Project Worx

That is one hell of a find, congrats!

Thanx to my buds at the Planet.

Got a few extra $ so I bought a few things to get the LS swap rolling.....



GM LS/H3 oil pan kit,comes with everything pan,windage tray,dipstick & tube,gasket,pickup tube,mounting hardware.  $160 shipped at Jegs great price as some places are getting $300 for the same thing.

And Harbor Freight had a sale on 1000 lb engine stand....

More goodies...

Crimpers & motor mounts.

Also found a great deal on a OEM LS3 waterpump on ebay. $125 shipped & came with thermostat & housing.

Havent updated in a while & glad to see you guys are still rolling.

I picked up a aluminum L33 block for $500 shipped,tore it down & it had a couple spun rod bearings.

I picked up a set of stainless steel headers for $230 shipped & the came with collectors with the O2 bungs.



Got a wiring harness & pcm from a 2002 Siverado for $165 shipped.



LS1 intake manifold with fuel rail & injectors

why are you downgrading to an ls1 intake?

I took the wire harness & stripped the old nasty loom off & cleaned it up & hung it to dry.





Then started marking all the connections with toe tags.

why are you downgrading to an ls1 intake?

I was just trying to get it running & didnt have a lot of $ so I went with it till I can afford to get a LS6.

Not looking to set the street on fire & its just a daily driver.

Picked up some coils & a MAF.





Got a LS6 valley cover & some valve covers & had them powder coated black.

I sent the block to the machine shop & had the cyls honed,new cam bearings installed & cleaned. Ordered new main & rod bearings,std rings,timing chain set,oil pump & gaskets,ARP rod bolts,new main & head bolts,comp cams trunnion kit.







Started putting it together.

I used truck acc with a modified alt/ps bracket to clear the LS1 intake & a 4.3 alt so I wouldnt have any hood clearance issues.



New ps pump with Dorman 300-201 pulley for better clearance between steering box & a pic of ac comp mounting.

Motor all assembled ready to go in.

Better pic of PS pump with Dorman 300-201 pulley.

Time for the swap,4.3 coming out.....

Had the frame notched for the ac comp on the 5.3. Since I was keeping the trans in the same place & not cutting the driveshaft clearance is very tight at the ac comp. I had to grind a little on the idler arm bracket that mounts to the frame so the ac clutch would clear & not rub.



Setting motor in for a test fit.



Header clearance at driver's side,real tight at #3 cyl header pipe.



AC box area was a tight fit but didnt have to cut anything. I did grind the corner off the back of the head to a rounded shape for better clearance & gluded same heat shield material under the ac box.

Pics of motor in ..... I had to "massage" the tunnel real good for header clearance so I could get to the collector bolts & make sure nothing would hit. Had it in & out a few times & had to bend the brakes lines a little on the drivers side to get them away from the header as much as possible. But everything went real well.





I had to recess the ac cond back in the rad support as much as possible & then recessed the rad as well. Took it to my welder friend & he removed some excess metal & cut a notch for the radiator cap.

I used the stock upper rad shourd cover to give it a cleaner look.