Motor swap from 5.3 to 4.8
4 Answers
Nope. Any time you are installing a different size engine, there will be all kinds of problems. Starting with the motor mounts, exhaust system, Engine Control module, wiring harness, emissions, transmission, etc, etc, etc. This will be an expensive project.
YES! You could have. Despite what the "experts" say, there are very few differences between these engines as the blocks and many other parts are the same. No issues with exhaust, mounts or trans whatsoever. You would have an ses light due to no AFM but an update to the ecm (to a vehicle with a 4.8) might rid that. The AFM doesn't even have to be plugged in for the engine to function normally, so the lack of it being there is just ses light. Just swap the upper intake plentum/throttle body assy so there are no harness issues. The 4.8 was the same from like 2001 to 2020.... Same engine.
I have personally done this swap in a 2005 GMC Denali Envoy so yes it's very do able... Had a 4.8 for free and the original 5.3 needed more work than the vehicle was worth.
I’m looking to do the same with my 2009 suburban...5.3 to 4.8.....anybody successful with this yet?
