What does it take to swap in a 6.0L

dirtfarmer_jeff · October 20, 2013

I have a 2001 GMC 1500 with a 5.3L and my question is pretty straight forward. What does it take to swap in a 6.0L.? I know mechaniclly it will bolt in but I am wondering about the engine computer? If i put one in for a 6.0, those were paired with 4L80 trans and I have the 4L60 so will it still shift it correctly? Do you need a custom program to make it work? Is the radiator the same or do I need to get a larger one? I am getting an itch for a project and would like to take this on.

Jeff

SILVERADOSC540 · October 20, 2013

PM Chawkins6789, and check out his swap in vehicle builds.

kstruckcountry · October 20, 2013

Your old rad should work. And it will run on the old tune, but I'd get it retuned ASAP. You may have to do a crank relearn with the new motor before you run it though? May as well do an e-fan swap while you're at it. Your AC will function better and your fan won't be spinning much in the winter.

blackbearperformance.com will get you tuned, with the 6.0 and tune it'll be a whole new truck.

Chris · October 20, 2013

You can use the 4L60e, old radiator and fan will work. If you have a cable throttle body stay with a cable throttle body. To do a 4L80e will take a bit of work. Your driveshaft will need to be altered, or find one that will fit and change the pinon side to the correct size. Or custom driveshaft. Also for a 4l80 you need to modify or get a new cross member. Basically keep all your old stuff. Drop in, shift kit and vette servo in your 4L60e, retune, enjoy

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dirtfarmer_jeff · October 21, 2013

Is there a performance difference between 6.0 engines with iron heads verses aluminum heads? I have seen both looking at wrecking yard listings for complete engines.

Jeff

Badass69 · October 21, 2013

Remove 5.3. Shift over anything different between the two. Replace with 6 liter. Drive. It will run amazingly well on the 5.3 tune... But still tune the pcm for the change. Get an 01 up 6 liter as it won't have the longer crank snout and stupid iron heads. And you need to use your 5.3s flex plate on a 6 liter if it had a 4l80e on it as the 60e and 80e flex plates are not the same.

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Badass69 · October 21, 2013

Do not buy the long snout crank iron head junk lq4. These engines are dirt cheap.... get as new as you can. If its a mid year 04 and newer lq4 it has the full floating pin rods from the lq9 in it. If the valley cover bolts have 13 mm heads on them it has the better rods.... usually lol.

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dirtfarmer_jeff · October 22, 2013

Do not buy the long snout crank iron head junk lq4. These engines are dirt cheap.... get as new as you can. If its a mid year 04 and newer lq4 it has the full floating pin rods from the lq9 in it. If the valley cover bolts have 13 mm heads on them it has the better rods.... usually lol.

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What is junk about the iron headed early 6.0L engines? I am completely ignorant when it comes to GM engines as I have been long time Ford fan so I don't know much about these. I know they will weight more but is there mechanical problems with them over a newer aluminum head version? Do they not make as much power or not as easy to make more power? I am just curious for my own knowledge. Thanks!

Jeff

Badass69 · October 22, 2013

Oddball crankshaft that doesn't easily bolt to anything and only made that way for 2 years. Heavier iron heads that flow about the same as 317 aluminums do....... but still. That all rolled up with the weaker rods common to all 03 and prior engines..... no thanks. Why...... lol. Just get a newer one that drops in and don't even bother with that oddball early junk....... unless its free. Even if its free just bin it...... I can get complete 6 liters at my local pick and pull now.... they are a dime a dozen. My second last one came as a runner..... its an LQ4 out of a 2002 1500HD with about 150000 miles on it..... $100. Again.... worthless.

dirtfarmer_jeff · October 26, 2013

Can I get a newer engine from the next year body style and then use my mechanical cable throttle body or swap the entire intake or will that not work?

If not how new can I go and still get to work ok?

Jeff

Chris · October 26, 2013

Up til 2006

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Badass69 · October 26, 2013

2007 technically as they built both body styles that year. You can run a gen 4 engine but its not plug and play. For one if you got a 6 liter you would have to delete the variable valve timing. Then you need a signal converter for the crank pickup because the gen 4 has a 58 tooth reluctor gear and gen 3 is 24. Knock sensor harness needs to be redone as the sensors are on the lower sides of the block on a gen 4 versus under the intake on a gen 3... Now that is assuming you get an ly6 or l96 6 litre from an HD...

Basically use the kiss principal and buy a gen 3 like you have.

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