5.3 with sm465 4 speed?

[k5blazin]

any thoughts on using a sm465 behind a 5.3? any post of someone doing this? thanks

[Oilbrnr]

I've been doing a lot of research on this (pirate4x4 seems to have the most info), and this is the best looking recipe I've found so far:

Summit “Ram-1550” flywheel, $270, free shipping,
Luk 04-049 clutch kit, pressure plate, bearing, pilot bearing(can’t use), clutch disk, $130, Autozone
Special pilot bearing to fit the vortec crank, GM 12557583, ~$20
Flywheel bolts GM 12563533 (M11X1.5X28mm), ~$36-45

[LEEVON]

I found this on Pirate too, looks like you can do it much cheaper by using a late model flywheel. It's what I'm using to mate a 5.3L to a GM 4-speed:

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthrea...1#post11161311

- LS2 pilot bushing PN 12557583 $12 (NAPA)
- 2006 6.0 or 4.8 flywheel pn NFW1050 $60 (O'Reillys)
- stock original Gen1 clutch, plate and throwout bearing

[Oilbrnr]

Yeah, I forgot about that posting too.

Wonder if you need the longer crank bolts with it...

What '06 trucks were available with manuals? Were these fleet trucks or what, or am I just clueless?

[k5blazin]

thanks! i am leaning towards a 5.3 but would i be further ahead with a 6.0?

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

Yeah, I forgot about that posting too.

Wonder if you need the longer crank bolts with it...

What '06 trucks were available with manuals? Were these fleet trucks or what, or am I just clueless?

99-06 really. 4.8L, usually short bed regular cab 4wd base model which I've seen a couple of. And 6.0L work trucks, haven't seen one personally though. I think '06 was the last year for manual trans.

[Oilbrnr]

Originally Posted by k5blazin

thanks! i am leaning towards a 5.3 but would i be further ahead with a 6.0?

What is your goal for the truck?

[k5blazin]

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

What is your goal for the truck?

its going to be a daily driver and some off road fun ever now and then. i will be running a 4 inch lift. i also do not want to cut the frame for the exhaust manifolds. sm465 with a np205!

[LEEVON]

Alright K5blazin, I got this figured out and it works. The LS2 pilot bearing is the key, it is larger and goes in the very end of the crank instead of recessed back in like others. I did purchase the LS2 flywheel bolts they are the correct length and I believe are TTY or torque-to-yield so you don't want to just throw anything in there. It might be tempting to use the flexplate bolts but don't do it.

So all in:

flywheel (99-06 4.8L/6.0L manual trans) $60
12" clutch kit $120 (or whatever fits your SM465 - 11"?
pressure plate bolt kit $12
LS2 pilot bearing $18 (critical!)
LS2 flywheel bolts $40

$250 all new parts, not too shabby! I'll be doing a write-up with picture including aligning the bellhousing, since it is critical for trans life to check the runout and make adjustments.

[Oilbrnr]

Leevon, where did you end up ordering the pilot bushing from? You'd indicated NAPA above...

How difficult do you think it will be to install in the crank? Freeze in some dry ice first?

[LEEVON]

I just got it from the dealer since they had the bolts. I just planned on greasing it a bit then tapping it in with a flat piece of steel that I use for bearings which is about 5"x5"x1/4". I guess if that doesn't work I'll try freezing it?

[MalibuSSwagon]

Great info guys, considering a 5.3L to replace my smoky 305.

[LEEVON]

pilot bearing pressed into the crank snout no problem with a flat piece of steel, it was tight but not impossible.

[msgross]

how about an NV4500 5 speed upgrade? just a thought...

[LEEVON]

Pretty sure Dirty Larry has one in his truck behind an 8.1L.

[Oilbrnr]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

pilot bearing pressed into the crank snout no problem with a flat piece of steel, it was tight but not impossible.

What kind of prep did you do? Did you just use a BFH with the steel and drive it home?

[LEEVON]

Yep, just greased it and drove it home with the steel plate and mallet. I guess you could throw the bearing in the freezer to make it easier.

[Critter]

Sorry to jump in here guys, but I was under the impression that 5.3s do NOT have a hole recessed in the crank for a pilot bushing beings as there was never a manual trans behind a 5.3 ever. Is this incorrect??? I know that the 4.8s and 6.0s do have the hole.

By the way I have an NV4500 out of a 2000 Silverado...from my research it looks like they were still available in the 2007 Silverado 2500 CLASSIC. In other words there were some 2007s that looked like a 99-2006 but were labeled and sold as a 2007. The 2007+ newer body style ("non-classic") are all automatics.

[LEEVON]

Dunno, never thought of it but I definitely put an LS7 pilot bearing in the end of my 5.3L crank.

[Critter]

Good to know!

[LEEVON]

to everybody, don't forget to look at Novak Adapter's website, it's awesome and a wealth of info about 4x4 LSx swaps. Just don't fall into the trap about needing their expensive stuff.

I do want to update ya'll on this swap though. The 4.8/6.0L flywheel has poor threads for the 3/8 shoulder bolts for the pressure plate, they sit back in the flywheel itself and not on the meaty thick spacer part (sorry, you would have to be holding one to see ). Every bolt set I found was 1" and this just didn't cut it on my flywheel, not enough bite. I had to order a set of Grade 9, 3/8 x 1.5" bolts from Mcmaster-carr.

[Oilbrnr]

^^ Also good info Leevon, Thx.

[Ackattack]

Originally Posted by Critter

Sorry to jump in here guys, but I was under the impression that 5.3s do NOT have a hole recessed in the crank for a pilot bushing beings as there was never a manual trans behind a 5.3 ever. Is this incorrect??? I know that the 4.8s and 6.0s do have the hole.

By the way I have an NV4500 out of a 2000 Silverado...from my research it looks like they were still available in the 2007 Silverado 2500 CLASSIC. In other words there were some 2007s that looked like a 99-2006 but were labeled and sold as a 2007. The 2007+ newer body style ("non-classic") are all automatics.

It's my understanding that the 5.3L and 5.7L have the same cranks. I know the 5.7L (aka LS1) had manuals behind them.

[Hewfil1]

Just a quick question for this old thread. Any info on what changes I'll need to make to the 5.3's computer?

[MalibuSSwagon]

I did this swap on my C10. 5.3L with a SM465. I am not privy to the programming changes needed as I just sent the PCM off to be programmed by the LT1swap.com guy. But I assume it involved deleting all the auto trans related stuff, and likely a manual trans spark table pasted in. It's not as smooth as it could be when getting on and off the gas be that's because I don't have a VSS hooked up. Once I get the TKO in I should have the VSS working and we'll see then.

Yes there is a spot for the pilot bearing in the 5.3L crank.

As far as hardware I used:

Flywheel - Sachs NFW1050
Clutch kit - Exedy 04081
Flywheel to crank bolts - ARP 330-2802
Pressure plate bolts - ARP 134-2201
Pilot bearing - GM 12557583

I used the ARP hardware since it was about the same price or a little more than the OEM GM hardware. The Exedy kit comes with throwout bearing and holds the power just fine, feels like a stock clutch. Towed 7k lbs no issue. The SM465 was factory installed in my truck, with the 1" setback plates (Car shop CSP2370) no driveline mods were needed. Any other questions just ask.