diesel cutlass

Hello all. i recently got my hands on a 5.3 out of an 01 02 suburban and am in the process of tearing down. My plan is to rebuild it and get a little more power out of it maybe 350-400hp range when im done. im looking at doing a cam swap ie from research possibly a 212/218 comp cam as well as a few other mods. wondered what mods would be recommended to do it right and cheap as im on a lower budget. Ive got a 97 gmc sierra with the 4.3 and a 5 speed that i was planning on putting it in. wasnt for sure if the 5 speed would bolt up to the newer 5.3 or not and if that would cause any computer probs. thanks

gagliano7

Your trans will bolt up to the 5.3. People will tell you it isn't strong enough but i had a 383 with 450 ft lbs of torque connected to it with no problems. I now have a 5.3, prc 2.5 5.3 heads, 222/226 cam, LT headers and a 2008 truck intake with the same 5 speed. You will have to get the right flywheel sachs nfw1050. You will also need a new clutch setup.

diesel cutlass

ok sweet another question my 5.3 has the electronic fly by wire i think its called throttle body is it possible to change it over to mechanical so i can use my gas pedal or do i have to scab the electric pedal out of the donor vehicle? also im assuming i have to change motor mounts?

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

01 02 suburban should have a mechanical drive by cable mechanical throttle body.

If it had a Autoride suspension it may have the Drive by Wire with an Electric motor that controls it.

In a 97 you will want to use a 411PCM and a mechanical Throttle body any way.

You can switch the throttle body no issue there. you will have to modify the harness though for the 2 plugs needed for the TPS sensor and IAC valve. Electric TB has 1 large plug. instead of 2 small plugs.

Of course you can always get a correct harness as well.

diesel cutlass

it had no cable on it but rather a solenoid looking unit on the throttle body and how do i need to modify it to make it work? whats the 411pcm? i have the computer and full harness for the 5.3 i kept it with the engine when i pulled it out

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

12200411 is the service number on the computer that most people use for this swap.
It's often referred to as 411 or 0411.

With that PCM and the harness to match, (I don't know what PCM or harness you Have) You can make everything function in your current vehicle including the gauges.

All you would need to do is use a cable throttle body instead of an electric throttle body.

If you search "LS Swap GMT400" on google there is alot of coverage of how to do the swap and the wiring.

diesel cutlass

i looked up the full number for that pcm and figured out that that is the pcm i have as well as the harness that goes with it. also got another question im new to this whole engine building and from my research i have found that an ideal cam swap would be to put a comp cam 212/218 in it the rollers obviously come with it but i was wondering if i needed to change the push rods or anything like that since im upgrading to a little bit bigger cam

1FastBrick

iTrader: (17)

It wouldn't hurt to get new push rods as the base circle while be slightly smaller on the new cam. You would have to measure to be sure but I believe a 7.400 would work just fine.

The new push rods will also be stronger than the factory pushrods as well.

diesel cutlass

what clutch setup did you use? i looked on rockauto parts catalog and found that the standard size is 11 inch for the factory 4.3 but when i looked at the 5.0 and 5.7 for the same year it showed an 11 3/4-12 inch was used. should i go bigger the bigger size or find a heavier duty 11 inch?

tgui

Oops. Wrong place.