2003 Silverado 1500 Drivetrain Swap

[smnichol]

Hello all,

 

I apologize in advance for the short novel, but please read on! I currently have a high mileage 2003 Silverado 4x4 with a 4.8L that it starting to burn more and more oil between oil changes, and I want to take a care of the problem before it goes out of commission when I least expect it.

 

I am looking at purchasing an '03 to '06 complete donor vehicle with either an LQ9 or LQ4 as a nice upgrade. The donor vehicle will come with the 6.0, the 4l80e, and the rest of the 2500 drive train with much lower miles than mine currently has. I do plan to rebuild the 6.0 and to direct swap the 4l80e and drive train with no rebuild.

 

I've been searching through many forums and have found that the engine is pretty much a direct swap with an ECU flash (or in my case, an ECU swap). My main reason for joining this forum and writing up this post is to ask about the 4l80e and drivetrain swap.

 

All of the other forums thatI have seen are for a 4l80e swap only and they state that it is expensive and really not worth it. However, in my case, I will have an entire truck to rip parts from. Will I be able to directly swap all drivetrain components, including Trans, driveshaft, rear axle, transfer case, and front components without modification?

 

Of course my other option would be to rebuild my current 4.8 and rebuild the current 4l60e which I feel has the potential to be more expensive than doing this swap. The other downside to this second option is that I am stuck with a 4.8L, and I don't want that!

 

Does a 2005 Silverado 2500 HD drive train swap directly onto a 2003 Silverado 1500 with little to no additional cost? What else do I need to watch out for?

[kstruckcountry]

You'll find the cheapest and most streamlined solution is to drop in the 6.0 and a built up 4L60.

 

The 4L80 in a halfton 4x4 is a myth. I have not seen one on here (since 2011). The wiring (especially 4x4) would become an issue, and the mounting becomes challenging. Might be easier with a donor, but if you have a donor pickup with a solid complete drivetrain, why is it a donor?

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[smnichol]

Thanks for the reply. Your explanation may be why I am having trouble finding any other content about this subject. I am looking to pick up a vehicle from and insurance auction where the vehicles usually have some bad body damage that really wouldn't be worth repairing, that's what would make it a donor.

 

I am looking to go this route because I was hoping to pick up and entire vehicle for less than $1000 if possible, rebuild the engine, swap everything over that I could and then part out and scrap the rest. I'm assuming that the cost to build up a 4L60e to handle a 6.0 would cost more than purchasing the donor. Perhaps I am wrong about this

[BLACK DEATH]

I'd drop the 6.0 in and just get a tune. If you don't race or beat the crap out of it, the 60e may last.

That's what I am going to do

[Chris]

My 60e lasted about 60,000 miles behind my 6.0. That was also with driving hard, full pulls going up on ramps, LA traffic, and towing more than I should have. The transmission died with about 190,000 on it. The 60e will handle normal driving just fine.

[gmguy1982]

I have a 4L60E in my silverado that I thought was going bad. After watching some youtube videos i decided it was the tcc valve in the valve body and found a ready to install valve body from global transmission parts. They also did a sonnax upgrade for a hundred more dollars to the tcc valve. the Valve Body fixed my code problem and got me back on the road. Way easier than i expected.

[smnichol]

Awesome! I don't plan to race it at all, so perhaps my 4l60e will work for me. Im just worried that since my 4l60e has over 250k on it that it will go pretty quick.

 

Purchasing an engine only is definitely the preferred option over the whole truck since I won't have to make my neighbors mad with a wrecked vehicle on jack stands for a month.

 

I definitely want to upgrade from the 4.8L, would a 5.3L be a safer bet with my old 4l60e, or would the effects be the same as installing a 6.0?

[Chris]

If you are definitely swapping, go 6.0. A 5.3 isn't worth the work. If you want to rework the 4.8, for the cost of the swap you can rebuild the 4.8 and have it stroked to 383 CI.

[kstruckcountry]

I have a friend with over 300k on the stock trans, it's kind of a gamble. At 144k, my trans is fine but the rear diff needs a rebuild.

[gmguy1982]

I have a 4L60E in my silverado that I thought was going bad. After watching some youtube videos i decided it was the tcc valve in the valve body and found a ready to install valve body from global transmission parts. They also did a sonnax upgrade for a hundred more dollars to the tcc valve. the Valve Body fixed my code problem and got me back on the road. Way easier than i expected.

if 4 wont hold it 5 never would