Repost for the day shift: Today I bought a 5.3L LM7 engine out of a 2007 Silverado 1500 Classic today to build and swap into the Trans Am to replace the Pontiac 400 I’ve been running (or usually not running...) for the last 7 years. Got the motor at a local junkyard for what I feel was a good deal, yard seemed well run and they said the motor ran well before it was pulled.
The plan is to keep the engine internals all stock, including the cam and heads, and throw a FiTech ultimate LS setup on. I will keep the 4-speed Super T10 I built last summer and mate it up through a series of stock Chevy parts including a classic big block bellhousing, extended length throwout bearings, and an LS1 clutch/flywheel.
For 193,000 miles these ACDelco plugs don’t look bad, just really old
Peeking into the oil fill port shows a nice and clean rocker assembly.
Pulled the manifolds and exhaust the valves looked good. There were two broken studs on the drivers side, based on the rust they were broken for quite some time and the lack of fastening caused quite the exhaust leak. I fear removing the broken studs is going to super suck
The biggest downside here, and it’s a big downside, is this is the rustiest block I’ve ever seen! This is prior to cleaning anything or wire brushing but look at the flaking! The issue is only one one side of the motor and isolated to where the starter bolts up. It’s mostly cleaned up with a quick wire brushing but wow Michigan kills everything.