I have 2006 Yukon Denali with a 6.0 and 4L65E and an all-wheel drive platform. It's thrown a rod, and when I get it out I plan on having it rebuilt later this year or early next year. My fiance is due with baby number six in July. I need it up and running because of seating. We don't have and cannot afford another vehicle. I have seen a few 6.0's around me, but they always are 200K+ miles, and are in unknown or should be running condition. I find a handful of them with less miles guaranteed to be in good shape, but they want close to two grand for them. I have even gone to several you pull it yards hoping to find one. The closest I have found is the 6.0 with rectangle port heads, but I was told it would not work because of the different reluctor wheel on the crank. My hope is if someone can let me know if I can swap in a 5.3 for the time being to get it up and running. I know I can't use my PCM because it is tuned for that motor which was originally built several years ago and was making about 600 horsepower. I don't want to be messing with that computer. I can get a junkyard 5.3 locally for 2 to $300 with a PCM. Would I need anything else to get this up and going as a dependable driver for my family?

When I say the engine was built several years ago it was a stock short block rebuild, and had a more wild top end on it with it being 11.3:1 compression.
​​​​​​I had just got done having a bulletproof transmission built for this 2 months before the motor failed. I have taken very good care of this truck. It is now just starting to have some very minor rust on the outer left quarter. All of the suspension is new it has upgraded brakes all the way around with drilled and slotted rotors and larger calipers, and larger rotors in the front. All of the brake lines are brand new. All of the fuel lines are brand new. Fuel pump is less than 3 years old as it was upgraded along with the motor. I am just at a point where I need to reestablish a small bank to get this built and fixed the proper way. In the meantime I'm hoping to have a solution here.

I appreciate anybody it takes a time to read this, and can hopefully point me in the right direction. If it matters I am just outside of Chicago on the border between Grundy and LaSalle county.

 

If it has "thrown a rod", that engine most likely won't be rebuildable because there's a big hole in the side of the block where the broken rod tore out a big chunk. That $2000 for a running 6.0 is what I would do. Freshen it up with a new oil pump and timing chain / gear and replace the oil pump pickup tube o-ring. And then hope for the best.

Don't forget, for the easiest swap, you will need to stay using the same throttle body type - either drive by cable or drive by wire. Any new PCM will also need at least a minimal tune to shut off the Vehicle Anti Theft System.

Rick

 

If a used engine is a good buy with some new parts I'm ok with that. I just didn't want to spend a lot to be in the same position again. The block seems to be intact, but I can't know for sure until it's out. I do know that it hasn't leaked any oil or coolant or of it, but the oil has glittering it and you can hear loose metal in the oil pan. Lastly the engine won't turn over manually. Only turns about 180 degrees.

Thanks for the advice B52Bombardier1

 

all the 24x motors are the same so as long as you get a cathedral motor it will go right in. you will need to reflash or replace the pcm but it will use the same harness. note that 03+ use a red and green pcm connector where 99-02 use red and blue. for all intents and purposes they are functionally interchangeable. the colored pieces pop off and can be swapped around.

 

You wanna save money? Go to the LKQ Pick Your Part in Blue Island ( which is less than an hour from you ) and yank an engine yourself. All engines are the same price ( even 6.2s ) and they're guaranteed for 90 days. I think they charge like $400 for a complete takeout. I'm in Michigan, and when I was at my local one, I counted no less than 25 separate 5.3s and 8 6.0s, along with a freshly picked 6.2 that I missed out on by an hour. Right here are at least 2 6.0 powered trucks on their yard right now: https://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/inve...olet+silverado

 

If you want a REALLY budget friendly solution, just get a used 5.3 from the junkyard. $500-$1K, depending on the RPO code and your area.

It will bolt right up, every sensor will plug right in, etc.. You won't even need to tune it.
Yeah, it's not a 6.0, but it WILL work. I've seen it done many times.

 

I agree that an engine with a thrown rod probably cannot be rebuilt as at least a cylinder wall will be badly damaged, likely much more.
Therefore, if you really want a 6.0 in the future, this might be the time to buy a basic reasonable one which can be "hot rodded" in the future when time and money permit.
Of course a $400 5.3 as suggested by @LS1Formulation is hard to beat; you could probably sell it for more in the future.