first time engine swap

[sinfull90]

so as it stands i have a 6.0l to dump in my 2000 silverado 1500. so out comes the 4.3l and in goes the 6 right? ok, so i know there is more to it then that but i was wondering if there were a few "tricks of the trade" that i might have missed. i know i'll ahve to get a new fan shrowd, do something about where my fuel lines go (i'm thinking that the tubing is 3/8th and i'll just "tie in" my own ss tbg and re-route my fuel lines), and my intake will have to change. the trany should be all right(i think) , it's a 4l60e(i think) and the engine mounts should be the same(if not i can fabricate them). the new motor comes with the pcm and the wiring harness. i've done my research on basic engine swaps and whatnot and have a shop that will let me tear into it (help will be right there). the only thing is none of us have really done a v-6 to a v-8 swap before and i was just wondering if there were any crutial steps to pay close mind to. i hope i've done enough research and everything goes well. if so i'll have a 6.0l LQ9 in a short box reg. cab. should be fun.

thanx
lee

[454Chevy]

if your going to do that you will need better brakes to stop that thing since the originals where made for less waight and horsepower if you have a 4l60e
you might want to change your torqe coverter and put a shift kit so it could
handel the torq of the engine. for torqe coverter get a hevy duty high stall
2000 - 2400 so you wont feel that kick of the transmission
you will nead new coil spring on the front and new shock since your going
to put more waight on them. i think all 4l60 came with a covette servo
if yours dont have it get it it gose for about 30 to 35 $$ on ebay it firm up
youre gears i put one of those on mine and it's better then before

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by 454Chevy

if your going to do that you will need better brakes to stop that thing since the originals where made for less waight and horsepower if you have a 4l60e
you might want to change your torqe coverter and put a shift kit so it could
handel the torq of the engine. for torqe coverter get a hevy duty high stall
2000 - 2400 so you wont feel that kick of the transmission
you will nead new coil spring on the front and new shock since your going
to put more waight on them. i think all 4l60 came with a covette servo
if yours dont have it get it it gose for about 30 to 35 $$ on ebay it firm up
youre gears i put one of those on mine and it's better then before

Same brakes that come on the 4.3 are on the 4.8 and 5.3. The 6.0 wouldn't add that much more weight.

[kenwood guy]

Originally Posted by sinfull90

so as it stands i have a 6.0l to dump in my 2000 silverado 1500. so out comes the 4.3l and in goes the 6 right? ok, so i know there is more to it then that but i was wondering if there were a few "tricks of the trade" that i might have missed. i know i'll ahve to get a new fan shrowd, do something about where my fuel lines go (i'm thinking that the tubing is 3/8th and i'll just "tie in" my own ss tbg and re-route my fuel lines), and my intake will have to change. the trany should be all right(i think) , it's a 4l60e(i think) and the engine mounts should be the same(if not i can fabricate them). the new motor comes with the pcm and the wiring harness. i've done my research on basic engine swaps and whatnot and have a shop that will let me tear into it (help will be right there). the only thing is none of us have really done a v-6 to a v-8 swap before and i was just wondering if there were any crutial steps to pay close mind to. i hope i've done enough research and everything goes well. if so i'll have a 6.0l LQ9 in a short box reg. cab. should be fun.

thanx
lee

hope it works for you man I wish i could swap

[HanibalTheCannibal]

I think definitely you will have a sagging front end from the extra weight. Poor guy! How much did the6.0 cost? Is it a GM crate? Post lots of pics!!

[sportin83]

i am pretty sure shocks will be a problem need to beef them up but brakes should most likely be fine.

[sinfull90]

well the 6.0l cost me 1100 bucks... and as for the shocks i have put rancho rsx 9000 the whole way around... which really sucks cause i only put them in a couple of months ago. good thiing they come in a coil-over now i guess so yeah... after the motor goes in i'll post some pics of the project. i'm also going to attempt putting a 4.8l in my g/f's toyota tacoma... but that's a big job... it'll be a while til i get to that chore

thanx and wish me luck! HA!
lee

[big_blue_chevy2006]

yea man i got a 4.3 and i have been really thinking about dropping in a 6.0 instead of really beefing up my 4.3, so do me a favor and post ALOT of pics of everything and alot of tips if u have any. ill be keeping an eye on this thread good luck with the swap.

[kenwood guy]

Originally Posted by big_blue_chevy2006

yea man i got a 4.3 and i have been really thinking about dropping in a 6.0 instead of really beefing up my 4.3, so do me a favor and post ALOT of pics of everything and alot of tips if u have any. ill be keeping an eye on this thread good luck with the swap.

yes yes lot and lots of pictures!!!!

[Slowprocess]

Are you going to do any kind of work to the 6.0L while you have it out? That is the best time as any to do a cam swap,etc. You'll want more trust me, and the 6.0L is a bad engine when you get into it.

[big_blue_chevy2006]

when u say bad engine do you mean like awesome or shitty? i was really thinkin of puttin like a ls2 with a 6spd because i have one of those shit new venture 1500 5 spds n its shit i mean plain good ol shit. but either way how good is the lq9? when i do do it i do plan on really building wutever it is up.

[Slowprocess]

Originally Posted by big_blue_chevy2006

when u say bad engine do you mean like awesome or shitty? i was really thinkin of puttin like a ls2 with a 6spd because i have one of those shit new venture 1500 5 spds n its shit i mean plain good ol shit. but either way how good is the lq9? when i do do it i do plan on really building wutever it is up.

Bad as in awesome!!! Sorry for the confusion Both the lq4 and lq9 are pretty much bullet proof, and really take well to larger cams/nitrous/etc. The ls2 is a great engine, and I would have went with it, if I didn't have plans for a much larger bore and forced induction in the near future.

LQ4- stock great for forced induction due to lower compression
LQ9- great for a N/A buildup slightly higher compression than the LQ4
LS2- great right out of the box/cam/heads buildup and for smaller sized truck applications due to lower weight. I like the iron blocks for bigger bore builds, though.

[big_blue_chevy2006]

so how bout an update? you started yet, any pics?

[sinfull90]

ok... sorry it took so long but here's an update. I just got my 6.0L in the "mail" and now the fun starts, well actually the fun started when my second chance offer from ebay turned out to be a fraudlient email and i sent some $%*er in detroit 1100 bucks out of the goodness of my heart. lesson there is to read carefully and not be all "gotta have it" when you shop on-line. so my motor arrived today and the fun will begin in about 9 days as i have to go back to work today (had to wait till i went back to work!). so don't think i've forgotten about you guys looking for lots of info... i sure havent. i'll promise lots of pictures and a full write up as things go. i just got to pull off the plastic and have a look at the engine and go "well that won't work and this won't work". from the first look i'm thinking new coolant lines and i think the air conditioning compressor goes on the bottom of the motor? there's just a blank spot where something that has it's own belt goes. one nice thing is my buddy just bought a 2500HD with a 6L in it so i have some parts! so hopefully i can have another update for you guys in about 9 days (working).

cheers
lee

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Yes the AC compressor goes on the bottom passenger side.

What happened with the second chance offer? DId you get a refund from your credit card company or did you do a paypal investigation? What happened?

Awesome that you got it though. I havent chnaged a mototr since I put a
6.6L 400CID in my 1977 Ford. It is very fun. I would take the radiator out to give you more room. You can then stand right in the engine bay and guide the motor into its final resting place. I think that is the hardest part. All the bolt on stuff just takes time.