6.0 Litre V8 for 2002 Sierra 1500

wickedone · August 2, 2014

I have a 2002 Sierra 1500 SLT with the 5.3L V8. The truck has @ 98,000 miles on it and still runs great.

I'm considering swapping the 5.3L V8 for a new 6.0L V8 crate engine. (I have a 21' boat and want to get an Airstream so the extra oomph would help in towing.) I've read posts regarding the 6.0L on GM-Trucks that say that engine is essentailly interchangeable with the 5.3L and 4.8L engines, but the most recent post I could find was way back in 2009.

I'm also considering getting a new transmission to go with the 6.0L.

I have a 2011 SIerra 1500 SLT All Terrain with the 5.3L, but I REALLY like the 2002 - more. The 2002 was a dealer specced paint - one of 10 total (have never been able to find out what the actual paint color is - even after taking the truck to a couple of GM dealers and calling GM with the VIN number. After one of the dealers told me where the paint info should be I looked and found a number - dealers said they couldn't find a number - so I ordered a touch-up paint kit from one of the on-line paint resellers. Unfortunately, the touch-up paint is close but a lot darker than the actual paint.)

In any event, I want to look at the engine and transmission swap in order to "update" the 2002 Sierra.

What should I look (out) for? (I'm certainly not a mechanical genius.) I've looked at "crateenginedepot.com" and they have a ton of 6.0L engines listed (I don't want a remanufactured engine, but rather a new engine). The 6.0L engines are listed by year or years. Any issue swapping to a newer year engine? What about the transmission? I looked at a number of sites and they only seem to list the 4 speed automatic for 4WD (both my Sierras are 4WD). What about a six speed for the 2002?

The other BIG question is finding a reputable mechanic to do the swap(s) - I live in central Oregon near Bend.

Thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated . . . .

Chris · August 2, 2014

It is and I did it.

The Grizz · August 3, 2014

I have a 2004 Sierra 2500HD with the 6.0, and I would like to find a trans with more gears. The truck is a gas hog even when I'm not towing. 10 empty, 8.5 towing. I do love the truck other than the gas mileage, and the towing is super smooth. Towed our 7-8k lb tool trailer last week for the first time and could barely tell it was back there.

wilsonz71 · August 5, 2014

Going to a six speed sounds like a bit of a headache. But the 6L swap is nothing and a built 60e or 80e will hold it fine. Engines up to 06 will fit right in but one sensor needs to be used from the 99-02 engine. 07+ AFM engines will work just more headaches. That is of course going with a used engine. No clue about which crate engine to pick. I'd go with lq9 over lq4 if you could.