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2015 Sierra 5.3 and transmission pull

gbayfisher

By gbayfisher
in Engines & Drivetrain

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gbayfisher Enthusiast

gbayfisher

Posted
Posted

Hello everyone,

 

Long time reader on the forums. I had to start a new account because I couldn't get into my old account. 

It's been a great place for information over the years and I appreciate everybody's input and experience, it's been a great help over the years! 

 

I thought it would put this out there before tackling the job just to get some insight and past experience from you guys.

My 2015 5.3 has come to to its end life (550,000kms) , it did well but I'd have to be honest and saying I wasn't the best at maintaining it...... I'm on my second transmission which has been experiencing a lot of shudder, so I decided to replace both and get a few more years out of my truck because I don't feel like spending $80,000 on these new ones. 

I picked up a low mileage engine and transmission, they are still bolted together, and should serve me well for a few years. 

My main question is regarding pulling the transmission and engine all in one piece, since my new emg/trans is still together all one piece. I'm not sure if this is worth the hassle of pulling the front end apart, if it's even possible? I was trying to save some work to split the units apart coming out and putting back in, not sure if it's worth the hassle... For you guys out there that have done engine and tranny swaps, have you guys done it in one piece or is it just easier to split it pulling out and putting in? 

Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks in advance! 

 

Mark

CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

If you yank everything off the front of the truck you can pull the whole things out the front. So pull the radiator, condenser, core support and all that jazz. It's a little bit of work not super hard.

 

Also just so you know, the transmission you have will require that it be flashed with your VIN prior to driving it. You can start the new combo together but the transmission will not drive because the transmission has a different calibration than the PCM/TCM combo in your truck right now.

Jay Ratliff Enthusiast

Jay Ratliff

Posted
Posted

I have no experience pulling the engine/trans from these trucks, yet. Will be pulling mine before too long as it's getting close to yours on mileage, on my 3rd transmission.  But I will offer this piece of advice....If the new(er) combo has the OEM converter I'd swap it out now. Nothing good will come from leaving it in there and it's a lot harder to do once it's all in the truck.

gbayfisher Enthusiast

gbayfisher

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That's good news, I was planning on taking the whole front apart, just wasn't sure if it was still possible after doing all that work but I think that's the way I will go. 

I actually have the ECM from the donor truck, it's from a 2016, but it should work with my 15'  if not, I may use it if needed to get somewhere to program the transmission to the factory ecm, we'll see how it works. 

Thanks for the advice!

 

 

gbayfisher Enthusiast

gbayfisher

Posted
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Good advice, I have also thought about the converter issue, was hoping not to get into that but it's probably a safer bet to do it now. 

 

CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

You can't use the 2016 computer in your truck. These trucks use CAN-BUS, everything talks with everything. The 2016 computer won't talk with all the other controllers correctly because the VIN will be different and the operating systems are different from year to year.

 

Just program the TCM that is in the new to you transmission to the matching VIN that your truck came with. Any dealership can do that, just have to tow it there.

gbayfisher Enthusiast

gbayfisher

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9 hours ago, CamGTP said:

You can't use the 2016 computer in your truck. These trucks use CAN-BUS, everything talks with everything. The 2016 computer won't talk with all the other controllers correctly because the VIN will be different and the operating systems are different from year to year.

 

Just program the TCM that is in the new to you transmission to the matching VIN that your truck came with. Any dealership can do that, just have to tow it there.

Didn't realize that, but good point, I'm used to '80-90's  efi, not these ones!  I will just get it towed in to get programmed.

 

Thank for the help!

I will definitely post as the project moves along, hope it helps someelse out. Just waiting for some warmer weather here because my shop is not heated, but going to tackle it as soon as I get a warmer day or two to start.

 

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