Late Model 6 Swap? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LuckyHenriksen · 10-14-2008, 10:01 AM

I know the big thing these days is 5.3/6.0 vortec swaps, but what about GM's new straight sixes? I know the one that comes in the envoy is a 4.2L with almost 300 HP. Anyone thinking about this swap?

Brad · 10-14-2008, 11:10 AM

Several have done it over at www.inliners.org It's not cheap though!

68 short step · 10-14-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

Several have done it over at www.inliners.org It's not cheap though!

got a specif link?

68 short step · 10-14-2008, 10:25 PM

ttt

LuckyHenriksen · 10-14-2008, 11:24 PM

Why is it more than a V8 vortec swap? Is there lots of custom fab needed?

brendonak · 10-15-2008, 12:19 AM

Just put efi on your current six, it seems as though the TBI conversions make the perfect drivers, plenty of scoot with livability and mileage to boot

69_hafton · 10-15-2008, 07:10 PM

As I understand it, there's quite a bit of expense in having the wiring harness modified to allow the engine management system to function correctly after having removed some of the "unnecessary" components that old school hot rodders don't want on their vehicles.

jkade · 10-15-2008, 08:47 PM

Why spend the money and only do a 6? As cheap as you can but a 4.8 or a 5.3 why not just go that route and they will get as good of mpg as the 6 bangers. I could see it if you could do it for half the money and don't get me wrong if would be different and I like different

68 short step · 10-15-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkade

if would be different and I like different

thats the reason, for me anyways...ive got a future project picked out and not sure ezactly on how i wanna do a FI inline 6

kyull67 · 10-16-2008, 01:15 PM

I love popping the hood and people ask, "What is that?" It's not EFI, but It gets the job done.

LuckyHenriksen · 10-16-2008, 02:50 PM

Well I dont have a six, and I would rather do a 5.3/6.0, but when we bought our new Envoy Denali we test drove the regular Envoy and it had the 4.2 six and was decently quick. But the V8's are my fav, I was just curious to see if anyone had done somehting like it

OhNoJoe · 10-16-2008, 06:51 PM

I really wanted to do this swap. I bought a 4.2 with trans complete for $300 off ebay but then there was no zero info out there on how to do it. Speartech won't re-program the puter and getting custom mounts was not going to happen without my own metal shop. THe trans needs a new tailpeice. THe oil pan with the front axel that runs through it has to be custom built with a new pick-up. THe motor is very tall so the oil pan has to be very flat or the cross memeber has to be chopped.
I got lots of pictures and stuff if your interested. It was just too much for me to do. I plan on putting my 292 back in my burb.

I ended up selling the 4.2 for $350 abd that took three months to find a buyer

DirtyLarry · 10-16-2008, 07:56 PM

Man, as much as I embrace straight 6’s….. I have mixed emotions about the 4.2L. I have driven many rental TrailBlazers with that engine and have not been impressed. Personally, it feels like a gutless slug unless you drive it like you stole it and leave your toenail marks in the floor board every time you get out of it. I don’t feel like it would be worth the hassle of swapping in a 4.2L into anything when a Gen III small block has much more aftermarket support for swapping. Plus you would have to majorly rework the oil pan to work in an older GM truck.

The SAE Certified Power is 285 HP at 6,000 RPM’s! 6,000 RPM’s!!! You have to rat the hell out of this engine to get any power out of it. It is like driving a Mazda rotary engine. Not a good truck engine, which is why it was never offered in the GMT800 or 900 Silverado truck plateform.

The 4.2L engine controller is actually a nice Delphi MEFI-5 that has plenty of provisions for custom tuning providing you can find a tuner to remap it for you or unless you purchase software and learn how to do it your self which is a real PITA as I learned on my 8.1L swap.

The Delphi MEFI-5 is the same engine controller the new marine engines and GM Performance Part LS engine controller kit.

It would be a cool swap but not worth the hassle in my opinion. The entire GMT360 TrailBlazer and Envoy plateform was a heavy and low powered ill conceived package to begin with. The good news is production of the plateform and powertrain are done 12-23-08.

LuckyHenriksen · 10-16-2008, 09:05 PM

Thats too bad. I guess there was a reason that no one was doing it. BTW my Envoy Denali has the 5.3 and runs like a bat outta hell. Almost as fast as my GLI

Chris in Idaho · 12-28-2008, 11:11 PM

When people put TBI on their sixes, what intake are they using? I make adapter plates and am planning one for the sixes and am wondering what people would want. I can make one for the monojet, but I think the varajet would work out better. What do you guys think?

LuckyHenriksen · 12-28-2008, 11:17 PM

I thought I recognized this thread lol

10-14-2008, 10:01 AM	#1
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Late Model 6 Swap? I know the big thing these days is 5.3/6.0 vortec swaps, but what about GM's new straight sixes? I know the one that comes in the envoy is a 4.2L with almost 300 HP. Anyone thinking about this swap? __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

10-14-2008, 11:10 AM	#2
Brad Out of the carpool lane. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Clark Co, WA Posts: 5,672	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? Several have done it over at www.inliners.org It's not cheap though! __________________ 1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten...

10-14-2008, 10:25 PM	#4
68 short step Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: tulsa OK Posts: 3,070	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? ttt

10-14-2008, 11:24 PM	#5
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? Why is it more than a V8 vortec swap? Is there lots of custom fab needed? __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

10-15-2008, 12:19 AM	#6
brendonak Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: salem oregon Posts: 117	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? Just put efi on your current six, it seems as though the TBI conversions make the perfect drivers, plenty of scoot with livability and mileage to boot

10-15-2008, 07:10 PM	#7
69_hafton Sleep-Deprived Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 445	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? As I understand it, there's quite a bit of expense in having the wiring harness modified to allow the engine management system to function correctly after having removed some of the "unnecessary" components that old school hot rodders don't want on their vehicles. __________________ 1971 K/10 Long Fleetside 350/350 - 6" Lift 1969 C/10 SWB 292 - Sold It

10-15-2008, 08:47 PM	#8
jkade Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: AL Posts: 2,517	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? Why spend the money and only do a 6? As cheap as you can but a 4.8 or a 5.3 why not just go that route and they will get as good of mpg as the 6 bangers. I could see it if you could do it for half the money and don't get me wrong if would be different and I like different

10-16-2008, 01:15 PM	#10
kyull67 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Springfield/Kansas City Posts: 1,842	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? I love popping the hood and people ask, "What is that?" It's not EFI, but It gets the job done. Attached Images __________________ The first '67 The current '67 '63 Biscayne

10-16-2008, 02:50 PM	#11
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? Well I dont have a six, and I would rather do a 5.3/6.0, but when we bought our new Envoy Denali we test drove the regular Envoy and it had the 4.2 six and was decently quick. But the V8's are my fav, I was just curious to see if anyone had done somehting like it __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

10-16-2008, 06:51 PM	#12
OhNoJoe Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Springfield Illinois Posts: 182	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? I really wanted to do this swap. I bought a 4.2 with trans complete for $300 off ebay but then there was no zero info out there on how to do it. Speartech won't re-program the puter and getting custom mounts was not going to happen without my own metal shop. THe trans needs a new tailpeice. THe oil pan with the front axel that runs through it has to be custom built with a new pick-up. THe motor is very tall so the oil pan has to be very flat or the cross memeber has to be chopped. I got lots of pictures and stuff if your interested. It was just too much for me to do. I plan on putting my 292 back in my burb. I ended up selling the 4.2 for $350 abd that took three months to find a buyer

10-16-2008, 07:56 PM	#13
DirtyLarry Windy Corner of a Dirty Street Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pueblo West, Colorado Posts: 2,926	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? Man, as much as I embrace straight 6’s….. I have mixed emotions about the 4.2L. I have driven many rental TrailBlazers with that engine and have not been impressed. Personally, it feels like a gutless slug unless you drive it like you stole it and leave your toenail marks in the floor board every time you get out of it. I don’t feel like it would be worth the hassle of swapping in a 4.2L into anything when a Gen III small block has much more aftermarket support for swapping. Plus you would have to majorly rework the oil pan to work in an older GM truck. The SAE Certified Power is 285 HP at 6,000 RPM’s! 6,000 RPM’s!!! You have to rat the hell out of this engine to get any power out of it. It is like driving a Mazda rotary engine. Not a good truck engine, which is why it was never offered in the GMT800 or 900 Silverado truck plateform. The 4.2L engine controller is actually a nice Delphi MEFI-5 that has plenty of provisions for custom tuning providing you can find a tuner to remap it for you or unless you purchase software and learn how to do it your self which is a real PITA as I learned on my 8.1L swap. The Delphi MEFI-5 is the same engine controller the new marine engines and GM Performance Part LS engine controller kit. It would be a cool swap but not worth the hassle in my opinion. The entire GMT360 TrailBlazer and Envoy plateform was a heavy and low powered ill conceived package to begin with. The good news is production of the plateform and powertrain are done 12-23-08. __________________ Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles Instagram Last edited by DirtyLarry; 10-16-2008 at 08:23 PM.

10-16-2008, 09:05 PM	#14
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? Thats too bad. I guess there was a reason that no one was doing it. BTW my Envoy Denali has the 5.3 and runs like a bat outta hell. Almost as fast as my GLI __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

12-28-2008, 11:11 PM	#15
Chris in Idaho Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North, Idaho Posts: 68	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? When people put TBI on their sixes, what intake are they using? I make adapter plates and am planning one for the sixes and am wondering what people would want. I can make one for the monojet, but I think the varajet would work out better. What do you guys think?

12-28-2008, 11:17 PM	#16
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Late Model 6 Swap? I thought I recognized this thread lol __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here



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