how do I change the starter on a 2001 chevy silverado 5.3

Park your Chevy Silverado 1500 on a level surface, activate the emergency brake and place blocks behind the back tires for safety. Disconnect the negative battery cable with a terminal puller. Raise the front end of the car with a jack for easier access to the starter. Remove the protective shield (if necessary) and the starter solenoid shield. Unfasten the starter-to-transmission close out cover bolt. Place all nuts and bolts in a baby food jar, or some other safe location, to prevent loss. Disconnect the engine oil level sensor connection. Unscrew and remove the starter mounting bolts while supporting the weight of the starter. Slide the starter forward to clear the transmission and remove the starter transmission close out cover. Detach the positive battery cable and wiring harness from the starter while continuing to support the starter. Then, remove the starter from the engine. Take your malfunctioning starter to the parts store with you. Aftermarket distributors remanufacture most of the starters they sell, so you can likely obtain a partial credit toward your new starter by exchanging your old one. Be sure that you take care not to damage the starter in transit, because the better condition it is in, the more you can get for it. Purchase a replacement starter that has the same or higher cranking capacity (power rating) as the original starter. Also, match the bolt patterns, drive gears and electrical connections. Your owner's manual may list specifications or the auto parts technician will help you determine them. Download a free owner's manual at the Chevy Owner Center (see Resources). Reverse the removal process to install the new starter. Torque the starter mounting bolts to 37 foot pounds (50 Nm). Lower your Silverado 1500 back to the ground. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Turn the key in the ignition to see if your new starter motor functions correctly.

yes. easy one- disconnect the battery at the negative terminal (easier, cause it's not clobbered up with accessory and return connectors) Down at the startermotor there is a solenoid power wire (plastic connector), a hunkin' big 1/0 battery cable with a lolipop end and a stud w/nut and bolt. Undo this bolt 5/8" wrench (could be 9/16) there are two (or is it three) bolts holding the starter to the bell housing. If you are fortunate enough to have a ten or twelve inch extension, and a swivel end socket, now would be the time to use them, if not swivel, deep well at the very least to get to that farthest bolt, undo that one, the other two, and the starter will fall out- Inspect, note the ring gear for teeth like a Clealake-ean, and smell for overload, burned solenoid....do a forensic analysis to make sure your replacement won't fail the same way.

David, yours is much more quaint and effective! you're the winner here, rather tony casas as he can draw his conclusions from both explainations!