im pulling apart a 4.3 block today, its a vortech i think its from a '96 and it had about 60-70,000 miles on it and the woman who had it didnt change the oil so... i also have the heads, and a new never used oil pan. im sure the heads will need to be taken to a shop along with the block being honed out. ill sell it to ya, if you pay shipping costs. make an offer if you want it.

 

My friend recently purchased a 1987 blazer 4x4 with a 2.8l fuel injected engine the truck is mint, except for the blown motor What we are looking to do is swap in a 4.3L now I've been reading and reading on this topic but i can't find one source that says it all. I have a few questions partaining to this


1. Does it fit no problem> (one site told me the oilpan won't clear the diff)

2. What year of engine would be best?

3. What are some of the problems i'm going to run into (VSS signal and so on)

4. What are all the parts i'm going to need (ecu,trans,etc...)

5. Will his current t-case bolt up?

6. the budget is about 2grand can it be done?


thank you very much in advance as i do realize this is a very needy thread

1. Does it fit no problem> (one site told me the oilpan won't clear the diff) You need to get the 4x4 oil pan if thats the case, im not sure to be honest

2. What year of engine would be best? 88-93 TBI

3. What are some of the problems i'm going to run into (VSS signal and so on) You'll need the4.3's transmission, the 2.8's transmission is a 700r4, as is the 4.3's however the bellhousing is different.. You will probably also need the ECU to controll it.

4. What are all the parts i'm going to need (ecu,trans,etc...) Same as above, ECU, Transmission, Motormounts (replace them with new while its out) tranny mount (same reason as motormounts) do new plugs/distributer cap/rotor/wires, check the water pump for play/issues and replace if necessary.. May want to check the timing chain while your at it, basically give the engine and EXTERIOR rebuild before you put it in the truck

5. Will his current t-case bolt up? Hmm, I really do not know, you will probably need to find a 90 degree bellhousing 4x4 transmission, as the output shafts on the 2wd and 4x4 are different lengths... As for the speedo, you have a cable driven speedo I'm sure, so you'll need the Tcase thats cable driven.

6. YES it can be done...

 

err thanx but i'm looking to get those questions answered... err anyone have actual facts?

 

err thanx but i'm looking to get those questions answered... err anyone have actual facts?

First of all, I think the previous post was pretty factual so what's yer deal? This is free info so take everything you get here and appreciate it..

One thing however not mentioned is the 4.3 is essentially the same motor as a 350 with two cylinders cut off. You will need to make the same crossmember modifications for the 4.3 motor as you would a 350 as well as some "massaging" (with a sledgehammer) to the firewall. It would be advantageous to elongate the holes for the steering column for clearance. Too bad your truck isnt an 88, which is when they changed the firewall to accomidate the newly available 4.3!

I thought about doing this swap, but with the exception of the cooling system woes associated with the V8, you'll find yourself doing almost the same amount of work if you were installing a V8. "I coulda had a V8!" is what you'll be saying when you are done.

My advice is to obtain a 3.4L Camaro motor or buy you a brand new GM crate 4.3. If the budget is 2 grand, the motor will cost you about that, but the cool part is that all the accesories work with the motor...I mean, intake exhaust, brackets, alternator...everything. Your 1987 is fuel injected, so you won't have to do the fuel pump conversion that the older truck require. You will however have to use the injectors from a 4.3 motor because the truck will run lean on the 2.8 injectors. Also, you will have to swap the front timing cover with the one that is currently on your truck, because the cover on the new motor is for the 82-85 style and the swirls in the cover run in the reverse direction due to differences in belt styles...Your truck will run hot if you do not. The only catch to this is that GM only warrants the motor for use in the older trucks not the newer ones...If you have trouble with it and they know it is in an 86 or later truck they will not honor the warranty...J

 

First of all, I think the previous post was pretty factual so what's yer deal? This is free info so take everything you get here and appreciate it..

One thing however not mentioned is the 4.3 is essentially the same motor as a 350 with two cylinders cut off. You will need to make the same crossmember modifications for the 4.3 motor as you would a 350 as well as some "massaging" (with a sledgehammer) to the firewall. It would be advantageous to elongate the holes for the steering column for clearance. Too bad your truck isnt an 88, which is when they changed the firewall to accomidate the newly available 4.3!

I thought about doing this swap, but with the exception of the cooling system woes associated with the V8, you'll find yourself doing almost the same amount of work if you were installing a V8. "I coulda had a V8!" is what you'll be saying when you are done.

My advice is to obtain a 3.4L Camaro motor or buy you a brand new GM crate 4.3. If the budget is 2 grand, the motor will cost you about that, but the cool part is that all the accesories work with the motor...I mean, intake exhaust, brackets, alternator...everything. Your 1987 is fuel injected, so you won't have to do the fuel pump conversion that the older truck require. You will however have to use the injectors from a 4.3 motor because the truck will run lean on the 2.8 injectors. Also, you will have to swap the front timing cover with the one that is currently on your truck, because the cover on the new motor is for the 82-85 style and the swirls in the cover run in the reverse direction due to differences in belt styles...Your truck will run hot if you do not. The only catch to this is that GM only warrants the motor for use in the older trucks not the newer ones...If you have trouble with it and they know it is in an 86 or later truck they will not honor the warranty...J

Whoops..typo...I meant a new GM crate 3.4!!!!

 

teh 3.4 Crate is a wicked motor, and it will bolt right inplace of the stock 2.8

im extremly happy with this Crate motor

 

Jimmykicker...

I do not believe the firewall has to be pounded out for a 4.3 as it does for a 350.... the 350 is LONGER than a 4.3... the truck my FRAME came from was a 4.3 truck, and my CAB fit onto it just fine, then I yanked the motor out and put my 2.8 in it becuase the 4.3 was toast, oh and my frame is an EARLY 87 frame with a 4.3... Go figure?!?!

Anyway, as for the 3.4 suggestion, PERFECT for this I believe... you can get a CRATE 3.4 for about 1200-1500 bucks (gmpartsdirect.com) there are a bunch of very well described how-to's also... AND you don't have to change ECU's, Transmissions, or anything...


I FORGOT TO MENTION! To do the 4.3, you will also need the 4.3 radiator..

and FINTEGRA, having torn 2 s10's down to the bare frame and back up... I gave you the knowledge that I KNEW off hand, some stuff I have seen and may have forgotten.. I'll come up with more definitive answers after some research... but i told you what I knew.

As for the 4x4 oil pan, my 2.84x4 engine is on a 2wd chassis and its fine... so I don't know to be honest, thats why I said that.

 

I wasn't complaining at all, i just needed a solid answer before i attempted this. I meant thank you when i said it, sorry if it sounded insincere. appreciate the advise that you guys have given me on this topic. thanx again

 

I wasn't complaining at all, i just needed a solid answer before i attempted this. I meant thank you when i said it, sorry if it sounded insincere. appreciate the advise that you guys have given me on this topic. thanx again

Seriously, if you want the LEAST amount of work, and still have a good setup, go to the junkyard and grab a VIN off of a wrecked 85-86 s10, and use it to order a Crate 3.4l engine form the GM dealers/gmpartsdirect.

This will allow you to use everything you already have, and there is an AWESOME how to on S-series.org that outlines the 2.8-3.4 conversion very well....

 

Bought a 3.4 out of a wrecked camaro with 50K on the clock for $400 several years ago (didn't rebuild it just put new gaskets on it). after I snapped the crank in my 2 point hate.

Put over 70K on it and still get 37 psi of oil pressure at idle and 62 at cruise. Have almost as much power as a 4.3 and get just a hair over 20 MPG. The difference in performance is night and day and it was a direct swap.

 

Jimmykicker...

I do not believe the firewall has to be pounded out for a 4.3 as it does for a 350.... the 350 is LONGER than a 4.3... the truck my FRAME came from was a 4.3 truck, and my CAB fit onto it just fine, then I yanked the motor out and put my 2.8 in it becuase the 4.3 was toast, oh and my frame is an EARLY 87 frame with a 4.3... Go figure?!?!


I FORGOT TO MENTION! To do the 4.3, you will also need the 4.3 radiator..

.

Hmm, that's wild..What year is the cab from? According to JTR, (book about installing V8s) which is where I am basing this from since I have never had one that extensively apart before, the cab firewall was changed in 1988...not just the 4.3 trucks, but the 2.8 and 2.5 also got it too. I know for a fact that the steering columns mount up differently. So if your truck is 1988 or newer, it would make no difference what engine was in it and the cab would work just fine. If the truck was equipped with any 4.3 it should have the revised cab. There should never have been an 87 with a 4.3. Bizzare! Supposedly it wasn't available until 1988?!?! Oh yeah, I realize the 350 is longer, but what I meant was how it fits up against the firewall...J

 

Hmm, that's wild..What year is the cab from? According to JTR, (book about installing V8s) which is where I am basing this from since I have never had one that extensively apart before, the cab firewall was changed in 1988...not just the 4.3 trucks, but the 2.8 and 2.5 also got it too. I know for a fact that the steering columns mount up differently. So if your truck is 1988 or newer, it would make no difference what engine was in it and the cab would work just fine. If the truck was equipped with any 4.3 it should have the revised cab. There should never have been an 87 with a 4.3. Bizzare! Supposedly it wasn't available until 1988?!?! Oh yeah, I realize the 350 is longer, but what I meant was how it fits up against the firewall...J

Cab = 88
Frame/Donor truck = 87

I have the 87's steering column in my truck also.

weird.

 

Cab = 88
Frame/Donor truck = 87

I have the 87's steering column in my truck also.

weird.

Well the cab makes sense as why it would work, but are you sure the truck (frame) might have been a 1987 made late actually being 88? I've never heard of an 87 with a 4.3. :bugeye: That would make the column working make sense too..J

 

i have a 88 s10 with a 2.8 and i want to put a 4.3 in it that came out of a 90 model brava what all will i have to do to make this work i no i will have to use a diffrent trany and rearend

 

i have a 88 s10 with a 2.8 and i want to put a 4.3 in it that came out of a 90 model brava what all will i have to do to make this work i no i will have to use a diffrent trany and rearend

First thing is USE THE SEARCH. As has been stated in several posts....

Second, DONT HIJACK SOMEONE ELSE's post...

I'd slap you but my hand wont reach past my laptop monitor

 

Holy thread revival Batman!

 

Fact. The federal govt. protects us and our warranties from corperate mumbo jumbo. You cuold put a warrantied engine on a lawnmower and if it fails internally they have to honor it. You can slap all kinds of performance goodies on it, leave all the emissions off and it's still warrantied. If you go into the engine internally however you may be out of luck. My new crate 3.4 was smoking and I took it to the local dealer and they diagnosed it being rings without tearing into it and ordered me a new engine. There is no emissions/smog control left on my truck. I bored out the intake and have headers on it. My warranty is still good

 

if the company can prove that whatever modification you performed is what caused the malfunction to the rest of the engine, they dont have to honor anything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson%E2%80%93Moss_Warranty_Act

 

If your referring to the limitations portion of the magnuson-moss warranty act that goes without saying, if you abuse you lose. Change your oil, don't use jet fuel, don't let it over heat. If your using quality after market parts that are new or used in good shape how are they going to explain that my edelbrock intake or holly carb failed my engine. They also have to explain that to edelbrock and holly. In my case and many others it's cheaper for them to just replace it than fight after market companies and the feds. Besides internal malfunctions usually happen early on and are known to be defects in parts or craftsmenship.

 

if you put all kind sof aftermarket goodies on an engine and the engines internals fail, they could potentailly easily prove that your aftermarket parts made the engine fail. Basically, your aftermarket parts made the engine perform in a way it was not designed by the factory.

here is an extreme example. You tame a 2.8L engine and slap a supercharger on it and leave the internals stock. Obviously that isnt going to perform the way it was designed to and will most likely destroy the engine. TThey arent going to warranty that.

 

iam thinking about doing this to my 85, now i had a 87 camaro with the 2.8 that i swaped for the 4.3 everything worked. ( motor mounts, trans cross member, electric fan that was stock in car, and steering colum.) of course i used the 4.3 tranny cause the 2.8 will not bolt up, and i did have to swap the fule pump in the tank, exhaust manifolds did work with the use of a hammer to firewall . now will this be the same for the s10? and instead of going with the tbi, i wana do carb, does anyone know if they have ever made a carb intake for the 4.3? and also wana convert my truck over to stick, what trans for the 4.3l would be best? thanks for all the info guys and i no this aint the thread to be asking these 4.3 questions on but i cant get any answers from them lol