Looking for help with an ls engine swap

[toxxic]

5.3 LS in the 91 wrangler - with help from a friend who does LS swaps as a pro, it wasnt too tough really and excellent results.  4L60E trans behind it.

Beautiful install. I have a 5.3 LS in a 1997 Wrangler with a 4L80E, certainly barks the tires shifting from 1st to 2nd!

[Iveexcaped3]

The nice thing is the LS 5.3 has become so popular there’s tons of aftermarket availability. The down side to the 5.3’s becoming so popular is it’s not a $500 motor at the junkyard any more. The yards are pulling them and selling them for a premium price. $1500 for a 200k engine is steep. I picked up my spare 10 years ago and was $500 for a complete engine.

Wouldn’t hurt to put a cam in it if you’re going to rebuild a junkyard motor anyway. Comp cams sells a few that you can drop in without changing anything else. My objective is to put my 5.3 in my 93 bmw 325i.

[NitRally]

The part that scares me is the electrical wiring, funny enough I'm an electrician but when it comes to vehicle electrical Its a whole other monster that I don't want to deal with lol.

[2MANY]

Just accept God's message and buy a Ford.

[Iveexcaped3]

The part that scares me is the electrical wiring, funny enough I'm an electrician but when it comes to vehicle electrical Its a whole other monster that I don't want to deal with lol.

Look into these guys https://www.wiringspecialties.com/classic-chev-ls1-wiring-harness

They’re about as plug and play as you can get. If your swapping an ls they have a wiring solution for you.

Plus older auto electrical is much easier than todays wiring codes. Cash grab SOB’s

[jeffitz]

Definitely change the cam while its out because the stock ones are pretty lame- i just bought a small tow cam from summit and it fries the 37” Toyos off no prob.  Same here on the wiring stuff man i am not good at that but am fortunate having a guru buddy- i may have never done that swap if not for him- funny though that when you watch those guys do electrical and pay attention it actually seems not too difficult so i think its a big confidence thing. I just have no confidence or prob too lazy to burn brain power on electrical. 
    - i paid to have the GM (Tahoe) harness modified and simplified(they get rid of stuff not used like EGR,etc.) but you can also buy plug n play harness - yes its a big project but fun/rewarding when finished,Wow mine still isnt finished until i get the wire off the upper rad hose which keeps it from rubbing on alt pulley HaHa……

[Lumpy Taters]

As some have already said it is pretty well documented on what you need to swap in a ls motor. There is a few smaller items you have to address but not crazy difficult.  Currently swapping a 5.3 into my wifes 93 full size blazer.   Things like the fuel pump and if your transmission is not electronic can be an issue.  It's the little annoying things that you should plan to encounter and that's where a lot of people give up. 

[GASoline71]

Go big or go home...

Find a 6.0L with a 4L80E attached to it with a transfer case and grab all the wiring that goes with it.  I had an '06 Silverado K2500 with that in it stock and it is a great combo.

Gary

[jeffitz]

Go big or go home...

Find a 6.0L with a 4L80E attached to it with a transfer case and grab all the wiring that goes with it.  I had an '06 Silverado K2500 with that in it stock and it is a great combo.

Gary

Absolutely.

[Norman89]

The nice thing is the LS 5.3 has become so popular there’s tons of aftermarket availability. The down side to the 5.3’s becoming so popular is it’s not a $500 motor at the junkyard any more. The yards are pulling them and selling them for a premium price. $1500 for a 200k engine is steep. I picked up my spare 10 years ago and was $500 for a complete engine.

Wouldn’t hurt to put a cam in it if you’re going to rebuild a junkyard motor anyway. Comp cams sells a few that you can drop in without changing anything else. My objective is to put my 5.3 in my 93 bmw 325i.

Gotta shop around more, if you know people they can still be had for 280$ complete with harness and pcm. But you gotta put in the foot work and be fast. Got a buddy over east that does ls swaps for a living and comes over to the wet side and buys them 10-15 at a time and gets a bulk buy discount 200$ each. Trick of the trade all the ls platform trucks and suvs, the stepper motors have memory in the gauge cluster. Want a good motor? Dont buy one that has the gauge cluster removed, make sure the cluster is still in it and the needle is sitting at 40-50 pounds. Dont even need the battery hooked up. That gauge will show what oil pressure was when the engine was last shut off, gives you much better odds for good bearings and less cam lifter problems