My 1999 OBS C1500 LQ9 6.0 LS Swap

[ChevyMan90]

Ive been visiting this forum for quite a while now and have slowly made more and more progress on this swap. Started collecting parts about a year and a half ago and just wanted to share my progress. Here is my truck along with a bunch of pics of the progress that Ive made up until now. Im sure I may have some questions as I get closer to that first start up. I know you guys have been helpful on builds that Ive followed in the past so hopefully I can come here for help. Anyway on to the Pics!

Here's the truck, 1999 Silverado 1500 which had about 50K on it when I got it. It had a 5.7L Vortec w/4L60E. The truck treated me well until it rolled 150,000 miles and I discovered oil was getting into the coolant. It had either a blown head gasket or a cracked head, not sure. Decided to go ahead and pull it and do the LS swap.

[ChevyMan90]

Here's where it started. Gen IV LY6 from a 2500 Chevy van.

[ChevyMan90]

First thing I did was make a lift plate to get this thing around easier.




Then took it to the machine shop to have it hot tanked and decked. Just had a clean up pass done to get it true.

[ChevyMan90]

Painted the block and got new LQ9 pistons and a 24X Crank. Then me and a friend built the shortblock.


Also had new cam bearings put in.

[ChevyMan90]

More progress. Got the cam in with an LS2 timing chain and cam gear. New front timing cover and the oil pan and balancer.


Then made an engine cradle to get it back home!

[Mickeymotormount]

Nice looking shortblock. I wish I were stuffing that in my project vehicle.

[mopower440]

What's the main culprit to change in the 4l60 to make it hold up to a 6.0? I have a 1999 ecsb with 4.8 I want to swap in a 6.0. I do NOT run it hard or squeal tires or anything. Its our family vehicle. We tow our boat with it and its just underpowered towing it. Even with no load it has to drop down a gear to climb hills when cruising. So I want to swap in a 6.0 and keep the 4l60.

[Skylark]

What's the main culprit to change in the 4l60 to make it hold up to a 6.0? I have a 1999 ecsb with 4.8 I want to swap in a 6.0. I do NOT run it hard or squeal tires or anything. Its our family vehicle. We tow our boat with it and its just underpowered towing it. Even with no load it has to drop down a gear to climb hills when cruising. So I want to swap in a 6.0 and keep the 4l60.

In your situation you might just be happier with simple gear swap.

[mopower440]

na, its got some miles on it so just wanna do a motor change. Its got 3.73 gears now..

[Chevydillan]

^^^ I bet the 60 would be just fine in that situation but a trans go HD-2, sun shell and 5 pinion planetary would for sure do it. Oh and of course a good cooler.