2000 Silverado 4.3 to 03-06 Silverado 5.3 Questions
10-24-2016, 08:14 PM
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2000 Silverado 4.3 to 03-06 Silverado 5.3 Questions
Hello All,
It is time to ditch the worn out 4.3 for a 5.3 in my 2000 Silverado. I have been reading the thread below:
Official NBS 4.3v6 to GEN 3 V8 swap Guide
From what I can gather, I need to get a 99-02 turn key motor to do my swap. However, someone local has told me I should be able to do a 03-06 5.3 DBW motor in mine with minimal effort and they can tune it to work. I couldn't find a definite answer on this, so I thought I should post it here. My questions are as follows:
1. Is it even worth it? My thoughts behind it would be I may be able to find a lower mileage motor if I can expand my search to 03-06 as well.
2. 99-02 have a fuel system with a return and 03-06 have a returnless fuel system, correct? What changes would need to be made to accomodate this?
3. Communication between the two systems: The tuner told me I could get a 03-06 turn key motor with the wiring for the 03-06, pedal and module, and fuse block from an 03-06 and it should work. My question is would this cause issues, as the truck will still be 99-02 wiring inside the cab and everywhere else.
4. I will be also adding the 03-06 e-fan setup as well. I already have the wiring for it. Any issues with this?
Thanks, Chad
It is time to ditch the worn out 4.3 for a 5.3 in my 2000 Silverado. I have been reading the thread below:
Official NBS 4.3v6 to GEN 3 V8 swap Guide
From what I can gather, I need to get a 99-02 turn key motor to do my swap. However, someone local has told me I should be able to do a 03-06 5.3 DBW motor in mine with minimal effort and they can tune it to work. I couldn't find a definite answer on this, so I thought I should post it here. My questions are as follows:
1. Is it even worth it? My thoughts behind it would be I may be able to find a lower mileage motor if I can expand my search to 03-06 as well.
2. 99-02 have a fuel system with a return and 03-06 have a returnless fuel system, correct? What changes would need to be made to accomodate this?
3. Communication between the two systems: The tuner told me I could get a 03-06 turn key motor with the wiring for the 03-06, pedal and module, and fuse block from an 03-06 and it should work. My question is would this cause issues, as the truck will still be 99-02 wiring inside the cab and everywhere else.
4. I will be also adding the 03-06 e-fan setup as well. I already have the wiring for it. Any issues with this?
Thanks, Chad
10-25-2016, 12:50 AM
#2
Hello All,
It is time to ditch the worn out 4.3 for a 5.3 in my 2000 Silverado. I have been reading the thread below:
Official NBS 4.3v6 to GEN 3 V8 swap Guide
From what I can gather, I need to get a 99-02 turn key motor to do my swap. However, someone local has told me I should be able to do a 03-06 5.3 DBW motor in mine with minimal effort and they can tune it to work. I couldn't find a definite answer on this, so I thought I should post it here. My questions are as follows:
1. Is it even worth it? My thoughts behind it would be I may be able to find a lower mileage motor if I can expand my search to 03-06 as well.
2. 99-02 have a fuel system with a return and 03-06 have a returnless fuel system, correct? What changes would need to be made to accomodate this?
3. Communication between the two systems: The tuner told me I could get a 03-06 turn key motor with the wiring for the 03-06, pedal and module, and fuse block from an 03-06 and it should work. My question is would this cause issues, as the truck will still be 99-02 wiring inside the cab and everywhere else.
4. I will be also adding the 03-06 e-fan setup as well. I already have the wiring for it. Any issues with this?
Thanks, Chad
It is time to ditch the worn out 4.3 for a 5.3 in my 2000 Silverado. I have been reading the thread below:
Official NBS 4.3v6 to GEN 3 V8 swap Guide
From what I can gather, I need to get a 99-02 turn key motor to do my swap. However, someone local has told me I should be able to do a 03-06 5.3 DBW motor in mine with minimal effort and they can tune it to work. I couldn't find a definite answer on this, so I thought I should post it here. My questions are as follows:
1. Is it even worth it? My thoughts behind it would be I may be able to find a lower mileage motor if I can expand my search to 03-06 as well.
2. 99-02 have a fuel system with a return and 03-06 have a returnless fuel system, correct? What changes would need to be made to accomodate this?
3. Communication between the two systems: The tuner told me I could get a 03-06 turn key motor with the wiring for the 03-06, pedal and module, and fuse block from an 03-06 and it should work. My question is would this cause issues, as the truck will still be 99-02 wiring inside the cab and everywhere else.
4. I will be also adding the 03-06 e-fan setup as well. I already have the wiring for it. Any issues with this?
Thanks, Chad
2. 99-03 are returnless. You don't have to do anything but run the proper fuel line and fuel rail.
3. Your tuner is full of crap. There have been Several people recently having this issue. Trying to use 2003-up stuff in a 99-02 truck. For 1 the AC signal changed there are some other differences regarding communication as well.
4. Nope should be plug and play provided you have the settings turned on in the tune.
Good luck with your swap!
10-25-2016, 05:32 AM
#3
I did this swap last spring in my 01. I used an 01 Tahoe engine, wiring harness, and ECM. I left it drive by cable, and I kept the stock NV3500 5 speed. It was a simple swap, and the hardest part was converting the harness to go from the 4wd automatic, to my 2wd 5 speed. Other than that it was drop in. I did need to buy a drivers side frame to motor mount bracket, as the tahoe used torsion bar suspension, and my 2WD RCSB uses coil springs. that was like $70 from the dealer.
about a month ago I did Efans. For $65 from the local junk yard, I got 05 fans, fuse box cover, relay/fuse block for the fans, and 90% of the wiring harness.
They cut the harness out where it went in to the headlight harness, and I only had to connect 4 12 gauge wires to make it work, and ad a ground. Super simple.
My daily is an 03 tahoe. It is drive by wire. I would never use a drive by wire system in any thing I didnt have to. I have HP tuners pro, and I use it on both and there is more to learn, and adjust with DBW but its not a big deal. The main reason I dont like it is that I have had the "reduced power" issue like 7 times with my tahoe, and its always something different, yet always related to the electronic throttle body. I wont let my wife drive my tahoe with out me, because of this issue. now granted it has not happened in over a year, but when it does happen, there is no warning, it just shuts down, and will only crawl. this summer I plan on converting it over to drive by cable just because of this issue.
All in all, I am happy that I went with the same year engine, and computer, and I have not run into any major issues with it. Its fun to drive, and easy to tune.
about a month ago I did Efans. For $65 from the local junk yard, I got 05 fans, fuse box cover, relay/fuse block for the fans, and 90% of the wiring harness.
They cut the harness out where it went in to the headlight harness, and I only had to connect 4 12 gauge wires to make it work, and ad a ground. Super simple.
My daily is an 03 tahoe. It is drive by wire. I would never use a drive by wire system in any thing I didnt have to. I have HP tuners pro, and I use it on both and there is more to learn, and adjust with DBW but its not a big deal. The main reason I dont like it is that I have had the "reduced power" issue like 7 times with my tahoe, and its always something different, yet always related to the electronic throttle body. I wont let my wife drive my tahoe with out me, because of this issue. now granted it has not happened in over a year, but when it does happen, there is no warning, it just shuts down, and will only crawl. this summer I plan on converting it over to drive by cable just because of this issue.
All in all, I am happy that I went with the same year engine, and computer, and I have not run into any major issues with it. Its fun to drive, and easy to tune.
10-25-2016, 10:14 AM
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1. The basic long block is the same from 99-07 classic body style. The engines saw many improvements including using coated piston skirts in 2003 and going to a stronger rod and floating pin in 2005
2. 99-03 are returnless. You don't have to do anything but run the proper fuel line and fuel rail.
3. Your tuner is full of crap. There have been Several people recently having this issue. Trying to use 2003-up stuff in a 99-02 truck. For 1 the AC signal changed there are some other differences regarding communication as well.
4. Nope should be plug and play provided you have the settings turned on in the tune.
Good luck with your swap!
2. 99-03 are returnless. You don't have to do anything but run the proper fuel line and fuel rail.
3. Your tuner is full of crap. There have been Several people recently having this issue. Trying to use 2003-up stuff in a 99-02 truck. For 1 the AC signal changed there are some other differences regarding communication as well.
4. Nope should be plug and play provided you have the settings turned on in the tune.
Good luck with your swap!
1. So since the block is the same, if I did a 03-07 motor, I would have to switch it out to the 99-02 intake and use 99-02 wiring harness, correct?
2. Hmm, I always thought 99-02 had a return and 03-07 did not
How to identify vortec truck engine
3. Thats kind of what I figured. From everything I had ever read, it was not a possibility.
4. OK thanks!
10-26-2016, 09:25 AM
#7
Thanks for the info 1FastBrick.
1. So since the block is the same, if I did a 03-07 motor, I would have to switch it out to the 99-02 intake and use 99-02 wiring harness, correct?
2. Hmm, I always thought 99-02 had a return and 03-07 did not
How to identify vortec truck engine
3. Thats kind of what I figured. From everything I had ever read, it was not a possibility.
4. OK thanks!
1. So since the block is the same, if I did a 03-07 motor, I would have to switch it out to the 99-02 intake and use 99-02 wiring harness, correct?
2. Hmm, I always thought 99-02 had a return and 03-07 did not
How to identify vortec truck engine
3. Thats kind of what I figured. From everything I had ever read, it was not a possibility.
4. OK thanks!
2. 03 was the first year for DBW standard. Prior years only had it if you had active ride control. IT still retained a return fuel system though.
That document needs work...