1990 Suburban 5.3/6l80e swap.

[Nicholas_nolte81]

Hi everyone, I posted this last night in the engine swap forum and didnt get a single response. Hoping I can find some help here.

Ive got a few questions about this swap. I have a 1990 V2500 4x4 Suburban with the NP241C Tcase and Im putting the motor and trans from a 2013 Silverado in it. I've got the driveline and had the wiring harness reworked so Im just gathering the last little pieces before I throw the engine in.

1. Oil Pressure sensor. - I know I need to keep the 2013 sensor in for the PCM to make the engine run properly but how do I get my gauge working as well? Can I just tap into the wires and run them back to the gauges? I have the 1990 cluster so they should work together right? Can I make a T-junction and install both sensors from the same port? My truck is going to have oil cooling, could I put a sensor in line with that?

2. Speedo - Should I just hook my 1990 VSS in the tcase into the suburbans stock wiring? Will my speedo work with just that signal? The 2013 PCM gets the data from the transmission so I dont think it also needs the one on the NP241C Tcase. If this wont work, what options do I have? I really want to have working gauges.

3. Coolant temp sensor - I just ordered a new 2013 sensor because it plugs directly into the 1990 wiring harness. Did I waste $15? Anyone have the link to the guy who turns the old ones down so they fit into the new blocks?

4. Trans tunnel - Anyone know if I'm gonna have to cut the trans tunnel to fit the new Trans? I had the TH400 in there stock.

5. Radiator - Im planning on using the 2013 radiator because the truck had the HD cooling package stock and I figured I ought to keep it because I live in Phoenix. How hard is it to put the new radiator into the old truck? Im going to be using the electric fans out of the Silverado.

6. Trans cooling - The Suburban has a trans cooler installed on it already, I could just run the lines from the 6l80E to that and avoid having to drop $125 on a stock one right?

7. Suburban wiring - What on the suburban wiring harness can be removed? I want to make this build look as nice as possible.

That's all I can think of for right now. Thanks for the help!

Nick

 

[Big Ray]

LS swaps have been done many times by folks here. They'll chime in l'm sure.

 

[Tony Vickers]

for the oil gauge to work, I used a single wire analog oil pressure sending unit. For the water temp you can get a 3 prong temp sensor that comes in the firebirds. Two for the computer and one for your temp sensor. I did this so i would not have to drill another hole in the block for water temp. VSS should be connected to the transfer case. For wiring in the engine bay. You need the pink for power, Purple for the starter and whatever colors for the oil pressure and water temp. The rest for the engine harness can be removed. I got another harness and cut that one and kept my org harness. Hope this helps.