ENGINE SWAP, 5.7 > 6L (LQ9) SWAP (w/6spd)

Ive been seeing alot of people asking how this swap (well minus the T56, seems everyone wants to put in the 80E) is going to work in an old body style (OBS) P/U but havent heard of anyone trying to put one in a Suburban. I always assumed that the floorpan of the Suburban was the same as a P/U because they are so identical but a mechanic told me the floor is very different, he didnt elaborate but just said they are different. Has there been any problems connecting the T56 with the transfer case? Anyone out there have any experiance on this? Some pictures would definately help.

I dont have the cash to do this right now, but the middle of the year is looking very promising. If I do do this you all can be sure I will be here first with the pics and the story.

Maybe this needs to be put in its own thread but, I figure if a 2k+ engine is going in why not upgrade the dash and front seats to 2k+ seats? I mean hell the new dash is far superior and ergonomicly (did I spell those right?) correct (whos idea was it to put the ash tray so far from the driver in the 95 Suburbans, Tahoes, P/Us???) then the old unit. Jeeze if you can get the new dash in you can step up to the Escalades gage cluster. You know, some of these new Suburbans are getting navigation, wouldnt that be cool to integrate that into an OBS Suburban? that would definately be trick.

I hear the dash would be a bear to get working right with the AC and all the other stuff, but damn that sure would be the icing on the cake to have you interior upgraded as well. Jeeze this went from getting a new engine, to getting a new tranny, to getting new dash and seats, to upgrading that to an Escalade gauge cluseter!

Hell its only money right?!?!?!?! Cant take it with you!

Just a thought...

Thanks for any help, comments or ideas.

Nick
1995 Suburban 1500 4x4

Interesting combination there. I hope your mechanical abilities are pretty high up there. It sounds like you are thinking of pretty much making your old suburban a new one. I guess if it's paid for, might as well have some fun with it! :rock: Maybe if you get the complete engine/trans out of a late model 4x4 you will get most everything you are going to need. I still have not heard of a 6 speed being connected to the transfer case. You can always go the old way of using a stand-alone transfer case to solve the problem. Not to mention the fact that the stand-alone units are probably four times stronger than the integrated GM aluminum cases. You will need to lengthen the front shaft and shorten the rear but it would be bullet-proof from the transfer case to the tires. A custom shaft will have to be built to connect the transmission output to the transfer case but that's old hat to driveshaft companies.

Put together a game plan and call around for prices. The old style stand-alone transfer case could be found in a salvage yard if you're lucky. Check out old Dodge Power Wagons for the donor. A new process NP205 gear drive would be almost impossible to destroy if you can find one to connect to the drivetrain. Surely they make an input housing to make it stand-alone.

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Originally posted by SUBURBAN95NI@Dec 30 2004, 12:11 AM
Ive been seeing alot of people asking how this swap (well minus the T56, seems everyone wants to put in the 80E) is going to work in an old body style (OBS) P/U but havent heard of anyone trying to put one in a Suburban. I always assumed that the floorpan of the Suburban was the same as a P/U because they are so identical but a mechanic told me the floor is very different, he didnt elaborate but just said they are different. Has there been any problems connecting the T56 with the transfer case? Anyone out there have any experiance on this? Some pictures would definately help.

I dont have the cash to do this right now, but the middle of the year is looking very promising. If I do do this you all can be sure I will be here first with the pics and the story.

Maybe this needs to be put in its own thread but, I figure if a 2k+ engine is going in why not upgrade the dash and front seats to 2k+ seats? I mean hell the new dash is far superior and ergonomicly (did I spell those right?) correct (whos idea was it to put the ash tray so far from the driver in the 95 Suburbans, Tahoes, P/Us???) then the old unit. Jeeze if you can get the new dash in you can step up to the Escalades gage cluster. You know, some of these new Suburbans are getting navigation, wouldnt that be cool to integrate that into an OBS Suburban? that would definately be trick.

I hear the dash would be a bear to get working right with the AC and all the other stuff, but damn that sure would be the icing on the cake to have you interior upgraded as well. Jeeze this went from getting a new engine, to getting a new tranny, to getting new dash and seats, to upgrading that to an Escalade gauge cluseter!

Hell its only money right?!?!?!?! Cant take it with you!

Just a thought...

Thanks for any help, comments or ideas.

Nick
1995 Suburban 1500 4x4

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Jeeze its been a long time. Middle of the year came and I still dont have just enough for this swap. I have plenty of time though, although that seems to switch places with the money.

Anyway what is this stand alone transfer case of which you speak of? Does the tranny hook up to a drive shaft and then the transfer case and then to the wheels? I thought the Suburban was set up like that from the factory. Well I have heard not to use the T56 because the input/output shafts are too long, is this true? In place of the T56 I have heard of putting in a ZF six speed, the one Chevrolet is putting in its new HD trucks. I guess the strength would be there with the ZF but it would have some pretty wide gear ratios compared to the T56. Now I took a look at keislerauto.com and saw they have some pretty stout T56. Take a look at that and let me know what you think.

Thanks for any comments.

Nick

You know, the dash out of a 99 Escalade would look good, and probably a lot easier than putting one out of a NBS 'burb in...

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Originally posted by BlenderWizard@Aug 5 2005, 07:33 AM
You know, the dash out of a 99 Escalade would look good, and probably a lot easier than putting one out of a NBS 'burb in...

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If Im correct, and I would lilke to think that I am, the 99 Escalade dash is the same as my 95 Subs dash except for the 120mph speedo and the passenger air bag.

I think I would like the NBS dash better because the ergonomics are better. Have you seen this done in Truck Trend? A few months ago they had a 89 P/U with a NBS dash in it, along with NBS seats and all. It looked pretty sweet.

Nick

I just don't see that the dash in yours is different enough to justify the trouble of the conversion, but it's your truck, and to each his own. I wasn't sure if the 95 had the same dash as the 99.

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Originally posted by BlenderWizard@Aug 5 2005, 10:36 AM
I just don't see that the dash in yours is different enough to justify the trouble of the conversion, but it's your truck, and to each his own. I wasn't sure if the 95 had the same dash as the 99.

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Well the NBS is a whole different design as far as the whole dash goes. The cup holders are no longer in front of the vent, ash tray and cig lighters are closer, speedo setup is cleaner, plus I think the new dash looks....newer.

Anyway if I had the money to do it I would do it right now, but I dont so I cant.

Plus I think if I did have the money I would spend it on the engine/tranny swap first.

Nick

See, i always liked having the cup holder right in front of the vent.... it keeps your drink cold longer!