Engine Swap from 5.3 to 6.2

[BigM]

Hey All, anyone did the swap?
I have a 2013 (Z71) with 200k on the meter and looking to swap to new 6.2 engine, any feedback, recommendations, advise...etc
and is it a plug and play or require many side jobs?

TIA

 

[Geotrash]

6.2 swap thread

Hey all, doing a 6.2 swap in my 2012 5.3. Picked up a 50k mile L94. Build plan Eliminate DOD. Ordered myself a custom Cam Motion 215/225 .600 .600 115+7 VVT cam Adding .040 Cometic Gaskets Likely will mill another .020 off the heads. Already have 1 7/8" headers Parts List Valvetrain Comp...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Enjoy

 

[ls1frc]

It's a direct bolt in including wiring. Just don't buy Johnson lifters. Or if you do, measure your lifter bores. Delete DOD while you're there and put in Morel dropin replacement lifters or LS7 lifters.

Other than my annoying lifter tap, my swap went really well. I just grenaded my diff from all the extra power. Enjoy!

It's a night and day difference vs the 5.3. I was going from a bolton + cammed + heads 5.3 and it was nearly 2 seconds faster to 60 after the 6.2. You can't compare the torque between the two.

5.3 needs FI to compete.

 

[swathdiver]

Hey All, anyone did the swap?
I have a 2013 (Z71) with 200k on the meter and looking to swap to new 6.2 engine, any feedback, recommendations, advise...etc
and is it a plug and play or require many side jobs?

TIA

Well, you will soon need to overhaul the transmission and upgrade the differential carrier or put a 9.5" semi-floater in place of the old 8.6". Lots of fun, the 6.2 Sierra is a rocket and when the time is right, the Yukon will get an L9H too. 3.73 gears a must!

 

[BigM]

Thanks All for the feedback, so which 6.2 engine is best, 6.2L V8 L86 or L96?

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks All for the feedback, so which 6.2 engine is best, 6.2L V8 L86 or L96?

The L96 is an iron block six liter. The L86 is a Gen V LT motor, not compatible with yours. Get an L9H or an L94 and delete AFM (converting it to an L9H).

 

[PatDTN]

I did the swap and a couple things I learned. Change your starter. I left my 5.3 starter and now I need to put the stronger 6.2 starter in. I bought the AFM Delete parts from Texas Speed. Nice guys gave me a deal on the LS9 cam. Not good for towing! Go with an RV cam if you're going to tow or haul anything. On the other hand if you want crazy sudden power let me know and maybe we can trade cams and you get my LS9 cam and I get the RV cam. Seriously. I think my 5.3 was better for towing. I'm sure that's all up to the cam.

 

[PatDTN]

Oh yeah, if you're going with a used 6.2 change the oil pressure sender and tiny screen under it before you drop it in.

The 6.2 has a bigger exhaust pipe but the 5.3 system bolts right up. It should be just fine.

 

[swathdiver]

I did the swap and a couple things I learned. Change your starter. I left my 5.3 starter and now I need to put the stronger 6.2 starter in. I bought the AFM Delete parts from Texas Speed. Nice guys gave me a deal on the LS9 cam. Not good for towing! Go with an RV cam if you're going to tow or haul anything. On the other hand if you want crazy sudden power let me know and maybe we can trade cams and you get my LS9 cam and I get the RV cam. Seriously. I think my 5.3 was better for towing. I'm sure that's all up to the cam.

Yeah, you gave up about 60 foot pounds of torque down low where its needed with that camshaft. Right on with the exhaust, the 5.3s is 2.75" and the 6.2s use 3.5"!

 

[ls1frc]

The ls9 cam is a poor n/a cam. It has a super late intake valve close event which reduces cylinder pressure. Good for blower.

Go with stock vvt cam or a small aftermarket vvt cam. I custom specced the one in my sig and it makes awesome torque down low.

Depends on what your goals are. Aftermarket Camshafts and headers have their downsides. Valvetrain will be louder. Lopey exhaust etc. Not everyone wants to deal with that tradeoff.

 

[ls1frc]

Yeah, you gave up about 60 foot pounds of torque down low where its needed with that camshaft. Right on with the exhaust, the 5.3s is 2.75" and the 6.2s use 3.5"!

Yeah, you gave up about 60 foot pounds of torque down low where its needed with that camshaft. Right on with the exhaust, the 5.3s is 2.75" and the 6.2s use 3.5"!

Im still searching for a factory y pipe.

 

[swathdiver]

Im still searching for a factory y pipe.

6.2 or 5.3?

 

[03_GMC]

Im still searching for a factory y pipe.

Get a set of long tubes from speed engineering with the Y pipe kit

 

[ls1frc]

6.2 or 5.3?

For the 6.2, I have the 5.3 already.

Get a set of long tubes from speed engineering with the Y pipe kit

I have Kooks 1 7/8" catted headers already into a Corsa. I am considering going to manifolds + blower on this truck to bring the comfort back. I do not like the way headers sound in the cabin on this truck. You hear all the air moving constantly through the floorboard.

The truck is so comfortable inside but the headers do take away from that.

 

[swathdiver]

For the 6.2, I have the 5.3 already.


I have Kooks 1 7/8" catted headers already into a Corsa. I am considering going to manifolds + blower on this truck to bring the comfort back. I do not like the way headers sound in the cabin on this truck. You hear all the air moving constantly through the floorboard.

The truck is so comfortable inside but the headers do take away from that.

With the prices of cats lately, even used ones will be a princely sum. Well, I'm just speculating, haven't actually looked! Have you checked LKQonline.com?

 

[ls1frc]

Havent looked. But i was gonna buy magnaflows stainless 6.2 y pipe.

Do you notice the noises with your headers.

 

[iamdub]

For the 6.2, I have the 5.3 already.


I have Kooks 1 7/8" catted headers already into a Corsa. I am considering going to manifolds + blower on this truck to bring the comfort back. I do not like the way headers sound in the cabin on this truck. You hear all the air moving constantly through the floorboard.

The truck is so comfortable inside but the headers do take away from that.

Mine don't have that sound nearly as badly. Really, I only hear the "header sound" when I'm ******* the throttle and if I'm listening for it specifically. The normal growl from the exhaust masks it. When cruising, I just hear the mild rumble from the rest of the exhaust, emanating from behind and not at the firewall. They're coated inside and out but also a tri-Y design, and I guess that breaks up the sound so the pinging and airy sound in the collectors is minimalized. I also don't have cats. If I did, I wouldn't need 40" of mufflers to bring it to a comfortable sound level.

 

[ls1frc]

Mine don't have that sound nearly as badly. Really, I only hear the "header sound" when I'm ******* the throttle and if I'm listening for it specifically. The normal growl from the exhaust masks it. When cruising, I just hear the mild rumble from the rest of the exhaust, emanating from behind and not at the firewall. They're coated inside and out but also a tri-Y design, and I guess that breaks up the sound so the pinging and airy sound in the collectors is minimalized. I also don't have cats. If I did, I wouldn't need 40" of mufflers to bring it to a comfortable sound level.

Yeah it kinda sucks. I wonder if adding a resonator right after the bend on the drivers side y pipe connection would fix it. Only way to fit one would be to cut the pipe though.

 

[iamdub]

Yeah it kinda sucks. I wonder if adding a resonator right after the bend on the drivers side y pipe connection would fix it. Only way to fit one would be to cut the pipe though.

I doubt it. The sound is mostly in the collectors and that'd be ahead of the resonator. The resonator would just attenuate some of the frequencies downstream just as mufflers do.

Now, having the four primaries end inside of a bullet muffler might do something. But, you'd still have the ticking from the relatively thin walls of the headers. Lots of coating or wrapping helps, but wrapping is ugly.

 

[ls1frc]

I doubt it. The sound is mostly in the collectors and that'd be ahead of the resonator. The resonator would just attenuate some of the frequencies downstream just as mufflers do.

Now, having the four primaries end inside of a bullet muffler might do something. But, you'd still have the ticking from the relatively thin walls of the headers. Lots of coating or wrapping helps, but wrapping is ugly.

Yeah the ticking I can live with, it's the weird tinny air sound that I don't like.

With manifolds I hear the valvetrain, but the exhaust sounds 10x better while accelerating in the cabin. It's just like you said, where the collector ends which is right by the floor pan.