2003 suburban 6.0 swap,transmission, & california emission question

Thanks for taking the time.
Look through the posts found a couple heres and theres but looking for a few more confirmations please.

I have a 2003 suburban with the vortec 5300 non flex and she is "drinking oil". The whole check the gas and add some oil for sure.

To make it easy on questions, we are gonna keep it...it will be grocery getter for the wife. She likes a little power, hence my consideration.

So it looks to me that a vortec 6000 will drop right in with a pcm tune (or some sorta of tune).., right?

Please confirm, do i need to upgrade the tranny to a 4L60E or 4L80E? Some threads said yes some didnt mention it.

This SITEhttp://www.automotix.net/usedengines...523b&seq_num=4 has a re manufactured engines, it was the only site I could find with a selection and price. Is this good and what way do i search google to get more hits on this engine.

I live in California, what about emissions or where could i find out about that prior to the upgrade. Kinda big deal right now.

Thanks for the time.

you dont HAVE to upgrade to the the 80e, most people will recommend it because the 60e is just a weaker tranny in general. there are plenty of people that run the 60e behind some mean setups, there are just some things you should look into if you go that route. (ie vette servo, trans cooler, tune, etc.) i don't exactly what you would for sure want to do, but i know there are others on here that should chime in with more specifics.

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Originally Posted by NAREJEPP

you dont HAVE to upgrade to the the 80e, most people will recommend it because the 60e is just a weaker tranny in general. there are plenty of people that run the 60e behind some mean setups, there are just some things you should look into if you go that route. (ie vette servo, trans cooler, tune, etc.) i don't exactly what you would for sure want to do, but i know there are others on here that should chime in with more specifics.

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Well....okay the vehicle has original tranny and has 138K on it; would it be easier to replace the tranny at the same time as the engine? Or just wait to the tranny goes out. I have no plans on getting heavy mods going here; its just that the 6.0 is the same price so why not.

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Originally Posted by xtrmist

Well....okay the vehicle has original tranny and has 138K on it; would it be easier to replace the tranny at the same time as the engine? Or just wait to the tranny goes out. I have no plans on getting heavy mods going here; its just that the 6.0 is the same price so why not.

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if the funds to do the 80e at the same time are there, i would definitely do it. its going to be easier since you already have the engine unbolted, and in the long run its going to be a safer, more reliable route.the 80e is simply a better transmission. this way you can put it out of your mind, and you don't have to worry that someday, your tranny might take a dump on you.

you can do the 6L/80e swap all at once but you're going to have to modify a few things to mount it in such as swapping driveshaft yokes and modifying the xmember under the transmission. You'll also need a trans harness adapter or repin the existing 60e connector and then there is the reprogramming of the PCM to control the 80e which can be done at the same time that the tune is updated for the 6L. On the front page of this site is a topic about swapping the 80e, it's pretty thorough. The 6L swap is nothing more than R&R and then update the tune. Contact Nelson Performance on the tune update, it will help you pass your emissions test when the time comes around.