same and they weren't on the LS1, since both vehicles are at least 2000 models you won't have problems with the fuel gauge like I had installing a newer engine in a '98. You may have problems fitting the ignition coils with the truck inlet manifold but maybe not. It's something to think about tho. That's about it off the top of my head, Good luck...
'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....

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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Cobra »

.... this maybe be off topic but stan i think your going to hate me, i'm going to bug you soooooo much in the future that LQ9 idea is still rolling around
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by HPbyStan »

HaHa, maybe Logan will have his going by then and take some pressure off.. :)
'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....
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Topic author
Logan
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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Logan »

I DID IT!!! I'll be picking up the motor and transmission combo sometime next week. I'll be tearing my AWD apart this weekend. My goal is to have it up and running by at least Christmas!!!! I'll post pictures!!!
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

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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Awesome Logan! :bounce: Can't wait to see pics and see how she performs!
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

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Re: 5.3 V8 swap !!!!!

Post by Cobra »

when i come back i'll be lookin' for pics i'm going to be following this
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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