if i was to get a 4.3 liter s10 the motor mounts and tranny would hook up to a 305 wouldnt it? this summer after i do the motor swap id like to put a couple parts on the 305 and n2o and stick it in a s10 for ****s and giggles. i know alot of people do this swap so im sure somebody has an imput on it

 

putting the engine combo in woudln't be too difficult. the motor mounts won't exactly match up, but the trans will. i'd recomend picking up a motor mount kit from trans dapt or hooker. if you check into header catalogs they will give you the part numbers and prices needed. i'd also recomend using the be cool radiator for v8 s10 swaps.

 

will i need new suspension, or a better rearend with a swap like that? id like to lower it so id go ahead and get shorter springs im sure there is major traction issues in v8 s10s tho

 

Jags that Run (www.jtr.com) sells a book that goes through this.

You're better off with a 2.8 truck, or at least getting 2.8 mounts, then you buy engine mounts that use those. Camaro exhaust manifolds fit pretty well in there, but headers don't. You'll also have to *ahem* modify your firewall a bit to make room for the distributer.

 

Ok heres the dealio
I put my old lg4 into my full size GMC1500 PU 4x4 that came with a 4.3 5 speed.
The actuall mounts that bolt to the frame were different so I had to get ones from a v8. They could fit but the engine will sit a little awkward . On an S-10 or S-15 you will probably be stuck using all the 4.3 mounts or going aftermarket and of course the exh needs to be changed or you will have to replace the leads. If you use an S10 3.1/2.8, the steering shaft will need to be modified but with a 4.3 S-10/15 you wont run into any problems with that. If you want to keep TBI on there like I did (for resale pourposes) the 4.3 comp will work fine at least with the 5.0, all the sensors and garbage cross over and contarary to popular opinion the fuel pump will work fine. The only thing as far as the fuel system, I boosted the fuel pressure, but I would have done that with any tbi. The 2.8/3.1 comp is ify it might work but you should go with a special eprom made for the conversion. Other than that the 4.3 to v8 swap is basicly little odds and ends almost a direct swap except for the exh and possibly mounts.

SSC

 

I've done this swap so I can comment. I swapped the lg4 into an 83 4x4 s10 blazer and put tpi on at at the same time. I'd reccomend getting a 2.8L truck without air conditioning. Defintely buy the swap book from Jags that run, it really addresses almost all of the issues you'll face in the swap. I did a body lift on mine so I didnt have to modifiy the firewall very much, but you dont necessarily have to do the lift. Run camaro manifolds, its really tight in there, you're gonna have a hell of a time getting headers to fit, even the headers that are for that swap. I didnt have clearance problems with the steering shaft because I offset the engine slightly to the passengar side. If you have a 4x4 truck you'll have to get a new oilpan specially designed for the swap, and use a remote oil filter setup. If you have an a/c truck you'll have to modifiy the heater box, and to get the ac to work agian will be a major pain. Without running a/c you can move the radiator forward into the radiator support and get enough room to run a mechanical fan. I'm running a flex fan, but I think i have enough room in my setup to run a clutch fan. The rear end will be ok as long as you dont really rag on it or tow heavy loads. Its the same rear as in our thirdgens (7.5" 10 bolt). Definately use a v8 transmission. I used a th350 because I had one laying around.

In your case, already having a 305 tbi, you could do the swap into a 4.3 tbi truck, the 4.3 fuel injetion parts are the same except for the computer chip. The power difference between a 4.3 and a 5.0 tbi is not going to be all that much, however.

There are other details in this swap, ask me specifics if you'd like to know more. Its an involved swap, and its gonna be expensive, mine cost probably 700 bux, and I already had the engine and transmission and I got the truck for free. Its doable if you can spin a wrench well and can do a little fabircation/modification.


EDIT: forgot to add, for the radiator, the best choice is to use a modine replacement for a corvette, I think the year range is 85-88. Its a nice short radiator that fits in well with a little work, has a high fins per inch so it cool really well, and its only around $140.

I've got some pics of my swap i've been meaning to scan in, maybe i can get to that tonight.