04/02/2026
This post will be long, and is aimed at all you guys considering doing a 6L or 6.2L LSA etc LS swap combined with a 6 speed 6L80e auto trans and hopefully i will explain quite a few of the problems you may occur, and of course of the misguided info on the net that could cost you lots of money and stress.....
I've written much on this before, and have done many hundreds of harnesses, I've done quite a few conversions myself, but have been involved in 100's of conversions, and tuning of these conversions and just about seen it all....
Anyway step number 1.
When looking for your donor engine and particularly donor 6L80E, newer is better, VF being the best, 2010 VE onwards nearly the best, late 2009 2nd best, and all earlier ones problematic... full stop.
Ok, how to identify year model??
The label on the drivers side of trans has 1st digital number (the year) followed by usually 3 letters. Eg 7CVA = 2007, 5CVA = 2015...
So the main problem with the earlier trans, which work perfect in Commodores, playup in conversions by mixed messages in the Canbus communication between the ECM and TCM (trans controller) because of the other missing controllers such as BCM, ABS and the other many unnecessary controllers, and Holden didn't rectify this issue until late 2009. Note many 2009 built cars still have the 2008 TCM and ECM.
Ok, so the late 2009 onwards models don't have this problem.
This can be quite easily fixed but is a pain and probably costs more than buy a later trans in the first place.
Well there are a few options how to fix.
It can be fixed with specialist software, and im not talking HPTUNERS or EFILIVE tuning software, but this is time consuming and fraught with dangers.... unless a guru reads this and can offer options.
Ok, so understand with those 3 groups of year models i mention above, there are 3 family groups of all 6L80e trans made, (see attached photo of the 3 different coloured groups and there Service number/OS numbers) and while its ok to change tunes in each of those families, its not cool at all to change tune from one group to another, and the other point with this, the same applies to those 3 groups also have matching 3 family groups of ECM's and the same applies and this is the main reason you hear of guys "bricking" ecu's.
Ok, so luckily the last 2009 6L80e tune or Operating System , OS, is in that first group and by Full Flashing, or Write Entire the correct 2009 OS into the earlier models using HPTUNERS essentially turns the trans into a 2009 model, but that's only step 1.
Next is the ECM which of course the earlier ecu's won't be happy talking to the now 2009 trans.
The same applies though to this family group and can be flashed to 2009.... BUT this doesn't work, mainly because it will still random gear hunt, pointing to the fact that the problem is in the RAM of the ecm which we cant change with HPTUNERS or EFILIVE... but once again can be done using specialist software...
Trouble is most guys in the field like me don't get time to battle your way through the bulldust of different software's and the wasted time and expense to find the answer,.... so I simply replace the E38 ECU with a 2009 model.
YTCX and YRUB to be specific, but as these are becoming rare, I import American equivalents.
But wait, there's more...
2009 engines are fitted with a later model 1.5 bar MAP sensor, and also came with the later Thottle Body with Brass Butterfly, and even though the data can be changed in the tune, it generally will go into Limp mode when you least expect it and you don't want that in your 4wd on the beach with incoming tide, so I also change these 2 items and Problem Solvered...
Everything matches and no more problems...
That's enough info on that for now....
Take my advice and buy 2010 onwards donor vehicles...
Next post I will take about the extras such as tiptronic manual shifting options, and then cruise control and air conditioning.
