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Vortec 454 swap into 98 Tahoe

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b454rat

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Sold my crew cab and getting a Tahoe cheap. Runs decent but has a blown head gasket. Rather than screwing with it, gotta line on a 454 from a 99 3500HD. I know the motor will bolt in, but I want to swap the dash out as well. This way don't have to mess with the wiring and other BS. But what about the wires that go to the rest of the vehicle? Are they all tied in, or is there a separate harness from motor/ECM to the vehicles harness? The donor truck is still intact so can take whatever I need. Also doing this way is I don't have to get the harness or ECM reprogrammed other than getting the Tahoe's VIN for inspection. Does this make any sense?

FYI, swapping in a NV4500/Ford 205 in it too. So no tranny BS.....
 
b454rat said:
Sold my crew cab and getting a Tahoe cheap. Runs decent but has a blown head gasket. Rather than screwing with it, gotta line on a 454 from a 99 3500HD. I know the motor will bolt in, but I want to swap the dash out as well. This way don't have to mess with the wiring and other BS. But what about the wires that go to the rest of the vehicle? Are they all tied in, or is there a separate harness from motor/ECM to the vehicles harness? The donor truck is still intact so can take whatever I need. Also doing this way is I don't have to get the harness or ECM reprogrammed other than getting the Tahoe's VIN for inspection. Does this make any sense?

FYI, swapping in a NV4500/Ford 205 in it too. So no tranny BS.....
Click to expand...

If I recall big blocks have the harness and wiring arranged differently in the engine bay, so you'll have to navigate that, probably by exchanging the whole harness. Trucks of this era don't have BCMs or the complexity of modern trucks, so basically you have an engine harness, body harness, and the interior/dash harness that are connected. Since no Tahoe ever came with a 4500, getting that tranny to work is also going to take some effort and money. I'm sure a lot of people will likely tell you that unless you're getting that 454 cheap or free, that with all the effort you're going to put into getting everything working to just go with an LS swap. Nevertheless, you should be able to make everything work with some fab work and parts off the donor truck. Just don't expect it to be a simple engine and computer swap and you'll be good.
 
The donor truck has a 4500, so shouldn't be that big a deal. Getting the 'hoe Saturday, and not sure on the donor truck. I don't see why it would be that complicated, they are the same thing, one is small block and one is big block. IMO I'm not impressed with LS motors, in less they have a turbo. They don't pull like a big block does. Eventually I will get one, but for now I want the torque of a 454.
 
Big Block for the Win!!!! Ls engines are great and such but they don't sound nor run like the old big blocks do.
 
All the trucks are basically the same really. If they offered it factory in another body it can be made to fit and look factory.

I don't see it being too difficult. The gauges won't care, all that matters is the computer and wiring. Which I would bet is very similar to cut down on retooling costs.
 
Well we'll see how it goes. Got 'em both here, so let the tear down begin!!!! After a good cleaning.....
 
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