I'm helping a friend do a Duramax diesel engine swap in his K5 Blazer. He is still looking for an engine and has enlisted me to help him. From what I've heard and read there are some years you want to stay away from due to injector related issues which can cause hydrolock. Do you guys know what years of the Duramax would be ideal to buy and install in his Blazer?
CK5
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Duramax Engine Swap- What Year of Engine is Best???
- Thread starter PWagon
- Start date
Sub'd for the info.
I will one day be doing a Duramax/Allison swap in my OBS CC.
I will one day be doing a Duramax/Allison swap in my OBS CC.
01-02 = Early LB7 - These are the first generation of Duramax. They have known poor injectors which fail once or twice throughout the life of the engine. They sometimes blow head gaskets to combustion but its not a huge issue. The early LB7 has a more simplistic control system. These run an Allison 5 speed Automatic or ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission
03-04 = Late LB7 - These are physically the same engine as the early LB7s, but they have an updated and improved control system with a new PCM and better serial communications support. It was updated to interface with the new interior and wiring in the 03s. These also run an Allison 5 speed Automatic or ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission
04.5-05 = Early LLY - These are the 2nd generation of Duramax. There were changes made to the injectors among other physical engine changes. These engines are known to run hot and blow head gaskets on a regular basis. I'd avoid these years. Like the LB7s, these run an Allison 5 speed Automatic or ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission
06= Late LLY - These are the 3rd generation of Duramax. The engine was drastically changed with new injectors, heads, a variable pitch turbo and significant bottom end upgrades and updates. These are solid engines and come with an updated Allison 6 speed Automatic or ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission like the first two generations.
07 = LBZ - These engines are physically identical to the 06 LLY but they have a different tune in them which added significant power. These also run the new 6 speed Allison transmission but the ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission was no longer offered as an option. These are widely regarded as the most desirable Duramax engine even up until today and these trucks and loose engines command a surprising premium in purchase price.
08-10 = LMM - These engines are physically the same as the 06.5 - 07 LLY and LBZ engines, but they have some significant changes in the engine control systems and introduced the new diesel particulate filter emissions systems. They still run the 6 speed Allison but they upgraded to a new PCM which runs canbus high speed networking vs the old low speed serial networking of the previous years. They run a new type of throttle pedal which is not interchangeable with the older vehicles as well as a new transmission control module. These are more work to run in a swap than the LBZ or older engines due to the large amount of information being passed over the serial network vs using analog signals but they can be made to run stand alone relatively easily instrumentation concerns aside.
11-15 = LML - This is the 4th and latest generation of the Duramax which again saw huge changes in the engine including an all new high voltage (50kV) peizo-electric common rail injection system, new turbo, heads and intake systems. These engines again have significant changes in the control systems and also saw the introduction of the selective catalyst reduction system which requires the use of urea. These engines have PCMs which are highly locked down and even to this day they are difficult to tune or modify. They simply do not contain the hardware required to download their tuning to modify. EFIlive has allowed us to load tunes in (albeit slowly...) but you have to use a base tune taken from another truck where someone has physically disassembled their PCM to rip the tune off the memory banks in the PCM using $10K+ software and hardware. This can cause problems if their tune isn't a perfect match to your truck. EFIlive also does not offer any ability to disable emissions systems. H&S had a tuner suite and the capability to delete emissions systems but they were muscled out of business by the EPA and no longer exist. I snagged a mini-max and delete tunes for my 2014 2500HD before they went belly up so I can delete the emissions systems from my truck when they fail outside of warantee. It's not a matter of if they'll fail, it's when. And the repair costs are $5K+. Best I know there is no way to make these engines run stand-alone and they are not viable for a swap.
I am personally running an 03 engine with an 02 control system in Penny. The first gen control system has a lot more analog signals than the later systems do which all interface nicely with the Tahoe's stock instrumentation. I am very happy with the engine and the swap. It makes plenty of power with just a simple tune (300hp / 650ftlbs to the rear wheels on 37s).
My next rig I intend run an 06.5-07 LLY or LBZ with the 0.6.5-07 control system and an 6 speed manual transmission tune updated with the 07 LBZ tuning to step the power up to 07 levels. My next rig will be an 03-07 4 door Tahoe or Yukon so the newer engine's serial communications will play nicely with the instrumentation and other truck systems.
03-04 = Late LB7 - These are physically the same engine as the early LB7s, but they have an updated and improved control system with a new PCM and better serial communications support. It was updated to interface with the new interior and wiring in the 03s. These also run an Allison 5 speed Automatic or ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission
04.5-05 = Early LLY - These are the 2nd generation of Duramax. There were changes made to the injectors among other physical engine changes. These engines are known to run hot and blow head gaskets on a regular basis. I'd avoid these years. Like the LB7s, these run an Allison 5 speed Automatic or ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission
06= Late LLY - These are the 3rd generation of Duramax. The engine was drastically changed with new injectors, heads, a variable pitch turbo and significant bottom end upgrades and updates. These are solid engines and come with an updated Allison 6 speed Automatic or ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission like the first two generations.
07 = LBZ - These engines are physically identical to the 06 LLY but they have a different tune in them which added significant power. These also run the new 6 speed Allison transmission but the ZF6-650 6 speed manual transmission was no longer offered as an option. These are widely regarded as the most desirable Duramax engine even up until today and these trucks and loose engines command a surprising premium in purchase price.
08-10 = LMM - These engines are physically the same as the 06.5 - 07 LLY and LBZ engines, but they have some significant changes in the engine control systems and introduced the new diesel particulate filter emissions systems. They still run the 6 speed Allison but they upgraded to a new PCM which runs canbus high speed networking vs the old low speed serial networking of the previous years. They run a new type of throttle pedal which is not interchangeable with the older vehicles as well as a new transmission control module. These are more work to run in a swap than the LBZ or older engines due to the large amount of information being passed over the serial network vs using analog signals but they can be made to run stand alone relatively easily instrumentation concerns aside.
11-15 = LML - This is the 4th and latest generation of the Duramax which again saw huge changes in the engine including an all new high voltage (50kV) peizo-electric common rail injection system, new turbo, heads and intake systems. These engines again have significant changes in the control systems and also saw the introduction of the selective catalyst reduction system which requires the use of urea. These engines have PCMs which are highly locked down and even to this day they are difficult to tune or modify. They simply do not contain the hardware required to download their tuning to modify. EFIlive has allowed us to load tunes in (albeit slowly...) but you have to use a base tune taken from another truck where someone has physically disassembled their PCM to rip the tune off the memory banks in the PCM using $10K+ software and hardware. This can cause problems if their tune isn't a perfect match to your truck. EFIlive also does not offer any ability to disable emissions systems. H&S had a tuner suite and the capability to delete emissions systems but they were muscled out of business by the EPA and no longer exist. I snagged a mini-max and delete tunes for my 2014 2500HD before they went belly up so I can delete the emissions systems from my truck when they fail outside of warantee. It's not a matter of if they'll fail, it's when. And the repair costs are $5K+. Best I know there is no way to make these engines run stand-alone and they are not viable for a swap.
I am personally running an 03 engine with an 02 control system in Penny. The first gen control system has a lot more analog signals than the later systems do which all interface nicely with the Tahoe's stock instrumentation. I am very happy with the engine and the swap. It makes plenty of power with just a simple tune (300hp / 650ftlbs to the rear wheels on 37s).
My next rig I intend run an 06.5-07 LLY or LBZ with the 0.6.5-07 control system and an 6 speed manual transmission tune updated with the 07 LBZ tuning to step the power up to 07 levels. My next rig will be an 03-07 4 door Tahoe or Yukon so the newer engine's serial communications will play nicely with the instrumentation and other truck systems.
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I knew you would show up. I just knew. I had a tingling feeling.....
What took 5 minutes to read would have taken me weeks to research on my own. This will be a cool swap l'd like to do some day.
Team208Motorsports
Its Magic Bitch
What Russell left out is what can and can not run without a Body Control Module, the LML. It is swappable with some creative control. We do a lot of duramax conversions, harness and tune wise. We convert harnesses for 2 very large Diesel Only companies. We also tune for a local guy that does suburban swaps. Most of what we do go into jet boats and drag rigs.
Personally for swaps I would stick with LB7-LMM for control. Now comes in what trans and turbo you want to run. That will determine your final control to use and cost.
Personally I have an 84 suburban with a 6.2 that is going to get a duramax, I am wanting to go LBZ or LMM but when selection time comes around..... I'd be more than happy with an LB7 and 5 speed allison.
Personally for swaps I would stick with LB7-LMM for control. Now comes in what trans and turbo you want to run. That will determine your final control to use and cost.
Personally I have an 84 suburban with a 6.2 that is going to get a duramax, I am wanting to go LBZ or LMM but when selection time comes around..... I'd be more than happy with an LB7 and 5 speed allison.
Team208Motorsports
Its Magic Bitch
As far as issues. Every style has one and if you are swapping, the engine is out so the issue is very easy to take care of.
Nice work on the explanation Russell!
My dmax suburban is an LBZ .
My knowledge is limted, but if you get an LBZ out of an 07 classic, you get as new of a motor as you can without adding a cat and a bunch of added emissions stuff.
My knowledge is limted, but if you get an LBZ out of an 07 classic, you get as new of a motor as you can without adding a cat and a bunch of added emissions stuff.
My dad has an 03 LB7 that he bought new, it has 185,000 miles - he is on his second set of injectors but that is the only trouble he has ever had. I have an 04 LLY that I bought new. I have had over heating issues but other than that I love it.
DK5
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Scribed' Planning a duramax ZF6 swap on a 1991 1ton Crew Cab 
4x4
4x4
Based on the diesel charts out there I've looked up the LBZ motor was introduced in late 06'. If its a 2 in the 8th digit of the VIN its an LLY, if its a "D" its an LBZ. My new to me 06' is an LBZ as it has a D as the 8th digit, thankfully. I was not sure until after the fact. I would have been pissed to find out I bought an LLY when I was shopping for an LBZ motored truck. Got lucky on that one lol!
http://www.duramaxhub.com/duramax-vin.html
Going to need to see a pic of the new ride Rob !
