Truck specs include: stock 5.3 (160k miles), stock 4l60e, stock rear end (unknown gears atm), all black, shaved tail gate, roll pan, & 22's.

Parts on hand and on order: Djm flip kit; as well as a 2/4 unknown drop with coil springs, a 1" & 2" rear shackle, hangers, and shocks for all corners; lkq 5.3 with 130k miles w/ harness; corvette swervo, transgo shift kit with valve body overhaul; ls6 valve springs (blue); and I believe that's all.... May be wrong though.

That being said, I'm no professional but I'm also not a total newb.

The lkq motor is going to replace the stock motor due to me previously spending too much money to find a $3 problem in the top end of the stock motor, and a developing knock in the bottom end. Once the stock motor is out, I'll be disassembling it and organizing all the parts in categories (bottom end, top end, ignition, etc). The stock motor will be used as a slow 5.3 build project, anything that can be reused will be. New intake manifold gaskets, knock sensor harness, oil filter, spark plugs, coils and wires will be installed before I remove the lkq engine off the stand.

As for swapping motors, is there any specific method I should use? Anything I should look for before swapping?

Now for pictures.. Sorry for cell phone quality

 

truck looks good man. u should post up your goals for the truck u will find alot of users that can point u in the right direction of your build.

 

Good point!
I'm trying to make it a daily beater that rides good, hauls ***, and pulls ***. Haha but on a serious note, I was just thinking a budget Street nitrous build with an occasional track fun. Numbers aren't a big concern of mine, they'll come in time. Just a reliable motor that'll take some nitrous at times.

 

Today was all about cleaning the replacement 5.3. The motor definitely came out of a 4x4, there was mud everywhere. The motor still isn't perfectly clean but it's a start. Wiring harness is off, intake manifold is off (still needs a cleaning), check knock sensors (one is pretty corroded and the other is practically brand new), cam position sensor cleaned and reinstalled, cleaned the left over grime off the mating surfaces for the intake manifold. The bottom end needs to get cleaned more and I need to pull the oil pan to see how it looks in there.

Just incase I didn't already state this. The stock motor had a knick in the bottom end (possible worn rod bearing).

 

Here are a couple pictures of the lkq motor. It definitely came out of a 4x4, thats for sure.

The motor is going to get cleaned thoroughly this weekend. And I got my corvette swervo, intake manifold gaskets, and knock sensor wiring harness today.