VVT retrofit?
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 415
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From: Bothell, WA
VVT retrofit? Has anyone swapped VVT onto a motor that originally didn't come with it? Would it be as easy as making sure it's got the 58toothRW and swapping the timing cover/cam phaser assembly and rocking? I can't find anything in search but my search fu may be weak.
I dont see why it wouldnt. I took the vvt stuff apart when I put an after market vvt cam in my vvt equiped engine. You can remove vvt by replacing the cam, cam sprocket and timing cover so why not add vvt by adding those same items off a vvt engine? The vvt gets its oil pressure from the 2nd cam journal which I dont think that oil hole is any different then any other ls engine. VVT engines do have a higherflow/pressure oil pump to keep up with the bigger need of oil.
I agree with what tiresmokinV8 said. I can't see why it wouldn't work with the 58 reluctor and the correct PCM and harness. I've also got the VVT cover with cam sensor, stock VVT cam, VVT cam phaser and bolt, valve springs, and pushrods from my >3000mile LY6. If JIMB can't help you out, let me know if you need any of these parts and I can hook you up.
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If the vvt set up is so great why are you guys trying to unload your vvt parts? I have all my vvt parts too, since I decided to not use it on my LY6. I'm not saying it's bad, but the people in the know are keeping it a secret.
I don't recall saying it was great? I bought my LY6 because it came equipped with L92 heads; not for the VVT. My LY6 is also carb'd, so there is no chance of me using the VVT stuff. I've had this stuff sitting here for well over a year and I know I'm never gonna use it. Just trying to help another member who seems to be interested in using it.
Im keeping the vvt in my swap. TSP has gotten great results with their aftermarket vvt cam which is why I went with them, VVT wont provide as much HP at the top end but will make more hp and tq down low as well as much more under the curve which is what I wanted in a street vehicle.
Like mentioned already the 06+ e38 which came in the trucks with the ly6 and l92's or like Im doing '10+ e67 ecu, Runs vvt in the '10+ Colorado 5.3, has a class 2 serial data output so I can run my stock gauges which the e38 does not. And the e67 gets its speed reading right off a vss sensor unlike the e38 which needs a tcm. If running an auto with a tcm then you're fine with a e38 since it uses the vss to tcm which converts it to another signal which the e38 reads. Im running a t56 which I came to find out from others using the t56 and vvt running a e38 that their speedo wont work anymore.
Like mentioned already the 06+ e38 which came in the trucks with the ly6 and l92's or like Im doing '10+ e67 ecu, Runs vvt in the '10+ Colorado 5.3, has a class 2 serial data output so I can run my stock gauges which the e38 does not. And the e67 gets its speed reading right off a vss sensor unlike the e38 which needs a tcm. If running an auto with a tcm then you're fine with a e38 since it uses the vss to tcm which converts it to another signal which the e38 reads. Im running a t56 which I came to find out from others using the t56 and vvt running a e38 that their speedo wont work anymore.
This is great information. Sorry to come across like such a skeptic. Initially, I wanted to keep vvt as well. When I called TSP they didn't return my call. When I called Mast, they told me to call a local tuner if I didn't want to buy their ecm. The local tuner couldn't recommend vvt so I switched.
To the person wanting to convert to vvt: Good luck and please start a thread we can follow along. Who knows, maybe one day I'll switch back.
To the person wanting to convert to vvt: Good luck and please start a thread we can follow along. Who knows, maybe one day I'll switch back.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Bothell, WA
Like mentioned already the 06+ e38 which came in the trucks with the ly6 and l92's or like Im doing '10+ e67 ecu, Runs vvt in the '10+ Colorado 5.3, has a class 2 serial data output so I can run my stock gauges which the e38 does not. And the e67 gets its speed reading right off a vss sensor unlike the e38 which needs a tcm. If running an auto with a tcm then you're fine with a e38 since it uses the vss to tcm which converts it to another signal which the e38 reads. Im running a t56 which I came to find out from others using the t56 and vvt running a e38 that their speedo wont work anymore.
I would, You can ask Pilligenburn on here. He put a ly6 in his mid 90's firebird and used the e38 with his t56 and couldnt get the speedo to work. Thats how I found out about the e38 and its issues with communicating with a vss directly. Now if your going to run aftermarket gauges which will hook up directly to the vss then you can run the e38, however the ecu still wouldnt see a vss for some of the tables if you plan on doing some of your own tuning.
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Joined: Feb 2018
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Hello everyone, hope you guys can help me. so i have a 2011 suburban 5.3 and engine went bad, so i got another 5.3 engine but came off a 2009 and after installing it i realized that the 2011 has the VVT and 2009 dont. So can i just swap the timing cover? or what can i do in order to make it work??
You should swap the timing cover, camshaft, timing set, and whatever lifter valley cover/AFM/DOD setup that came on your '11. They should both be Gen IV blocks but they might be outfitted with different VVT / DOD combinations. I would use as much of your '11 stuff as you can to make sure it is plug and play. That might include the pan, accessory drive, manfiolds, intake w/ injectors, and throttle body.
