LS Swap Do's & Don'ts on a Chevy K1500 - Truck Tech S6, E5

LT hoists the tired 350 from the engine compartment for a budget-conscious 5.3L LS.

PARTS USED IN THIS EPISODE:

Gearstar Performance Transmissions: 4L80E 4-Speed Transmission & Transmission Cooler

Holley: Hooker Engine Mount Brackets

PowerTrain Products: 5.3L LM7 Long Block

Summit Racing: ARP Pro Series Flexplate Bolt Kit

Summit Racing: Chevrolet Performance Factory Replacement Dipstick

Summit Racing: Chevrolet Performance Factory Replacement Dipstick Tube

Summit Racing: Summit Racing® Transmission Mount

Summit Racing: TCI Machined Flexplate

Matco Tools: Matco Tools are the Official Tool Supplier to Truck Tech

The Industrial Depot: Tools, Hardware, and Shop Supplies

[MrHuram-abi]

A thousand upvotes for putting bolts back in the holes they came from! This one habit has saved me from so much grief over the years.

[jacodagray]

I remember going to my grandparents on the weekend and waking up on Sunday before church and watching truck tech with my grandpa. He passed away two years ago last month and we spread his ashes last Saturday. I miss him lots but thank you for the memories Truck Tech

[The_Moderates_Apprentice]

They are completely right about the cost to build a 383. Last winter I specked out building the L48 into a 383 stroker in my 77' corvette, by the time i was done with it, machine shop time for block prep, parts, and tuning, i was close to $9K. Then i looked at Blueprint engines, i got a dyno proven 430+hp fully dressed 383 stroker delivered to my house for $5600. I ordered it with a lower deck height intake to clear the hood, and i swapped out the water pump for the short style. Motor went in perfectly and fired right up! For a car that no one will care about numbers matching, crate motors are the best way to go in my mind if money is an issue. If its a numbers matching car, well you'll have to suck it up and build what you have.

[TheLuvvgunn]

"If this is your first time removing a engine break it down in small pieces".... using your lift, trans jack and ceiling mounted crane no less.

[JesseJames]

LT is awesome! He reminds me of 'Good ol Day' Hot Rod style TV hosts from the 90's. Professional, concise, informative, confident, kind

[SpeeeedyG]

My dad was the original owner of our 95 K1500. I’ve kept it 100% stock restored and original. I’ve wanted to do an LS Swap and keep the OG look, after this video I feel like it ain’t worth the headache unless you have a shop do it all and it’s a turn key deal.

[NERC-ol]

LT doing his own swaps and builds on his own YT channel now. He's got some really cool builds going on over

[garrygilbert]

185k LMAFO My 305 has 336k still going strong!

[albertgaspar]

Its good to compare a new 383 to a new LS in order to keep it apples to apples. But the 5.3 is a smaller engine, needing a power adder which means higher octane fuel, which adds to costs. Compare a 383 to the cost of, say, a 376 cid naturally aspirated, and since it has to be shipped, add on the shipping cost if you're building the 383 locally (if you're buying a crate 383, it obviously has a shipping cost as well unless you're bringing home a GMPP crate engine from a dealer). Then add up the cost of everything that bolts to the LS that doesn't transfer from the Gen One. A/C front mount, oil pan, throttle by wire, all emissions equipment, fuel system, transmission etc.

typically, its the small things that get ya :) Sometimes, it can be cheaper just to buy the entire vehicle the LS came in and hot rod that.

[juliansaiz]

4:32 “first thing, remove the motor” *closes hood* lmao

[HP.Customs]

Proof I need a overhead hoist in my shop.

[OldGriz]

One thing I would add is to use a piece of tape and mark what EVERY electrical connector went to so you're not guessing three weeks later when you're putting it back together.

[QuietWind]

I have only been working on cars along side my step dad in his shop for a year noe and out of the few motor pulls I have done this has to be the easiest. I actually did mine myself in 2 hours--it was my grandfather's truck that got totalled in the rear and I'm putting it in my boat when I rebuild it. Granted it only took me 2 hours because I did cut a lot of things that weren't needed for it to go in the boat, I could probably have still got it done myself in 3 to 3.5 hours if I had to keep a lot of things. These motors are super simple and easy to work on, and in these trucks, easy to work around. I ended up scrapping the truck just yesterday and I got about $100 for scrap for the truck, $150 for the tires and rims, $100 for the transmission and about a $100 total for a bunch of miscellaneous items.

[paulhoskins]

"This worn-out engine. (189k miles)" Most of your viewers are driving 200, 000++ mile work trucks....

[beau]

The oval torque converter bolt hole in the flex plate is the first bolt. You can tighten them as you start them if you know about the oval bolt hole. Saves time.

[NoOne-zelg]

OMFG AN EPISODE WHERE THEY ACTUALLY CLEAN THE ENGINE BAY.

[HT-yckh]

Wow this is hands down one of the best easily digestible swap breakdown I have seen. Good work folks.

[johnnymula]

Best advice was not to get rid of anything till the job is 100% complete. I do that with each and every job. Plus, you can usually end up with extra bits and pieces that can be useful towards other jobs.

[lss]

This show is like 6-7 years behind. OBS ls swaps were the shit about 6 years ago. Now a days everything is ls swapped with turbos. Plus an ls swap on an OBS is probably the easiest swap anybody can ever do. It's almost like the engines are made to fit exactly in that chassis with no modifications needed. All you need is a pair of cheap eBay $20.00 engine mount brackets and drop the engine in the truck. Everything else will work like it was made for it. Radiator power steering oil lines, fuel lines. You can even use your old A/C bracket if you want to keep your ac going.

[Yousitech]

Only $3500 lol. I be pulling them from junkyards for 350 then rebuild them myself