99 K2500 Suburban needs repowered - options?
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99 K2500 Suburban needs repowered - options?
Hello all,
Have a much loved 1999 Suburban K2500 with the 7.4L (454) vortec. Original engine needs rebuilt (lower end noises) but I don't have time to do it right now. Instead, I'd like to swap something in while I take my time working on the big block. Three options as far as I can tell:
a) there's lots of 5.7L Vortecs around to be had with the entire donor vehicle. could swap the engine in but I'm not sure what else needs to be adapted. exhaust? (this is the cheapest option)
b) look for a 6.5L diesel? don't know what's required as far as anything beyong the engine itself
c) bite the bullet and pay for a 554 (this is the most expensive option)
Thoughts? Any other options I'm not thinking about?
Thanks
O.
Have a much loved 1999 Suburban K2500 with the 7.4L (454) vortec. Original engine needs rebuilt (lower end noises) but I don't have time to do it right now. Instead, I'd like to swap something in while I take my time working on the big block. Three options as far as I can tell:
a) there's lots of 5.7L Vortecs around to be had with the entire donor vehicle. could swap the engine in but I'm not sure what else needs to be adapted. exhaust? (this is the cheapest option)
b) look for a 6.5L diesel? don't know what's required as far as anything beyong the engine itself
c) bite the bullet and pay for a 554 (this is the most expensive option)
Thoughts? Any other options I'm not thinking about?
Thanks
O.
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 302
From: Central Iowa
In addition to exhaust, I suspect you’d have to adapt the mounts and transmission (adapter plate), use a different starter which may also require a different flex plate; which would then have to be modified or the torque converter replaced if the bolt holes didn’t line up.
You’d probably also have to swap the PCM’s which will require some programming because it’s an OBD 2 system. Any GM dealership will say they can’t help you (that’s their answer for any custom programming) so you’ll be limited to finding a tuner type device that can do the programming via OBD 2 or a mobile programming service.
The list could easily go on and swapping to a different engine may take more time and effort than expected, not to mention the headaches that hard to find parts can cause (and at 23 years old those parts are getting scarce indeed), especially if there’s uncertainty about what’s actually needed.
I’m not trying to say it’s a doomed project - I’m sure it’s possible and has been done, but you need to be prepared that it’s going to be more than just a weekend swap.
IMO, Take the money you’d spend on a temporary replacement engine and buy a beater car to use while you’re working on the engine. Then you can work take your time and also work through other systems/components in addition to the engine, if desired. It’s very easy to go down the “while the engine is out” rabbit hole.
Good luck.
You’d probably also have to swap the PCM’s which will require some programming because it’s an OBD 2 system. Any GM dealership will say they can’t help you (that’s their answer for any custom programming) so you’ll be limited to finding a tuner type device that can do the programming via OBD 2 or a mobile programming service.
The list could easily go on and swapping to a different engine may take more time and effort than expected, not to mention the headaches that hard to find parts can cause (and at 23 years old those parts are getting scarce indeed), especially if there’s uncertainty about what’s actually needed.
I’m not trying to say it’s a doomed project - I’m sure it’s possible and has been done, but you need to be prepared that it’s going to be more than just a weekend swap.
IMO, Take the money you’d spend on a temporary replacement engine and buy a beater car to use while you’re working on the engine. Then you can work take your time and also work through other systems/components in addition to the engine, if desired. It’s very easy to go down the “while the engine is out” rabbit hole.
Good luck.
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