5.3 Vortec into a chevrolet camaro 3.4 V6

[MississippiMaro]

Hey guys i need some help on engine specs. I want to drop a 5.3 vortec into my camaro. People drop LS1s and LT1s into these cars all the time but nowhere on the net have I seen a 5.3 Vortec in a camaro. Do any of you guys know if this is possible. also what kind of block is the 5.3 based on and would it match any of the crossmembers available for the Camaro (LS1/LT1/L32/L36) We have 4l60E Trannys so i know the trans will fit. How long is your driveshaft?

[Chris97K1500]

Not knocking your idea, but why spend all the $$ on a 5.3? The LT1's and LS1's are much more of a performance engine. I think you would be disappointed with the 5.3 in a Camaro. If I'm not mistaken though, the 5.3's are based on the LS1's, but not sure if they are the same blocks just bored differently. Good luck with whatever you decide. Chris

[Tucson_02Silverado]

5.3 with harness' and computer are a lot cheaper than the LS1 (a lot of tired ones at that) one on eBay right now for $750 start bid. So going from 180fwhp to 285fwhp for around $1000 plus time is some cheap horsepower upgrade.

 

You didn't say which Gen F-Body, but it should fit with relatively little problems. The 4L60E/4L60/700R4 have different tail shafts dependent on the platform it was put in F-Body, B/D-Body, Truck. So if you find an F-Body based 4L60E, should be no problems.

 

If you're going to put this in a 4th Gen the problem will be front suspension. The LS1 is an alloy block and the 5.3 (LM7) is an iron block. Big weight difference and must have different springs. 3rd Gen wouldn't be a problem as the L98 was iron block/alloy heads

[Tucson_02Silverado]

The 4.8, 5.3 (LM7), 5.7(LS1), 6.0 are of the SBC Generation III family. Just as in the Gen I family 283-400 the parts interchange, whether they performed correctly depends on the application.

 

Right now with the prices the way they are, unless you are a diehard LT1/4 fan, it makes no sense to buy a Gen II (LT1/4). You want traditional carb setup go with a Gen I (one piece rear main) block/crate, EFI go with a Gen III

 

 

5.3 with harness' and computer are a lot cheaper than the LS1 (a lot of tired ones at that) one on eBay right now for $750 start bid. So going from 180fwhp to 285fwhp for around $1000 plus time is some cheap horsepower upgrade.

 

You didn't say which Gen F-Body, but it should fit with relatively little problems. The 4L60E/4L60/700R4 have different tail shafts dependent on the platform it was put in F-Body, B/D-Body, Truck. So if you find an F-Body based 4L60E, should be no problems.

 

If you're going to put this in a 4th Gen the problem will be front suspension. The LS1 is an alloy block and the 5.3 (LM7) is an iron block. Big weight difference and must have different springs. 3rd Gen wouldn't be a problem as the L98 was iron block/alloy heads

[MississippiMaro]

So i can mate a similar year 4L60E from a camaro to a 5.3 engine and use my camaro driveshaft? That rocks.... Suspension won't be a problem. SLP has v8 take off shocks and springs for 80 bucks. My big concern is the engine mounts. I can get a v-8 crossmember with LS1 mounting holes. But will the LS1 mounts on an F-body fit this Engine? Or can it be modified easily to do so?

 

 

BTW I have 1993 3.4 V6 Camaro this would be going in (4th Gen)

 

These engines are a lot cheaper than LS1s and more available where I am, that's why i'm so interested in this engine

 

Also what's the cubic inch displacement i've heard 327 and 325 on my camaro board....which is correct?

[jherdt]

Hey...do it, then you can put a Z-71 sticker on the rear end.

 

Just kidding - sounds like a good project, never heard of anyone doing it before.

 

Good Luck...Jim

[The SPEEDY]

Yes the engine mounts are in the same place as the ls1.

[Tucson_02Silverado]

I just noticed an almost double post. Don't know how that happened....

 

 

I didn't read your message all the way saying you had a 3.4 which was 4th Gen.

 

You'll have to find out what year those SLP parts are for. If it's for the LT1 years then you'll be fine as the LT blocks were iron and weight will be close.

 

The 5.3 is suppose to be 325CI. Depends how you round up. As the Gen I SBC 5.7L is actually 348CI calculated.

 

Still double measure the the drive shaft, but yes staying with same year same application tranny comes CLOSE to a guarantee of no hassle fit.

 

If you can find a 02 5.3L with harness and computer, that'll get rid of plumbing for the EGR as the 02 no longer had one.

[MississippiMaro]

That would be great if I could score an engine without an EGR system....we have enough problems with them on Camaro engines. Our board at camarov6.com has got at least 355 billion posts about EGR problems Does anyone know the weight difference between the 5.3 Vortec and the Camaro LS1 ? Also are the fittings for power steering hoses and cooling hoses at all similar? I'm starting to get excited about this project. Here's the linkto a similar post on my board with all the questions and comments.

 

Is there a tech database on here where I can look up the different horsepower ratings of the different year models?

 

327 Vortec swap into an F-body

[MississippiMaro]

Does anyone know if an LS1 oil pan will bolt up to this engine?

[MississippiMaro]

anyone????

[Tucson_02Silverado]

I only know in THEORY it would? You probably would need the pan from an F-Body LS1 for clearance issues.

[The SPEEDY]

It should, don't know for sure though.

 

Many people have 6.0 iron blocks in f-bodys so I ASSUME that the pan will bolt up to a 5.3.

[422 SS]

Weight difference between 5.3 and LS1 is 92 lbs according to GM.A 5.3 with heads/cam would run strong.

[VortecCamaro]

all parts are interchange able between LM7,LS-1, LS-2 and LS-6 for the most part

the only differences between the LM7 and LS-1 is the accesory drives in different places but you an use the LS1 brackets put your altenator on the bottom. the LS1 has an aluminum block as the LM7 has an iron block the 327 LM7 can be bored to the same as the LS1 or even to a 383ci. were as the LS1 can be bored to around 409

 

i have resently put a LM7 into my 91 camaro there were no problems with the LM7 oil pan for me dont know about the new camaros but mine has a 2inch drop on it so you should beable to use the stock oil pan but just remember if you change it you have to change the oil pump too. for clearence you can put the LS1 or LS6 intake manifold on it but i recomed using the LM7 intake it has same affects as a tunnel ram would. i ran into trouble with the way the a/c was so i simply removed it. and you can use the LS1 or LS6 accessory brackets so your altenator wont be up so high problems i ran into at first were wiring but then again i have a 91 fbody but this problem was fixed www.speedscencewiring.com will make you any harness you need. the motor mounts i just made some brackets and cut the old mounts from the LM7 and welded them to gether and to the stock k member on the camaro. they are solid so when you rev the motor you get alot of body movement and your feel every move of your engine. the tranny i chose to use was a 1978 THM-350 the only problem with that is that there is one bolt you cant use from the bell housing to block but thats because the block i have doesnt have a hole there for it i used my stock tranny crossmember i just cut it and welded a piece of metal to the center where i cut it because the thm-350 needed a 2 inch forward relocation on it. i kept the stock driveline some mods i have made are a G5x2 cam has a really nice lope 2 it and i have true dual exhaust 3" pipe with 3 1/2" borla race mufflers dumped right before the rearend. no cats. and 02 sims. and a 2200 nitro holeshot stall convertor

 

my friend has the same year car but did the LS1 swap and ended up spending twice the money on it and he has the same mods as me and i found that i can usualy beat him by atleast a car length some times we come almost even but my nose is just a little ahead