Missing EGR System from 2002 5.3?

[lovesdunes]

There are lots of threads about deleting the existing EGR parts off of our engines, but I haven't seen any information about 5.3 engines never having the EGR system at all.

I am in the process of replacing the tired 5.7 in my 97 Tahoe with a 5.3 from a 2002 Tahoe. While working on the wiring harness I noticed that I am missing the wires from the 5.3 harness related to the EGR parts.

The engine came from a California vehicle and there does not appear to be any signs that the engine ever had the EGR parts on it. The area on the exhaust manifolds has no holes or block off plates, but there is a somewhat flat spot on the exhaust manifolds where the plates would go. The intake manifold has a metal plate where the tube would come from if it had a tube.

I guess I lucked out not having the extra clutter under my hood. It seems odd though that a Cali vehicle would not have all that stuff.

California allows engine swaps into older vehicles as long as the newer engine going in retains all of the emissions stuff that came with the newer engine.

Is it possible that GM didn't put the EGR stuff on some of the 5.3s?

If so, is it possible to find out what application my 5.3 was built for?

The 2002 Tahoe it came from didn't look any different than any other Tahoe I have seen. Except the missing drivers side where a semi tried to get inside.

[lovesdunes]

Holy Cow, I just noticed that was my first post. For the 5 years I have been here I have been able to search and find all the answers I needed.

Here is what the 5.3 is going in...





Older pics but not much has changed.

[farmtruc]

Almost all '02 trucks don't have an EGR.
Don't worry about putting one on or if it was missing; there won't be an issue finding a calibration that didn't come with EGR.

[BOTTLEDZ28]

WOW, nice 2 door. I plan to do the same exact thing to my 98 2 door BUT I have 4x4 that I somehow need to contend with and wire up. Not sure of I want to keep the 135K miles stock transmission or use the matching 60e from the donor truck. Im still researching..

[farmtruc]

the newer trans is ideally a better choice. They got better as new updates came out.
135k miles is a long life for a 60e. Put that new LS engine in there and that older trans may not like the power.

[BOTTLEDZ28]

the newer trans is ideally a better choice. They got better as new updates came out.
135k miles is a long life for a 60e. Put that new LS engine in there and that older trans may not like the power.

I just need to figure out of my oem transfer case will bolt up and work with the newer GEN3 style 60 then. I thought I read somewhere the output shaft had a different spline count. I could be wrong. Running a newer trans would most likely make the wiring a bit easier for that area of the swap too.