i noticed some of you guys have S series trucks so hopefully i wont get flamed to bad.
this carb on my motor is rediculous as the gas prices around here. so im gonna get a 2.8 from a 82-92 firebird/camaro. anybody ever do this swap into a s10? any tips? what should i look for when i go shopping for the motor? should i just get the fuel injection or the complete motor. i know i gotta get the wiring harness/computer and fuel pump. anything else i need?
also anybody know the hp/tq rating on theese motors stock? mpg?
thanx!

 

Hello, good idea you have, and is done ALOT.

To be honest, better of to get a used 90-92 3.1l engine.

Not only will you increase CI, you will get a better crank, better main bearing design, better heads (FI heads better then carb), proper cam, plus possibly an engine with less miles.

An even better swap would be 93-95 3.4l bottom half/block with an 90-92 3.1 injection system/top half.

Not to stray you away from this great/knowlagable board, but try s-series.org, I attend that board once in a while, and MANY have done the EXACT swap you are asking about, and could give you very fine and precise details of what you need.

 

Turbo City in Anaheim did a MPFI swap into an early S10 Blazer back in early 90's issue of Sport Truck by Argus publishers.
I have it & will be using it as basis for my MPFI into Blazer swap one day.
K.I.S.S.
That's how I got ideas for the 2.8->3.4 long block swap boogie into Firebird.
I have misplaced magazine & can't offer issue date.
Turbo City still exists.
Use the 1985 MPFI foundation. Most basic & MOST SIMPLE for swap.

BE AWARE
Ya do THAT MPFI SWAP be prepared to visit Smog Ref station & SPEND MAJOR DOLLARS (Starting AT $300!!!) for just the pleasure of smogging at a Test Only shop for rest of life!
I have Fed 85 S-10 Blazer & I just put back on the 2SE Carb set up. Much easier to enjoy the 3.4 TORQUE & POWER & NO prying SMOG eyes at all (it looks bone stock).
Be aware of all induction system downsides before ya invest any effort for the swap.
No cannot claim a TBI or Carb to MPFI as just a simple "smog it please" swap.
After visit to ref ,yes, but again, mucho dollars for nothing but a simple tin plate.
I like my hard enarned money into real estate better return on dollar!

 

I wouldn't use a 2.8 either. Go 3.1 or 3.4....even a 3.8. 2.8 are junk. i don't care who starts flaming on that comment. I had one. they are junk. just like the 301 pontiac motor. junk.

 

What qualifies a motor as junk in your opinion? I've seen numerous 2.8's that have gone over 200 000 miles. I have an 83 that has never given me any major problems and i ran the hell out of it,and what is a 3.1/3.4 but a factory bored and stroke 2.8.

 

If you already have a 2.8 you can swap the mpfi over,but the 3.4 would be a better choice because it's pretty much a bolt in swap for a 2.8 with more hp/torque. The 2.8 mpfi and 3.4 into an s-truck has been done many time at s-series.org. I have an s-truck [V8]and I'm doing the 3.4 swap also. I come to this site because some of these guys[3rd Gen] are very knowledgeable on the V6 engine .

 

simply put. There was not very much attention paid to the 2.8L and here is my experience.

I bought a camaro LT with a 2.8L 68k original miles. hole in the block. I bought it knowing it had a hole in the block. bought a new one from RECON. those buttholes put together a motor that lasted 8k. the head gasket was installed improperly and warped. they filled my ear up with some crap about the head gasket could blow on startup (which if the tech knows what he is doing that won't happen.) and anyways 8k miles later? come on! so they voided my $100 ext. warranty because I touched my motor after they told me I could fix it myself. (*******s) but that has nothing to do with the motor. the motor lasted 8k before blowing a head gasket and that caused a wristpin knock. sooooo. I pulled the motor and rebuilt it myself. patiently following every spec to stock. I put it in. it ran beautifully. I broke it in and got bout another 10k out of the rebuild before THAT block cracked.
p.s. the block was new when I first got it. in my opinion. you got lucky.
Like i said up there. 2.8's ARE junk. I would slap a 350 in there if it was my car. hell....go all out with a 502. it'll fit in an S10.

 

Since I'm a SoCal guy & SMOG LEGAL, I'll go with this.
ANY THING into a S10 (or my 85 Firebird) is gonna be either sneaky (my 3.4 swap w/stock original carb set up) or buy a smog sticker every two years or go visit Smog Ref & pay for the privlidge of smog testing or register/move outta state.
It's all your call as the S-10 chassis can accept a 502, also with "mod$$$$$$!
Know what I mean ?
Good luck with your decision.
Upon rebuilding the carb (rebush the primary shaft!) & the distb, the 2SES carb is a fine choice for running every day.
I wanted to stick in a smog legal carb'd 350 but then discoverd the smog ref visit & the cost & went this 3.4 powered route. Yes, even adding the MPFI will require a smog ref visit, for what?
Your call, but, options all over...

 

I want in on some of this.
I had an S10 blazer, late modle 86 TBI 2.8 auto 4x4. It had 138k and started burning oil. In good tune it got 23ish MPG city. My friend had a 85 2.8 carbed lower mileage S10 2WD auto, it got around 25MPG city with a carb. I wouldent swap it for a MPI setup not worth the investement IMO. The major problems with fuel consumption are vacuum line or carb related. Most of these 2SES's are in need of major overhual or have been jacked around with so much they dont function properly. I personally cant tell whats missing from one without refrence and 90% of the ones I work on for poor fuel economy are missing componets.

 

TRY BEING ME!
I've got a FEDERAL VERSION S10 in CA!
TRY TO FIND PARTS FOR IT!
My 2SES carb has been rebuilt twice.
Second time infront of my eyes & I helped (re primary shaft bushings mission).
I am probably the second true owner maybe that's why I got lucky.
For me the carb is fine.
I WOULDN'T TAKE A 1986 & above S10 if ya gave it to me! I'd also be missing the classic dash that was from 1982-85 model years. I love my S10 Blazer!

 

Hmmm, if I read this right, the first motor was already damaged, which could have been caused by the previous driver. We know there is a high chance for these cars to be abused and misused regardless of engine, and especially with the smaller ones.

The second thing I see is a badly built motor.

So how does this show the 2.8 to be "junk"?

I personally have a 2.8 with almost 300,000 kms on it. It has been beautiful.

What exactly are you dfoing to these engines to cause them so much damage? Obviously you know what you are doing if you can rebuild a motor and take so much care in the task. So you must also know what the limitations of the motor are as well right?

Personally I would be happy with a 3.1 or a 3.4 but for a daily driver/commutor car, I cannot complain.

 

I agree. the 3.1 and 3.4 are superior to the 2.8L. in more than just horse power. And in response to the question of what I did to them.... broke them in accordingly and maybe beat on it here and there. I have done this with v8's (except the pontiac 4.9L 301) all day long. and even 2.0's, 2.2's and 2.5L 4 bangers. never had a problem with those. my 305 that just blew up had 150k on it. and I beat that mother at least once a week. Maybe if I drove it like a sane human being it would've lasted me 300k but, still 150k out of a motor driven by a jerk...that's a good motor. 8k out of a 2.8L? I don't think I even had a chance to hammer down on that yet. I usually wait at least 10k before dueling.

 

The problem you had with your 2.8 had nothing to do with with the 2.8 being junk. You simply made the mistake of buying a poorly re-built motor as are all those sold by the "local" auto parts store. I'm sure that the majority of 2.8 owners will tell you that it is a very durable engine!

 

The majority of the 2.8/3.1 engine sized owners (myself included with 2 - 2.8 examples) are stuck with POS
Previous
Owner
Syndrome
and must battle that back to some sense of proper engine/vehicle operation.
Used Classic Corvette owners have this happen all the time. Except their mechanics name is Bubba!

 

Here's a question then, what exactly is the normal break-in period for a new and/or rebuilt engine?

I have heard as little as 10,000kms, and as much as 25,000 kms or more.

Does anyone know for sure? Does it depend on the engine type or size or year?

 

From what I've read & I've got to go thru this shortly when I finish my "1970 LT-1" V8.
Get it running & cam broken in, then drive for a short bit, then change oil. Then drive for like 500 miles, then change oil, then "done!"
Used running long blocks I just change oil, run, then change oil at 3,000 miles.

 

Hey all,

I have a 1984 S10 Blazer 4x4 3.4L MFPI Auto. It passed the California Smog Police today... I don't have to see them ever again. I can go to my regular smog guy.. It cost a whole $30 plus $8.25 for the smog certificate.. NOT $300.. It was also a lot easier than the doomsayer's said it would be. The guys were very helpful. I did not tell them that it was a 3.4L though. That motor is not certified for use in California and the way I have it set up it did not exist. I told them it was a 1988 Camaro 2.8L MFPI. It passed with flying colors (after I adjusted the timing).
I took me 8 months to get the bugs worked out though.. Mostly my problems.. I listened to the guru's and used 3.4L injectors instead of the 2.8L injectors and it kept thowing a rich code. The oxygen sensor was loose, the distributor was loose, bad ground, ect.
I used the complete Camaro engine compartment wiring harness, changed a few connections, and adapted it to a Blazer bulkhead connector.
I used most everthing from the Camaro 2.8L, except the oil pan, oil pump pickup, oil filter adapter, and sending units. Those things I got from a 1988 Blazer 2.8L.
I used a 1995 Camaro 3.4L long block.
I adapted the electric fan to my fan shroud.
I used the Camaro charcoal canister.
Ect...

It passed... Yea!!!

Steve

 

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT!!!

I was confirmed my cost stated by several people
YET none of those actually did it!

Please contact me as I'd love to know all details.
I definetly want to install the 1985 MPFI under the hood of my Blazer one day!

GREAT GOING FOR YOU!!!!
Are you in San Fernando Valley area?

 

For a mpfi into s10 or blazer check andys old project out.


http://204.171.154.132/andy/HTML/MulTpI.html

 

The information foundation for my conversion is an old issue of Sport Truck (by Argus publihsers).
The vehicle is an 1985 Blazer using a 1985 MPFI mill.
They got a complete 2.8 MPFI mill for $75 due to the rod going thru side of 2.8 engine block.
The conversion was done by Turbo City in Anaheim CA.
Article includes dyno testing revealing a 20HP gain on the stock S10 mill w/MPFI (without swapping out the lame/torque induced S10 cam or the S10 heads).
Also included was a diagram how to hook up the ECM unit.

The truck must have been a CA version as my FEDERAL S-10 Blazer hasn't a single bit of voo-doo electronics AT ALL!
This article was published back in early 90's.
I can't wait to have time to finish the final details of my S-10 Blazer 3.4 conversion.