LM7 to LQ9 swap and some tranny questions
 

To all:

I am seriously thinking about putting a low mileage (52k) 2004 Escalade AWD LQ9 engine and 4l65E transmission in my high mileage (135k) 2005 Suburban 1500 4WD. I have several questions:

1. From everything I can find, the engine is a drop in swap and it should run after the install, even with the stock 5.3 computer correct?

2. After the installation, I should get the computer modified, and I would love some suggestions on that.

3. From what I can gather, the 2004 Escalade transmission is a 4L65E and I have a 4L60E, correct? If that is correct, any issues that I will run into doing the transmission swap?

4. I am going to need to swap the transfer cases, as the Suburban is not full time AWD. Any other issues to swapping the transfer cases?

Thanks in advance for any help that you may give this newbie.

Yea it should run but you will want to retune it for the bigger motor. One of our site sponsors (blackbear, nelson, or wheatley) can either load a factory lq9 tune on your pcm or a custom tune that will give you even more power. I'm pretty sure the only difference between those two transmission is the planetary gears inside with the 65e being a little stronger design. The outer housing is the same so it will bolt right in.

I'll buy your awd transfercase , part number on it?

Thanks Alpinestar for the verification and PCM info.

Mitchellmade, I will try to find out how much for the AWD transfer case and the part number. The owner is asking $3,000 for the engine with no wiring, the transmission and the transfer case from a 2004 Escalade. I took a look at it today, and it looked fairly dirty and it may have sat outside under a trap for the last year. 52,000 miles according to the owner and they have a speedo cluster that goes with it that is the only verification. At this point, I am a bit leery and I am thinking of offering less.

well i got my 6.0 harness computer and 4l80e for $1200 that is a 2wd set up though with 38,000 miles on it

I might give $2000 for that combo.

Thanks for the price input. I figure that $2,000 is my limit, and if they don't take it, then I will just not worry about it right now. I figured that I have everything except maybe some new motor mounts, fan belts etc. so I was not going to be in it much more than $2,500 with a performance tune. My current 5.3 and 4L60 probably has some value as it in in good working order and dealer serviced since new.

I get on the computer every night and do as much research as I can. Thanks for the help.