pulled the trigger... LQ4/4L80 swap (6.0 vortec)

[branndon_b]

That may well be the case, but I don't think that sparing 50 lbs or so is gonna make a big difference in a 6000 lb truck with the aerodynamics of a shoe box. It's kind of a budget build, and I jumped on the first good deal on an LQ4/4L80 combo I found. I saved $1200 bucks by waiting for one instead of just buying one locally. Figured that was $1200 bucks I could put towards the swap. I could head/cam it for that and get rid of my iron heads, or just pocket the difference and i'm just that much ahead. Hell, even an iron headed 6.0 is better than my knocking-ass 350. But you are right about the iron heads being heavy. But we'll see how dumb I get performance-wise. I just need something reliable for now, not trying to run 10's with this big pig. Going fast in a junior suburban is a lot harder than just throwing a 302 in a miata and killing everyone at every red light.

 

[K-DuB96]

man, i'm not even sure. i would imagine that if you didn't get another transfer case, the output/input shaft may have to be changed to spline to the new transmission. i'll look around and see what i can find out for ya. i know there's a guy on FSC that did the swap in a 4x4, i'll look and see what's up and link to his thread there for ya.

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/g...l80e-swap.html

i'm still looking to see if there's anything else i can find for ya buddy.

http://www.performancetrucks.net/for...-4l80e-424904/

Thanks Branndon for finding those threads. I will definitely have to read them. I'll also be keeping up on your thread here on what you do with your 6.0L and the install, as I would really love to get a 6.0L for my hoe one of these days as well.

 

[branndon_b]

no prob. hopefully either one will do you some good. that's what's good about these forums, get some help from each other.

 

[branndon_b]

pulled the heads yesterday, put all the rocker arms/bolts/pushrods in ziploc bags. pulled the valley cover and knock sensors. just gotta wait for some parts and gaskets and such, my buddy is gonna port match my heads and header flanges soon. hopefully in a couple more weeks, all my parts will be in and i'll be able to get started going back together. gotta go see a surgeon on 8/17, hopefully my surgery that i gotta have isn't gonna either interfere with the swap too bad, or hopefully doesn't have a long convalescence period. i need to send my pcm off for retuning and reprogramming, or maybe do some more homework and see if i should get an 0411 pcm instead. for those that don't know, evidently the 0411 pcm is the most flexible pcm that gm made. it'll run several different engines or transmissions. just gonna have to see how much of a pain that would be, and i'm still figuring out what all is gonna have to go through my old pcm, and what is gonna go through the new one, or just one or the other. anyhow, a little update on what's going on.

 

[drspeed2]

I just found this tread looking for info on fixing the tranny on my 03 Yukon. There was a lot of great info and now I am thinking of getting a 4L80E instead of the 4L60E in there now.

Good luck for you surgery, I will keep an eye on your progress.

 

[branndon_b]

the heads took a trip to the machine shop, got a port/polish job, new valve seals, decked for trueness, valve seat job, all that fun stuff. got some new head bolts on the way, new knock sensors, need to get a valley gasket and some head gaskets. then hopefully i'll be able to start bolting stuff up, jerking the old motor out, and stuffing the new stuff in. getting closer, boys. kinda weird being on the edge of being exciting about the swap, and realizing that you may be in over your head. stay tuned!

 

[branndon_b]

well, got the surgery set for sept 27th, have to see how bad it's gonna get. it's like half identifyable and half exploratory. so, i'm gonna try my natural ass off to see if i can get it all done by then. waiting on parts right now, may be like 9/4 or so before summit gets the arp head bolts back in stock, and hopefully they get them right the first time, as there are the early years (3 different lengths) and the later years, which are not 3 different lengths, but i'm not gonna say they're all the same length, as i'm not positive about that. anyhow, that's where things stand now, just a couple more parts, fuel fittings, odds and ends, and we should be getting ready to get this summabitch rollin. sorry it's taking so long, changing out gaskets and cleaning up stuff has taken way longer than i thought it would.

 

[branndon_b]

haven't forgot about y'all, just haven't got much to report yet. still waiting on those head bolts. grrrrr....

 

[branndon_b]

sorry for the hiatus gentlemen, been kinda laid up since the surgery. some according to doctor's orders, some just cause i've been taking advantage of the time off. anyihow, put my valley pan and new knock sensors back down, ordered my head gaskets and water pump gaskets tonight. kinda let the cam/converter/springs, etc., go by the wayside for now, i gotta get this thing running and dependable for now. i can always recam/spring/converter it later. so, sorry for the long wait, but hopefully in the next couple weeks things will start rolling again.

 

[puckhead]

Nice build! Hope you are recovering well from the surgery bud!