D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

evan · 12-22-2022, 03:27 PM

What are most guys using, drive-by-wire or drive-by-cable? I was planning to use the stock truck intake manifold and throttle body to start with, assuming it was DBC, but just realized it's DBW. Should I just find a junkyard DBC version or is DBW popular too?

Other parts of the plan for context:
LQ4 6.0L with 243 heads
BTR Red Hot cam and springs (221/24X, .619/.617, 113 LSA)
4L80E and 2800 stall converter, 3.73 gears
1-7/8" long tube headers with dual 3" exhaust
Holley Terminator X Max

**mongocanfly** · 12-22-2022, 03:40 PM

I've got both, I prefer dbc, less electronics and more simple..
My LQ9 was dbw, I changed the throttle to dbc, and the tuner did the rest in the ecm
You can keep your truck intake, all you need to change is the throttle, but the wiring harness needs to be for a dbc engine

**Jason Banks** · 12-22-2022, 05:35 PM

Cruise control is easier with DBW. With DBC you need the external box that hooks to throttle body.

Gas pedal situation is probably easier with DBC.

Went looking for aftermarket intakes and throttle bodies for DBW and it seems most are set up for DBC. Maybe I didn't look hard enough to find larger bore DBW throttle bodies. Or maybe they were just more expensive, been a while since I looked.

LS short box · 12-22-2022, 05:50 PM

I've used both on my LS swaps. Both worked well. I used a Lokar pedal on DBC and used the DBW pedal supplied with the aftermarket harness along with the matching ECM.

Joyridin · 12-23-2022, 09:25 AM

DBW on both my cars. I can mount the pedal wherever I want without trying to figure out all the cable brackets. I mounted the actual pedal (electronic part) in my car in the engine compartment and the pedal inside the car has 3" long rod that actuated the section in the engine compartment.

**kev2809** · 12-23-2022, 10:08 AM

I have dbw haven't driven it yet but it revs up just fine it seems. I did my own engine harness. just make sure when you grab the donor pedal and harness it's for a dbw tb. I followed lt1swap on the engine harness and it includes the how to for the pedal.

Rich84 · 12-23-2022, 01:48 PM

I have both also. No complaints with either. DBC was easier as I was able to use my stock Squarebody pedal with an S10 cable.

Killer Bee · 12-23-2022, 09:19 PM

with regards to factory gm and drivability, cable has better throttle feel and response, wire has a delay or interrupted feeling response..

I'm sure there's lots of aftermarket or even possibly factory tweaking that can alter the characteristics of either..

some electronics even advertise how much like a cable they are..

but factory to factory comparison, throttle cable feels better, smoother through rpm range and more direct control..

good luck!

**kev2809** · 12-23-2022, 10:01 PM

my 2 daily driver trucks have cable. what I do like is that you can adjust the idle rpm right at the throttle body. not super important but easy to do if ever needed to

12-22-2022, 03:27 PM	#1
evan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SK, Canada Posts: 488	D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? What are most guys using, drive-by-wire or drive-by-cable? I was planning to use the stock truck intake manifold and throttle body to start with, assuming it was DBC, but just realized it's DBW. Should I just find a junkyard DBC version or is DBW popular too? Other parts of the plan for context: LQ4 6.0L with 243 heads BTR Red Hot cam and springs (221/24X, .619/.617, 113 LSA) 4L80E and 2800 stall converter, 3.73 gears 1-7/8" long tube headers with dual 3" exhaust Holley Terminator X Max __________________ Evan B.

12-22-2022, 03:40 PM	#2
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? I've got both, I prefer dbc, less electronics and more simple.. My LQ9 was dbw, I changed the throttle to dbc, and the tuner did the rest in the ecm You can keep your truck intake, all you need to change is the throttle, but the wiring harness needs to be for a dbc engine __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

12-22-2022, 05:35 PM	#3
Jason Banks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: TX Posts: 1,624	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? Cruise control is easier with DBW. With DBC you need the external box that hooks to throttle body. Gas pedal situation is probably easier with DBC. Went looking for aftermarket intakes and throttle bodies for DBW and it seems most are set up for DBC. Maybe I didn't look hard enough to find larger bore DBW throttle bodies. Or maybe they were just more expensive, been a while since I looked.

12-22-2022, 05:50 PM	#4
LS short box Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Carlos MN Posts: 2,132	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? I've used both on my LS swaps. Both worked well. I used a Lokar pedal on DBC and used the DBW pedal supplied with the aftermarket harness along with the matching ECM.

12-23-2022, 09:25 AM	#5
Joyridin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 555	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? DBW on both my cars. I can mount the pedal wherever I want without trying to figure out all the cable brackets. I mounted the actual pedal (electronic part) in my car in the engine compartment and the pedal inside the car has 3" long rod that actuated the section in the engine compartment.

12-23-2022, 10:08 AM	#6
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,175	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? I have dbw haven't driven it yet but it revs up just fine it seems. I did my own engine harness. just make sure when you grab the donor pedal and harness it's for a dbw tb. I followed lt1swap on the engine harness and it includes the how to for the pedal. __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

12-23-2022, 01:48 PM	#7
Rich84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Woodbury, Ct. Posts: 1,692	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? I have both also. No complaints with either. DBC was easier as I was able to use my stock Squarebody pedal with an S10 cable.

12-23-2022, 09:19 PM	#8
Killer Bee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Barber City, CA Posts: 4,809	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? with regards to factory gm and drivability, cable has better throttle feel and response, wire has a delay or interrupted feeling response.. I'm sure there's lots of aftermarket or even possibly factory tweaking that can alter the characteristics of either.. some electronics even advertise how much like a cable they are.. but factory to factory comparison, throttle cable feels better, smoother through rpm range and more direct control.. good luck! __________________ *I started out with nothing - and I still have most of it*

12-23-2022, 10:01 PM	#9
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,175	Re: D-B-W vs D-B-C? What are you guys using? my 2 daily driver trucks have cable. what I do like is that you can adjust the idle rpm right at the throttle body. not super important but easy to do if ever needed to __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]



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