1991 5.3L 2500 Burb

[Kelvin]

Guess this as good a place as any to document my progress. I started this early spring due to rocker studs pulled on a couple cylinders. I could have fixed it but LS sounds way more fun.

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[Kelvin]

All cleaned up and time to get to work on the 5.3.
Had to do a little shaving to get the clam shells to fit flush on my adapters.

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[Kelvin]

Now that that's squared away, let's figure out this flexplate thing. Just order the one for the van. Lol seriously, ill try and find the Napa part number I used and post it.

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[Kelvin]

I guess I skipped a step. I should probably go get the engine first. Oh look, a broken exhaust manifold bolt.

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[Kelvin]

Ah there is my lovely wife helping me sort out this mess. And what am I supposed to do with this thing? that will never work. Just get this one.
Standard Motor Products APS130 Accelerator Pedal Sensor
75 bucks on amazon.

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[Kelvin]

Gotta have that Factory AC.

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[Kelvin]

And this is pretty close to how she sits today. I've done a little work on the wiring sense this picture, but you get the gist.

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[RoryH19]

Nice progress.
I'm going back and forth between the original R4 compressor and a sanden 508.
Sanden is better but with the R4 just needs a bracket and belt.

 

[Kelvin]

Nice progress.
I'm going back and forth between the original R4 compressor and a sanden 508.
Sanden is better but with the R4 just needs a bracket and belt.

I wanted it to look as factory as possible , the stock 5.3 location was taken by the motor mounts... and I let the 5.3 one size up . The one from my 91 was new last year and I could see dye around the seam So I got a brand new one for this build.

 

[RoryH19]

I wanted it to look as factory as possible , the stock 5.3 location was taken by the motor mounts... and I let the 5.3 one size up . The one from my 91 was new last year and I could see dye around the seam So I got a brand new one for this build.

Right, you can't really use the 5.3 AC compressor in the stock location.
I will also have to get the high mount bracket like you did.

 

[oldretiredafguy]

Guess this as good a place as any to document my progress. I started this early spring due to rocker studs pulled on a couple cylinders. I could have fixed it but LS sounds way more fun.

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Man, I like your cherry picker. Probably a lot smoother hydraulics than my old JD farm tractor.

 

[Kelvin]

Man, I like your cherry picker. Probably a lot smoother hydraulics than my old JD farm tractor.

Yeah I've used this thing for more things not related to digging holes.

Today's goal was to get the power distribution finished up. Its mostly done. I still need to go pick up a relay for the keyed power side of this fuse block.

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[eskimomann209]

Someone’s a controls tech.

 

[Kelvin]

Someone’s a controls tech.

Haha far from it, but I do see Alot of this at work and always love how neat it looks so I figured I'd give it a shot.
Spent most of the day soldering, heat shrinking and routing these wires today. Even re routed a few factory 91 wires I didn't think looked like they belonged anymore. Its definitely addictive. Maybe Its just the solder fumes talking.
Can't wait to fire this thing up but I've got a ways to go....well, that's not exactly true, I could fire it up now but then I'll just want to drive it and all my plans for nice neat work will go out the window.

 

[Kelvin]

So my current time waste today has been fretting over this damn coolant sensor issue.

The way I understand it is the 1 wire sensor that came off my 5.7l is 3/8 thread and the gage measures its resistance. Currently at 40* outside it measures 4Kohm. Per the book it measures 55 ohms at 260* and 1400* at 100*F.

The cleanest solution would be to swap to a 3 wire sensor with m12 threads (i think thats the 02 firebird sensor. This would ensure that if I sell the truck the next owner just has to deal with 1 sensor and it would be pretty easy to figure out what he needs. Only issue I have with this solution is I don't know if the resistance matches up.

Second solution is 12mm to 3/8th adapter and use both sensors i Currently have on 2 different heads. I just didn't want to use adapters if I can help it.

3rd solution is to use the 3 wire on the passenger head and leave the LS harness in tact. This would ensure I still have the correct reading to the pcm but I'm still unsure if the gage will read correctly.

Thoughts?

Edit: so the 1998 firebird (99-2002 have 2 wire) ohms per the service manual are 380 @ 160*, 100 @ 210 and 55ohms at 260.
I think I'll order one and compare the resistance at various other temps as the 1991 sensor. The important one is the 55 ohms @ 260°.
And I will install it in the passenger head sense ive already got the LS wires all wrapped up.

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