5.3L 4l60E swap
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5.3L 4l60E swap Hi all. I have never posted here so hopefully this is the right place on here for this thread. I recently purchased a 1984 GMC C1500. After all of the haggling was done I walked away feeling like I had come out smelling like a rose, but my girlfriend said that the truck smoked blue the who time she followed me back the next day when I went to pick it up. The engine leaking oil did not scare me to bad because engines, especially old ones like this one, are pretty easy to fix. After hours of reading through forums I started playing with the idea of doing a 5.3 swap. Then I realized that the transmission leaks very quickly so I have no idea how well the previous owner took care of the trans fluid and how many times it was ran dry. So this pretty much sealed the deal with me deciding to do a 5.3 4l60e swap. While walking through the local junkyard looking for another part I found a 2007 GMC Sierra with a 5.3 in it with a 4x4 4l60e and they are going to make me a good deal on the engine and everything Ill need to make the engine run.
I do not have a ton of knowledge when it comes to transmissions especially when it comes to electronics. My question is, if I buy the engine and a 2wd 4l60e will they be compatible. I found a guy on Facebook marketplace that has a 2003 4l60e out of a Yukon with 130,000 miles on it for $300. If I buy that transmission or any other 2000< transmission will it work with the engine out of the 2007 Sierra. I know it should bolt up fine I am more worried about the electronics and the computer. Will the 2003 tranny work with the 2007 ecu or do I need to find a 2007 tranny to work fine with the engine?
I do not have a ton of knowledge when it comes to transmissions especially when it comes to electronics. My question is, if I buy the engine and a 2wd 4l60e will they be compatible. I found a guy on Facebook marketplace that has a 2003 4l60e out of a Yukon with 130,000 miles on it for $300. If I buy that transmission or any other 2000< transmission will it work with the engine out of the 2007 Sierra. I know it should bolt up fine I am more worried about the electronics and the computer. Will the 2003 tranny work with the 2007 ecu or do I need to find a 2007 tranny to work fine with the engine?
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That's what I wanted to hear thanks!
What do you think about 4l60e vs 4l80e in as far as for a daily driver that will only be towing a few times per year? Would there be any mpg or longevity benefits for either?
What do you think about 4l60e vs 4l80e in as far as for a daily driver that will only be towing a few times per year? Would there be any mpg or longevity benefits for either?
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This is just my own opinion, but if I was going to be doing any towing, I'd opt for the 80E over the 4L60E. Both can do the job, but the 60 seems to be more of a car-rated transmission. The 60 typically has needed a bit of modding to survive in built F-bodies, which are a bit lighter than your C1500. If the 60 was all you had/all you could afford, I'd say add a shift kit, a transmission temp gauge & a heavy-duty cooler & go with it - but if I had the option, I'd personally select the 80 just for the sake of durability. The effect of the 80 (vs. the 60) on fuel economy would probably be pretty minimal, I would think ( probably < 1/2 a MPG).
Whichever transmission you decide on, a heavy-duty cooler would be a good idea.
Good luck!
Whichever transmission you decide on, a heavy-duty cooler would be a good idea.
Good luck!
Last edited by Cheese Weasel; May 6, 2018 at 11:44 AM.
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My next question is, my truck is not an A/C truck and I would like to have air conditioning. If I take the A/C components off of the donor 2007 truck what will need to be modified or changed? As far as the climate control head unit, blower motor, or the vent flapper. Would I be better off to find an A/C trun in the junk yard and pick up all of the stock parts and just retro fit the newer truck's underhood components to it?
