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Quick Question: 4.8 Swap

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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 04:16 PM
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Default Quick Question: 4.8 Swap

I have a 2008 Express van with the 4.3 V6. I want to swap in a 4.8 motor. Keeping it cheap. 😂

I have 2 options, the LY2 or newer L20. I'm going to buy a complete motor with accessories, wiring harness and ECM.

If I go with the newer motor, L20, will the L20 engine harness plug into my vehicle harness. I'd assume the older LY2 would.

I will be disabling VATS and tuning with HP Tuner. Just want it to be mostly plug and play!
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 05:06 PM
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I had a 06' 3/4 ton express with a 4l80e and now have a 14' with the 6 speed auto.
Both had/have the 4.8
My .02
just get another 4.3 and be done with it.
The 4.8 doesn't (to me) have that much more power then the v6 to justify the swap.
If you are set on doing it, go the 5.3.
Apples and oranges.
I have an 04' Suburban which probably weighs more then my van and it will smoke it.
Put the air on with the 4.8 and forget about it.
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by wht/73
I had a 06' 3/4 ton express with a 4l80e and now have a 14' with the 6 speed auto.
Both had/have the 4.8
My .02
just get another 4.3 and be done with it.
The 4.8 doesn't (to me) have that much more power then the v6 to justify the swap.
If you are set on doing it, go the 5.3.
Apples and oranges.
I have an 04' Suburban which probably weighs more then my van and it will smoke it.
Put the air on with the 4.8 and forget about it.
Here's why I decided on a 4.8 over the 5.3. The 4.8 still makes over 100 more HP and TQ than my 4.3. And they are much cheaper because most don't want them. It'll cost me about $1000 more for a complete 5.3. And my transmission will probably thank me. 😂 Lastly I'm looking for fuel mileage too.

I just need to find out if the newer 4.8 harness will still be plug and play with my 08 vehicle harness. Thanks for your input though!
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 05:35 PM
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I hope I didn't come across wrong. That wasn't my intent.
When the 06' got totaled my shop gave me an old 1/2 ton with the 4.3 in it and noticed it wasn't that much different in power.
My 14' gets about 12.8 during the winter months according to the on board computer.
I don't recall what the 4.3 got.
I don't drive 55 tho! LOL!
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 06:17 PM
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Definitely not, just telling you why I was choosing the 4.8 over 5.3. Hard to believe the 4.8 is still a dog over the 4.3 that makes much less hp. I've never driven a 4.8 so I don't know first hand.

That sucks to hear about fuel mileage. I get 13 in my 4.3, I don't go 55 either. 😂 Best ever was 16 mpg.
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 06:33 PM
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Yeah I guess it's cause you have put your foot into it that mileage suffers.
Everybody's different, so it might not be the same for you.
Good luck with your swap!
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by wht/73
I had a 06' 3/4 ton express with a 4l80e and now have a 14' with the 6 speed auto.
Both had/have the 4.8
My .02
just get another 4.3 and be done with it.
The 4.8 doesn't (to me) have that much more power then the v6 to justify the swap.
If you are set on doing it, go the 5.3.
Apples and oranges.
I have an 04' Suburban which probably weighs more then my van and it will smoke it.
Put the air on with the 4.8 and forget about it.
You my friend are very wrong. The 5.3 and the 4.8 share the same bore Different crank. The 4.8 is a beast with very little mods its a 327 an a 327 does higher rpms than a 5.3 its has a smaller stroke.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Only GM
You my friend are very wrong. The 5.3 and the 4.8 share the same bore Different crank. The 4.8 is a beast with very little mods its a 327 an a 327 does higher rpms than a 5.3 its has a smaller stroke.
A 4.8 is 293 cubic inches. I'm not sure where you get 327 from.
He also never said anything about the differences in 4.8 and 5.3 bore and stroke.

I'd say you're more wrong than he is.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Only GM
You my friend are very wrong. The 5.3 and the 4.8 share the same bore Different crank. The 4.8 is a beast with very little mods its a 327 an a 327 does higher rpms than a 5.3 its has a smaller stroke.
Drove it for 6 years.
The replacement van (16') was a 4.8 also with a 6sp and 3.42's.
It was worse then with the 80E.
It's a slug. In my van with (3.73's) NOT a car with 0 mods.
With a turbo on it in a car, it would probably haul as it should being force fed.
The 5.3 is a 323 NOT a 327
Unless you like to round up.

Thanks Joe,
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:25 PM
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With a name like Only GM you should at least know this.

4.8L = 293ci
5.3L = 323ci
5.7L = 346ci
6.0L = 366ci

Last edited by 1964SS; Oct 24, 2017 at 04:46 PM.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:32 PM
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Im sure it was slow the way the factory tuned it, a little tune cam an springs the 4.8 be pushing 450-500hp easyyyyyy, an the 4.8 is the 327 an the 5.3 is the 350.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:40 PM
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Ok,
GM must have REALLY screwed up putting the 450 hp LT1 in my wifes 16' M6 SS camaro when the just could have put a better cam in a 4.8 and tune in it!
I still don't get you equating a 4.8 to a 327 and 5.3 to 5.7 but whatever makes you happy.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:49 PM
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That's why I'll keep hauling *** and you'll keep scratching your head. My 2005 gto ls2 6.0 came stock with 400 hp 400tq. Headers exuast an tune make 450.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Only GM
Im sure it was slow the way the factory tuned it, a little tune cam an springs the 4.8 be pushing 450-500hp easyyyyyy, an the 4.8 is the 327 an the 5.3 is the 350.

4.8L will never amount to 327ci. You need to relearn your conversions.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 01:53 PM
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Says who Wikipedia lol SMH
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 02:06 PM
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Only GM needs to learn the metric system......
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Only GM
Says who Wikipedia lol SMH
4.8:
3.78" Bore
3.267 Stroke

Area of Bore
3.78 / 2 = 1.89
1.89 * 1.89 = 3.57
3.57 * 3.14 = 11.21

Displacement of Cylinder
11.21 x 3.267 = 36.64

Displacement of engine = 36.64 x 8 = 293.15 cubic inches.

A 327 and a 350 are old small block engines, not gen 3 small blocks.
An LS1 is 5.7L and 346 cubic inches.



Go away.
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 02:34 PM
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Just in case you're stuck in the past and still don't understand:
https://summitracing.custhelp.com/ap...6-stroke-chart
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Old Oct 24, 2017 | 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Only GM
That's why I'll keep hauling *** and you'll keep scratching your head. My 2005 gto ls2 6.0 came stock with 400 hp 400tq. Headers exuast an tune make 450.
This is funny!
I edited my post.
Sorry to the OP for getting off topic.

Last edited by wht/73; Oct 25, 2017 at 06:22 AM.
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