Acesneights1
New Member
Will the ECM from my 98 Burb work with my 2000 K3500 and vice versa ?
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OBD2 ECM interchangability
- Thread starter Acesneights1
- Start date
NVW
Well-Known Member
If they have the same tranny, gear ratio etc. you should be able to swap.
Turbine Doc
Just Another Diesel Guy
X2 and quite possibly you'll have to do the theft deterrent learn as well
Acesneights1
New Member
Cool. when I pickup the Burb I want to swap the ecm into my Dually and see what that does with my excessive egts.
great white
Well-Known Member
Well, it depends. Any PCM with the same service number (or a superceeding number) will run the 6.5. The difference is in the calibration file.
Will it run?
Probably.
Will it run well?
Well, the calibration is what matters there. That's the four letter code on the PCM. Something like BXPY (letters are example only and not a calibration!)
As mentioned, rear ratio, transmission type and security relearn are important for proper running. But so is EGR (as in donor needs to be same as recipient) and any other number of "gotchas". These are all "switches" (has it or doesn't, like EGR or VATS) and values (rear ratio, VSS PPM, etc) that are programmed into the PCM in the calibration.
Best case:
pop it in, do a security relearn if nessesary, have a go and it runs OK.
Worst case:
It runs like crap.
Tunercats, Westers, JET software (if it works with westers VDF) or sending it away to a "tuner" is required to change all these parameters to your truck's specifics.
Cheers
Will it run?
Probably.
Will it run well?
Well, the calibration is what matters there. That's the four letter code on the PCM. Something like BXPY (letters are example only and not a calibration!)
As mentioned, rear ratio, transmission type and security relearn are important for proper running. But so is EGR (as in donor needs to be same as recipient) and any other number of "gotchas". These are all "switches" (has it or doesn't, like EGR or VATS) and values (rear ratio, VSS PPM, etc) that are programmed into the PCM in the calibration.
Best case:
pop it in, do a security relearn if nessesary, have a go and it runs OK.
Worst case:
It runs like crap.
Tunercats, Westers, JET software (if it works with westers VDF) or sending it away to a "tuner" is required to change all these parameters to your truck's specifics.
Cheers
Last edited:
Acesneights1
New Member
Thanks.
buddy
Active Member
As long as it glows, starts and shifts you'll be just fine.
I think 96 and 97 had some differences.
I think 96 and 97 had some differences.
Acesneights1
New Member
I wanna pop the ecm from the 98 into my dually and see how my egts are with stock fuel.
great white
Well-Known Member
Give it a try, can't hurt.
Problem is, unless the tire size and rear gears are programmed right the PCM will be in the wrong place with the "look up" tables it uses.
It will run a little "off" if this is the case and may or may not give you an idea of what it would do with a stock cal.
It should be close enough though.
Only one way to find out.
A work around would be to modify your DRAC/VSSB with a couple DIP switches (allows you to calibrate it to the vehicles specific with a couple switch throws) so the PCM will see the proper signal for the tire size and gearing. I need to do this on my truck as someone (PO) has installed the next size up tire, which thows off the VSS 40 PPm signal, which thows off the VSSB signal, which effects the speedo and PCM....
buddy
Active Member
Ive modified 3 VSSB/DRAC modules with dips and its easy enough, they are robust little boards. Our programs are not very sensitive to changes in gearing and tires. Ive seen the same stock code used on 3.42s and 3.73s and 4.10s. So Kenny you should be fine.
Acesneights1
New Member
Yeah my speedo is off 5mph due to larger tires anyway.
Turbine Doc
Just Another Diesel Guy
Buddy here's a ? for you sort of on topic, my truck came with 265 x 16s, speedo was off 6 mph high per GPS, yet the scan tool mph matches what GPS & those "You are going this fast radar speed signs", changed to a commercial highway tread 235 x 16 tires for less rolling resistance/mpg error on speedo now 7-8 too fast indicated yet scanner, signs, & GPS still match.
Error is not linear, 0-45 mph all seems to track correctly, yet the faster I go the bigger the error, got any ideas about this ?
Kenny I recently acquired a 2000, 3:42 2wd vans PCM, I taught/learned the theft deterrent of it to my truck, on a lark I drove it around the block, I did not seem to have any issues with that
Error is not linear, 0-45 mph all seems to track correctly, yet the faster I go the bigger the error, got any ideas about this ?
Kenny I recently acquired a 2000, 3:42 2wd vans PCM, I taught/learned the theft deterrent of it to my truck, on a lark I drove it around the block, I did not seem to have any issues with that
buddy
Active Member
If the speedo and PCM are showing drastically different numbers it may be because someone modified the VSSB wrong in the past. The two sides of jumpers should be exactly opposite, mirrored. If they are and you still have that issue the VSSB is probably just bad. The error will definately grow with speed. I notice that on acceleration the speedo will jump faster than the PCM, but otherwise mine track within 1 mph of eachother on each DRAC/VSSB I tested. I have an extra one I can modify and send you to see if it resolves it.
Matt Bachand
Depends on the 6.5
Right, the amount its off will be a percentage, so if your 10% off (tire increase/decrease) your current speed would need to be multiplied by 1.10, so 50 x 1.10 would read 55mph, 80 x 1.10 = 88 mph.