6.0 block swap

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.

SWSS

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Posts
591
Reaction score
665
Location
Smashville
met a neighbor that drives a TBSS and works at the chevy dealer. we were discussing the ins and outs of engine swaps. he said one of his fellow techs swapped a 6.0 block into his 5.3 hoe. only flashed the ecm (?), used the same harness, etc and did a tune. sounds too easy but I am wondering if there is a big gain to this? does this make it anymore cost effective over shoving parts and money into the 5.3?
 

TxDrewski

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2013
Posts
495
Reaction score
19
Location
Potomac,MT
Depends on how you look at it. Im doing a 6.0 swap now (05 lq9 TO MY 04t Tahoe).
Stock for stock, there is a 50 HP difference. I could have gotten 50hp more from my 5.3 easier and less expensively, however I wanted one engine in the truck and one being rebuilt. My 5.3 has consumption and head gasket issues, the cost of tearing down and building it vs a g00d 6.0 swap was around the same. I decided to swap th 6.0 AND build the 5.3 when I get it out. The LQ9 from the 05 caddy is a direct swap to my Tahoe.
 

scryfst

Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Posts
101
Reaction score
6
Location
Maryland
It's been a few years since I sold my 6.0 (LS2), but I've since replaced two 5.3's (LM7) in nbs yukons and the spare harnesses were sold to individuals doing LS2 and LQ9 (6.0) Swaps. All three motors LM7, LS2 and LQ9, plus a handful of others, and gen III so i don't see why you couldn't swap harnesses.

Cost effective? In a modding sense - I've dropped 25K in mods after spending 30K on a car only to turn around and sell her for 21K. Cost effective, the numbers don't say so.... but it was a hell of a lot of fun :)

If your 5.3 is tired, complete motors, with less than 100,000 miles, can be had for well under $1,000.00 and the swap can be done in a driveway with basic tools and a few jacks.
 
OP
OP
SWSS

SWSS

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Posts
591
Reaction score
665
Location
Smashville
thanks for the replies. according to the neighbor, he only swapped the motor, i think. i know he used the harness, etc and repopped the brain and got a tune.
could i swap an 8.1 that easy?
 

TxDrewski

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2013
Posts
495
Reaction score
19
Location
Potomac,MT
thanks for the replies. according to the neighbor, he only swapped the motor, i think. i know he used the harness, etc and repopped the brain and got a tune.
could i swap an 8.1 that easy?

I wanna say the 8.1 Motor mounts are different

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 PM ----------

And I think you may have some issues bolting that to the stock trans
 
OP
OP
SWSS

SWSS

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Posts
591
Reaction score
665
Location
Smashville
If your 5.3 is tired, complete motors, with less than 100,000 miles, can be had for well under $1,000.00 and the swap can be done in a driveway with basic tools and a few jacks.

Nah, she is a 2010 with 55k on her, i just like having fast bastard trucks...that i can drive daily.
:party52:
 

TxDrewski

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2013
Posts
495
Reaction score
19
Location
Potomac,MT
If your 5.3 is tired, complete motors, with less than 100,000 miles, can be had for well under $1,000.00 and the swap can be done in a driveway with basic tools and a few jacks.

I paid 1600 shipped for my 05 LQ9 with 140k.... Maybe I got a little hasty and spent too much lol

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

Nah, she is a 2010 with 55k on her, i just like having fast bastard trucks...that i can drive daily.
:party52:

Then Id slap a Magnuson on there and call it a day!

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

Link to my on going build thread if you wanna keep tabs

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68277
 
OP
OP
SWSS

SWSS

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Posts
591
Reaction score
665
Location
Smashville
I wanna say the 8.1 Motor mounts are different

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 PM ----------

And I think you may have some issues bolting that to the stock trans

yup. plenty of wrecks though, think the harness should be swapped?
 

TxDrewski

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2013
Posts
495
Reaction score
19
Location
Potomac,MT
yup. plenty of wrecks though, think the harness should be swapped?

Depends on the year. With that few miles you could turbo/supercharge it and really not worry about blowing it lol. My 5.3 is coming out because its got issues.
 
OP
OP
SWSS

SWSS

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Posts
591
Reaction score
665
Location
Smashville
yeah, prolly just get a drop fron Tony, wheels and a few other goodies and run the ***** out of her...
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,332
Posts
1,866,191
Members
96,952
Latest member
tdmcpa
Top