LS1 swap?

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Jus10dun

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Mar 31, 2006
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I found a great deal on a LS series 5.3L V8, and a six speed. Has anyone ever tried or thought about the swap?

Do you know anything about Motor mounts, Cross member, Exhaust, AC, Tranny mounts, driveshaft, wiring, Power steering.

If you do LMK.
 
Wills7MGTE

Wills7MGTE

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May 12, 2006
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I can't remember who it was on here but a guy was halfway through an LS7 swap into a pre 89 supra a while back. I don't see why ya don't just buy a Trans Am or Camaro if ya wanna LS1 or LS series V8
 
pnutcar

pnutcar

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Jan 25, 2006
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Good luck on this! I am a fan of that engine. I love my Supra and 1j to death, but its the last small cid engine I'm going to deal with. Everything I can do to my 1j I can also do to a big block :D
 
D

Doward

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Jan 11, 2006
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The 5.3 is not 'technically' an LSx series. It is a member of the family, but the 5.3L is an iron block in all but a few rare cases.

6 speed? Is this a T56? I'm unaware of any T56s mated to a 5.3L from the factory. Many 5 speeds are, though!

That said - DO IT. It's not been 100% done before, but if the 7M ever takes a dump on me, I WILL be putting an LS1 into it.

As to 'Why not a Camaro/Trans am' - The Supra is in every way a superior platform. Take the LS1 and T56, and you have a world class car, in my opinion.
 
F

foreverpsycotic

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Jul 16, 2006
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Doward;1135866 said:
The 5.3 is not 'technically' an LSx series. It is a member of the family, but the 5.3L is an iron block in all but a few rare cases.

6 speed? Is this a T56? I'm unaware of any T56s mated to a 5.3L from the factory. Many 5 speeds are, though!

That said - DO IT. It's not been 100% done before, but if the 7M ever takes a dump on me, I WILL be putting an LS1 into it.

As to 'Why not a Camaro/Trans am' - The Supra is in every way a superior platform. Take the LS1 and T56, and you have a world class car, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

I have the same idea's floating around in my head if the 1jz ever goes out. A nice 5.7l LSx out of a truck mated to a TKO. A nice responsive 450whp out of that motor would make a nice little street car.
 
V

vert88

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well the 5.3 is a part of the lsx family even though some of them are iron block and if you are really serious about installing an ls motor into your car i would give Doc a call at EFI Alchemy they are based out of jacksonville florida and you can just google them if not pm me and i will forward you his number. doc is a great guy to talk to about the ls series motors and istallation
 
J

Jus10dun

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Well i have heard soo many other people doing the 5.3 swap and it is a cast iron block but everthing is interchangable just like the ls1, ls2, ls6. It isn't consider a LS motor but i will still have to go through the same crap as anyone else that has tried it.

The tranny doesn't come stock but Jegs has a brand new one for under 3g. I can get the motor with harness and accesories for 1g. so i figure all the other odds and ends another 2gs and in a year i will have a brand new bad ass 350hp V8 Supra.

The two things thats i want in a car put together. A beautiful car and a Beautiful engine.

So now does anyone know anthing about this swap other than Doc?
 
fixitman04

fixitman04

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btw guys a 5.3 is a ls3 the ls# is gm's engine code on its rpo codes.
i think its a great idea, and a ls7 would be the best choice but it could easily be bolted in later.
 
Gritz

Gritz

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pnutcar;1135809 said:
Good luck on this! I am a fan of that engine. I love my Supra and 1j to death, but its the last small cid engine I'm going to deal with. Everything I can do to my 1j I can also do to a big block :D
Click to expand...

You must not have much experience with a big blocks...Very costly in so many ways you wouldn't belive...
 
S

supramk3man

Supramania Contributor
Jun 26, 2005
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a Sbc supra is fun but i wouldn' t go through the pains of the swap and the agrevation of nothing being where you need to be. 1jz is much more fun, i had a built 355 sbc supra for about 6-7 months. It would smoke the tires and was fun to do some hole shots in but, it just didn't belong. This is coming from a guy that figured his dream car was a supra with a chevy heart. I"m not saying that some day i will not do it again but from what i have learned i will stick with a 1jz. I fully support your swap and hope it turns out just the way you want. More power to people doing what they want how they want.
 
I

IJ.

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Mar 30, 2005
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I come from a land down under
LSx here denotes the block with the added head studs for better sealing.
(6 bolts per cylinder instead of 4)

LS-LSX_block_top_s.jpg
 
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IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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I come from a land down under
SySt;1142434 said:
That engine is WAY different than the 3rd and 4th gen SBCs we are talking about.

IJ: LSX has long been a term for 3rd anf 4th gen SBCs. In fact i'd bet money the aftermarket blocks are denoted "LSX" for that reason. Also, Warhawk makes an "LSX" named block with 4 bolts per cylinder I beleive. If you really want to get picky there are more than 4 bolts per cylinder on a stock 3rd/4th gen SBC.

The spark plugs are EXTREMELY easy to change on my setup.
Click to expand...

Relax Luke, I was just pointing it out to save any confusion.... :nono:

LSx is the generic LSX is the 6 bolt block.

ie: LSx x= 1 2 3 6 7 9 and so on
 
roundfinger

roundfinger

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Aug 23, 2006
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Lol, i realize that the engine in that one isn't the same as he was talking about, i was just pointing out that if he wanted a v8 for s & g 's and not the challenge of putting one in that he might save a lot of time and money going the already swapped route. Or he could write the guy and ask some questions for some good insight.

I kind of hope he decides to do the swap it'd be a cool thread to follow.
 
J

Jus10dun

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Mar 31, 2006
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Like you guys already know the motoy is a LM7 not a LS1 or even LSX. LSX is very confusing to chevy guys that alrealf know that there is a aftermaket block out there called the LSX do to the fact the you can put any LS head with any displacment combination and have a very strong block to hold it.


The set up i am looking to do is EFI all the way. I could probable do a SBC cardrated for half the price a little more power but defienetly not as effiencient Or relieable. Plus its just to redneck and old school for me.

The LM7 has the same block and head casting as the LS1, 2, 3, and 6. Most if not all the parts are interchangable. The engine come in Cast/Cast Alum/cast and Alum/Alum(Escalades). The transmissions are also interchangable. I am hoping to get a T-56 after i figure out which years have the right clutch and spedo combinations we need.

SySt: What are the main problems you had? I am most conserned about wiring, ac, power steering, and getting the T-56 to fit.
 
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