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Has anyone put a V8 into a 2006 Colorado?

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33K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  White016  
#1 ·
I have a 2006 Colorado with the I4 and would like to know what it would take to put a 5.3L in it? And is it possible? I know in 2009 GM put a 5.3 in but I also read that the Colorado is bigger than 04-06 and want to know also if a V8 will fit.
 
#3 ·
It would cost you less to sell your I4 Colorado and buy one with a V8. It is a doable swap but difficult, time consuming, and expensive.
 
#4 ·
not really, I might be able to pick up a 5.3 with pcm for 2500 bucks. all thats left is motor mounts. if you can find a motor cheap that cuts most of the cost down.
 
#6 ·
it should bolt right up to the 4l60e but i could be wrong.
 
#10 ·
boujwa1981 said:
I have a 2006 Colorado with the I4 and would like to know what it would take to put a 5.3L in it? And is it possible? I know in 2009 GM put a 5.3 in but I also read that the Colorado is bigger than 04-06 and want to know also if a V8 will fit.
I don't mean to be a dick, but if you have to ask if it's possible you would probably be better off buying a new one with the v8 stock. If you can't afford to sell yours and buy a new one the cost of the swap done properly is probably out of reach as well.

355nation has a section devoted to this topic. A handful of guys have done it already, one even did an LS7 but it's his profession and it was a clients truck. If you can wade through all the flaming and pipe dreams posted there's a lot of good information to read.

Again, I apologize if I came across like I was pissing in your cereal.
 
#12 ·
I'm in the same boat. I can do a LS2 OR 3 swap in my 08 regcab 3.7 or just buy a crewcab 5.3 and mod it.

It would cost me around $12k to do the swap the right way, but i would have alot of down time as i use my truck everyday as a work truck. I never wanted a crewcab as i am a reg cab fan.

Or i can buy a 5.3 crewcab and mod the 5.3 to around 400hp and be done with it without alot of down time. Anytime you do a engine swap there alll kinds of bugs to work out.
 
#15 ·
Aleight said:
DBNissan said:
It can be done on the older Colorados.

CPWire has the mounts, modified ignition switch and harnesses: http://www.currentperformance.com/
what limits new colorados from doing it, beside that they are available with it, but is it only the 2.8/3.5 that can do it? or what?
It can be done on the newer ones as well. DBNissan was just letting the OP know a V8 swap could be done on the older ones ALSO.
 
#18 ·
actually it would be easier on the newer ones 08+. They had planned on putting the V8 in it in 08, so the motor mounts will except a chevy small block v8 like the LS series (including truck engines like the 5.3 and 6.0.....they are LS series or gen III and gen IV or whatever)
 
#19 ·
sleeper_07 said:
actually it would be easier on the newer ones 08+. They had planned on putting the V8 in it in 08, so the motor mounts will except a chevy small block v8 like the LS series (including truck engines like the 5.3 and 6.0.....they are LS series or gen III and gen IV or whatever)
Not according to CPWIRE who's been there and done that. Look at post #42

http://www.355nation.net/forum/engine-swaps/18479-ls7-alive-3.html