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2015 Chevy SIlverado 1500 v6 to v8 engine swap?

George7013
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George7013 Enthusiast

George7013

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Posted

I have a 15 silverado wt with a v6. It just passed over 250k. It ticks like crazy and I don't think this motor is going to last much longer. I wanna keep it cause I got it for a insane deal but I'm having trouble fininng another v6. There is no shortage of 5.3s though. Is putting a v8 a "simple" swap or is there different parts and accesories that are needed. The truck is a base model wt, extended cab, manual 4x4. 

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted

I'll bet Cameron will weigh in on this one. Pretty sharp on the wiring PCM/TCM end of things. 

 

I have the RCSB version of your truck. Same motor now at 125K and still purring. Would you mind a few questions about it?

CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

If you had a parts truck, it wouldn't be that hard swapping parts.

 

You'd need the entire engine with related parts and the whole wiring harness with fuse block and computer. If all that stuff was swapped over I think it would be a matter of some programming but you'd need to know someone with the right stuff that is willing to do what is needed.

 

The computer would have to be programmed to a VIN that worked with with a 5.3/6L80e combo, perhaps the parts vehicle was already that. The flash would also write over your trucks TCM calibration and put a new TCM calibration that worked with a V8 engine file so that things jived. Probably would want a 2014-2015 engine/harness stuff.

 

It's going to take a lot of work to make it all go as planned. I've never done this swap but I know enough about how different all the wiring and programming can be.

  • Like 2
George7013 Enthusiast

George7013

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11 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

I'll bet Cameron will weigh in on this one. Pretty sharp on the wiring PCM/TCM end of things. 

 

I have the RCSB version of your truck. Same motor now at 125K and still purring. Would you mind a few questions about it?

Fire away

George7013 Enthusiast

George7013

Posted
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Posted
10 hours ago, CamGTP said:

If you had a parts truck, it wouldn't be that hard swapping parts.

 

You'd need the entire engine with related parts and the whole wiring harness with fuse block and computer. If all that stuff was swapped over I think it would be a matter of some programming but you'd need to know someone with the right stuff that is willing to do what is needed.

 

The computer would have to be programmed to a VIN that worked with with a 5.3/6L80e combo, perhaps the parts vehicle was already that. The flash would also write over your trucks TCM calibration and put a new TCM calibration that worked with a V8 engine file so that things jived. Probably would want a 2014-2015 engine/harness stuff.

 

It's going to take a lot of work to make it all go as planned. I've never done this swap but I know enough about how different all the wiring and programming can be.

Appreciate the information Cam. I'll just have to look a little harder for a v6 then. Thanks.

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted
18 hours ago, George7013 said:

I have a 15 silverado wt with a v6. It just passed over 250k. It ticks like crazy and I don't think this motor is going to last much longer. I wanna keep it cause I got it for a insane deal but I'm having trouble fininng another v6. There is no shortage of 5.3s though. Is putting a v8 a "simple" swap or is there different parts and accesories that are needed. The truck is a base model wt, extended cab, manual 4x4. 

At my current rate, I should hit 250k miles In the spring of 2041 with my V6!  Is the cost prohibitive to have your current engine rebuilt  or exchanged with a rebuilt from a shop that specializes in engine rebuilding?   I'm sure it will be more expensive than you are planning but it may be worth the peace of mind and a warranty.   

  • Thanks 1
jshrubs Enthusiast

jshrubs

Posted
Posted (edited)

I've heard the rear ends (differential) are different between the v6 and v8 as well. So a parts truck is definitely the way to go.

 

I plan on doing this too when my v6 starts acting up. I've got a rcsb so I'll probably try to find a 6.2 when the time comes. Haven't seen too many trucks with that combo.

Edited by jshrubs
Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, George7013 said:

Fire away

1.) How many miles did it have when you bought it?

2.) Any maintenance records from the previous owner? Interested in it's former life's oil maintenance. 

3.) Since you've owned it will you share your products, oil manufacture and grade plus filter maker and part number, and OCI's for oil maintenance? Thanks. 

Would help me find a bench mark. Thanks. 

George7013 Enthusiast

George7013

Posted
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Posted
18 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

1.) How many miles did it have when you bought it?

2.) Any maintenance records from the previous owner? Interested in it's former life's oil maintenance. 

3.) Since you've owned it will you share your products, oil manufacture and grade plus filter maker and part number, and OCI's for oil maintenance? Thanks. 

Would help me find a bench mark. Thanks. 

The truck had about 240k when I bought it a couple months ago. It used to be a fleet vehicle for a rental car company so I'm not to sure about previous maintenance so I'm assuming the worst. I've only done one oil change. I used Mobil one 5w-30 and a Mobil one filter. I also threw in a quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer to see if it quiet down the lifter tick (assuming that tick is a collapsed lifter). No real maintence records besides a record of the transmission being changed at around 120k. Besides the ticking noise the truck runs great. The only thing I've noticed is the truck misfires passed 4500 rpm's and I get a flashing check engine light which goes away after a couple minutes. I don't really rev the motor passed 3k if I don't need too. I never planned on buying a truck but I just starting renovating my house so I figured it would be pretty convenient and again, the deal was waaaaaaay to good not to take. I don't mind changing the motor and transmission but if I can drive this thing another 20k miles before any real repairs are needed , that'll be great. I'll link a video to the truck running. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted

Sure you don't have a blow exhaust manifold gasket? Studs on these break from time to time. Sounds like a bathtub fart. :) 

George7013 Enthusiast

George7013

Posted
  • Author
Posted
23 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Sure you don't have a blow exhaust manifold gasket? Studs on these break from time to time. Sounds like a bathtub fart. :) 

Could be. I never really thought of that. I’ll definitely take a look at it sometime this week. Thanks for the information. 

  • Like 1
Inacanyon Enthusiast

Inacanyon

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 8/9/2020 at 11:17 PM, CamGTP said:

If you had a parts truck, it wouldn't be that hard swapping parts.

 

You'd need the entire engine with related parts and the whole wiring harness with fuse block and computer. If all that stuff was swapped over I think it would be a matter of some programming but you'd need to know someone with the right stuff that is willing to do what is needed.

 

The computer would have to be programmed to a VIN that worked with with a 5.3/6L80e combo, perhaps the parts vehicle was already that. The flash would also write over your trucks TCM calibration and put a new TCM calibration that worked with a V8 engine file so that things jived. Probably would want a 2014-2015 engine/harness stuff.

 

It's going to take a lot of work to make it all go as planned. I've never done this swap but I know enough about how different all the wiring and programming can be.

If you have a 2014, the OS matches on the 14 4.3l and 14 6.2l ecm


you would have to see if your 15 os and the 15 5.3 have matching os then hpt would allow the segment swap

 

couldn’t you just get a harness and do segment swap using hpt and the 6.2 file?

Edited by Inacanyon
flyingfool Senior Enthusiast

flyingfool

Posted
Posted

what does GM want for a shortblock v6? 

 

single chinese turbo and cheap upgrades would be less work i would think than swapping to a v8

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