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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: choptop on July 29, 2009, 06:19:11 pm

Title: 5.3 converison
Post by: choptop on July 29, 2009, 06:19:11 pm
Ok guys, I bought 3 of the $350 5.3s out oof Dallas. One is out of an 01 Sub and the other two are out of 02 subs. I need to start getting the wiring harness figured out, so I can interface it with my trucks. Ones going infront of a 700r4, ones going infront of a th350 in the red truck, and the other is going infront of a th400 in a 77. The engines all have the full wiring harness, but no ecms.
 I am probably going to gut the harness, and just build my own to try to clean it up a little. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the ecm and sensors? I know alot of wires in the harness arent going to be needed, but I need a diagram so I can delete them. The factory harness has some to be desired for cleanliness, and since controls are what I do for a living, I think I can fix that. I should be able to build a generic harness to where all thats needed to do is install on the engine, and wire in the power supply. Times are tough, so I think that if I can get this figured out, it can possibly give me another source of income as well. Ill use myself as an experiment.

 Second, what do I need to interface with the transmission. The kick down cables, and tv cable are going to be interesting, but what torque convertor and flywheel do I use. Id like to use the 4l60e or 4l80e transmissions, but want to start out with just an engine swap setup, and intergrate the electronic trannys into the scenerio later.

Third, on mounting the engines into these trucks, do I have to build custom mounts, or is there a combo that works.

Last, but not least, the ecm. I figure I can get a stock ecm out of a junk yard and send it to Wheatly or the like, and have them program it to my needs. Any other ideas? Bigkountry, i may take you up on the ecm offer if its still available.

   Headers??

Thanks for all replys.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: joesgarage71 on July 29, 2009, 07:05:12 pm
 I bought a new PCM from Jesse Bubb and he tuned it. $150. I would trust him before I would go to anyone else, He was a computer/specialist at GM and has tuned well over 10K units. He might provide some answers to your questions. He also sells the efilive for scanning, trouble shooting and tuning your own PCM's. He reworks wiring Harness too.
www.wait4meperformance.com
jessebubb@yahoo.com
1-574-267-3630
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: eventhorizon66 on July 29, 2009, 07:19:56 pm
To mate a 5.3L to any earlier trans you need a spacer between the crank and flexplate.  The 5.3's use a dished flexplate that will not work with early transmissions.

Spacer: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12563532/
(It, of course, will mandate longer crank-to-flexplate bolts too)

As far as TV, kickdown, etc., I know it has been done with all three.  Dig in the LS1truck.com forums under conversions.  I also know that Bowtie Overdrives offers a TV Made EZ kit for a cable operated LSX engine and a 700R4.  But, based on my experience with BTO's kit on my truck, I can't recommend it.  For the 700, I would just make my own bracket for the cable and adapt these instructions (http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/techinfo/700R4p1.html) to the LSX throttle body.

And I believe this type of adapter (http://carshop.carshopinc.com/product_info.php/products_id/86959/C/S2349) is what everyone is using to mount these engines in these trucks and other early GM applications.  Be aware that there is another version of this adapter that moves the engine 1" or 2" (?) back.  On the standard adapters the lower front bolt goes through the mount, through the adapter, and into the block I believe.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: VileZambonie on July 29, 2009, 07:25:25 pm
Do you know if they were flex fuel engines? Do you know the engine code or 8th digit?
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: VileZambonie on July 29, 2009, 07:30:44 pm
Which schematics do you need?

Electrical Diagrams
 Information
Engine Controls
         • Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor and Cruise Control
         • Controlled/Monitored Subsystems References
         • EGR and IAC
         • Electronic Throttle Controls - APP Sensor
         • Electronic Throttle Controls - TAC Motor and TP Sensor
         • Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S)
               HO2S W/Case Grounded Sensors
               HO2S W/Isolated Grounded Sensors
         • Ignition Controls
               Cylinders 1, 3, 5, and 7
               Cylinders 2, 4, 6, and 8
               Ignition Control Sensors
         • MAF, and VSS Circuits
         • Module Power, Ground, Serial Data and MIL
         • Pressure and Temperature Sensors
         • TAC Motor and TP Sensor
Emission Controls
Fuel Controls
         • Fuel Injectors
         • Fuel Pump Controls
Transmission Controls
   



Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: choptop on July 29, 2009, 09:24:53 pm
Thanks guys for all the info.You all are awesome, and I knew someone here would know
Do you know if they were flex fuel engines? Do you know the engine code or 8th digit?
I am not sure of the vin number. The tags on them from the yard may have it, Ill look tomorrow and find out. Being the newest ones are 02's I dont think so, but I dont even know if the flex fuel system was out then. The first vehicle I remember seeing it on was 04.

Vile, the schematic I need shows the pinout of the ecm to the engine. Basically, I need to know where each sensor is wired into the ecm, which sensors share common power supplies, which inputs need constant b+ and b-, and what battery input(s) need to be switched. Im gonna have to install a MAF sensor in the air intake, and of course the O2 sensors, once I figure out where they need to be located in the exhaust, and wire it in. All of the engines have the complete harnesses on them, so I could trace alot of it out, but a schematic sure would make short work of that.
If there is a schematic of the ecm plug only that tells what is what, that would be a big help. That way Ill know what can be removed because it came from the dash or ?. Is the engine ecm the same one that controls the tranny? If so, I may have to figure out a way to similate what it looks for. Once again, thanks very much to all of you.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: Captkaos on July 30, 2009, 11:37:03 am
I use Painless for my harness (mine was hacked beyond repair) 
I recommend BRPHotrod headers (that is what I have)  http://www.brphotrods.com/1955-1987%20Chevy%20truck.html

We tune our own with LS1Edit or SCT, but I hear good things about wait4m3...

You should be able to get a pinout for the ECM and for the harness.  I actually went to GM talked to a tech there and he burnt the whole thing to CD for me on my 2000 6.0L.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: VileZambonie on July 30, 2009, 11:59:28 am
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/c1-1.gif)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/c1-2.gif)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/c1-3.gif)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/c2-1.gif)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/c2-2.gif)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Sabaka454/c2-3.gif)
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: VileZambonie on July 30, 2009, 12:00:35 pm
The image restriction is distorting them a little. Chris can you bump it up a little bit?
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: Captkaos on July 30, 2009, 02:12:17 pm
moved it up again...
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: choptop on July 30, 2009, 05:34:07 pm
Thats perfect Vile, much appreciated. Ill have to study them and try to figure out what I dont really need.

Cpat, how much is the Painless harness? I know I can build my own, but am smart enough to know that sometimes I cant even beat the price of a mass produced harness.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: VileZambonie on July 30, 2009, 08:07:18 pm
As aggrivating as it can get you need to decide what's more important time or money? lol I always try to figure that one out myself!
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: joesgarage71 on July 31, 2009, 07:50:39 pm
Energy Suspension has the plate and engine mount for the LS conversion (as per the sept. issue chevy high perf) looks like the non-clam shell type mount (small pad on the frame)
 www.energysuspension.com
 949-361-3935
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: bigkountry on July 31, 2009, 09:03:12 pm
Let me look tomorrow, I am almost positive I still have it in my shop packed away. I know you will have to have a vin, just for tuning sakes (thats what wheatley told me anyways when he tuned my ECM) so I will find an old insurance card and you can use that VIN.

If I have it, I will PM you for your addy.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: choptop on July 31, 2009, 10:19:56 pm
Let me look tomorrow, I am almost positive I still have it in my shop packed away. I know you will have to have a vin, just for tuning sakes (thats what wheatley told me anyways when he tuned my ECM) so I will find an old insurance card and you can use that VIN.

If I have it, I will PM you for your addy.
Thanks, I appreciate it. You guys are lots of help. As far as the harness, its not about time, but more money. I build electronic engine controls and harnesses for a living, its just on industrial engines (Cat, Detroit, John Deere,etc) They are all pretty simple, I just need to figure out which inputs, outputs I need, which sensors I can do away with (which may require fabbing up a dummy sensor to similate it if it cant be removed) I have some engines that I work on that require several different throttle types and a dummy throttle has to be installed so the ecm thinks its there.  Some sensors share a common ground and power supply, so I have to figure that out as well. Once thats done, Im in the clear. I have the existing harnesses, so I can split them out and use Viles pinouts to make my own diagram, and then build a harness. That said, if the Painless harness is not too expensive, I'll go that route.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: joesgarage71 on July 31, 2009, 10:42:59 pm
I have a GM Tech DVD that might be usefull,Has all the wiring,conector diagrams for GM stuff from before 98-2005
 Steve
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: choptop on August 01, 2009, 06:26:16 am
I have a GM Tech DVD that might be usefull,Has all the wiring,conector diagrams for GM stuff from before 98-2005
 Steve

Thay would be the final peice I need. WHere can I get a copy?
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: joesgarage71 on August 01, 2009, 06:38:01 am
PM Sent
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: aussie on August 05, 2009, 07:54:28 am
how is your build coming together ????
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: bigkountry on August 11, 2009, 11:41:38 am
I found the ECM after battling the spider brigade...lol

I sent you a PM to get your address so I can send it out.
Title: Re: 5.3 converison
Post by: choptop on August 11, 2009, 06:34:15 pm
how is your build coming together ????
Honestly, Im still in the planning stage. Until I can get some funds coming in, its just planning. Work is picking up, so hopefully soon.
I found the ECM after battling the spider brigade...lol

I sent you a PM to get your address so I can send it out.
Thanks