2007 Silverado 4.8 to 6.0 Swap Questions????

I have a 2007 (new body) 1500 2WD with the crew cab and 3:23 rear gear with trailer towing. It is rated at 4,600 max trailer towing capacity. We recently bought a 4,800 lb travel trailer. Short trips are not big deal. Longer trips are not working at all (for obvious reasons). To maintain 60 it will frequently run to 2nd gear at 3,700 or so RPM.

The issue is more the parachute affect of the trailer in the wind.

This same truck with a 3:73 gear is rated at 6,600 per the owner's manual. I can for about $700 have the local trans shop rebuild the rear carrier with those gears and I have a programmer to set the new ratio.

The problem is, I still don't think the little 4.8 will do it. I found some 6.0 swaps in the salvage yards out of 2500 and 2500 VANS fairly reasonable in price.

I'm thinking the gear and the engine and tuning will be way less than replacing the truck. We bought it new and have 63,000 miles.

But...I'm running into confusion on the 6.0 as my engine is NOT a 4/6/8 displacement on demand...and I don't have the wire harness for it. I would like to swap the bigger mill (stock) and program to the 6.0 specs and 3:73 gears.

In all the swap charts and inter change info...I'm still confused for this swap.

The my2007 was a change over year and the swap info is sketchy...as it is more like a 2008 than a 06 - but shares little if anything with a 2007 Classic.

So, anybody know the range of models I can get a 6.0 from to do plug-n-play other than the tuning?????

A. 6.0 from your style of truck dod can be turned off, cant use 07 classic and older motor because the reluctor wheels are different.

Okay - I found a salvage pull out listed for 07-08 2500 6.0

This is out of a 2500 - not a 1500 - but do we feel pretty confident then that such a swap would plug into my harness? If using a bullydog programmer I wonder if I just tell it that it is a 6.0...and then it takes it from there? The swap motor would need the correct injectors...etc.

Also...anybody know if a 2500 rear axle will bolt in without any mods? Those are 9.5" and stronger than the 8.6 that is in there.

You don't need or want the bullydog. Nelson performance can help you there.
With the 2500 axle (8-lug) vs the 1500 axle (6-lug)... its not needed! Your only towing 5k! Ive done that with a S-10!

Just swap the long blocks out and use your original intake, front drive accessories, coil packs, etc. it will be a direct swap. Then get a tune from Nelson performance. Easy as that.

Thanks for all the replys. I appreciate all the input. Been using this info and others and checking around. Here is what I've learned.

All of the LY6 6.0 engines have the VVT - and some have the active fuel management (DOD).

I see that the choice is to either swap my entire harness to one compatable with that...and the ECM - then go from there.

Or - do a VVT delete and a DOD delete (if equiped). Then..I'm good to go.

But - even with one that is just a VVT, the swap plus a different cam adds alot to the cost.

Yes..I agree now that doing the Bullydog is NOT the way to maintain this.

Also - FYI on the 5,000 lbs....

I have regularly towed this amount on my car hauling trailer for years. No issues - in fact...I've done that mostly in OD with the trailer buttom pushed.

The problem is the travel trailer is like a parachute. The wind pushing against it is terrible. When I am able to duck behind a passing semi truck...I can draft on them and pick up an instant 5 mph with my foot in the same spot and run up on their bumpers breaking the wind for me. I just don't have the power to overcome the load with the wind push.

So...trying to come up with a strategy around that.

Found a motor for $1,400 - the VVT delete and a cam/springs/pushrods/tune - $954. Rear axle to the 3:73 is another $700...then figure another $250 for fluids...etc. = $3,304

Now...this is much less than trading in the truck AND I will have great torque numbers to haul what I want when I want...all with a package that would look bone stock.