GM 5.3/TH350

[CSR]

OK, question here. Will a TH350 bolt directly up to a GM 5.3L?

 

[I Lean]

The bellhousing will bolt up, but there's something different about the flexplate/torque converter that will require something--usually a custom converter. (probably just a bolt pattern thing, or possibly the pilot diameter)

 

[Greg]

There is a very in-expensive kit from Advanced Adapters that does just that. It includes a 5.3/6.0 flexplate that is drilled for a TH350 converter, a spacer for the backside of the converter and some hardware. Once you have those pieces, you can bolt a TH350 up to a 5.3/6.0.

 

[CSR]

Thanks!

 

[camdawg]

are you putting a 5.3 in your buggy?
camdawg

 

[Chevycrew]

To put a 96 4l60e behind a 2002 5.3L we just machined small spacers out of tube to take up the slack between the 5.3l flexplate and the 4l60e torque converter.

It was 5/8" I believe...

 

[CSR]

OK, Camdawg, you've forced the cat out of the bag. No, I'm not putting the 5.3 in the Mosquito (it would tear it apart). I just picked up a 1989 YJ with a front 60 and rear 14 bolt with Detroits, disc brakes, 4.56 gears, new 37 inch Trepadors, Atlas 4.3, fuel injected 4.0 and jeep automatic.

I'm removing the drive train from it and building another buggy similar to the Mosquito in size, only beefier and with some design improvements that will lower the center of gravity. I also just picked up a low-miles 5.3L from a 2006 Silverado (I'm selling the 4.0 and jeep automatic) and I want to put a turbo 350 behind it, hence the question here.

Gonna be a busy summer.

 

[camdawg]

cool post the build. are you keeping the mosquito to go wheeling while you build this? I should be done with my atlas this week I will give you a call and we will have to go test is out.

 

[CSR]

Yes, I'm keeping the Mosquito. Glad to hear you're putting an Atlas in your rig.

 

[cjncustoms]

So will that kit from adavanced work with a th400 as well? I assume it will... I am going to be doing this swap this winter in my cj wich currently has a tbi 350 w/ th400/203/205 combo. Who are you gonna use for your harness and ECM?

 

[CSR]

You'll have to talk to AA to see if the kit will work with a TH400. The guy I bought the engine from (Shawn) says his source will do harnesses for around $500. He told me the name of the source a couple times, but I can't remember it. I'll have to call him and get it. I also found a site of a company that does harnesses, including re-work of your existing LS1 harness if you have one that's still intact on your motor. They're at http://www.currentperformance.com/eng_mgt.html

ECMs seem to run around $75 in junk yards, and Shawn says his source will do programming for about $150.

 

[cjncustoms]

Cool thanks I'll do that. There is a thread on pirate4x4 in the jeep hardcore tech about the 5.3 swap if you didn't know about it. Alot of helpful info... Good luck with your build I can't wait to do my swap!

 

[spurren2]

the stock flex plate on the 5.3 is metric so the best fix is a flex plate from AA. Then you can use any t350 TC. My pick would be jims performance for the wiring harness. Easily the best customer service out of my projects