Chevy 2500 pick up swap
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 199
Likes: 4
Chevy 2500 pick up swap I'm in the process of buying my friends 1991 2500 Chevy P/U. It has a TBI 5.7/350 with the 4L80E trans. I've been searching but can't find the info on using the OE trans behind a 5.3L. This is not a power build just an upgrade from the 210hp 5.7. I would like to keep the 4L80 as it was rebuilt and upgraded for HD towing less than 50,000 miles ago. I remember a few years back that there were some issues with spacing between the flexplate and torque converter or something along those lines. Is the 4L80 the same dimensionally as the 4L60? Would those mods work on the 4L80 to adapt it to the 5.3? I tried searching but I didn't find anything spec to the 4L80E. I'm not familiar with these transmissions. I was into the TH350/400/200/700 transmissions.
I'm also interested in retrofitting the 5.3 a/c compressor to the truck system, anything odd there or just grab everything from the newer 5.3 donor?
I'm also interested in retrofitting the 5.3 a/c compressor to the truck system, anything odd there or just grab everything from the newer 5.3 donor?
I’m currently in the process of a swap into my 94 C3500. I’m using a 5.3 bolted to a 2000 4L80E in the stock location with the stock driveshaft. All that was needed was a spacer between the crankshaft and flexplate. I lucked out and found a 6.0 flexplate and spacer on eBay for less than 40.00 shipped!
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 199
Likes: 4
She's a beater. Nothing special. I pick her up after the first of the year. I helped my friend install the rebuilt 5.7 back in 1996. She's got close to 200,000 and my friend bought her with almost 200,000 miles on the clock. The only reason I'm interested in the truck is that the suspension and transmission were rebuilt less than 50,000 miles ago. The body is straight but the interior is thoroughly thrashed. The pick up is delayed because my friend bought an early 2000's crew cab W/T with a blown 5.3 and is refreshing a low mileage 5.3 to go back in his new truck. The OE engine had an inch of sludge throughout. The oil in the heads had gelled inside the valve covers. It was a big mess and locked up solid. The crank and pistons were welded in place. It had no main bearings left in the block. Just little slivers of metal remnants.
Thanks. That's what I thought was needed.
I’m currently in the process of a swap into my 94 C3500. I’m using a 5.3 bolted to a 2000 4L80E in the stock location with the stock driveshaft. All that was needed was a spacer between the crankshaft and flexplate. I lucked out and found a 6.0 flexplate and spacer on eBay for less than 40.00 shipped!
