I was just wondering about how much of the engine I can assemble before actually dropping it into the engine bay.

Right now its a long block with oil pan, all three engine covers (front, back, valley) and valve covers. Once my balancer comes in, I will install that along with the water pump. Can I install the short headers/manifold also?
I plan to remove the hood, pull the fan/radiator and accessories off the old engine first. but how far can I assemble the new engine and still be able to easily drop it into place and mate it to the trans?

I did a search in here, in the technical write up section, and in projects but didnt find what I needed. If you know where I can find a detailed thread with pics about performing the actual swap, that would be great.

Thanks

 

I installed my motor without exhaust manifolds, intake manifold, and front drive accessories (power steering pump, alternator, A/C) and left water pump on. you can probably install it complete, seemed like plenty of room.

 

You can fit stock manifolds/shorties no problem. Also probably front stuff, but thats not hard anyway. Only thing doubtful is the intake manifold because of clearance with the cowl area.

 

Thanks. Yea i figured the intake would be in the way of the engine leveler also. Planned to install that once in.

Is it fairly easy to mate the engine to trans in the chassis? Seems like a ton of room.

 

A floor jack under the trans makes it easy....may need to rock the engine a bit to get it to line up. It wants to tilt backward with nothing attached to it.

 

When I was working at gm. The 5.3 and other vortec trucks in my opinion were missleading about how easily the engines came out . The thing I found was the to get them to pull striaght out and clear the fire wall and all that was more of a pain that it originally seems. Getting the engine ready to pull on the other hand I thought wasnt too bad. As far as mate up went I dont remeber much struggle. Only getting the engine to the right angle to get it past the rad support and sit in the firewall pocket was the biggest thing I remember. If It were me id leave the exhaust manifolds off. Anf the intake. Balancer should be ok and the waterpump I dont think would give u muvh trouble depending what u swapping into. Those torque convertor bolts come out hard tho. The starter I found went in really easy if you remove the inner wheel well liner otherwise its a bitch I thought. Assuming its going in a fullsize truck of the 07 and up vintage. Anyways thats all I can think of hope it helps you.

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Thanks i appreciate the feed back. Its an 03 by the way. Compared to the 93 mustang coupe I swapped, it looks like it will be easy with all that room, but you never know. I do have access to the engine leveler, so that helps a lot.

 

I pulled my 5.3 out of my truck with a cherry picker and no engine leveler. I didnt think it was bad at all. Also installed the 6.0 the same way. Still didnt think ot was to bad. Leveler would be nice when installing to mate to the transmission easier.

 

I unbolted the a/c compressor unbolted exhaust and took off the bracket for thw pump and alternator and just moved it to the side.

 

definitely install engine without intake manifold. this gives easy access to the belhousing and grounding bolts at the rear of the engine.