I missed this thread,I can't wait to see how this turns out

 

You don't need a NNBS to have a functioning truck but you do need a NNBS if you want a fully functioning truck at this point.
What I know about putting a 6.2L/6L80E combo in a NBS first:
You need the E38 ECM, the 6.2/6L80E harness, and of course the engine and transmission.
You will need to build/buy a small secondary harness with connections to your original PCM for your fuel and temp gauges to work (which means you need to retain your original PCM).
You will need to use your original engine mounts because the 07+ versions are too tall to allow the engine to fit under the cowl.
If you want the PRND321 indicator to function you will need to adapt the black box switch on the side of your 4L series to the 6L series. This is something I didn’t do because I know where the gears I want are located.
If you have a 2WD truck you will need to modify your transmission crossmember slightly to accommodate the different transmission length. You will also need a lengthened driveshaft of approximately 1 inch.
If you have a 4X4 truck equipped with the Autotrac transfer case and you want to use the Autotrac case you have some additional challenges ahead of you. And I don’t mean changing the input shaft to the 80 series unit. If you have a manual shift transfer case you should be good to go. The 07+ AWD unit will work fantastically on the street/strip but not as great in the mud since you will not have traction control to modulate power to the front wheels. The stock transmission mount will work without modification. You will need to shorten your front driveshaft about 1” and lengthen the rear by approximately the same.
You will not have ABS.
If you originally had a cable actuated TB you will not have cruise.
You will not have manual shift control of the 6L80.
A 28” radiator with clutch fan or electric fans is more than adequate to keep the 6.2L cool.
Your truck will haul serious butt.
You don’t want to over-gear your truck because the deep first gear will allow the engine to rev so quickly you will hit the rev limiter if it is set within 300 rpm of the shift point. Your engine will turn approximately 200 rpm less compared to the 4L60.

Now what I think about installing the same in a NNBS:
Mostly the same as above on the hard parts but different on the electronics. The original cluster should function but you will not have manual shift control of the 6L80E without switching over to the TUTD shifter. All functions should be fully operational once you marry the BCM to the ECM.
The 6L80E TCM is internal to the transmission which is why you need the original wire harness unless you want to modify your own.
You can add AFM with some additional work and parts.

 

What are TUTD and AFM though?

 

The manual shifting programming for the six speeds transmissions. TUTD is short for Tap shift Up and Tap shift Down.
AFM = Active Fuel Management = 4 cylinder deactivation at light throttle/load.

 

Sorry, I forgot bout this thread. Cool,... & fast, along w/ some fuel savings. Any motor swap or tranny swap takes time to sort out the details. By swaps, I don't mean going from a 4.8 to a 5.3, or 5.3-->6L, or 4.8-6L( those & similiar) a handful in itself. Beyond just going bigger. I mean putting a LT1 in a 89 c1500, or going from one GEN to another. Puttin things where they were never meant to be is of a different caliber. Thanks to Wide Open for sharing.

Gremlins r unfortunately part of swaps, as u well know. Good luck sortin em out.

+1.

Great deal of work to wire harness(es) keep most out of swaps of this degree. I ( others too) worry less of hard parts mod(s). U guys w/ NNBS have a huge advantage here.

I was suprised on miminal cooling needed too.
-200 rpms less doesn't seem like a huge difference. Does the gas saved more to do w/ the separation between gears?
Too bad on not having ABS nor manual shifting.

Again, thanks for sharing Wide Open. BTW, sent ya a PM.

 

I forgot a couple of things...
You need the electronic throttle body so if your truck didn't come that way you need to add the ECT pedal.
If you have a NBS truck you will not have reverse lights.
I am sure other things will come to mind eventually.

 

If I may just add this since it kind of fits this thread. Dealer friend of mine has a memo from GM issued a few days ago (dealer access website) saying what is new for 2009. under the Sierra tag it says "New 6 speed automatic transmissions available on 1500 Crew Cabs at SOP, will be rolled out to Extended & Regular cab models later in model year"

REGULAR CAB!!!

Given the current situation anything could happen but GM needs those 6 speeds in asap to compete so here is hoping!! Then a guy just needs to drop in his crate LS3 or whatever you want and you are good to go...

 

I'll believe in a RC when I see it. No offense to u, but GM has us before. Yes, to maintain/ gain marketshare from others, esp.

...I feel 6A are necessity across GM truck line as option.

 

Like I said who knows given the current market situation but we'll see. Its overdue for sure.

 

Eventually it will happen. Just like the TH700 replaced the TH350 and the 4L80 replaced the TH400. Further proof is the installation of the 6L90E across the line of 2500 and 2500 trucks with the 6.0L. GM is just painfully slow with getting this done.
Besides during these times of increased focue on fuel economy the six speed is a no brainer since GM claims the 6's improve fuel economy by 8% over the 4 speeds.