$18K Repair on 2010 Burb? Yup, it made sense.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

fozzi58

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2017
Posts
423
Reaction score
359
Location
North Jersey
Thinking out loud, am I better off getting a used L86 (6.2L) when I am ready for a rebuild, rebuilding my 5.3, or just going straight to Hawks for an LT1 drivetrain?

The 6.2 is obviously going to provide more power but I need to acquire one I'm thinking the cost to get one will probably offset the cost to beef up the 5.3 since its in the truck already. (Yes I know, the 6L80 will need its own beefing up)

I did see some decent pricing on LT1 drivetrains at Hawks. Not sure I want my daily to have a 6 speed manual either (although I have seen a few conversions) cause none of the LT1s for sale come with the 10 speed.

I can't even imagine the cost of an Esky V drivetrain would cost.
 
OP
OP
petethepug

petethepug

Michael
Joined
May 4, 2016
Posts
3,130
Reaction score
3,449
Location
SoCal
Best to contact DuraBurb now so you can get the shopping list. You always run into the perfect, inexpensive motor or trans exactly when you’re not looking for it.

It’d be nice to drop off the truck for the conversion and have the drivetrain costs already covered knowing you got a good shake on the pricing.
 

j91z28d1

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2022
Posts
3,241
Reaction score
4,024
Thinking out loud, am I better off getting a used L86 (6.2L) when I am ready for a rebuild, rebuilding my 5.3, or just going straight to Hawks for an LT1 drivetrain?

The 6.2 is obviously going to provide more power but I need to acquire one I'm thinking the cost to get one will probably offset the cost to beef up the 5.3 since its in the truck already. (Yes I know, the 6L80 will need its own beefing up)

I did see some decent pricing on LT1 drivetrains at Hawks. Not sure I want my daily to have a 6 speed manual either (although I have seen a few conversions) cause none of the LT1s for sale come with the 10 speed.

I can't even imagine the cost of an Esky V drivetrain would cost.


what are you trying to do? swap in a direct injection LT manual trans to your tahoe?
 

Noggles

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2020
Posts
99
Reaction score
74
I’m sure GM is reading that article and hoping it gets mothballed.

View attachment 443201


Ever since they switched from global architecture A to B, no modules on these trucks are cross compatible after 2015 without some major software hacking.

I’m following this upgrade from 4/6 Speed to 8/10 speed trans carefully.

Not sure if you have seen this company or not but they are offering 10 speed swaps into a lot of different platforms now. From the videos I have seen they seem to work pretty much like factory. I am hoping at some point to do the same to my truck as the 10 speed is so much better than the 6 speed in almost every way.

 

j91z28d1

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2022
Posts
3,241
Reaction score
4,024
Not sure if you have seen this company or not but they are offering 10 speed swaps into a lot of different platforms now. From the videos I have seen they seem to work pretty much like factory. I am hoping at some point to do the same to my truck as the 10 speed is so much better than the 6 speed in almost every way.


I'm curious, I don't know much about autos. what makes the 10 speed much better than the 6 or 8?

from what I've seen online all the new transmissions need replaced every 100k or so miles of normal use?
 

Noggles

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2020
Posts
99
Reaction score
74
I'm curious, I don't know much about autos. what makes the 10 speed much better than the 6 or 8?

from what I've seen online all the new transmissions need replaced every 100k or so miles of normal use?
IMO the 10 speed has much better splits between the gears so there aren't the kind of "dead zones" where its too low of an rpm to really accelerate as needed but too high of an rpm to downshift. I had the 10 speed in my mustang a couple years ago and it just always seemed to have the right gear for the situation. Kinda like the transmission version of a well broken in pair of jeans or shoes lol. Also, the shifting can be pretty buttery smooth while driving around normally and lightning quick when wide open, and again, always in the right powerband sorta like a properly sized aftermarket torque converter without the soggy, terrible shift those create.

As far as the life expectancy, I think with proper maintenance they will last much longer. I think a lot either abuse them constantly and/or don't take care of them.

*EDIT*I think long term, swapping a 10 speed in and keeping the LS is the right move because of the long term LT issues with valve coking and stuff. Plus, for some reason GM made the LT engines harder to work on. The way the front cover and oil pan seal together means you have to drop the pan more or entirely for cam swaps for example. I think a properly DOD deleted gen 4 LS is the sweet spot for many thousands of miles of service and TONS of aftermarket replacement parts to keep it going.
 

j91z28d1

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2022
Posts
3,241
Reaction score
4,024
I've heard it shifts faster and smoother. Keep you in powerband better.
If you watch some videos, it definately sounds like a faster shift..



see to my ear that just doesn't sound faster, all I hear is a bunch of shifts. tq reduction between gears would mean it's always limiting itself. unless you zero all that out which is ******* everything.


it's like at some point, especially in a turbo application, going from a th400 with 3 years wasting power to 2 speed glide is faster.


I know we aren't drag racing, just putting around town at part throttle. but a ls has a nice wide powerband compared to say a coyote that makes power way up top.


I mean I'm all for it on the side of its cool to get a old ecm to control a new tranny. I'm just not sure for a daily it would be totally worth it. the 6 seems pretty good
 

Noggles

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2020
Posts
99
Reaction score
74
see to my ear that just doesn't sound faster, all I hear is a bunch of shifts. tq reduction between gears would mean it's always limiting itself. unless you zero all that out which is ******* everything.


it's like at some point, especially in a turbo application, going from a th400 with 3 years wasting power to 2 speed glide is faster.


I know we aren't drag racing, just putting around town at part throttle. but a ls has a nice wide powerband compared to say a coyote that makes power way up top.


I mean I'm all for it on the side of its cool to get a old ecm to control a new tranny. I'm just not sure for a daily it would be totally worth it. the 6 seems pretty good
I think lots of gears can serve both purposes. For a daily driver, even my high rpm 5.0 mustang still never felt down on power at part throttle. And there are lots of 10 second and faster f-150s running the 10 speed as well. Even drag racers are starting to go back to a th400 from a power glide for better gearing.

As far as the torque management, the newer trans controllers do a much better job with that as well. It still exists but it can be tuned much better than the older stuff
 
Top