97 K2500 PCM Help

What’s up everyone! It’s been a very long time since I posted here, but this is the best place on the next for this type of knowledge and I need some help. I’m not very versed in OBDII PCMS but I picked up a 1997 k1500 5.0 4wd truck, the kid I bought it from put a crate vortec 350 in it.

Since I bought it I put a lift kit and 35s on it, and my msd ignition. I also basically turned it into a light duty 2500, with my 14 bolt semi float, rear 2500 springs, and geared to 4.88 out of my other lifted truck.

I was wondering 1) can I get a computer from the same year(s) truck that is a light duty 2500 with a 350 and use it, if I can what code computer would I be looking for and 2) I’d like to reprogram my speedo, and would like to know which tuning software and hardware comes recommended for the OBDII trucks.

I have tunerpro already ready bc I had a moates setup on my 94... thanks for all the help in advanced and thank you for having me back!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rstroh

What’s up everyone! It’s been a very long time since I posted here, but this is the best place on the next for this type of knowledge and I need some help. I’m not very versed in OBDII PCMS but I picked up a 1997 k1500 5.0 4wd truck, the kid I bought it from put a crate vortec 350 in it.

Since I bought it I put a lift kit and 35s on it, and my msd ignition. I also basically turned it into a light duty 2500, with my 14 bolt semi float, rear 2500 springs, and geared to 4.88 out of my other lifted truck.

I was wondering 1) can I get a computer from the same year(s) truck that is a light duty 2500 with a 350 and use it, if I can what code computer would I be looking for and 2) I’d like to reprogram my speedo, and would like to know which tuning software and hardware comes recommended for the OBDII trucks.

I have tunerpro already ready bc I had a moates setup on my 94... thanks for all the help in advanced and thank you for having me back!

---

0411 swap it and don't look back IMO. That is coming from someone that has Tunercats OBD2 and HPTuners. I have had both with good tunes in the same 97 Express van. 0411 hands down runs better than the Black Box.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fast355

0411 swap it and don't look back IMO. That is coming from someone that has Tunercats OBD2 and HPTuners. I have had both with good tunes in the same 97 Express van. 0411 hands down runs better than the Black Box.

---

How hard was the swap? I think I vaguely remember something about a guy named lextech that has all the wiring pin outs and tells you what to add and what not. And what bass map did you start with? Out of what truck? I think it’s supposed to be the 01-02 express right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rstroh

How hard was the swap? I think I vaguely remember something about a guy named lextech that has all the wiring pin outs and tells you what to add and what not. And what bass map did you start with? Out of what truck? I think it’s supposed to be the 01-02 express right?

---

I started with an 02 Chevy Express. I later swapped that PCM for a 2005 PCM with a Mexico GMT800 5.7 based tune.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fast355

I started with an 02 Chevy Express. I later swapped that PCM for a 2005 PCM with a Mexico GMT800 5.7 based tune.

---

my truck is a 5 speed, does tunercat or hp tuner give you the capability to change the transmission setup as well, from A/T to M/T?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rstroh

my truck is a 5 speed, does tunercat or hp tuner give you the capability to change the transmission setup as well, from A/T to M/T?

---

The 02 Express van shared the same operating system as the LS trucks. You can segment swap the manual trans stuff into the tune with HP Tuners or TunerCats. Just have to grab a matching year 4.8 or 6.0L truck file

Maybe there is someone local to you with TunerCats OBD2 that can reprogram the speedometer for the 97 PCM?

To the best of my knowledge, HP Tuners and EFI Live support 98 and newer Vortec 5.7 liter computers. Maybe instead of the '0411, converting to a 98 or 99 PCM upgrade might be would be worth considering? The 98 / 99 PCM would NOT need a complete PCM re-pinning like the '0411. There is likely a 98 / 99 factory flash for a 5.7 liter / 5 speed that would simplify the flash programming.

For a performance modified 5.7 liter, the '0411 is likely the best option. For a "BONE STOCK" 5.7 liter, the 98 / 99 PCM conversion is a good option.

dave w

I have an 01 5 speed .bin read from a gmt-800 with a 5.7l. rescale the MAF for the 75mm MAF that the gmt-400 used(gmt800 used an 85mm), and swap the VE table from the express van, and you're good to go. There's no way I would mess with a black box. I picked up an SX cable to use pcmhammer for $20 on sale on amazon, and get 0411's with plugs for $35-45 from the local yards. It just doesn't make sense to mess with a black box for that. And unless you want to rewire your O2 sensors(5.7l uses 4, 5.0l uses 3), you'll be doing custom tuning to get the black box to work in your application since a 5.7l won't just plug in.

The 0411 swap is well worth it in my opinion. It takes about an hour to do, both PCM connectors use the same style pins, so you just pull one pin and put in the new connector, over and over again until you're done.

If you really want to stay with the Blackbox, I have one from a 98 Suburban with a 350, 4l60e and it is 4x4. I think I have the original connectors too. If you pay the shipping you can have it for free. It is a completely stock PCM, I pulled it for my 0411 swap.