XJ motor swap question

I really like the total DIY aspect of the Megasquirt system, but I haven't looked into the kit assembly to see if it's SMD or through-hole architecture. I can handle either, I've had a soldering iron in my hand since I was 9.

I built a megasquirt 3.0 when I was 18. Its through-hole. Don't be scared...
 
Re: Re: XJ motor swap question

I built a megasquirt 3.0 when I was 18. Its through-hole. Don't be scared...

Not a bit scared. I just have too many projects as it is.
 
I guess I misunderstood your attitude on the subject. You can get a 5.3 engine and harness for $500 easily, and then the rework is free if you do it yourself, but it sounds like you want to go through the process of building your own harness and use megasquirt and retrofit EFI system to get you there. Certainly a more involved and probably costly process than most would take, but should give you good satisfaction when its done
 
Think I forgot to mention - I HATE OBDii systems..

Pretty sure the 5.3 is a Gen2/3 motor, and thus is OBDii, correct?

Building a harness is child's play for me, assuming the connector blocks are available. I literally used to wire comm and tactical data systems on very large, very heavily armed boats.

I think I have established I'm a DIY kind of guy, in that I transplanted the axles from an FSJ under my other truck when I could have just driven the FSJ. ;)
 
Google that engine. It's 2005 and up. I'd love to know where you claim to get the harness and engine for 500. Local yards want that for the engine alone (plus accessories for additional cost), and 300 for the harness.

To say nothing of all the multiplexing likely to be done on the wiring, most vehicles these days use LAN technology on their data bus. One of many reasons I am glad I got out of the mobile electronics field when I did.

Plus, there's too many idiotic sensors. Do I really need to know the battery is overtemp, or the fuel tank isn't quite sealed? To say nothing of coil on plug tech.
 
Its a 99+ motor, not an 05+ motor, with some changes in between 99 and the gen IV release (which you can also use relatively easily). Its just a GenIII chevy engine, there are literally millions of them on the road. They came in something like 40% of all the 1/2 ton chevy trucks sold, as well as tahoes, suburbans, later trailblazers, yukons, etc. Its pretty easy to rewire the harness, step by step directions are online for free. The hardest part would be integrating the XJ gauges IF you have a 96/97+ XJ.

I say you can get an engine and harness for $500 because thats what I paid for mine, complete with MOST of the sensors (no O2s or most of the other sensors not on the engine) and the harness. I dont know where you are located, but here in CA most yards wanted $1500 for what I got. I had it shipped from the east coast instead. Local places also wanted $900 for a good 4L60e transmission, I paid $450 shipped for a 4l65e, two OEM cats, and a torque converter.

You can delete all of those "nonsense" sensors if you arent doing a smog legal swap in a strict state, and some can be deleted even in a strict smog state. Battery overtemp, tank pressure, torque control, secondary O2, etc. can all be easily removed from the harness and programmed out of the PCM.

Im not trying to convince you to do a different swap, though it does seem like you have some misconceptions about the newer ones that might be misplaced. For lots of people, a Gen I motor and megasquirt controlled FI might be the best option for them. For me here in CA, thats 100% not an option due to smog laws
 
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