Engine & tranny swaps... basic questions

[Grimes]

I keep running into offers like this asking for thousands. What is the reasoning behind this?

Found a few salvage yard or similar places around town, will take a look perhaps next weekend. My worry with this is that the engine could have potentially been sitting unused for a while in our lovely central Texas weather, and I haven't a clue of how to tell if its a worthy engine or not. This is why I am not planning on swapping my 5.3 out before it goes, because I simply don't want to risk trading a good engine for a not-as-good engine.

Edit: Found this site www.copart.com where you bid on wrecked cars. Pretty large listing from 3rd party inventories. So I'm thinking I could bid on a 2002-2006 Esky or a 2004-2007 Silverado/Sierra in order to get the engines. But why not get two birds with one stone, and use their tranny as well? On the note, what tranny did these models have? Specifically for the pickups, where the 6.0 was an option. The GM Transmissions wiki lists models, but not the year.

 

[Lentsnh2012]

Well, one reason why you're seeing those motors for so much, is because you're looking on Pirate4x4. Mostly everything has a 10% increase on price there.

That's kind of the risk and dare I say, fun of it? You really don't know what you have until you tear into it. Most of the time, salvage yards will have a a vague idea of what state is was in when it got into the lot.

I've looked on copart.com a lot and I love the idea of just buying a whole vehicle so you don't forget anything and then just part out/scrap the rest. You'll feel better knowing however parts came out of the donor and then compare to your Yukon. Most of those vehicles leave the lots for a few hundred dollars. Look closely at the membership though, I remember there being a catch to it.

If I'm not mistaken, the Esky and Denali models with the 6.0 had the 65e. It had a stronger torque converter and a little different gearing to allow for the torque of the 6.0. The 'SS' trucks and SUVs, as well as the 2500HDs (gas burner) had the 80e transmission.

Caption from an internet article: "In 2001, an updated version — the 4L65-E, was introduced. Five-pinion planetaries, along with a strength-improved output shaft, were improved to withstand the 300+ ft·lb (400+ N·m) of torque of the 6.0 Vortec engine."

 

[Grimes]

Ok, the the 4l65 was for the 6.0. Makes sense. So perhaps I could find a 2500 with the 6.0, take the engine and tranny, then rebuild the tranny to match the 4l85e.

Edit: I've got a buddy who is saying the LS2 isn't much of a price jump from the LQ9, especially with 6.2 top end, and swaps just as easily. Is this true...? Haven't heard anything at all about the LS2 in an NBS.

 

[Lentsnh2012]

I don't know if you can rebuild a 60e to match the 80e's strength. You probably could, but it would cost a lot more money than just to buy an 80e and refurbishing it.

All LS motors are pretty much universal across the GM truck, SUV and sports car board. However, I haven't seen many LS2 motor swaps either and it is probably because that it is a VERY high compression motor. The intake manifold has a lot to do with it as well. The ports are smaller on the Corvette engines than those on the trucks which makes less low end torque but higher top end. That's no beuno for our pigs.

It would be easier to have a complete engine from and SUV Or truck so that you don't have to mess around with the intake manifolds and what not.

 

[Grimes]

Makes sense. So, sticking with the original plan of an LQ9. At this point I guess I just wait for a deal to surface. Thanks for the help!

 

[Grimes]

Sorry to bump an old thread of mine, but the thoughts of my drive train are haunting me again!

So I did a little more research this morning and found a little kink in my plan. The LQ9 is only on the Cadillacs and the SS/Vortec MAX. The catch is that the Eskys have the 4l60e still, and the SS/MAX have the 4l70e (...right?). I want the 4l80e.

So this then brings up my next question. Yes I am seeking more power and displacement, but I don't want to completely obliterate my current fuel economy. Right now I'm seeking an LQ9/4l85e (after upgrade from 4l80e, probably). What if I went LQ4, a more towing oriented engine, instead? So I suppose the question is, whats the fuel economy difference between the LQ4 and LQ9?

This is bothering me because it seems the LQ4 is MUCH easier to come by then an LQ9, just because of application. As always, thanks for the help folks!