5.3 Vortec in '79?

Malice in Wonderland · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:25 pm Post subject: 5.3 Vortec in '79?

Hey i work at uhaul (unfortunately) and some idiot wrecked one of our new 1500 pickups...so i put a bid on it for 900$ canadian and my manager deals with the sales so i think im gonna get the truck, it rolled over so no motor damage and the motor has about 1600km's on it.

Has any one ever put one of these motors in a 5th gen? I have a 700-r4 in the car already, doesnt street and performance have a wiring kit for non computer cars and tranny?

And can i swap the top end on a '72 350 block already done up?

Any info would be appreciated

rwd_pete · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:34 pm Post subject:

It sounds like a great driveline.

I work at the plant where they make 5.3's in St. Catharines, a couple of hours from where you live. They have nothing in common with the old 350s, so nothing interchanges.

Street and performance might have a wiring kit, but it would probably cost $1000 Cdn. I'm just completing a '96 LT1 into a 62 Pontiac using a cut up harness. It's do-able, but you need to read up on how everthing works. It's taken me about 5 months to sort it all out. The 5.3's don't just bolt in as easy as LT1's either. I would use the 4L60 trans that comes with the motor, but it gets tricky getting the speedo to work unless you go to an electric speedometer. The engine computor needs a pulse signal from the trans to work right.

Malice in Wonderland · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 5:49 pm Post subject:

Hey thanks for the reply, my bid wasnt high enough apparently for the totalled truck and im not willing too pay any more, i just thought that if it was an easy swap that it would be cool. But if i end up going fuel injection ill probrably go with an lt1 since i hear good things. Also i spent 1700$ on my 700-r4 so i wouldnt wanna give it up for a stock 4L60E.