The Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are well-known pickup trucks manufactured by the same company, General Motors.
They have rolled out the same models of both trucks over the years, but are their parts interchangeable? Are Silverado and Sierra parts interchangeable?
Yes, some Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra parts are interchangeable because of the similarities between the two trucks which range from having the same engine, transmission, camera trailering equipment, truck beds, etc.
Are Silverado and Sierra Parts the Same?
The parts of the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are really similar. This is because both are highly identical. What makes them so similar? The first thing is the engine both of these pickup trucks have.
Their engines are very similar. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra can use a 2.7 – liter turbo, a 4.3 – liter V6, a Duramax 3.0 – liter Turbo – Diesel, and a 5.3 – liter EcoTec3 V8 or a 6.2 – liter V8 engine.
Concerning their parts, both pickup trucks have advanced camera technologies, a jackknife alert, cargo bed view enhancement, rear side view enhancement, rear trailer view with a trailer–angle indicator, and many more.
Are Silverado and Sierra Parts Interchangeable?
The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are very similar pickup trucks produced by General Motors. Since they were introduced in 1999, they have had the same models all through.
To answer the question, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have very identical parts and can be interchanged between both cars. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra transmission are the same things.
The engine, transmission, camera trailering equipment, and truck beds are identical and interchangeable. For the 1999 – 2006, 2007 – 2013, 2014 – 2018, and 2019 – onwards models, the engine and transmission are not different in any way at all.
Actually, the reason they are so similar is that both vehicles are under General Motors.
Silverado is under the fleet of Chevrolet vehicles of General Motors and the Sierra is under the fleet of GMC vehicles still of General Motors.
From 1999 to date, the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra have been on the same platform across all models.
These pickup trucks have the same specifications of engine, engine control unit, transmission system, and backend. Exactly the same with no difference and so they are interchangeable.
Silverado and Sierra Parts that are Interchangeable
Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra parts that are interchangeable are:
1. The Engine
From inception, that is 1999 to date, both pickup trucks have had the same engine composition with the same power and specifications of torque. Therefore, both trucks can use the engines of the other.
The engine of each truck is available in different versions and features but the mechanical parts remain the same. It is only the electronic configuration that changes. That can be worked on by reprogramming the engine control unit.
When interchanging engines of both trucks, you need the wiring harness to be changed to well-suited wiring in order to avoid fault codes or blinking engine lights.
2. Transmission System
In the 1999 – 2002 models of the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, the 4L60E transmission is used all through. They are the same so you can interchange them at any time.
For the 2003 – 2013 models of the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, the 4L65E 4 – speed automatic transmission is used. For the 2500 and 3500 heavy trucks, the 4L80E transmission is standard in them.
In the first generation of these pickup trucks, the 5 – speed manual NV3500 and NV4500 transmission are compatible in both of them. The transmission system can be interchanged in both trucks and the engine will work well.
3. Camera Trailering
Watching the trailer feature is available in the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra with the aid of towing mirror technology.
This feature is present in all of the models of this car from the year 1999 to 2021. Swapping is possible between the 2019 – 2021, 2013 – 2018, 2008 – 2013, 2003 – 2007, and 1999 – 2002 models.
3. Tailgate
The design of the tailgate is dependent on the truck bed used and the styling. Models manufactured between 1999 and 2006 have the same tailgate and truck bed options making them interchangeable.
From the 2007 to 2013 models, the tailgates are also interchangeable with few differences such as the taillights and the lift-assist torsion bar.
The 2500 and 3500 models manufactured between 2014 and 2018 also have the same tailgate design and can be used interchangeably. The taillights in both vehicles are different and cannot be interchanged.
4. Suspension System
The suspension system in both the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 are the same. For other models and editions, the versions are upgraded.
Heavy-duty models such as the 2500 and 3500 have a heavier suspension accompanied by more towing and payload capacity.
Difference Between Silverado and Sierra
The notable difference between the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra is their styling, front design (bumpers, fenders, and grille), and material used in constructing the truck beds
Even though they possess many similarities, there are other differences you will notice between the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Firstly, as the Kelley Blue Book rightly put it, the GMC has more premium flair compared to the Chevrolet Silverado. Premium flair in the sense that it is more luxurious and has a more exquisite taste.
When you enter a GMC Sierra Denali, you will come across some features like the rear camera mirror, perforated leather seats, and a 15-inch diagonal multicolor head-up display.
Secondly, the trucks’ cargo beds are not similar. The GMC Sierra has a carbon-fiber-reinforced cargo bed while the Chevrolet Silverado does not possess such a feature.
The price of both pickup trucks also differs. The starting price of the Chevrolet Silverado is $28, 900 while the GMC Sierra has a starting price of $30, 000. So, the GMC Sierra is more expensive and costly.
Are Silverado and Sierra Headlights the Same?
No. The headlights of the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra are very different. The reason is the mounting panels. Mounting brackets, core supports, corners, and metal orientation are very different and non-matching.
What is the Chevy Version of the Sierra?
Seeing as both trucks are very similar, the Chevrolet version of the GMC Sierra is the Chevrolet Silverado.
Why is Sierra More Expensive than Silverado?
Since both the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado have the same platform, engine, and transmission, why is the GMC Sierra more expensive than the Silverado? The reason is simple.
GMC Sierra is manufactured for a particular target market – the luxury market. Chevrolet Silverado is made for the general market while the GMC Sierra is made to stand out and be different from the others in all ramifications.
The exquisite interior of the GMC Sierra will leave you with the same conclusion that it is designed for the upper echelon.
The quality of materials used in manufacturing the GMC Sierra also adds to the expensive price of the pickup truck.
Exclusively, the GMC Sierra has more features and offerings compared to the Chevrolet Silverado.
Features such as the Adaptive Ride Control, Multi-Pro tailgates, and upper-end engines are some of the reasons the GMC Sierra is more expensive than the Chevrolet Silverado.
Final Thoughts
Both tracks are designed for heavy-duty use and are well capable of performing that role. They are very similar in parts and these parts can be interchanged between both vehicles.
However, the GMC Sierra is more expensive compared to the Chevrolet Silverado because of the luxury materials in it.
If you want to know the best truck out of them, it will depend on what you want to use the vehicle for. Read more on the use of both trucks to know which one suits you best.