5.3 LS Engine Swap into Ol’ Blue 1971 Chevy Truck Part 6


Part 6!! Ol’ Blue is alive and well with ‘er new LS Powerplant Swap!!!!!!!! With video!

First, we need to tie up a couple of the loose ends and miscellaneous parts. I tried to note part numbers where I could, because I spent a LOT of time researching these. There are links below the pictures for the parts that I could find online.

New serpentine belt 6K930AP is a 93 5/8" belt that fits LS motors with 130 amp alternators.

New serpentine belt 6K930AP is a 93 5/8″ belt that fits LS motors with 130 amp alternators.

6K930AP Roadmax Serpentine Belt

New PF46 AC Delco oil filter from Rock Auto is cheaper than the cheap filters at the local auto parts store (Google for a discount code to get an extra 10% off)

New PF46 AC Delco oil filter

ACDelco PF46 Engine Oil Filter

New offbrand MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor, also from Rock Auto.

New offbrand MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor.

After I bought the one above, I found another MAP sensor even cheaper on Amazon: Evan-Fischer MAP Sensor Pin type 3-prong

Had to make a quick braket to hold the MAP sensor in. The junkyard had broken the plastic tabs off while removing it. This should work just fine.

Had to make a quick braket to hold the MAP sensor in. The junkyard had broken the plastic tabs off while removing the engine. This should work just fine.

The torque converter cover for my TH400 was interfering with a couple of bolts on the back of the LS motor. Had to do some trimming.

The torque converter cover for my TH400 was interfering with a couple of bolts on the back of the LS motor. Had to do some trimming.

Trimmed to fit, no biggie. This is mostly just a dust cover/protector so it won't make much of a difference. Works good at keeping the mud out though.

Trimmed to fit, no biggie. This is mostly just a dust cover/protector so it won’t make much of a difference. Works good at keeping the mud out though.

The LS intake manifold has a vacuum port available that is plugged from the factory. I snapped off the plug and plugged in my vacuum hose for the pressure modulator on the TH400.

The LS intake manifold has a vacuum port available that is plugged from the factory. I snapped off the plug and plugged in my vacuum hose for the pressure modulator on the TH400.

Coolant System:

I ended up being able to reuse my lower radiator hose, but for the upper hose I used a combination of a 2001 Yukon Upper radiator hose Part 22436, an adapter, and a cut off elbow piece of hose that I already had.

I ended up being able to reuse my lower radiator hose, but for the upper hose I used a combination of a 2001 Yukon Upper radiator hose Part 22436, an adapter, and a cut off elbow piece of hose that I already had.

Gates 22436 Upper Radiator Hose

Don’t judge on the hose clamps. I am going to pretty everything up later. I just wanted to hear this puppy run, so I was rushing!

This is the adapter I used to go from the LS coolant hose to my existing radiator hose size. It is an exhaust adapter that goes from 1 1/2" ID to 1 3/8" OD and is part number 548520

This is the adapter I used to go from the LS coolant hose to my existing radiator hose size. It is an exhaust adapter that goes from 1 1/2″ ID to 1 3/8″ OD and is part number 548520

Needed a place to hook the coolant line for the throttle body, so I found this Dorman 47147 coolant T at the auto parts store. This fitting hooks onto 5/8" heater hoses and has a T for a 3/8 hose.

Needed a place to hook the coolant line for the throttle body, so I found this Dorman 47147 coolant T. This fitting hooks onto 5/8″ heater hoses and has a T for a 3/8 hose.

Word of caution about the above coolant T fitting. The fitting on the throttle body is 5/16″ and this T has a 3/8″ fitting. What I ended up doing was getting some 5/16″ coolant hose, clamping it to the throttle body and stretching it over the 3/8″ fitting because I was unable to find any kind of adapter for these two sizes. Once again, this should work just fine.
Find the fitting here: Dorman Help! 47147 Heater Hose Tee

Close up of the coolant T-fitting and how it connects to the throttle body.

Close up of the coolant T-fitting and how it connects to the throttle body.

Next up: Fuel delivery

My shiny new tools to remove the old fuel lines. Lisle 37000

My shiny new tools to remove the old fuel lines. Lisle 37000

Lisle 37000 Fuel Line Disconnect Tool Set

They are just plastic circle washers with a slit in them. You stretch them over the fuel line then push them into the quick connect. In this pic you can see the tabs that lock the quick connect onto the hard line.

They are just plastic circle washers with a slit in them. You stretch them over the fuel line then push them into the quick connect. In this pic you can see the tabs that lock the quick connect onto the hard line.

Setting out the parts for the fuel system. All of the rubber hose is 100PSI fuel injection rated. 3/8" for fuel delivery and 5/8" for the return.

Setting out the parts for the fuel system. All of the rubber hose is 100PSI fuel injection rated. 3/8″ for fuel delivery and 5/8″ for the return.

Goodyear 65153 3/8″ ID Fuel Injection Hose 25FT
Goodyear 65152 5/16″ ID Fuel Injection Hose 25FT

New quick connects up on the fuel rail. 3/8" supply on the top and 5/16" return on the bottom. The device on the bottom left is the regulator on the fuel rail.

New quick connects up on the fuel rail. 3/8″ supply on the top and 5/16″ return on the bottom. The device on the bottom left is the regulator on the fuel rail.

Put the hoses onto the quick disconnects and plugged them into the fuel rail, then started running them to the back of the truck.

Put the hoses onto the quick disconnects and plugged them into the fuel rail, then started running them to the back of the truck.

Gertrude is so helpful... :)

Gertrude is so helpful… 😛

Supplies for the supply line Fuel filter.

Supplies for the supply line Fuel filter.

My engine is from a 2001 Yukon before they switched to a returnless system. So the regulator is on the fuel rail. In this case, I don't need to buy the expensive corvette fuel filter with an internal regulator. I can just use a regular filter Duralast FF4511DL, Fuel line repair quick disconnect Dorman 800-153, and barb quick disconnect Dorman 800-121.

My engine is from a 2001 Yukon before they switched to a returnless system. So the regulator is on the fuel rail. In this case, I don’t need to buy the expensive corvette fuel filter with an internal regulator.

These are the fuel line clamps that I ended up using. 1/2" to 9/16" size for the 5/16" rubber hose, and 9/16" to 5/8" for the 3/8" rubber hose.

These are the fuel line clamps that I ended up using. 1/2″ to 9/16″ size for the 5/16″ rubber hose, and 9/16″ to 5/8″ for the 3/8″ rubber hose.

Fuel filter parts list:

Picture of where I mounted the fuel filter on the bottom of the body. Should be easy to access, far from the exhaust, and relatively protected.

Picture of where I mounted the fuel filter on the bottom of the body. Should be easy to access, far from the exhaust, and relatively protected.

Close view of the fuel filter. I used a self tapping screw to attach the hose clamp to the rail on the body, then padded the fuel filter with a slit piece of coolant hose.

Close view of the fuel filter. I used a self tapping screw to attach the hose clamp to the rail on the body, then padded the fuel filter with a slit piece of coolant hose.

I got a killer deal on a used gas tank, but unfortunately, it is the wrong shape. So in the bed it goes until I find a good deal on a correctly shaped square tank.

I got a killer deal on a used gas tank, but unfortunately, it is the wrong shape. So in the bed it goes until I find a good deal on a correctly shaped square tank.

All hooked up. Disregard my (VERY) temporary wiring. I just wanted to hear this thing go!

All hooked up. Disregard my (VERY) temporary wiring.

Duct taped the MAF sensor on and made sure everything was plugged in. I am still waiting to get my intake parts in the mail.

Finally, the moment we all have been waiting for. It’s Alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shortly after hearing it run, I lost motivation and had some victory beers.

 

Continue on to Part 7 where we install the throttle cable, intake, and LS ECM (computer).

 

    Ol’ Blue LS Swap LINK INDEX:

 

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