Turbo 5.3 swap
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 200
Likes: 14
From: Wilmington Nc
Turbo 5.3 swap
Im wondering if there's a way to pull the motor out without taking the body off the car. If it comes to that I'll do it. I'm gonna swap the 5.7 with a 5.3 built to make 1200+ with twin 76's.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,756
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
If you have a lift, the easiest way to remove the engine is by dropping the cradle and engine out the bottom.
The engine can certainly come out the top too, remove the hood and pull.
Good luck with your project.
The engine can certainly come out the top too, remove the hood and pull.
Good luck with your project.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 399
From: Boise, ID
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Please keep update with your progress, particularly with any gotchas going to the 5.3. Knock on wood if I ever have to pull my motor again I'm putting in a 5.3.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 200
Likes: 14
From: Wilmington Nc
Lol, I've done a few big power builds but keeping the power to the ground is going to be a challenge. I'm going rear mount turbos, try to get some more weight in the back. Also there's not much room up there, I'm upgrading all the bushings as well, I was driving it the other day and stomped on it
(Makes 350whp) and the rear end came out doing 50, I'm going with quite a lot more power so I'm going to need some polyurethane bushings and wider tires (already has 285's lol) this car is going to be insane. I'll defiantly post pics of my progress
(Makes 350whp) and the rear end came out doing 50, I'm going with quite a lot more power so I'm going to need some polyurethane bushings and wider tires (already has 285's lol) this car is going to be insane. I'll defiantly post pics of my progress
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 54
From: Raleigh NC
Since we are on the subject....you put the heads on before putting the motor in right? Was it a pain in the ***. I don't remember if I asked you or not.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 399
From: Boise, ID
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I did put the heads on before putting the motor in and wish I hadn't. It would have made getting the motor in easier I suspect since there is less weight to wrestle with. Also the headers would have been really easy to get into place first before putting the heads on. Getting the motor in was actually easy after disconnecting the slave cylinder to master cylinder line, didn't have to work against hydraulic pressure. I also loosened my clutch bolts as well and tightened through the inspection cover.
Last edited by tommypenguin; Mar 7, 2016 at 05:44 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 54
From: Raleigh NC
Its weird you had to do that though with the clutch and all. Ive never had to. Maybe someone pushed the clutch in while the motor was out. But its in there now! Hopefully this is the last time I have to mess with my motor this summer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
remove the the two shock struts the hood will move forward a bit.
I use the 'allstar' valley lift plate and a standard 2ton picker.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 200
Likes: 14
From: Wilmington Nc
Will defiantly do that. Now when I get the intake, front accessories, etc, and all that's holding in the motor in are the mounts and the torque tube, would I disconnect the bell housing to the TT or the BH to the motor? The car is a auto with a built drag tranny.
Last edited by moekluse; Mar 8, 2016 at 02:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 200
Likes: 14
From: Wilmington Nc
I forgot to ask, is the crank offset in the ls1 and the cast iron 5.3 the same? Will torque tube and BH fit the crank?
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: lenexa ks
I am going to be doing the same swap in my c5 to the 5.3 and going with the UPP twin turbo kit. Can you post briefly how you did the swap and what issues you might have had when doing it?
Thanks,
Matt
Thanks,
Matt
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 200
Likes: 14
From: Wilmington Nc
As I'm almost done building the motor, I will be documenting my steps to swap and will tell about any problems I come into
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 497
Likes: 156
Wow, deja vu... I have an iron block 5.3 and a used UPP TT kit sitting on the garage floor next to my C5Z right now... Hoping to get started on it in a few weeks.