2012 Suburban

RickDLance

Active member
Feb 14, 2007
1,276
14
38
We have a pretty nice 2012 1500 4 x 4 Suburban but after driving a Duramax it is gutless. I want fairly good mpg and need to pull my car trailer around every now and then. Just want to get some feedback and ideas on what I should do.

I can supercharge the 5.3 that is in it. This would net me about 400 hp and 400 foot pounds of torque.

I could swap in a bigger gas motor. Probably a 6.2. This would net me about the same hp as the supercharged 5.3 and just a little more torque. Not sure how involved it would be. I could also supercharge the 6.2. That would net me around 600 hp and just under 600 ft lbs of torque.

Then I could do it the way I really want to. I could swap a Duramax into it. Thinking maybe a van as a donor that way I could have a trans similar to what I have. This would net me around 300 hp and 700 ft lbs of torque.

I contacted DuraBurb about doing that and got no response. No matter which way I go I'll probably have to hire it done. We have our hands full here at the shop as it is. I also want to make sure it rides nice so I want to leave the 1500 suspension as intact as possible.

Give me your suggestions on how you would do it and any info on who I could trust to do it would be nice. Maybe Josh or Russ??
 

clrussell

pro-procrastinator
Sep 23, 2013
5,928
399
83
Man I wish I wasn't so swamped Rick.. I'd do this for you in a heart beat and I'm semi local
 

malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,312
624
113
42
in the buckeye state
Gas or diesel
Bigger Gas engine would be easiest swap..

I'm sure there's more options.. what I found looking at options for my 01 2500 burb
lingenfilter has ls3 crate N/A engines ranging from 10-20k
378ci at 530hp and 575hp
417ci at 605hp
427ci at 650hp
Definitely need at least a 4L80 or 6L80/90 swap both can be mated behind mild 400hp dmax or Allison swap.
 

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
Staff member
Vendor/Sponsor
Feb 14, 2007
13,736
806
113
Texas!!!
Rick, I would love to do the swap for you, but if you're in a hurry for it, there is no way I could do it anytime soon. It would be a while before I could tackle a job like this. If you can wait, I would be happy to help out however I could.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,761
5,933
113
Phoenix Az
i would dmax swap it. adding a supercharger or larger gasser engine is only going to make MPG suffer...
 

elliottw

Member
Jan 23, 2013
397
6
13
ND
I'd turbo the 5.3, then when the 5.3 goes (if it ever does) have a built for boost ls ready to go in.
 

THEFERMANATOR

LEGALLY INSANE
Feb 16, 2009
3,890
44
48
44
ZEPHYRHILLS, FL
Boost the 5.3l, and regear if neccesary. Unless you want the novelty of a duramax suburban, you'll likely never recover the swap costs in fuel savings, and the 5.3l can take ALOT of abuse.
 

A. Stock Lbz

New member
Aug 13, 2013
342
0
0
spokane wa
Turbo the 5.3. You should be able to fab that up easy with your skills. Look at the kb racing manifolds and the trick kits. A single s366 or 369 will be a killer daily driver set up that should spool quick and tow pretty good for a gas job and should do decent on fuel mileage. 600whp should wake that thing up and be a whole lot cheaper than anything that says duramax on it.
 

Digmax

Member
Jan 23, 2016
289
2
18
Just talked to duraburb week ago and they quoted me 30,000 for turn key lmm swap on a 2012 Yukon xl....

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 

NC-smokinlmm

<<<Future tuna killer
May 29, 2011
5,223
369
83
At Da Beach
Call and talk to Paul Webb at magnuson. I'm doing a tvs2300 on a 5.3 with a cam, if your suburban is a flex fuel truck you can drop in a tvs and a cam with dod and afm delete and get about 500 rwhp out of it no problem. The stock bottom end will take it as well as the stock 6l80...