Engine swap compatibility
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 97
Likes: 21
From: Bentonville, AR
Engine swap compatibility
Somehow my 2014 Z51 M7 put a connecting rod thru the engine block—bought it at 42K miles now at 67K. Local Chevy Dealer says he never saw that happen before. (Lucky me) I posted looking for a replacement engine and have a few questions-to answer these would help me tons in navigating the next few months.
I appreciate any information Members might provide—I’m reasonably bright and have asked around locally. I discovered that those who have a grasp of deeper technical information are few, including our local wrenches and Dealer Service people (not too interested in driving business away) haha.
The Forum I think is my best hope.
1. Could I put a stock splash type oilpan engine from a Corvette in the car?
2. What is involved with possibly converting a stock Stingray oilpan to my Z51 dry sump system? I suspect this might be complicated.
3. Which of the Camaros or other Chevrolets have the same engine?
4. What issues are created with regard to my existing computer controls being compatible with say an engine from a 2018 Gran Sport? Or another non 2014 Stingray Z51?
5. How reasonable is it to buy a crate engine from JEGS or a similar outfit? And again would the electronics be turnkey?
I appreciate any information Members might provide—I’m reasonably bright and have asked around locally. I discovered that those who have a grasp of deeper technical information are few, including our local wrenches and Dealer Service people (not too interested in driving business away) haha.
The Forum I think is my best hope.
1. Could I put a stock splash type oilpan engine from a Corvette in the car?
2. What is involved with possibly converting a stock Stingray oilpan to my Z51 dry sump system? I suspect this might be complicated.
3. Which of the Camaros or other Chevrolets have the same engine?
4. What issues are created with regard to my existing computer controls being compatible with say an engine from a 2018 Gran Sport? Or another non 2014 Stingray Z51?
5. How reasonable is it to buy a crate engine from JEGS or a similar outfit? And again would the electronics be turnkey?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,568
Likes: 594
From: Jefferson City Missouri
Not sure about the Camaro engines being a direct drop in but the LT1's from 2016 to present are the same architecture as the 2014 to 2019 Corvette. Your best bet is to see if you can purchase a 2014 to 2019 dry sump engine which should be a plug and play.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
My understanding is that the crankshaft is different dry sump to wet sump because the oil pump is different. My thought would be never try to use a different engine. I have done swaps way back before there were electronics in engines. Even then the little things like intakes w/ different throttle linkages made the swap an extra pain. Maybe 16 yrs ago, working as a tech at a Lexus dealer, we had a customer who our parts department bought a salvage yard engine for. Salvage interchange books said it would work. Well, it kind of did. The injectors were different so we swapped them. The throttle body was different so we swapped it. Installed the engine. That is when we found out that nearly everything the engine wiring harness connected to had a differently configured plug so the harness wouldn't connect until we swapped sensors etc.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 38
Likes: 15
From: Jarrell, TX
Reviving your thread due to facing some similar issues. 2014 Z51 M7 dropped a valve and destroyed the engine. I replaced it with a 2017 Z51. Same dry sump. But now I have some 19 DTCs. I’ll jump in to replace the throttle body. But wanted to see if you had any extra information regarding the swap. Did you have to replace every sensor? The original wiring harness plugged in everywhere. However I did notice the fuel rail going from a 4 wire to 3 wire.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 97
Likes: 21
From: Bentonville, AR
Swap
Reviving your thread due to facing some similar issues. 2014 Z51 M7 dropped a valve and destroyed the engine. I replaced it with a 2017 Z51. Same dry sump. But now I have some 19 DTCs. I’ll jump in to replace the throttle body. But wanted to see if you had any extra information regarding the swap. Did you have to replace every sensor? The original wiring harness plugged in everywhere. However I did notice the fuel rail going from a 4 wire to 3 wire.
Still expensive but I’m pleased with the outcome and have a GM 3 yr/100K mile warrantee. Installed a new clutch/pressure plate while we were at it. Cost $500 but installation was free!
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 38
Likes: 15
From: Jarrell, TX
s sorry to disappoint but in light of all of the risks in buying a salvage engine, then all the possible complications of installing, I abandoned that idea and instead bought a new GM crate engine. I had a local professional (Bentune in Oronogo, MO) install and have several thousand miles on the new engine. Total cost was about $12.5 The local Chevrolet dealer wanted $19.5 for the same engine.
Still expensive but I’m pleased with the outcome and have a GM 3 yr/100K mile warrantee. Installed a new clutch/pressure plate while we were at it. Cost $500 but installation was free!
Still expensive but I’m pleased with the outcome and have a GM 3 yr/100K mile warrantee. Installed a new clutch/pressure plate while we were at it. Cost $500 but installation was free!
ok all good. I recently swapped mine. 2014 for a 2017. Have the ECM for the new motor but was trying to see if it would correct the DTCs before swapping them out. Just wanted to see if you had run into any issues. Glad it worked out with the crate.
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