Engine Swap

willick · June 13, 2003

I am swapping in a 6.5L Diesel in for the 350 engine in my 95' Silverado, and I was wondering what this will do to the 4L60E transmission.

Since these are controlled by the computer, I was wondering if it would be enough to just leave the computer in place even if the engine is not hooked up to it.

The 6.5 I have doesn't have the electric fuel pump so it has very little electronics.

americanmuscleman · June 13, 2003

They used to put 6.5 Turbo Diesels in 1500 trucks with a 4L60E. If you could get a computer from a mid 90's 1500 truck with a 4L60E, you'd probably have all the wiring and connections you need. The reason I say get one from a 1500 series truck is because in the 2500 and 3500 series trucks, the 6.5L was put infront of a 4L80E transmission.

The 6.5L turbo diesel was even an option in 93-97 fullsize blazers and 2dr tahoes. I believe 97 was the last year for that option.

BDBWTE · June 14, 2003

It will probably be fine you might need to get a different wiring harness or Computer to make it work out right. If its not a Turbo I would think that the tranny would be fine and if it's a Turbo diesel then you might want to beef up the tranny or don't rip into it all the time..

PSWired · July 27, 2003

What about all the complicated electrionics like the electronic drive-by-wire throttle system?

Colorado Kid · July 30, 2003

I may be wrong, but I believe that the 6.5 has never been teamed with the 4L60-E because the torque of the 6.5 (430 ft-lbs) exceeds the capacity of the 4L60-E. I think the 4L80-E and the 6.5TD debuted together in 1992. Perhaps bowtie overdrives (www.700R4.comcould build you a beefed TH-700R4 that would go in the hole behind your engine and stand up to what it puts out, without a computer. I'd give them a call if I was trying to do what you are.

robsawatsky · July 30, 2003

Hard to be sure from the GM spec's 96 and earlier that I have access to, but it would indicate 6.5 Diesels were teamed with 4L60E tranny's but the torque was limited to 360 ft-lbs in vehicles under 8600 lbs GVWR in those years. In fact the diesel only hit 430 ft-lbs in 98 and even then it was reduced to 360 ft-lbs in the under 8600 lb GVWR vehicles.

Colorado Kid · August 5, 2003

THe only one I know for usre about belongs to a friends father, and it's a '94 K1500 shortbed. It has 6-lug wheels, a 9.25" Semi-floater 14-bolt rear end with 3.42 gears and a 4L80-E. I don't remember the GVWR but I'd guess it's way under 8600# because it runs 245/75R16 Load Range C tires.

It seems to have all the same parts as a 2500, except for gearing, tires and springs. It is the "light" version of the 6.5TD which includes EGR and is rated at 180 HP.

This is what leads me to believe that the 4L60-E wasn't used behind the 6.5TD.

BDBWTE · August 10, 2003

Might not be I was going off historical info. My buddy had a 6.2 workhorse in a K1500 and it had a Th350 behind it. Then he got a 90 or 91 6.5 non turbo and it had a 700R4 behind it. And the 700R4 and the 4L60E are dang near the same except some mods I figured it would hold true. Also do you have a Turbo motor or a non turbo motor?...

chevroletmb · August 30, 2003

i can't see why you'd want to put a 6.5 in it

the 6.5 is a mechnic's nightmare

willick · October 10, 2003

my motor is a non-turbo 6.5, it originally had the electronic injection pump, but I took that off and put on the mechanical one because I've heard the electronic ones are a nightmare if anything goes wrong.