E38 ECM compatibility
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 5,202
From: Dawsonville Ga.
E38 ECM compatibility I’ve got a 2012 silveraydo crew with a 5.3 and the 6L80 trans. Truck is my daily and it’s nice, low miles, etc. I’ve had an L92 in the corner for a while and I’ve decided to go through it, and I’d like to put it in my truck. Question…I’ve got a chance to buy a 2008 E38 ECM that controlled an L92. I’d rather go this route…I think…rather than have a tuner mess my crap up. Will this 2008 ECM play nice with my 2012 truck? I’ve got HP tuners…remove VATS and go? Pros and cons please guys. Walk me through this….
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 270
From: Bossier City, Louisiana
I'm gonna be a pessimist here. Instrument cluster functionality differences? Engine harness wiring and connector differences. Body control module differences? Transmission Control Module differences? Electronic throttle pedal and TAC module incompatibilities? HP Tuners will be the least of your problems but yes, given enough time, money and heartache, it could probably be done.
I think a Sniper II to control it all might be an easier method.
Rick
I think a Sniper II to control it all might be an easier method.
Rick
I’ve got a 2012 silveraydo crew with a 5.3 and the 6L80 trans. Truck is my daily and it’s nice, low miles, etc. I’ve had an L92 in the corner for a while and I’ve decided to go through it, and I’d like to put it in my truck. Question…I’ve got a chance to buy a 2008 E38 ECM that controlled an L92. I’d rather go this route…I think…rather than have a tuner mess my crap up. Will this 2008 ECM play nice with my 2012 truck? I’ve got HP tuners…remove VATS and go? Pros and cons please guys. Walk me through this….
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 5,202
From: Dawsonville Ga.
My current ECM is an E38…NO?
I’m no tuner, so I’m asking…am I better off simply having my ECM re-flashed with an L92 tune, or would it be easier/quicker to buy this E38 from a 2008 L92 and delete Vats?
I know enough about tuning to be dangerous, so what’s the easiest step here?
The L92 has 403 HP and 417 torque…far more than my LC9 5.3…so I’m good with that. I’m not throwing headers at it, nor anything else. Just an L92 with a little more compression and a performance valve job. Should make 100ish more torque and 100ish more torque than what I’ve got. A cam will only hurt low end torque…which is where I drive this thing…plus I’m 53 years old, and I’m over looking for crazy power. My Chevelle will supply any possible need I might have for getting stupid on the street. My silveraydo is just a camping rig with a rooftop tent and camping supplies in the back…365 days of the year. Help me understand if this 2008 ECM will work or not please.
I’m no tuner, so I’m asking…am I better off simply having my ECM re-flashed with an L92 tune, or would it be easier/quicker to buy this E38 from a 2008 L92 and delete Vats?
I know enough about tuning to be dangerous, so what’s the easiest step here?
The L92 has 403 HP and 417 torque…far more than my LC9 5.3…so I’m good with that. I’m not throwing headers at it, nor anything else. Just an L92 with a little more compression and a performance valve job. Should make 100ish more torque and 100ish more torque than what I’ve got. A cam will only hurt low end torque…which is where I drive this thing…plus I’m 53 years old, and I’m over looking for crazy power. My Chevelle will supply any possible need I might have for getting stupid on the street. My silveraydo is just a camping rig with a rooftop tent and camping supplies in the back…365 days of the year. Help me understand if this 2008 ECM will work or not please.
Gen4 computers can have some odd quirks such as the fact that Hptuners can't clone a different OS from one to another like it can do with gen3 computers. I still believe your best bet would likely be to use your existing pcm and copy the relevant engine related changes from a same year l92 tune. However, since gen4 computers have a lot of torque based tables AND a separate TCM, I'm not sure if you would also need to make significant changes to your TCM as well. There is a whole section of the HPT forum with more detailed info on the matter. Someone there will likely know the exact answers you are looking for.
My current ECM is an E38…NO?
I’m no tuner, so I’m asking…am I better off simply having my ECM re-flashed with an L92 tune, or would it be easier/quicker to buy this E38 from a 2008 L92 and delete Vats?
I know enough about tuning to be dangerous, so what’s the easiest step here?
The L92 has 403 HP and 417 torque…far more than my LC9 5.3…so I’m good with that. I’m not throwing headers at it, nor anything else. Just an L92 with a little more compression and a performance valve job. Should make 100ish more torque and 100ish more torque than what I’ve got. A cam will only hurt low end torque…which is where I drive this thing…plus I’m 53 years old, and I’m over looking for crazy power. My Chevelle will supply any possible need I might have for getting stupid on the street. My Silverado is just a camping rig with a rooftop tent and camping supplies in the back…365 days of the year. Help me understand if this 2008 ECM will work or not please.
I’m no tuner, so I’m asking…am I better off simply having my ECM re-flashed with an L92 tune, or would it be easier/quicker to buy this E38 from a 2008 L92 and delete Vats?
I know enough about tuning to be dangerous, so what’s the easiest step here?
The L92 has 403 HP and 417 torque…far more than my LC9 5.3…so I’m good with that. I’m not throwing headers at it, nor anything else. Just an L92 with a little more compression and a performance valve job. Should make 100ish more torque and 100ish more torque than what I’ve got. A cam will only hurt low end torque…which is where I drive this thing…plus I’m 53 years old, and I’m over looking for crazy power. My Chevelle will supply any possible need I might have for getting stupid on the street. My Silverado is just a camping rig with a rooftop tent and camping supplies in the back…365 days of the year. Help me understand if this 2008 ECM will work or not please.
I would pull the ECU in your truck and get the service number off it and find a similar unit from a V8/ 6 speed doner. That will ensure the best success. You can not use the 4 cylinder units. There is something different inside of them. Possibly missing the injector driver circuits or something. I have never opened one and I am not a professional tuner by any stretch. But I did brick few trying to flash V8 file onto a non V8 ECU. HPT was useless in figuring out the issue, but through other channels I found out the firm ware is tune File specific. They also made some running changes and I am told you can not use an Early ECU say an 08 to control a 12.
https://forum.hptuners.com/showthrea...ity-on-e38-t43
At least EFI LIVE was working on a guide but it was never completed it stops at the 10 model year.
https://forum.hptuners.com/showthrea...ity-on-e38-t43
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 5,202
From: Dawsonville Ga.
Gen4 computers can have some odd quirks such as the fact that Hptuners can't clone a different OS from one to another like it can do with gen3 computers. I still believe your best bet would likely be to use your existing pcm and copy the relevant engine related changes from a same year l92 tune. However, since gen4 computers have a lot of torque based tables AND a separate TCM, I'm not sure if you would also need to make significant changes to your TCM as well. There is a whole section of the HPT forum with more detailed info on the matter. Someone there will likely know the exact answers you are looking for.
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 61
Likes: 7
From: United States
I’ve got a 2012 silveraydo crew with a 5.3 and the 6L80 trans. Truck is my daily and it’s nice, low miles, etc. I’ve had an L92 in the corner for a while and I’ve decided to go through it, and I’d like to put it in my truck. Question…I’ve got a chance to buy a 2008 E38 ECM that controlled an L92. I’d rather go this route…I think…rather than have a tuner mess my crap up. Will this 2008 ECM play nice with my 2012 truck? I’ve got HP tuners…remove VATS and go? Pros and cons please guys. Walk me through this….
Stick with your stock 2012 ECM. Use your HP Tuners to flash an L92 operating system onto it. Then you just need a professional tuner to disable VATS and dial in the tune for your specific engine. This is the much cleaner and more reliable way to do the swap.
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