Help me build my 5.3 Vortec

[Paraman1]

So I recently bought a 5.3 Vortec motor for my 64 El Camino . I am a complete newb when it comes to the Vortec and LS motors but have been reading all I can . Current plans are to ditch the 862 casting heads and ad some 243's ( I believe I have these purchased at this time) . Beyond that I am not really sure , I have read that the 243's need to be decked a bit to keep compression on the 5.3 up especially since I have no plans to put any boost on the motor so this is on my list of things that may be done .

I have also read that the truck intake is pretty tough to beat no matter how ugly it is so my plan was to buy or build a cover for it but again if there was a cost effective upgrade I would Love to look at it .

Not sure what I am going to need to do for an accessory drive but I have been looking at the ICT Billet kits , anyone have any experience with these ?

I am going to use a adjustable bracket with stock motor mounts for a mounting solution but haven't decide for sure what I am going to use there .

For an oil pan I am thinking the Holley 302-2 should fit fine .

I don't have any idea on exhaust but would like something mid-length so I can keep the exhaust tucked up as high as possible .

Last but not least is a cam to take advantage of the heads and exhaust upgrade .

In a perfect world I would hope with a decent tune I will be making 350+ HP with a pipe dream number being 400 HP with decent gas mileage and street manners .

Any help you guys could give me on this adventure would be great and I look forward to learning more and seeing things I may have missed .

[MattG]

Your goals will be EASY to reach with just a cam and springs. The most important thing you need is a good tuner. Go to LS1 Tech and spend a couple hours researching 5.3 setups and you will have your head spinning with possibilities. Porting your truck intake will really help and I agree, if you don't care about looks, keep it.

Good luck,

Matt

[analyte]

For a cam/springs and overall combo, I recommend Tick Performance. Martin has been a great help throughout from building my LQ9 to helping with the tune.

I went with the LS6 intake over the truck box for looks and performance, but I will be changing it soon for a Fast92. Decide now and spend once to keep things simple.

I used a C6 accessory drive, good price from summit and comes with new alt, PS pump, bolts, etc.

Kerry

[andrewb70]

Look at the Holley accessory brackets. They basically use the Corvette layout but use the less expensive truck alternators. They also offer spacers so the system will work with the Corvette balancer (my favorite because it tucks the accessories tight to the block), F-body, and truck balancers.

If you don't have a harness and ECU already, I would seriously consider one of the Holley HP LS kits. You get the harness, wideband O2, software, and ECU, and you won't be a slave to some "tuner". The "learning" feature works awesome and you'll have the base fuel dialed in in no time.

If the engine is all together, I would just keep the heads you have for now and get a cam, springs, and pushrods. If it doesn't make the power you want, then you can explore other options. Hooker also makes very nice cast iron manifolds that tuck very close to the block and will work with the A-bodies.

Andrew

[Revmax]

You mentioned that Holley oil pan but you may consider the GM LS muscle car oil pan. It is pretty much identical to Holley but half the price. And the GM unit gives you all hardware, windage tray, dipstick tube, gasket, etc.

You can mill those 243 heads to give you an extra compression bump. And if those heads are loaded then you already have a great valve spring, and valve setup. I believe those springs are rated to .550 lift and you can't beat the lighter valves in those heads. Almost 30 grams per valve

If it's a used engine I'd go through it. (Can help and guide if needed)

As far as cam goes you may want to stick with something mild like a 5308 Z06 cam, or even the LS Hot Cam from GM. Both have decent performance for your goals and good engine vacuum if you have a brake booster.

I agree with the Holley acc brackets. Nice units, cost effective, and keep everything close, and balanced.

And then I don't have a whole lot of experience with the adjustable brackets, but if I ran them, I'd check torque on them after every couple hundred miles to make sure that engine isn't going to slide around

[andrewb70]

The GM Muscle Car pan (LH8 pan) hangs way too low for my taste.

Andrew

[Paraman1]

The GM Muscle Car pan (LH8 pan) hangs way too low for my taste.

Andrew

My Neighbor has an LS1 out of a Vette with the muscle pan in his 64 Malibu and it hangs to low IMO .

The cylinder heads I have paid for but not received so that's pretty much a done deal as long as they show up . The prior owner went through them and did the trunion upgrade on the rockers and added Texas Speed 650 springs so I should be able to run a fairly stout cam .

I figured since the top end would be off as well as the oil pan and the cam out it would be a good time to either look over the internals of the motor myself or have a shop do it . My understanding is that for the most part as long as nothing is hurt you can replace the bearings and reinstall the stock parts ?

[andrewb70]

My Neighbor has an LS1 out of a Vette with the muscle pan in his 64 Malibu and it hangs to low IMO .

The cylinder heads I have paid for but not received so that's pretty much a done deal as long as they show up . The prior owner went through them and did the trunion upgrade on the rockers and added Texas Speed 650 springs so I should be able to run a fairly stout cam .

I figured since the top end would be off as well as the oil pan and the cam out it would be a good time to either look over the internals of the motor myself or have a shop do it . My understanding is that for the most part as long as nothing is hurt you can replace the bearings and reinstall the stock parts ?

Honestly, if the engine isn't too high mileage, I would mess with the bearings. You're only going to introduce potential error when assembling the parts. This is one reason I prefer low mileage take out engines, that way there is no reason to worry about bearings. The 5.3L LH8 engine I put into my Cougar had 386 miles on it. BTW, the LH8 is probably the best 5.3L engine for swaps. Aluminum block, Gen IV, no DOD or AFM, and 799 heads.

Andrew

[Revmax]

They have engine mounts out there that will allow you to use an f car oil pan that doesn't hang as low. And I'd go through the motor. It's not a lot of work to deglaze cylinder walls and cross hatch with a ball hone and install some new piston rings. I'm just saying I like to go through engines because I want to see how the previous owner maintained it. Buying something that you never seen run and just dropping it in, even with low mileage....can't do it. And don't worry if you got an iron block V8. A little heavier but you have a lot more room for boring.

And as far as reusing parts, if bearings look good you can reuse them. Even in bottom end. But it's one of those things it's like while you're in there just go ahead and do it. Rings and new arp connecting rod bolts are good start for sure.

[67rally]

If you're going to use the Holley oil pan, I'd suggest using the Holley mounts and Hooker headers that all go together.

Also, if keeping the truck intake, I'd just use the stock Vortec cover that came with it. If you didn't get the cover you can pick one up on eBay for around $50 or so. You might be able to smooth the lettering off if you want for a cleaner look.

[Paraman1]

If you're going to use the Holley oil pan, I'd suggest using the Holley mounts and Hooker headers that all go together.

Also, if keeping the truck intake, I'd just use the stock Vortec cover that came with it. If you didn't get the cover you can pick one up on eBay for around $50 or so. You might be able to smooth the lettering off if you want for a cleaner look.

Holley doesn't make a complete kit for the early A-bodies . For 75 bucks I can get an aftermarket cover that will dress it up a little .

[67rally]

Holley doesn't make a complete kit for the early A-bodies . For 75 bucks I can get an aftermarket cover that will dress it up a little .

Sorry, just assumed it was a Camaro. I forget that there are other Pro-Touring options out there.

Who makes the aftermarket cover?

[Paraman1]

Novaks off-road makes a pretty clean looking one . I contacted them and I can order it without any of the graphics or lettering . I am not sure why but the Vortec cover on a build just seems odd looking to me .

Here is a link .... https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/...gine_cover.htm