Description
Custom built for GM LSx/Vortec in to 2004-2012 Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon & 2005-2010 Hummer H3, Isuzu i-280, i-350, i-290, i-370
The Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon pickups have some unique qualities that make a 100% direct plug-and-play harness a bit tricky. The 2004-2007 Colorado ECU can not be programmed to run a V8 engine and trans, so the ECU must be replaced with one from a compatible V8 vehicle to work. We recommend keeping electronic throttle in any Colorado LS swap if you want to keep the factory functions of the dash, A/C, ABS, cruise, etc. after the swap is complete. The LS1 style ECU’s (Blue/Red and Blue/Green) do not interface well with the Colorado BCM and instrument cluster, and have been known to cause strange issues like adding extra mileage on to the odometer for no reason.
Recommended ECU for a 24x LS swap (97-2006 engine) is the E40 ECU which can be programmed as a Trailblazer or SSR to accommodate the new engine and still communicate well with the Colorado’s electronics. With the Automatic transmissions, this also requires a factory GM production Transmission computer from the Trailblazer or SSR to be added in as well. Also, changing the Colorado gas pedal to a Trailblazer pedal, and installing LS2 style knock sensors are required to work with the new E40 V8 ECU and production operating system.
While we can setup initial programming for the 24x swaps using the E40 ECU, non-LS2 engine parts, like throttle body or MAF, may require additional tuning for the E40 LS2 ECU to work properly with the specific parts being used in the swap. We strongly suggest finding a local tuner that can alter the tuning on the vehicle to dial in the program to your specific components.
With the 58x LS Swaps (2006-newer) an E67 ECU can be used, and depending on the exact engine being installed and year of the truck, the E67 can be programmed as a 2007-2009 Trailblazer or 2009-up V8 Colorado. With the Colorado programming, the stock Colorado pedal does not need to be changed. This is a nice combination with a 2008-newer Colorado to use a 58x LS engine because the stock Colorado engine computer (E67) CAN be flashed to operate the 58x engine, and so it’s a much more compatible combination than others (08-up Colorado/Canyon with 06-newer 58x LS Engine).
One thing to keep in mind on the mechanical side of things, if you plan to try and re-use your stock transmission from the I4 or I5 engine, it will not directly bolt up to a V8. The bell housing would need to be changed to a V8 bell housing in order to match up to the engine’s bolt pattern, and the input shaft will need to be changed to work with the V8 Torque converter. The stock Colorado converter will not match up to the LS flexplate, and the LS torque converter will not drop on to the Colorado input shaft.
That brings us to the “uniqueness” of these trucks and what is involved with the engine harness installation.