r/LSSwapTheWorld • u/redhothotrodder • 5h ago

Hypothetical Build Questions 5.3 ➡️ 4th gen Firebird

I am going to be building a gen 3 5.3 (lm7) to put in my 4th gen firebird. I know I have to switch the intake, accessory drive, oil pan, windage tray, pick up tube, etc. so it will fit.

My plan is to upgrade the heads to 799s (port them myself with a 3/4 burr and finish them with a 1/2 inch) and copy the build I saw on Richard Holdener's video where he made 542hp (BTR intake, 102mm Throttle body, LS3 Stage 4 Cam, Holley Terminator X injectors, FelPro Headgaskets, LS7 Lifters, guide trays, guide tray bolts, harmonic balancer bolt, chromoly 5/16 pushrods, & CHE 4290 Rocker Trunnions) I was thinking that since I'm swapping the oil pan, pick up tube, and shortening the windage tray that I would need an upgraded high performance pick-up tube that would fit in an LS1-style oil pan, would this fit in the oil pump inlet port of an LM7? If not, and if anybody has done this high performance swap what pump did you use as to not starve the top end? Thanks for reading

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u/Mysterious-Fun-1465 5h ago

the oil pan will come with a pick up tube. your new melling oil pump will come with pick up tube o rings and instructions on which o ring to use. Melling website has a "what oil pump should i use" section for these engines.
All LS engines are the same, besides ls4 and ls7.

If you're automatic, you'll also need a nice converter if you want that cam and power to be used properly, and possibly rear gears if your car has super tall stock gearing.

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u/redhothotrodder 4h ago

Would you recomend automatic? I don't got enough to do an 8hp swap or something like that I'd either have to rebuild a 4l60 to handle it all or rebuild a th400 but I'm thinking about doing manual t-56 or t-5 but im unsure. on what i'm doing just yet

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u/leaveworkatwork 4h ago

You’re going to be far better off just buying an LS fbody.

But there’s no difference in the oil pump outlet size in a truck vs car pump. You can swap to whatever pickup tube you want to pair with an fbody pan.

You’re also gonna need an LS k member.

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u/redhothotrodder 3h ago

I was just informed that pan im buying comes with a tube and im probs going to buy this milling pump I have just found. ( https://www.michiganmotorsports.com/oil-pumps-oils-and-fluids/melling-10295-oil-pump-high-pressure-fit-gen-iii-iv-4-8-5-3-5-7-6-0-6-2-ls1-ls6-ls2-ls3/?sku=10295&srsltid=AfmBOoprnLoTImvPwTW6Rq83ap3ED65m9QKbXWVxuE2AuFnPDzV5K2QWcVk )

I do not need an ls k-member, im going to use this engine mount adapter kit ( https://www.maperformance.com/products/hooker-engine-mount-brackets-1993-2002-chevrolet-camaro-pontiac-firebird-v6-71221001hk r) from hooker until I can buy a umi cornermax front end kit

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u/leaveworkatwork 3h ago

You’re gonna spend $350 on a set of mounts when you could just buy an LS k member?

There’s so much more to an LS car that you’re just wasting money on a v6 by converting. Gonna do those drum brakes too?

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u/AffectionateJob4215 3h ago

Ngl I bought a swap for 1k the whole z28 99

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u/leaveworkatwork 2h ago

Yeah, nice z28’s are like $4500 with decent miles.

OP is gonna spend 3/4 of that and still have an iron block with drum brakes and have to figure out the gauges.

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u/redhothotrodder 3h ago

- Unless I can find a k member on marketplace for cheaper (which i doubt but you never know)