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I just finished doing this for a c5 z06 2004. I bought an LS3 525HP crate motor. There is a list of things you need. Here are some notes:
LS3 Crate Engine
LS2 Throttle Body (LS3 won't work)
Clutch/flywheel/Throwout Bearing of your choice (might as well do it while you have engine out)
Lingenfelter TRG-002 58x-24x Crank Sensor Trigger Conversion Module
Racetronix LS2 Throttle body adapter harness (PN LS2-TBAH).
GM MAP Sensor 24" Adapter Harness- Connects LS1/LS6/LS2 to LS3/LS7 Style Sensor (Ebay)
Set of 8 - EV1(Jetronic) to EV6/EV14/(USCAR) Fuel Injector Adapters (Ebay)
Knock Sensor extension/conversion for 2 wire knock sensors
Larger Radiator (not sure if you need it but I race and I run too hot with LS6 and stock radiator
Engine Dyno Tune (don't start it with stock tune, run risk of running very rich and rinsing rings since injectors are larger)
Fluids
It adds up quick, going to be in the 10-12K range depending upon choices (engine, flywheel, radiator, etc), however you can offload your LS6 for $3000+ if mileage is lowish. There is an article in superchevy, pretty good, but they build LS3 from scratch and don't need all the same cables/electronics.
Stuff you will transplant is:
Bellhousing
Front end drive accessories
exhausts/headers
batwing oil pan (with dipstick and oil pickup) be careful here the ls3 oil pump pickup bore is slightly larger you need to buy/use red o-ring
engine mounts
swap oil pressure sensor (LS3 has different connector and I could not find a harness)
cut off one unnecessary block bolt hole ear that interferes with passenger side engine mount bracket
etc....
And biggest of all,...., dont stress trying to get oil pressure with just cranking before or after you install the engine, I spend 2-3 days on this taking pans on/off, checking oil pickup height, checking orings, stressing, stressing, no psi!!!. The engine crank speed (10 rpm/min?) is not enough to build pressure. The motor already has oil primed through by factory. Just put it in and fire it up (after tune as mentioned above). Oil pressure comes on immediately when the engine fires and gets up above 500 rpm..!!!
Its quite a bit of work, not for the faint hearted. I have a 38" rise lift and cherry picker, held engine up, dropped cradle onto a 500# harbor freight table jack, lifted engine out from top, was not bad at all.
I just finished doing this for a c5 z06 2004. I bought an LS3 525HP crate motor. There is a list of things you need. Here are some notes:
LS3 Crate Engine
LS2 Throttle Body (LS3 won't work)
Clutch/flywheel/Throwout Bearing of your choice (might as well do it while you have engine out)
Lingenfelter TRG-002 58x-24x Crank Sensor Trigger Conversion Module
Racetronix LS2 Throttle body adapter harness (PN LS2-TBAH).
GM MAP Sensor 24" Adapter Harness- Connects LS1/LS6/LS2 to LS3/LS7 Style Sensor (Ebay)
Set of 8 - EV1(Jetronic) to EV6/EV14/(USCAR) Fuel Injector Adapters (Ebay)
Knock Sensor extension/conversion for 2 wire knock sensors
Larger Radiator (not sure if you need it but I race and I run too hot with LS6 and stock radiator
Engine Dyno Tune (don't start it with stock tune, run risk of running very rich and rinsing rings since injectors are larger)
Fluids
It adds up quick, going to be in the 10-12K range depending upon choices (engine, flywheel, radiator, etc), however you can offload your LS6 for $3000+ if mileage is lowish. There is an article in superchevy, pretty good, but they build LS3 from scratch and don't need all the same cables/electronics.
Stuff you will transplant is:
Bellhousing
Front end drive accessories
exhausts/headers
batwing oil pan (with dipstick and oil pickup) be careful here the ls3 oil pump pickup bore is slightly larger you need to buy/use red o-ring
engine mounts
swap oil pressure sensor (LS3 has different connector and I could not find a harness)
cut off one unnecessary block bolt hole ear that interferes with passenger side engine mount bracket
etc....
And biggest of all,...., dont stress trying to get oil pressure with just cranking before or after you install the engine, I spend 2-3 days on this taking pans on/off, checking oil pickup height, checking orings, stressing, stressing, no psi!!!. The engine crank speed (10 rpm/min?) is not enough to build pressure. The motor already has oil primed through by factory. Just put it in and fire it up (after tune as mentioned above). Oil pressure comes on immediately when the engine fires and gets up above 500 rpm..!!!
Its quite a bit of work, not for the faint hearted. I have a 38" rise lift and cherry picker, held engine up, dropped cradle onto a 500# harbor freight table jack, lifted engine out from top, was not bad at all.
Last edited by Garry_W_C5_1999; 07-25-2016 at 08:08 AM.
I am going through the LS3 upgrade process currently. As you can see my **** spiraled out of control and now i'm basically replacing the whole car
Similar to Garry, but I am going the more custom route. The engine is a 427 LS3 from Hinson Motorsports.. have a laundry list of mods going on with the engine... including T6060/C6 Diff.
As Garry said, you will need a few cables / harnesses / etc. One thing to note - if you have the block custom build, you can have a 24x reluctor wheel placed on and not need the LFE conversion box.
Here is a snap shot of what I bought so far.... includes engine build with HINSON, and a lot of accessory parts. I plan on sending my PCM to ECS for a starter tune so I can bed the clutch before taking it the dyno for complete tuning. My place doesn't have the space to do the swap, so I am paying a local mechanic to do it all... quote is approx $4k for engine/trans/diff removal and install of new parts.
Total
$15200~ > my original goal was 10k for engine and parts.
Some supporting mods I already have on the car... I wouldn't toss a LS3 into a C5 without having a few in place ( again, as Garry suggested - Radiator is a good one to do)
Sorry for the long *** lists. Trying to give you an idea of what to expect before you dive into it... make sure you know what your goals are, like HP and budget.
I bounced around from wanting a 1000HP build, and that is why I bought the rear end from RKT. My engine won't be near that, but if I decide to go FI - I will need to remove the heads / change the CR on the engine for best boost and such. that is for another time.
Good luck... if you have any q's.. pm me...
Last edited by derz_vette; 07-25-2016 at 05:05 PM.
Reason: i derped
Thanks for sharing the info, I cut and pasted this for future reference. I bought my car with an LS3 already installed so this is good reference material.
Just put an LS3 in mine. Stock bottom end. 24x reluctor,stock LS3 Intake,Stock ls3 injectors,Stock LS2 TB and PRC LS3 Ported Heads TSP Boost Cam
on 100LL through a 6 Speed Manual. Ebay Headers Open Cutouts. Factory Mufflers
540rwhp 490 RWTQ
07-24-2016, 09:49 PM
