Just bought a 06 lq4 with 12000 miles on it at a salvage yard to replace my tired 2000 5.3 and which trans would yall recommend? The 4l80e from the donor vehicle is available or I am considering the 4l65e. I am leaning toward the 4l65e, because from what Ive read on here it would be an easier install, and not as heavy and horsepower parasitic. Both motor and trans will stay pretty much stock because I have to make frequent long trips. I feel like this set up would make me a good dependable truck.

Would a new 4l65e bolt up to a 06 LQ4 and work in my 2000 model truck or would I need to swap out reluctors or flexplates or have any other issues ? Would I be anywhere clost to my hp / tq numbers in my signature with a custom tune to run it all?

I appreciate any reccomendations.

 

If you're staying mild with the 6.0, a 4L65E will be adequate. If you're going boosted or high HP, I'd recommend a 4L80E. Best case scenario would be a Level 5 4L65E from FLT, but at the very least I'd put a shift kit and servos in what you've got. A big trans cooler is fairly cheap insurance also.

Swap over your current 5.3 flexplate on to the 6.0 and you're good to go. Your torque and hp numbers should increase greatly from the numbers in your sig with the stock 6.0 alone. Are you going to swap over your current cam or go with something bigger? The 6.0 will eat that cam up, but it will still work well as a mild daily driver, and definitely won't require a higher stalled torque converter. Depending on how big you go with the cam, you might have to get some bigger injectors also, but with the cam in your sig, the stock injectors should be fine.

 

I think I am going to steer away from a cam right now, It just kills me not to, but I have to travel a good bit in it, in a few years it won't be my DD, then lookout. I figured this set up would give me dependability and be a better truck than I started out with. Do you recommend a larger cooler than what I have on the truck now (OE)?

 

If you're going to use the stock converter you should be fine with the cooler you have now. A larger cooler couldn't hurt, but if you're not going to be using a higher stall converter, it isn't really necessary. If you decide to upgrade to a higher stall converter, then I'd definitely install a larger cooler.

*EDIT* Does your truck have an auxilary cooler in front of the AC condensor? Mine (99 rcsb Z71) only came with the cooler in the radiator. If yours doesn't have an auxilary cooler, I'd recommend installing one for some cheap insurance to help protect your transmission investment.

 

Thanks for the info. If I remember correctly mine has the cooler in the radiator, too. I'm going to look into that.

 

The 65 will suit you fine for a DD and will probably hold up to any mods you might put as long as you don't go crazy with boost or nitrous. You did say "look out" when it's not the DD anymore though. If you're certain you have big plans later on then I'd go through the hassle now and be done with it.

 

You do have a point.