Started the engine swap on Cracker today finally. Pics don't show all the progress i made today. The intake is off it now. Intake gaskets look like they were sealing good. All wiring is out of the way and fans are removed. Nothing special.
Finally swapping my engine!
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OP
OP
Underneath is a different story.
Exhaust flange nuts are the tightest i have ever seen. Had to use a 3ft breaker bar to bust em loose. One of them on the driver side got about 1/2 way off then stripped. Now the exhaust manifold is stuck to the pipe and ain't going anyplace! Ill need to cut it off after i get the engine out
Exhaust flange nuts are the tightest i have ever seen. Had to use a 3ft breaker bar to bust em loose. One of them on the driver side got about 1/2 way off then stripped. Now the exhaust manifold is stuck to the pipe and ain't going anyplace! Ill need to cut it off after i get the engine out
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The passenger side was also tighter than fk. What Gm engineer thought it was a good idea to put the o2 sensor right below the stud so you can't get a socket on it.
Had to take the inner finder off and get it off with a wrench.
Was also surprised once everything was broke loose it came apart easy. The rear exhaust manifold bolts came out and the far back one was only finger tight.
Had to take the inner finder off and get it off with a wrench.
Was also surprised once everything was broke loose it came apart easy. The rear exhaust manifold bolts came out and the far back one was only finger tight.
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Figure i'll have the engine out Monday afternoon. Then i need to pressure wash the engine bay, swap some parts from the old engine to the replacement engine.
Probably will be starting to put it back in on Wednesday.
Probably will be starting to put it back in on Wednesday.
Nice! Love to see the progress, keep it coming!
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Super! Thank you for your continuing pictorial.
OP
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Got everything unhooked except the AC compressor. Will unbolt that after i lift it up a little. I don't wanna unhook the lines for no real reason.
Waiting on the kid to come over and hold the engine crank so i can undo the torque convertor bolts, need to also have him help me set up the overhead. It will be out in a few more hours.
Pretty sure this is not factory.
Waiting on the kid to come over and hold the engine crank so i can undo the torque convertor bolts, need to also have him help me set up the overhead. It will be out in a few more hours.
Pretty sure this is not factory.
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And Shade tree wrenching at it's finest.
Is your motor bad i missed it?
Wait i retract that…. Obviously its bad cuz its getting yanked… what tho? Just high mileage?
Wait i retract that…. Obviously its bad cuz its getting yanked… what tho? Just high mileage?
OP
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The engine has a bad cold knock but goes away when hot. When i first got the truck and changed the oil there was a bunch of cam bearing chunks in it and the oil filter.
I have been babying it along after changing the oil pump and O ring, but the damage had already been done.
It has maintained good oil pressure since i changed the pump but the 3rd oil change still had metal in it although a LOT less.
With the metal in the oil and the cold knock, it could last 100k of 5 minutes.
I don't wanna be doing this outside in the winter, so now's the time.
First oil change pic.
I have been babying it along after changing the oil pump and O ring, but the damage had already been done.
It has maintained good oil pressure since i changed the pump but the 3rd oil change still had metal in it although a LOT less.
With the metal in the oil and the cold knock, it could last 100k of 5 minutes.
I don't wanna be doing this outside in the winter, so now's the time.
First oil change pic.
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Previous owner work. Only good thing is the rear cover was replaced.
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Tomorrow morning i need to go to the pawts store and get another motor mount, all exhaust gaskets, oil filter. Stop by Co'op and get some new G8 exhaust manifold bolts.
Been holding off on getting anything till i had a list of everything i needed so i can get it all in 1 trip.
Pressure washed under the hood. Does not look like it but it is a big improvement!
And this is where im stopping for the today. At 64yo this s*hit is not as easy as it once was and im tired and feel beat. Get a little rest and work on it all day again tomorrow!
Been holding off on getting anything till i had a list of everything i needed so i can get it all in 1 trip.
Pressure washed under the hood. Does not look like it but it is a big improvement!
And this is where im stopping for the today. At 64yo this s*hit is not as easy as it once was and im tired and feel beat. Get a little rest and work on it all day again tomorrow!
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Oh forgot. Helper in training.
Not worth a dam. Still refuses to grab a wrench i need. Will not hold a flashlight and when im laying under the truck has to be right in my face!
Not worth a dam. Still refuses to grab a wrench i need. Will not hold a flashlight and when im laying under the truck has to be right in my face!
swathdiver
Full Access Member
The green rubber bushing on the transmission dipstick tube is original, just pulled up and out of place. If you are wanting to fix it, do it now before the motor goes in, otherwise, it will be near impossible to do afterwards without removing the rear transmission crossmember and tilting the whole thing down for clearance.
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Yeah. I discovered the trans dipstick tube turns into a PITA! for the unknowing.
More on that in a minute.
More on that in a minute.
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Day started out good.
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Sorry no pic's, Hard day today.
Got the engine sitting back in. Needed to leave it hanging so it aligned with the bell housing. Got all the bell housing bolts tight and the two clips at the top and the trans dip stick tube secured. The 3 clips are a difficult job for sure!
Figured since i was right there i would fix the trans dip stick tube seal. Ain't happening, had to unbolt it at the clip part. Managed to get the seal in place and the tube sitting in place and clip tight.
Ok back on top i let the engine down and it will not fall into place like it should. Sitting about 1/2 inch above the mounts. Dang something wrong.
So crawl underneath and the oil pan i wanted to use is hitting the cross member.
Really thought about hacking up the cross member to make it fit, but i could not bring myself to do a hack job like that.
I did not know a pickup oil pan was different from a Yukon, but it sure is.
I did compare them both visually but did not notice the difference.
The PU oil pan is about 3/4 inch taller and does not have the little notch at the bottom for cross member clearance.
Took me about 4 or 5 hours to swap the oil pan to the original one and because the pan is taller it was a real PITA to get out.
Engine is sitting back down and fitting fine.
Next i decide to take the chain off the engine and guess what.
The godd** trans dipstick tube is exactly centered over the bolt holding the chain and i cant move it enough to get the bolt out. Unbolt the tube, remove the chain then bolt the tube back in the 3rd time.
Ended up making a slight amount of forward progress after all that.
I Should have it nearly done tomorrow afternoon and fire it up Thursday morning, i hope.
Got the engine sitting back in. Needed to leave it hanging so it aligned with the bell housing. Got all the bell housing bolts tight and the two clips at the top and the trans dip stick tube secured. The 3 clips are a difficult job for sure!
Figured since i was right there i would fix the trans dip stick tube seal. Ain't happening, had to unbolt it at the clip part. Managed to get the seal in place and the tube sitting in place and clip tight.
Ok back on top i let the engine down and it will not fall into place like it should. Sitting about 1/2 inch above the mounts. Dang something wrong.
So crawl underneath and the oil pan i wanted to use is hitting the cross member.
Really thought about hacking up the cross member to make it fit, but i could not bring myself to do a hack job like that.
I did not know a pickup oil pan was different from a Yukon, but it sure is.
I did compare them both visually but did not notice the difference.
The PU oil pan is about 3/4 inch taller and does not have the little notch at the bottom for cross member clearance.
Took me about 4 or 5 hours to swap the oil pan to the original one and because the pan is taller it was a real PITA to get out.
Engine is sitting back down and fitting fine.
Next i decide to take the chain off the engine and guess what.
The godd** trans dipstick tube is exactly centered over the bolt holding the chain and i cant move it enough to get the bolt out. Unbolt the tube, remove the chain then bolt the tube back in the 3rd time.
Ended up making a slight amount of forward progress after all that.
I Should have it nearly done tomorrow afternoon and fire it up Thursday morning, i hope.
strutaeng
Full Access Member
Great progress! Is that a wood frame you hoisted the engine from? Then pulled the truck into position with the ATV? That's pretty smart.
Back when I swapped the 5.3 into my 99 Silverado, I unloaded it by backup up my truck and lifting the engine with a come-along into a welded swingset frame I had made for my kids. I then drove off, used my engine hoist to lift it slightly more, removed the come-along, and finally lowered it into the engine stand. SMH
Back when I swapped the 5.3 into my 99 Silverado, I unloaded it by backup up my truck and lifting the engine with a come-along into a welded swingset frame I had made for my kids. I then drove off, used my engine hoist to lift it slightly more, removed the come-along, and finally lowered it into the engine stand. SMH
Tonyv__
Full Access Member
Please tell me you have more pics of whatever contraption you put together to hoist that engine out
Tonyv__
Full Access Member
Good observation on the atv pulling the truck. I just see chains, a come along , wood post. I couldn’t figure out what to make of it
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