question with an engine swap [[2013 2500 engine into 1999 sierra]]

bmwnorcal · March 12, 2015

i have a 99 sierra 2500 and want to drop a 2013 sierra 2500 engine into it. my question is, how hard will it be to do this. i am mechanically inclined and know i can mechanically fit this engine in my 99 by modifying a few things, but i am concerned on the electrical. i know i will have to use the ecu and wiring harness off the 2013 but i definitely need advise before i get into this massive project. i have the complete totaled doner car so i can use whatever i need of that. i am really concerned with the electrical and how to connect it to my 99. will this be possible? easy as plug and play? thanks so much in advance.

Mckenzie · March 12, 2015

Gas or diesel?

oldscsc · March 12, 2015

The 2013 has a separate PCM and TCM; the 1999 PCM controls both the engine and transmission. It is tuned to run a 4L80E, and will be incompatible in controlling the 2013 trans (6L90).

Swapping transmissions will bring about a whole different list of challenges, none of which will be very enjoyable for you or your wallet.

gmtech4 · March 12, 2015

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What he said X 1,572

Forget about it , wallet flush

bmwnorcal · March 12, 2015

sorry its gas

bmwnorcal · March 12, 2015

thanks for the quick replies, cant i just install the transmission control unit and the engine control unit from the 2013 on the 99? i have done this before on bmws but i am not too familiar with how the gmc's work. with bmw there is another computer that is the powertrain control module that controls everything else. and its all plug and play for the most part. i already have the 2013 truck anyways, its totaled but i have all the engine components, wiring, tranny, computers, everything.

oldscsc · March 12, 2015

I'm sure it's a possibility, but the new trans is probably different dimensionally. If it is, you'll have to figure out mounting and whether or not your driveshaft will work.

Additionally, you'll need to figure out how you want to be able to control the trans as your truck only has provisions for a four speed (gear shifter wise).

Not to mention your factory instrument cluster will not work 100% as you're altering many of the sensors that feed it info. You'd essentially have to create your own cluster harness, possibly necessitating signal converters and such if it's even possible to use your original cluster.

My point is that the list goes on and on. Obviously this is up to you, but you're asking for a Pandora's box of work for what is actually pretty minimal return on your effort and headaches.

los33 · March 12, 2015

Your better off getting a 96 5.7l and converting to your current transmission.

Since the engine area is big enough for your current project all you would have to do is transfer each and every part of the 13 to your current truck.

Trying to make it compatible with your current configuration would take way too much work as you would have to modify alot to work.

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darkfox1 · March 12, 2015

ok so.. lemme back up here..

you're taking 2013 LQ4 6.0 and dropping it into a 99 with an LQ4 6.0 right?

So.. instead of doing anything electrical, do it this way:

get a reluctor conversion device like this

http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=L460065397&Category_Code=C163#.VQHKr-Ft9QY

pull your old 6.0 valley plate and run the valley knock sensors instead of the gen 4 knock sensors on the side of the engine

clean out your 99 TB and run drive by cable TB and intake

Why bother swapping the wires? You are dealing with a gen 3/4 issue on the reluctor but everything else should be 1:1 swap yes? Am I missing anything?

If you wanted to go internal to the engine you COULD put a 24x reluctor on the new motor. When I was doing my lq4 build for my camaro though I just bought a salvage yard LQ4 out of a 24x truck and had it refurbished on the bottom end with new rings and bearings though.

Chris · March 12, 2015

ok so.. lemme back up here..

you're taking 2013 LQ4 6.0 and dropping it into a 99 with an LQ4 6.0 right?

So.. instead of doing anything electrical, do it this way:

get a reluctor conversion device like this

http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=L460065397&Category_Code=C163#.VQHKr-Ft9QY

pull your old 6.0 valley plate and run the valley knock sensors instead of the gen 4 knock sensors on the side of the engine

clean out your 99 TB and run drive by cable TB and intake

Why bother swapping the wires? You are dealing with a gen 3/4 issue on the reluctor but everything else should be 1:1 swap yes? Am I missing anything?

If you wanted to go internal to the engine you COULD put a 24x reluctor on the new motor. When I was doing my lq4 build for my camaro though I just bought a salvage yard LQ4 out of a 24x truck and had it refurbished on the bottom end with new rings and bearings though.

2013 didnt have the LQ4. He wants to put a gen 4 setup in a gen 3 truck. It can be done for a cost well over what the truck is worth. Currently there is no standalone 6 speed controller. So he would need engine, full engine harness, engine computer, transmission, full transmission harness, trans computer, custom driveshaft, and on top of all that, his gauges wont work.